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Utah Jazz rookie guard Darryn Peterson is gradually gaining confidence on the court, showing flashes of brilliance mixed with typical rookie mistakes. In Wednesday's overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Peterson displayed his growing swagger with a wraparound dribble and a step-back 3-pointer over Carter Bryant in the second quarter. However, he also made errors in crucial moments and was benched late in the game.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy emphasized the need for better execution down the stretch. "We've got to clean up execution," Hardy said. "In those moments of the game, you have to be able to execute the game plan. I think Darryn is making a lot of strides, but in that moment, I felt it was better to go with Brice [Sensabaugh]."
Peterson acknowledged that he is still adjusting to the speed of the NBA and sometimes overthinking on the court. He noted that he is taking an extra second or two to make decisions, and the open shots he had in college are not as readily available in the pros. "Trying to be aggressive is my biggest thing right now," Peterson told The Salt Lake Tribune after Utah's win against New Orleans. "I feel like I'm being indecisive a ton. I feel like I work too hard to be indecisive. I just got to find that place, and once I find it, I won't lose it all. So, I'm not worried about it. Third game in. It's too early."
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Hardy has also noticed Peterson's indecisiveness but remains supportive. "He is a team player and wants to win," Hardy said. "He is just caught a little in between. I see him coming off some ball screens, and he's looking for his teammates, and in those moments he is the one that's open. This is all very normal. He's getting thrown right into the fire and I think he's handling himself great. I don't want him to over worry about past possessions. We've had a few moments where he looks over, and he's like, 'My bad.' We don't need to do that right now. I recognize he's dealing with a lot. It's a lot happening. It's a new team, new coach, new terminology and play calls. On top of the fact that he's a rookie in the NBA."
Since those comments two games ago, Peterson has looked more decisive and willing to shoot, attempting 18 and 13 shots in the last two games, though his shot hasn't fallen consistently. He is averaging 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 35.4% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. According to a league source not affiliated with the Jazz, Peterson's slow start is not concerning. The source told The Tribune that such struggles are normal and that it's hard to come into the league and dominate immediately. The source also pointed out that Peterson is learning to play alongside several high-usage players, as he is the fourth option behind Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson, and Keyonte George when the Jazz are fully healthy. The most important thing, per the source, is giving Peterson time to develop.
The Jazz organization shares this sentiment and believes in not overloading Peterson early in his career. That's why he wasn't given ball-handling duties with the second unit initially, though he did handle the ball some in Wednesday's game. With Markkanen and Jackson injured, Peterson will have more opportunities, and Hardy's message to him is to be aggressive and shoot when open. Peterson understands the directive. "I know I've got to step up now," he said.
Originally reported by sltrib.