Ricky Rubio, George Hill, Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto, Dante Exum, Trey Burke, Mo Williams, Jamal Tinsley, Devin Harris. The Utah Jazz have gone through a LOT of points guards since trading Deron Williams in 2011. It’s been a revolving door with many ups and downs. But mostly downs. Utah pursued several avenues to resolve the issue, but none of them have worked out as well as hoped. The recent additions of George Hill and then Ricky Rubio had the most potential to offer a long term resolution, but that doesn’t look likely anymore either. It feels like Deron Williams made like Lord Voldermort and cursed the position for anyone following his reign.

Enter Joe Ingles.

Now, let me preface this with the following: I don’t believe Joe Ingles is the long term solution either. That being said, his recent play has been a breath of fresh air over what the Jazz point guards have offered this year.

This shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise when you look at Joe’s player grades so far in his career. Throughout his time with the Jazz, Ingles has been a really good playmaker, becoming an excellent one in the last two years.

This is especially unique at 6’8″. There are only six other players in the NBA who are at least 6’8″ and average as many assists per game as Joe Ingles: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, and Ben Simmons. Joe Ingles has by far the lowest usage at 17.3%, 4.8% lower than the next lowest. So he’s an elite playmaker, but is he really a point guard?

In today’s NBA, does it really matter? The game has become nearly positionless. And Quin Snyder has adapted with his PG/SG/SF/PF Ingles. Before the All Star break, Joe was the lead creator on 17% of possessions and 2nd creator on 36% of possessions. That’s up to 33% and 67% after the All Star break, respectively. When including his own scoring load as a driver and spot up shooter, the before and after as the top offensive option is 6% before the break and 18% after.

Initially that may have been due to injuries. Since the break, Ricky Rubio has missed 3 games, Raul Neto 6 games, and Dante Exum 10. Some of those were the same game, so Utah was completely without a point guard on the active roster. Quin Snyder require more of Joe Ingles and his playmaking skills. The Jazz have their guys back (minus Exum. Sad face.), but Quin continues to utilize Joe as the primary ball handler due to the level at which he’s performed.

Since the All Star break, Joe Ingles is averaging a team-high 7.3 assists per game. Here are some more before and after differences:

• Before the AS break: AST/TOV 2.3, AST% 24.7, AST Ratio 29.7
• After the AS break: AST/TOV 2.64, AST% 29.8, AST Ratio 35.2

Again, very few players are matching those numbers since the break. And Quin Snyder is taking advantage of his new-found “point guard”. With Derrick Favors having a career year, the Ingles-Favors pick and roll has become an especially dangerous weapon. Zach Lowe highlighted this very well in one of his 10 Things posts:

A stat that might surprise: The Utah Jazz have destroyed opponents by about 14 points per 100 possessions when Ingles and Favors play without all three of Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, per NBA.com. Ingles has become Utah’s de facto backup point guard, and he and Favors have developed a nimble chemistry in the pick-and-roll.

This was easily my favorite commentary and highlight. “Is this a layup or a pass? By the time you realize, it’s already over.”

How many math teachers do you know that can execute a perfect pick and roll with a fake-layup-to-an-alley-oop pass to finish it off?

Unfortunately Joe Ingles is also 31 years old and not getting any younger. His playmaking is perfect as the primary ball handler in stretches and will certainly be utilized in playoff matchups. (I am already grinning just thinking about the trash talking and embarrassing he will dish out in a few weeks during the post season.) But ultimately the Utah Jazz need to find Donovan Mitchell a backcourt running mate in the offseason. One that can maximize the talents of the guys around him similar to Joe Ingles. And preferably one that can get his own bucket and alleviate the ridiculous offensive load Mitchell is tasked with night in and night out.

Until then, I’m going to relish every Ingles moment we have left in the season. With how he’s playing with the ball in his hands, there are bound to be many, many more before the summer comes.