I think I’d heard this stat before, but since the ESPN commentators repeated it, I’ll re-repeat it for you: it’s been 11 years since the last regular-season triple-double by a Jazzman, and the last one to do it was… Carlos Boozer!
If you’re thinking “I swear Ricky Rubio got one for the Jazz”, you’re right, but that was in the playoffs, and as everyone knows, regular season and playoff streaks/records/happenings are completely distinct. It might as well be two different sports for how much people combine the two when it comes to stats.
So it is with that said, that I’m wondering WHY the HECK the Jazz didn’t let Joe Ingles statpad for 1 more rebound to get his triple-double. There were still, like 2 or 3 minutes left in the game when he subbed out. It looked like they were going to let him go for it, because he statpadded one final three to get above 10 points, but then he was gone. Bye bye. Clapping from the bench as Grayson Allen ran around and sucked.
This is the NBA, remember. You know that old ad that said “where amazing happens”? It’s also where statpadding happens. Everyone does it. It’s been a long time since the Andray Blatche debacle, or the JaVale McGee debacle. Now no one cares if you cheese a little bit for some extra stattage.