2014 pre-season!

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Here we go again!

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Jody Genessy: Jazz have announced that the annual pre-preseason scrimmage will take place Monday at 6:30 p.m. at EnergySolutions Arenea. Free admission. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

might have to go up. The price is right!

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[QUOTE]If the Jazz are running, sharing the basketball and stopping opponents in transition, whatever outcomes they produce will be more tolerable than last season

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But Enes Kanter, ever the optimist, started talking about playoffs, but stopped himself from using the word "promise." Trib columnist Kurt Kragthorpe wrote a little more about all of this today

Players should be wanting to win but they are just too young and really only have a couple proven NBA caliber starters right now


I’m very interested in the fan approach to this season. Last year, the overwhelming sentiment (at least on Twitter and the emails I received) supported what we’ll lazily and generally call "tanking." The end result was Dante Exum, who I think most fans and people in the organization are genuinely enthused about. But what about this year? I haven’t quite had that same sense. At the same time, few seem to think this is a team ready to do much winning now.

I don't see how anybody could look at this off-season and not think tank.


• Kanter remains a terrific interview. He was obviously frustrated about needing surgery for a second straight summer, though he said he’s feeling healthy now. The Turkish big man was also effusive in his praise of Quin Snyder. Kanter obviously has the tools to succeed, and he seems more at ease dealing with Snyder (who seems to have helped taken away a sort of fear of failing) than he has in past years under Ty Corbin.

• There have been some issues with Kanter and the Turkish national team in the past. But Kanter on Monday said he was in fact planning on playing in the World Cup before he was sidelined by injury.

So how long has he been healthy and working on his game? That obviously hurt him at the beginning of last year.


• Meanwhile, Dennis Lindsey has opened contract extension talks with agents for Alec Burks and Kanter. Last year, the Jazz extended Derrick Favors before the fall deadline and failed to reach a deal with Gordon Hayward. Subsequently, Hayward became a restricted free agent this summer, allowing him to land his max deal.

Of course they have. Stupid not to look at it. Even if Kanter is traded eventually you might be able to get a good deal with him coming off a couple injuries. Burks they should be looking to sign for sure.


• Late Sunday, nude photos of Trey Burke started to spread on social media. The second-year point guard on Monday apologized for the incident and said they were old photos meant to be kept private.

• Ben Anderson, a really smart host over at 1320 KFAN, asked Lindsey if he intentionally took away some of the veteran leadership from last year to force the young players to step in.

"I’m not sure how to totally answer that question at this point in time," Lindsey replied. The GM talked about some of Favors’ and Haywards’ leadership qualities before saying, "Did some veterans move on and will some young guys need to replace that voice? Absolutely."

• No doubt that Hayward is expected to lead. Read Tony Jones’ story on the $63-million man.

Wasn't it Tony that just called Favors a proven leader? :D


• Hayward ruffled some feathers earlier this summer when he talked to Trib columnist Kurt Kragthorpe about his expectations having just signed a new deal. Here’s what Lindsey had to say about that: "I think the message that Gordon was trying to say is, ‘I always feel accountable to producing and trying to find wins and being a part of a winning club.’ I think if you’re in the business of basketball and you’re a competitor, you’re going to find the right reasons why to compete. Usually those guys if they’re doing it for a dollar sign, they’re in it for the wrong reasons. We’re very confident in Gordon, in who he is."

obviously more than a lot of us


• Exum has had a whirlwind summer and said he’s glad to be in Salt Lake City and settling down. He’s living downtown and said he’s been to "both malls." He’s also been to a University of Utah football, his first American football experience.

• There seems to be one spot up for grabs when it comes to the handful of non-guaranteed camp invitees. And there are some interesting skill sets and stories to be told there.

Should be a good fight. They still are under the cap by a bit with the extra roster spot so they could still be in play for a deal. Some teams with more than 15 guaranteed deals.


Dahntay Jones spent part of last year as an NBA analyst after being waived by the Bulls. It kept him around the game and gave him practice at something he can see himself doing once he’s done with basketball.

Jones has been in long-shot situations before. He was a member of the D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants before he got his shot with Denver.
But he sees his arrival in Utah more like his move to Indiana.

"You had a team that was rebuilding and they started from the bottom and wanted to definite the team they wanted to have. They started with different pieces and they grew from there. [Eventually], they go to the Eastern Conference Finals."

• Media availability will be after practices this season. This is a departure from years past. It’s a minor thing. It’ll mean a little more sleeping in for me and the other reporters. But it will also mean that if there’s an injury at practice, we can ask about it that day instead of waiting until the following availability.

• Two-a-days start tomorrow. Remember you can always hit us up with questions and comments on Twitter or email.

— Aaron Falk

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Not only did Favors say he could average 20 and 10 this season, he predicted that he will also get at least 10 assists in a single game and average somewhere between two and three.

20-10? Maybe try for a double double first. Big talk last year of him being one of the top rebounders in the league. What happened there?

[QUOTE]"That

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[QUOTE]Hayward thinks the Jazz will make a significant leap from last season. His Team USA experience, though ultimately unsuccessful

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[QUOTE]The Turkish big man has attempted exactly one shot from beyond the arc in each of his first three seasons (sinking one of them). This year, Kanter says he

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[QUOTE]Defensively, Kanter appeared to be lost on the floor at times. This year, he said one of his primary focuses is on being a better defender.

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[QUOTE]

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http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2757/3/28-Trey-Burke-Utah-Jazz-Ranking-the-starting-point-guards-in-the-NBA-from-the-2013-14-season.html

at least he's ahead of Felton!

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[QUOTE]The morning session of Day 1 was focused entirely on defense and more specifically transition defense. Snyder says he doesn

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David Locke: Carrick Felix will miss approx. 4 weeks with a Grade One AC joint sprain of the his left shoulder Twitter @Lockedonsports

sucks for him. He might have had a chance for some minutes. He'll be way behind now.

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[QUOTE]Last season, both players established themselves as key contributors and anchors of the franchise

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[QUOTE]Guys who aren

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the Jazz have said they will take Exum and play him right away, in order for him to gain NBA experience.

They've also said guys are going to compete. Which is it? If he's not ready it makes more sense to spend time in the D-League.

[QUOTE]"It was a good first practice for us," Exum said. "It

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“It’s very different. We didn’t run a play (on offense) all practice,” Jazz big man Derrick Favors said. “Everything was basically defense — defensive rotations, where to be at, how to guard your man, different schemes. The whole practice was basically defense.”

The coach K philosophy that led to the USA 2006 loss.


Especially transition defense, one of the culprits for Utah finishing ranked last in the league in defensive efficiency for the 2013-14 season.

“It’s the first part of any defensive possession,” Snyder said. “If you’re not back in transition then you don’t get a chance to play any other type of defense.”

In his first season as head coach, Snyder is committed to changing the defensive culture in Utah. That, Jazz management believes, is a critical step that must be taken en route to the championship-contending level the team hopes to reach.

“We’re focusing on defending,” Snyder said between the day’s two practice sessions. “I think that’s where we’ve got to begin.”

It starts on the offensive side of the court. Snyder wants his bigs to pound the glass for offensive boards and then to beeline it to the other end if that doesn’t work. Meanwhile, it’s up to the rest of the team to hurry back to slow down fast-break and early-offense attempts.

But, Snyder insisted, it’s more than just physically hustling.

“It’s habits. It’s mental hustle. If you’re not quick to react, you’re late and you can’t catch up. It’s like a sprint — whoever gets out of the gate quickly has an advantage,” the new Jazz coach said. “Especially if you look at the point guards in the West — the ball’s coming at you pretty quick. We’ve got to have the bigs also to form a wall, so people see bodies and see a crowd (and) they don’t see space and the rim.”

Fourth-year big Enes Kanter said defense was the first thing Snyder talked about in a locker room meeting before practice, too.

“I think the important thing right now is defense. Just go out there and just give yourself 100 percent on defense,” Kanter said. “We have special, talented guys who can score the ball. But team defense is teamwork. Every five guys has to do it. It’s going to take some work, definitely. I have to be more in shape. We all have to be in better shape.”

While the Jazz have talked about improving their defense in years past, Favors said things feel a bit different at the beginning of this camp. The players seem more committed. The focus on that end of the court is sharper.

“We’re more focused on defense this year than previous years. Everybody came out here and we’re committed to playing defense,” Favors said. “It’s a very unselfish team. Everybody wants to share the ball. Everybody wants to see everybody do good. It feels like it’s a different feeling in the gym.”

On an individual basis, Favors said Snyder wants him to “play defense like I’ve always played, just with the team.” That includes helping teammates when they get beat off the dribble, adjusting to get back on D quicker, and being more vocal, something coaches tried to get him to do last season.

Kanter, who averaged a double-double over the last month and a half of 2013-14, knows he has left much room for improvement on the defensive end. He said it’s catching on, too.

“Last year, I didn’t have much knowledge on defense. But now this year with Coach Quin, (he) has given us that energy. It’s just come naturally,” Kanter said. “You just want to play defense. Of course, offense is fun. Everybody wants to play offense. Defense is becoming fun too for me.” Hood, a 6-8 small forward, said the coaches are stressing that he should “make athletic plays,” including swiping down lobs, being physical and rebounding.

Exum said the coaches also talked about getting three players back quickly in defensive transition to foil fast breaks.

“As a young team,” he said, “if we can get the D-trans and put them in a half-court and make them play, it gives us a better chance to win in the long run.”

The 6-6 playmaker hopes to be able to use his elite quickness and size to pester opposing point guards, although the raw 19-year-old anticipates a challenge getting used to the physicality of the NBA. He said that might be harder to adapt to at this level than running the offensive show.

“Defense is one of those things where it’s physical, guys are running off, using their body to get open, get to the basket,” he said. “I think that’s going to be one of the tough things.”

And, yes, he’ll hear about it when he doesn’t get back quick enough or try hard enough on the defensive end. That, Exum admitted, happened Tuesday morning.

Jokingly asked if he got yelled at in his first practice, Exum smiled and softly replied.

“Yeah, I did,” he said. “On the base line.”

Not to ruin any future surprises for the rookie, but it won't be the last time.

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

TWITTER: DJJazzyJody

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Only the Lakers, 76ers, Timberwolves and Mavericks (the lone playoff team on this list) allowed more fast-break points last year than Utah, which watched opponents gallop to 1,277 of them.

Which probably means their half court d was even worse.

[QUOTE]If this year

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[QUOTE]Evans hopes to continue his progress under coach Quin Snyder, who likes what he

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[QUOTE]The new veterans

The Jazz practiced for over two hours on Wednesday morning as two-a-days continued.

"It

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[QUOTE]Burke is coach Quin Snyder

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[QUOTE]Last year, the Jazz used 33% of their possessions in the final 10 seconds of the shot clock

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not enough was said about the major improvements Burks saw across the board.

Yeah everyone seems to think this is his year but he was arguably their best player last year while Favors and Burke continued to get the hype.


He seems more confident (which is saying a lot for the swaggertastic Burks). His decision-making has never been better. Burks knew when to slash, shoot or pass. The numbers do the talking: career-highs in every major category; 15.8 PER (up from 11.5); 3.2 WS (up from 1.0); .449 FTr, 16.9 AST% (with a better 13.0 TOV%). Credit should also go to Corbin, who changed his position from back-up point guard to designated scorer off the pine.

Credit to Burks and Corbin in the same paragraph? :applause:


Quin Snyder will be the catalyst. It seems like the offense that is being implemented really plays to the strengths of a guy like Burks. In fact, he may be the one who benefits the most. Look for Burks to lead the team in scoring.

Him or Kanter and maybe Burke are the guys they should be looking to to score.


Utah will become a top 12 shot-blocking team: This would constitute a size able jump from the #20 spot. Few players have had a more productive summer than Rudy Gobert. If he enters his way into the rotation–which he will

We'll see. He's got a lot to prove at the other end.


–that alone will propel progression here. Derrick Favors had an unexpected drop in this department (going from 2.6/36 min in 2013 to 1.8 last season. Likewise, his BLK% decreased from 5.7 to 3.8–the lowest since his rookie campaign). With his confidence growing as he moves forward as the team’s defensive anchor, look for a return to his elite form in this category.

His numbers were against bench players before last year.


Trey Burke will be a top 10 assist guy: First, a caveat: the #10 player last season, Jeff Teague, averaged 6.7 apg. Seeing as Burke doled out 5.7 dimes per outing as a rookie and finished 22nd in the NBA, this is quite realistic. While there are a lot of questions behind Snyder’s offense, the constant take of extra passing and playing with more pace can help Burke. While he was not always keen on pushing the ball last year, when he initiated some early offense looks, the Jazz offense was much more effective. Look for Burke to hit the 7 to 7.5 apg mark.

That would pretty good but he'll be splitting the majority of assists with G(like last year) and Burks. Also if Exum is in their he'll be looked at to score more I'd imagine.


Rudy Gobert’s wingspan will still be 7’9″: Shocker, I know. We’ll also hear about cereal, video games and skateboarding ad nauseum.

No extensions come Halloween: It is encouraging that talks between Utah and their fourth-year players, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter. There are simply too many unknowns in both situations. How will they be utilized in Snyder’s system, as opposed to Tyrone Corbin’s? Will Burks be tabbed a starter? How will Kanter’s green light to shoot 3-pointers affect his outlook? Despite valiant efforts, they will come away without extensions. One minor prediction: Mehmet Okur’s presence, whatever that may be, will be a boon for Kanter’s play.

or bust. Would hate to see him hanging out in the corner all game. Okur had no other choice because it's all he had going for him.


Steve Novak will not play much: Given the front court depth, this prediction is anything but bold. With Favors, Kanter, Gobert and Trevor Booker most likely to earn the lion’s share of the PT, Novak will be used as a situational player–in case of foul trouble or injuries, to create the occasional mismatch and end-of-quarter plays. Novak has too many limitations. Plus, Jeremy Evans is still in the fold, coming off a career year.

Agreed but I'd still put Evans ahead of Gobert until proven otherwise.


Gordon Hayward’s shooting will return to his career marks: His dismal shooting last year was well documented–41.3 percent FGs and 30.4 percent 3s. Assuming a lead role, less surrounding talent and perhaps pressure from his unresolved contract situation all probably played a part. After a busy summer that saw him become richer, happier (with his marriage) and battling against some of the game’s best, Hayward should return to form. I’m thinking 45 and 37 percent, respectively.

We'll see. He's always been inconsistent. He might start gunning more now that he is elite(in his own words).


Utah will open with 15 on its roster: In years past, the Jazz would start with 14 to help maintain roster flexibility. Dennis Lindsey does things differently2. It also helps that teams can add a guy while affixing a January guarantee date, thus making it a low-cost move. Someone out of the training camp invitees will impress and stick. Another wrinkle to watch: while a few guys have guarantees (like Felix and Ian Clark), what if a few of the free agents really stick out? Given their modest salaries, would Utah be willing to cut one of them if someone shows more short and long-term potential?

Don't see them cutting guys with guaranteed money. One spot at most open. Murray could go before the January guarantee date. Still could be a trade to change things too though.


Jazz All-Star Weekend Representation: Burke will return to the Rising Stars no-defense game. Keep an eye on Gobert, too. With a less strong class of sophomores, the Frenchman could make a big jump amongst this group. Dante Exum will not make it there, but Rodney Hood will. It’s also safe to predict that Jack Cooley will not be a Slam Dunk Competition participant. No one will make the real All-Star team.

Rookie performances: Speaking of which, Hood will be viewed by many as one of the big steals of the 2014 Draft. He will be a rotational player from day one and will provide a spark with his fundamental play and much-needed perimeter marksmanship. Unlike most out there, I concur with Andrew Bogut about Exum: he won’t struggle as much as people are assuming. Yes, he will have a lot of growing pains. But his natural talent will be hard to keep off the floor. He will play more than the 15-18 MPG some are forecasting.

Maybe in the Dleague.


Snyder will turn a lot of heads: With the emphasis being more on development and systematic implementation, Snyder will have a great Honeymoon year. He will have the team playing hard and there will be a very fun brand of basketball put out there. While some other rookie coaches will see some immediate success–see Steve Kerr–he will surprise.

There are a lot more, but this will do for today. What are your predictions? Feel free to share any you may have in the comments below.

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Coach Quin Snyder likes what he

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Zach Lowe: League sources: NBA sent memo today indicating 30 teams could vote on slightly revised lottery reform proposal at Bd of Gov later this month Twitter @ZachLowe_NBA

regret the tank?

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So even as a rookie, Hood figures prominently into the Jazz

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[QUOTE]Coach Quin Snyder, who saw Booker in action four times last season in his Hawks assistant position, has used words like

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[QUOTE]After being asked which Utah guard was the toughest to defend, Clark admitted that Burks had a particularly good Saturday morning showing.

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[QUOTE]NOTES: The Jazz wrap up their first week of practice with one workout Sunday. Utah will host an open intrasquad scrimmage Monday (6:30 p.m., ESA) and begin preseason action at home against Portland on Tuesday.

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New Jazz forward Trevor Booker on Utah

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[QUOTE]One thing has been consistent so far during camp: Gordon Hayward continues to receive compliments for his play and physical improvements.

On Friday, Novak gushed about how strong the fifth-year small forward has been in camp.

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[QUOTE]ATHLETIC ADVANTAGE: The Jazz are one of the younger teams in the NBA. With 19 players on the roster, their current age is only 24.7 years old, the third-lowest in the league. (Dallas is the oldest: 28.3).

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NOTES: Novak said the Jazz bigs are also playing well and complimented 6-11 forward/center Enes Kanter for hitting a pair of 3-pointers in scrimmages. ...

sweet

[QUOTE]Snyder on Carrick Felix, who suffered a Grade 1 AC joint sprain of his left shoulder during the first practice this week: "Carrick ran into good, clean screen. He was trying to get over the top of it and caught his shoulder," the coach said. "It

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Based on salary, Hayward and Derrick Favors are the top candidates to become All-Stars. Going by draft status, it would be Favors or Enes Kanter. For pure athletic ability, it is Alec Burks. By age, with the most improvement to come, it should be Dante Exum or Trey Burke.

I think Kanter is the same age as Burke and arguably has a lot more room for improvement based on his experience and being a big. And Exum was in a lot stronger draft so by draft stays you could argue him as well.

[QUOTE]My ranking of those six, by degree of All-Star likelihood: Burks, Hayward, Exum, Favors, Kanter, Burke. Or who knows, maybe Rodney Hood is the guy.

Whether any of them reaches that level, and how soon, are good questions.

"I can

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Returning this year, with a season in the NBA under his belt, the guard says he still felt a need to prove himself.

A guy that has proven absolutely nothing has to prove himself? :facepalm

[QUOTE]"Definitely," Clark said after practice Saturday. "It

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Aaron Falk: Per Jazz PR, Ian Clark (left patella tendinitis; sprained left ankle) did not practice today. Clark & Felix are OUT for Monday's scrimmage. Twitter @tribjazz

[El Kabong]

Never understood this no headband business. If the players feel more comfortable wearing one then let 'em I say.

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Jerry was old school and I guess Ty too. If it keeps sweat out of your eyes I'd want them wearing them if they want.

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[QUOTE]

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[QUOTE]Burke, who looked aggressive during a scrimmage that media briefly got to watch Sunday afternoon, said he

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[QUOTE]The Jazz will wrap up training camp Monday night with an open intrasquad scrimmage at EnergySolutions Arena after completing their final practice before preseason play Sunday afternoon.

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[QUOTE]Sunday was the first time media was allowed to watch any scrimmage action, and Burke stood out for his defense. As Jazz fans may know, that wasn

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[QUOTE]Novak may not be the biggest Jazz player. He

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They only played 3 8 minute quarters but got an idea about them anyway. Hood filled the passing lanes on a couple plays nicely. Kanter had a 3 from the top go in and out. Novak was gunning up 3's. Booker showed his hustle. Favors had a nice pump fake up and under Rudy and hit a jumper too. Rudy put down a nice lob rolling to the hoop. Exum looked ok other than his shot. Favors and Burke seem to be the most popular players for some reason. The offense is just a modern take on what Jerry did with high pick and roll and off the ball movement. They drive and kick looking for the 3 ball.

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[QUOTE]It will be interesting to see what rotations Snyder will use. Who comes off the bench, and in what sequence? How much will Rudy Gobert

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[QUOTE]The regular season will be a marathon of 82 games. But through the first week of training camp and Utah

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Alec Burks led his squad with seven points, hitting a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws along the way. Burks and his jumper have earned some rave reviews in training camp, and if he can improve on his 35 percent 3-point shooting from a season ago, he could be in line for a breakout year.

I'd expect improvement from outside. He just needs to hit it enough to open up the rest of his game. Like Kanter they don't need him living out there.

[QUOTE]

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David Locke: Jazz G/F Rodney Hood (right hip flexor strain) is OUT of tonight's preseason game vs. Portland. Twitter @Lockedonsports

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Exum played extensive minutes, logging 29:05 of game time. He scored all of his four points early on and finished with three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Overall, it was a nice NBA primer for the Australian youngster.

If he doesn't step it up he should start in the D-League.


Rodney Hood did not play, as he sat with a right hip flexor strain.

Utah ties: Former Weber State guard Damian Lillard had a decent game when he was on the floor, finishing with nine points, an assist and a steal. With it being a preseason game, though, Lillard played just under 20 minutes and he hit just 4-of-11 shots. Former Jazzman Wesley Matthews added six points and four rebounds. Another former Jazzman, Diante Garrett, entered the game in the fourth quarter and missed his only field goal attempt.

Up next: The Jazz and Trail Blazers match up again on Thursday at the Moda Center in Portland. Game time is 8 p.m. MDT.

Email: bjudd@deseretnews.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd

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http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2777/19/12-Gordon-Hayward-Utah-Jazz-Ranking-the-starting-shooting-guards-in-the-NBA-from-the-2013-14.html

Max! :facepalm

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[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert has seemingly taken the next step in his evolution, finishing with eight points, 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks, showing he should be a key piece of Snyder

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[QUOTE]There were times a season ago when the two bigs playing together resembled a big brother (Favors) working alongside a little brother (Kanter) who acquitted himself well on some trips, but then, on others, made boneheaded errors. Now, Favors said Kanter is "one of the reasons I

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http://basketball.realgm.com/article/235100/14-15-Euroleague-Power-Rankings-Centers

:eek:

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[QUOTE]The Jazz will almost be forced to have the ball in Dante Exum

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[QUOTE]There are two camps: The one that remains upset that the Jazz didn

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Nothing has been decided on Hood

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David Locke: Jazz G Ian Clark (left knee, ankle) and G/F Rodney Hood (right hip) will be available for tonight's game at Portland. Twitter @Lockedonsports - See more at: http://*********.com/rumors.htm#sthash.5HgbrZCu.dpuf

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David Locke: Jazz have waived both Dee Bost and Kevin Murphy. Both played in Idaho last year in D-League and are Idaho property Twitter @Lockedonsports

probably two more to go.

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[QUOTE]Both forward Trevor Booker and guard Dahntay Jones see similarities between their new, young teammates and their old, young teammates.

"It

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Tony Jones: Utah jazz forward Rodney Hood will make his preseason NBA debut tomorrow night against the Los Angeles clippers Twitter @Tjonessltrib

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[QUOTE]Monday night will see the delayed debut of Utah

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[QUOTE]Stating the obvious

Snyder looked incredulous when asked this question on Sunday afternoon.

"What kind of problems do the Clippers pose?"

"Other than being one of the best teams in the league?" came Snyder

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[QUOTE]"I don

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Aaron Falk: Quin Snyder says Ian Clark should be available to make his preseason debut tonight. Twitter @tribjazz

But is he going to play? The rotation has been pretty short thus far and I don't see him being part of it.

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[QUOTE] If Monday night

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[QUOTE]Hood and veteran sharpshooter Steve Novak engaged in a post-shootaround 3-point contest that came down to the end.

Novak, proving he

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[QUOTE]Favors says he

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Kanter and Favors both made terrific passes during the game.

Good to see the interior passing again. Rudy, Booker and Evans too.

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert grabbed 20 rebounds. I don

[El Kabong]

Looked pretty good against the Clippers. Of course there's a big difference between pre-season and regular games, but some encouraging signs.

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definitely!

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Jody Genessy: Jazz guards Alec Burks and Carrick Felix participated in non-contact drills today at practice. Both players have shoulder injuries. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

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Al Horford’s name will enter trade talks. It happened in stealth mode last season, when the Hawks reached out to a select group and made it known that Horford could be had for the right price — including an unprotected 2014 first-round pick, per several league sources. Nothing materialized, and Horford is ready to return from another torn pectoral muscle. A healthy Horford is a top-20 player on a below-market contract that runs through 2015-16 — long enough that some team could talk itself into gambling on him. He could net a hefty return for the Hawks, who have been happily skipping down the “pretty good with cap room” path under Danny Ferry. Grantland

I'd consider it. His injuries would worry me a little though.

[El Kabong]

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You]Al Horford

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[QUOTE]What Snyder is seeing from veteran guard Dahntay Jones, who has been in the Jazz's regular rotation the first three exhibition games:

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[QUOTE]Jazz guard Alec Burks and forward Carrick Felix are classified as game-time decisions for Thursday

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[QUOTE]Snyder said he

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David Locke: Alec Burks is out for tonight's game (left shoulder) in Anaheim. Carrick Felix is a game time decision. #UTAatLAL Twitter @Lockedonsports

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[QUOTE]NBA prognosticators

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[QUOTE]Despite the blowout victory, Snyder wasn

[Xiao Yao You]

The offense was strong again tonight. The ball movement was a constant. The Jazz scored 30 or more in each of the final 3 quarters. There was a sequence in the 2nd quarter where the Jazz looked as sharp as you could imagine. They got into flow and started making reads and getting good looks. The Lakers were not interested in defending.

Lakers were actually playing more aggressively than the Clippers or Portland. They just suck!

[QUOTE]The Lakers are awful. I am not sure how much Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Robert Sacre, Jordan Clarkson and Steve Nash are going to be able to help that crew but if they don

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Carrick Felix looked lost in his preseason debut tonight. His stroke is off, he

[El Kabong]

Certainly some promising signs. Makes you wish they didn't waste those years with Corbin.

[Xiao Yao You]

Certainly some promising signs. Makes you wish they didn't waste those years with Corbin.

Jefferson was the waste in my mind.

[Xiao Yao You]

Mark Medina: It's likely Ryan Kelly will play Sunday vs Utah Twitter @MarkG_Medina

Aaron Falk: Alec Burks won't play tonight against the Clippers. Bruised left shoulder will have kept him out of three straight. Twitter @tribjazz

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Favors, the Jazz center said he isn

[Xiao Yao You]

NOTES: Hood fouled out early in the fourth quarter. ...

Tough night for the rook!

J
azz guard Alec Burks didn't play again because of a left shoulder contusion. ... Center Enes Kanter went 0 for 2 from 3-point range and has now missed eight straight from beyond the arc since hitting his first of the season.

Supposedly he and others were supposed to be shooting the corner 3. Most of them are coming from up top


... The Jazz finish the Southern California portion of their four-game road trip against the Lakers on Sunday at Staples Center. ... Jazz center Rudy Gobert was assessed with two technical fouls.

Rudy replaced Kanter quickly in the 4th after some bad plays by Enes. Could be something to watch. Hopefully he'll feel free to do that with anyone. Favors has always gotten a free pass.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]I thought Rudy had done a really good job defensively. And he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"I thought it was just a game foul," Booker said. "Obviously they thought it was a flagrant. I thought it was a good foul. He got a little heated and grabbed my head. That

[Xiao Yao You]

Bryant spent most of the night going at it with Hayward, who has packed on quite a bit of muscle since the two first got matched against each other in 2010. It was clear to see that the Jazz player is much more physical against Bryant than he used to be.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]is is shaping up as Kanter

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]"It feels real good," he said. "I

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Lakers forward Ryan Kelly will miss tonight

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]His role at the current moment has just as much to do with Novak and Trevor Booker, as well as the emergence of Rudy Gobert. Those three make it a crowded big man rotation. Along with the starting bigs, that

[Xiao Yao You]

Favors is looking so much smoother in the paint with some nifty post moves,

Not sure about that. He still looked like shit in the post before last game where he had at least a couple nice plays.

[QUOTE]Hayward looks more confident in leading the team and taking big shots. Trey Burke seemed so much more comfortable running the offense and shooting more efficiently (and getting to the line!), Rudy Gobert is even more impactful in his time on the court, and Exum didn

[Xiao Yao You]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers will waive Jeremy Tyler so that he can sign a deal in China, league sources tell Yahoo. Tyler will not dress for Sunday's game. Twitter -

[El Kabong]

Nice move by Burks.

https://gfycat.com/SlimUnkemptBighornedsheep

[Xiao Yao You]

great to see Alec again!

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Clark played some point and had a nice assist to Dahntay Jones, hitting the streaking guard for an easy layup.

"Ian

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Booker, however, was no longer wearing a protective walking boot during the team

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jazz coach Quin Snyder said this week, he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Jazz rested Trey Burke, Trevor Booker was out with an ankle injury and didn

[Xiao Yao You]

Bill Oram: One thing I've been struck by in last few days... Jazz personnel LOVE Carlos Boozer. Clashes with perception among fans, who soured on him. Twitter @bill_oram

This is a surprise?

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

What was interesting was seeing how Kanter, Burks, Exum, Hood, and Gobert responded with the extra time, but without the two best players on the floor for the bulk of the game.

Favors and G? They are the highest paid not necessarily the best.

[QUOTE]We still get glimpses of the talent that

[Xiao Yao You]

Mark Murphy: Source: Celtics still holding to see if Will Bynum trade is possible, though chances slim. More likely he's waived by end of week. Twitter @Murf56 -

I wouldn't mind him.

[Xiao Yao You]

“I think I’m still feeling a little bit rusty, so I just need to take that hop and just keep playing like I used to play,” Kanter said. “I just keep getting in more shape and more focused. I’m just trying to get my shot right and get in better shape because I didn’t play the whole summer because of the surgery. It’s not an excuse, but this is a step to take.”

And despite that he's still showed more improvement than Favors.


The win moves Utah to 5-2 this preseason, snapping a two-game losing streak and sending depleted Oklahoma City to its fourth-straight loss.

Kanter got the Jazz off to a fast start, too.

He scored 16 points in the first half — eight points in each quarter — to give Utah a 58-50 lead at halftime. He even capped the half by making a basket as the buzzer sounded to end the second quarter.

“He came to play tonight,” Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. “He stepped back and knocked down some 3's. Even if he doesn’t knock them down, just his ability to space the floor makes him a threat out there. The defense has to react to that, has to respect that, and that helps out the spacing for everybody. He played extremely well tonight. We need more nights like that.”

What makes it more impressive is he did his damage mostly against Ibaka, an NBA All-Defensive Team player last season and the league's leading shot blocker.

Favors and him certainly appeared to have outplayed Adams and Ibaka.


“We know he can score,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “I thought he really competed defensively.

1st time we've heard that!


Ibaka’s a really tough cover for anybody, particularly for someone Enes’ size. It was good to see him compete.

“It came together tonight and he’s just got to keep building off of it.”

Oklahoma City was without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, who suffered a Jones fracture in his foot earlier this preseason. The Thunder also did not play Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Kendrick Perkins, Grant Jerrett or first-round pick Mitch McGary due to various injuries.

But point guard Russell Westbrook was in the lineup, scoring 14 points and dishing out 11 assists in 27 minutes. Perry Jones led the way with 20 points off the bench, while Ibaka scored 14 and grabbed five rebounds. None of Oklahoma City’s starters played the final quarter.

“You know, it’s preseason,” Snyder said. “This is (a) team that will contend for the whole thing. Their approach to the preseason is different than ours. We’re trying to find out who we are. They’re a team that’s proven. They know who they are, and who they are is really, really good and well-coached. We’re trying to figure out how to stay consistent and get better.”

Kanter’s play was a good sign in that regard, especially with the other Jazz starters following suit.

Point guard Trey Burke returned to the lineup after resting against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, scoring 23 points in 28 minutes.

It was Burke who stopped the final Oklahoma City push, making a 3-pointer with 6:08 remaining that put the Jazz up 92-76. On the next possession, he stole the ball from Sebastian Telfair and went the length of the floor for a layup.

Alec Burks added 15 points, Hayward scored 14, and Derrick Favors finished with a double-double behind 12 points and 15 rebounds.

It was a sign of cohesiveness for the starting unit, which helped push Utah’s lead to as much as 21.

“Those guys are really finding a groove together,” Snyder said. “I think having Alec come back last game and we only had a quarter where all of those guys played together last game. Tonight, I think they got a feel for each other and that’s what we were hoping.”

[Xiao Yao You]

Exum recently found out that he and Oklahoma City Thunder rookie forward Josh Huestis are third cousins through their parents.

While Exum is well known as Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Again, the story of the night was Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived forward Jack Cooley and guard Dahntay Jones. Following the moves, Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

American guard Dee Bost is signing a one-year deal with Turkish team Trabzonspor, source told Sportando. Sportando

no Idaho. Plenty of reason to have Ian/Exum spend some time down there.

[Xiao Yao You]

I think it's pretty clear that the three main guys are going to be Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, and Derrick Favors.

It is? Burks and Kanter should be two of the top 3 scorers on the team. Burks has been out and Kanter was rehabbing in the summer again so it's a little early to say what is clear. Obviously Favors and G will be getting huge minutes because of their contracts.


Not surprisingly this will be our best ball handler, best wing player, and best bigmen.

All that is debatable as well.


This is balance that our roster hasn't had a change to experience in a while. (Man, remember when it could be argued that three of our top four players were bigmen?) It's going to be a year predicated by balance. Balance between offense and defense. Balance between talent that starts and a hungry bench.

I don't see that balance like the past 3 years or so. The bench looks like it could be brutal!


Balance between the roster itself. If you want the split hairs the Jazz are imbalanced when it comes to their age and experience. But hey, you gotta start somewhere. Getting good vets will come automatically when the program becomes attractive again.

Getting good vets could happen now if they wanted it to. They are well under the salary cap with roster space and exceptions. They are tanking.


I'm relieved that as for right now there's no debate about the pecking order at point guard.

There should be. You put Neto and Tomic in the mix and the team starts to look pretty interesting.


And really, it never should have been some sort of zero-sum issue at the 1 for this team. It isn't Trey Burke or Dante Exum, it's going to be Trey Burke and Dante Exum. If not on the floor together, then at least in co-operation with what former point guard Quin Snyder is asking from them.

G and Burks are a big part of the equation there as well.


Trey is the starter and has earned it

I wish he had earned it over Neto and a vet personally. He was given the job last year.


with his concentration on the court and precision play. His assist to turn over ratio is astounding, as usual. He has deep range, and is likely to continue showing his leadership ability as his comfort level rises. Dante can flat out do more on the court, but do it at a lower overall level than Trey.

He looked like the best player on the team in the first half of the one game. He isn't ready to bring it consistently yet but it looks like it could just be a matter of time.


Exum appears to have a higher defensive IQ, better over-all instincts with the ball, and is able to finish from almost anywhere on the court, on the run or not. His abilities are better suited as a wildcard off the bench who can mix well with what some of the starters are doing, or be turned on to help take control of a bench unit that needs direction.

Looks like some time in the D-League might be warranted.


I think that's why Trey looks horrible playing with scrubs, but Dante looks so promising. Trey is at his best when playing with people at his level.

He shouldn't have been starting last year.


Dante is naturally talented and shines wherever, and can be a focal point for a five man unit with his mix of athleticism and floor vision.

So it's not Dante or Trey to start the season, at least. It's both of them, both doing their thing.

It's not really.


Backing them up will be the strange combination of three guys who grew up playing shooting guard: Ian Clark, Toure' Murry, and Alec Burks. Clark gets a look here because he's just a short shooting guard, but has leadership ability as we saw back in the Las Vegas Summer League two summers ago. He hasn't had a shot in the NBA, but his performance in the NBA-DL indicates that he's more than just a shooter. He set guys up there frequently.

So this was written before pre-season? He's looked pretty good. Not sure he shouldn't be in the D-league as well though.


Alec Burks actually got his first start in the NBA at point guard, and out of all of these guys, is the closest we have to an actual defender at the position. (Remember that open court elimination of a Ricky Rubio possible game changer during crunch time, last year?) He's not really able to set people up though.

He is. He's just better off on the wing.


Playing him at point guard is like running the Wildcat formation in the NFL. You get the ball in the hands of someone who has a lot of moves earlier, but we all know that no one else is going to be able to get the ball where they can do something with it. And that brings us to Murry, who is listed as a point guard because that's what he played with the New York Knicks last year. Murry was actually a shooting guard who was tasked with distributing a little more in the NBA-DL. He's 6'5, and he's here now. If you add it up they probably do turn into 1.38 point guards though, which is the Jazz average.

He could be gone in two months if he doesn't show them something in practice or the D-league.


You have many looks at point guard with these five players, however the vast majority of the minutes will go to Trey and Dante. As they should.

The vast majority should go to Trey and Burks ideally. Exum and Clark haven't looked like they are ready to bring it every night like you need. The idea that there wasn't room for Neto looks ridiculous right now.


Wingmen:

Big money bags Gordon Hayward is the leader of this pack, and his running mate is the absolutely amazing Alec Burks. We've actually WANTED them to start for a while, but you know, Josh Howard, Randy Foye, Marvin Williams, and Richard Jefferson happened.

The need for shooters happened and still looks like a big question mark with the current line-up.


We've been waiting for them to be paired up for so long you could basically just call them Mulder & Scully -- they don't even kiss (in a non-Bermuda triangle episode that takes place on a Nazi boarded cruise ship) until season 7, if I remember correctly. Back in Utah you're going to see a lot more action between these two young guys, and sooner. Both can handle the ball, drive the ball, pass the ball, hit spot up jumpers, and have the respect of the referees. Alec Burks is faster, finishes crazier, and gets to the line. Gordon is nearly perfect in his form, bigger, and has clutch instincts. Both also have some warts, Alec has trouble when suffocated in the paint and Gordon isn't as good at making shots as he looks taking them.

Regardless, I don't think many other teams in the NBA would complain if they started Gordon and Alec.

Pretty sure they would. Need shooters. Hayward and Burks games are too similar.


It's the bench for the Jazz that's going to be interesting. Rodney Hood can drive, dish, score off the bounce, or spotting up from deep.

Another guy that doesn't look ready to bring it every night yet. D-league.


In this way he's a natural for what the Jazz will be doing with Gordon and Alec on the floor. He's just not as adept on defense right now, but that's a rookie thing more than anything else. He can play the two and the three, and personally, I'd love it if he took Steve Novak's minutes at the four too. But that may not happen. BEYOND Hood there's a drop off.

Novak appears to be out of the rotation as their 5 or 6th big right now right where he should be. Would like to see G play some 4 and Hood when he's ready.


Ian Clark is a combo guard, like Burks, and Dante Exum is a tall point guard. Both Clark and Exum will get some looks at the two this season. So will Gordon Hayward, but he's going to be Wing1 for this team anyway, I don't think he needs to be Wing4 as well. Exum can make threes, and is a headache to match up with. If he can consistently play back up PG / back up SG equally well then we're going to be very happy.

He's already shown he's not ready.


Clark is a more natural shooter

Supposedly anyway. He hasn't looked like that great of a shooter. D-league.


, but he did not have a very convincing rookie year. After that you get Carrick Felix, who played even fewer minutes than Clark did last year (Clark played 172, Felix only 38). Felix is athletic and could be a defender with three point range. We don't know because there's so little data on him in the NBA.

[Xiao Yao You]

The fact that he was a high 2nd round pick makes me think he has some talent. Being hurt hasn't helped him. D-league.


Last, but also least, is Brock Motum. He's a bigman, but I'm listing him here to go with that 3 - 6 - 6 breakdown. It's either him or Steve Novak, and I went with which guy is more capable to defend wing players right now.

Motum is ready to defend the 3? Evans maybe? If not they need to look to trade him. Their front court they have some depth. Everywhere else they are young and thin.


If the Jazz do envision Novak as a 3/4 then, well, it isn't going to be the end of the world. Hayward, Burks, and Hood will take the majority of the 96 minutes at the wing spot.

Hard to say right now. I'd say who ever is going best out of Exum, Clark and Hood should get those minutes and if they aren't getting it done give some one else a look. It's not looking good anyway you slice it. Again Neto would sure make this whole thing look a lot better. He could have gotten Clark's minutes at the very least.


There isn't going to be a lot left after Clark and Exum get some reps in at the two. And Novak IS the best shooter on the team. I can see some situations where putting him in at the three is a good thing. But they are situations, not sequences.

Bigmen:

Derrick Favors is the man. He's a double double machine who can send shots back and, when he remembers, completely humiliate players when he uses his full range of basketball skills and Olympian like athleticism. He headlines the bigmen for this team, and there's no big secret why. Favors is just really, really good.

What am I missing? I like him ok but I just don't see it.


Who he plays with on the floor will go a long way towards determining what the Coach will ask of Favors. (And I think this is backwards. They didn't make Karl Malone do different things on the floor if he was on the floor with Mark Eaton or Greg Ostertag or Danny Manning. He was always Karl Malone and asked to do Karl Malone things.)

Favors isn't Karl Malone for starters!


Paired up with Enes Kanter means that Favors' paint dominance is someone relinquished

paint dominance?:rolleyes:


, as Kanter is a 20/20 threat when he is rolling. Paired up with Trevor Booker means that Derrick is more in charge of clearing the glass and outlet-ing the ball. Booker is Mr. Hustle and has an outside shot. Favors is more traditional here. And last, paired up with Rudy Gobert moves Derrick to the four, and then becomes the primary inside scoring option.

Gobert has probably looked as good as Favors around the rim. He should be on the move regardless of who he is playing with. His spot up and pick and roll are where he can be successful.


The changing demands on Derrick will be something to watch this season.

The Kanter / Booker / Gobert discussion will be on that goes beyond their conjugate ability with Favors, though. I think we like all three of them, and know that they are vastly different players. Kanter is more like Malone than anyone else on our team in terms of being an actual offensive finisher from 20 feet and in. He works on the glass and defensive effort vacillates from game to game though. When he is "on" he does play like a #3 draft pick. He's just not "on" as much as we'd want.

Same could be said of their other #3 pick who we just gushed over. Kanter is the better shooter with more range. A better post player. His passing game and ability to put the ball on the floor are much improved and after the last game he was actually praised for his work at the other end. The difference I see is Kanter continues to get better, is younger with a lot more upside. Favors is basically the player he will always be.


If Kanter is a flawed version of Karl Malone than Booker is a flawed version of Paul Millsap. But a hybrid Millsap, the hustle and energy of his first two season coupled with the shooting range of the current Millsap version.

He's hit some 3's let's not put him up with Paul. Again why did they let Paul go?


He brings toughness to a group of guys who were conditioned not to express toughness (but we've seen episodes where Favors of Kanter did not back down during games. Let's see more of it!). Trevor is going to push people around in the paint, and in practice. I don't see how he's anything more than the fourth big on this team though.

He's been the first big off the bench. Rudy has looked good but it's still pre-season. Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet.


Rudy Gobert is just so amazing I don't know where to begin. He's perfect off the bench because he gives the bench guards a Big Brother on defense to help them, and is a huge target on offense who cleans up any messes around the rim, or is a perfect recipient for a dump-off pass. He's big. He's agile. He finishes well around the basket. And he's not horrible at free throws.

He has been. Let's see if he can continue to shoot as well once the actual season starts as he has in the pre-season.


It's not crazy to believe that he could start at some point during this season. It's crazy to believe that he didn't deserve much more playing time last year as Brandon Rush did. (But that happened)

He deserved more D-league time. He wasn't ready offensively last year. Appears like he can pull his weight at both ends now. We'll see.


The Jazz have two specialists left in their deep bigman rotation: Steve Novak and Jeremy Evans.

Jeremy showed he was more than a specialist last year. Trade him!


Both are pure finishers. Evans is a great finisher near the basket. And Novak is a great finisher on spot up jumpers. Novak spreads the floor but can't play a lick of defense and doesn't rebound. But he's the best shooter on the entire team. He's the most experienced (in age), but has been little more in his NBA career than someone to throw a few change-ups on the floor. Evans can defend, but isn't a threat at all to make jumpers.

He's not? He doesn't have 3 point range but he was hitting open 20 footers all year.


He did last year, but we haven't seen a lot of it this preseason. Dude can't get on the floor, which is so ironic because his leaping ability means he doesn't spend much time actually on the floor when he's in the game either. Both players are in a numbers crunch as bigmen behind a very deep foursome. If they can steal some minutes at the three they may actually see 10 minutes in a game now and then. Neither is capable of defending the three though.

They need help at the 3. Who has depth at the 1,2, or 3 and needs a big like Jeremy?


I think Brock Motum is slightly better equipped, but he's a face up four / hustle guy hybrid too, in reality. It's likely that he's going to spend more of his time in Idaho than Utah, though.

Still could be cut.


I could be wrong.

You have been on most counts!


Maybe he's the Australian version of Dirk Nowitzki? Probably not though.

Impressions:

It's hard not to look at this squad and be amazed by how young they are, or how inexperienced they are. But the Jazz brass are determined not to skip any steps this time -- for reals. And that means it's a learning process for the players, coaches, front office, and fans too. There are going to be good nights, great nights, and forgettable ones too. But this roster is one that's going to compete most nights against playoff teams, and not back down.

The starting it should. The bench looks like it could have a lot of trouble competing.


It's a team you can root for. A team that will play an exciting style of basketball that takes advantage of the skills and talents of the players up make up the roster.

Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, and Derrick Favors are going to straight up ball this year. And the rest of the team will follow. Alec Burks could be our leading scorer. Enes Kanter could start to reach the surface of his potential.

But they aren't part of the big 3?


Dante Exum could be facing off against Trey in the Rookie/Soph game.

Not looking likely.


Rodney Hood is already regarded as the steal of the draft.

By who? He hasn't been looking very good.


Trevor Booker is a freight train. Steve Novak is hilarious. And man, Rudy Gobert. Dude is going to get some 6MOY, MIP, and DPOY votes if he stays healthy and gets a shot.

DPOTY and MIP off the bench?


You're going to love this team. You're going to love this team because they are bringing the Jazz back to Utah basketball.

I'd love it more if that mixed in some vets and had a bench and were trying to win games but than they wouldn't be able to draft another big man with upside next year.

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]

[Xiao Yao You]

Jones' release is somewhat surprising, considering the 6-foot-6, 225-pounder played in six of the Jazz's first seven preseason games. The 33-year-old, trying to get back into the NBA after a year away, averaged 3.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 11.8 minutes for the Jazz.

He didn't play when Clark, Hood and Burks were healthy. Would have been nice to have had another vet around but certainly not surprising looking at their roster.


Cooley only saw limited action in two exhibition games, as the bulky 6-9 big man averaged 3.5 points and 3.0 boards.

The Jazz, who won at Oklahoma City on Tuesday to improve to 5-2, wrap up their eight-game preseason schedule Friday night at home against the Phoenix Suns. The game won't be televised, but the team will stream it live at utahjazz.com within a 75-mile radius of EnergySolutions Arena.

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

TWITTER: DJJazzyJody

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]If Snyder wants to clean up a specific area between now and the real thing, it

[Xiao Yao You]

All expectations are the Jazz will open the season with a 15-man roster.

We'll see. Obviously they would make a good trade partner with roster and cap space. I'm sure they could make a move if someone they like becomes available too. Their roster is certainly unbalanced.

[QUOTE]Jones, a 10-year NBA veteran, played a considerable amount for the Jazz in the preseason. He came with a reputation as a solid defensive player and it showed in the preseason. Cooley got limited action in preseason games, but played well throughout camp. Cooley, who played collegiately at Notre Dame, will be property of the Idaho Stampede in the D-League if he plays D-League.

If the roster holds at these 15 players, the final roster spots will have been earned by Toure

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Clark was a summer league revelation in 2013, impressing so much that several teams were clamoring for his services. Utah won the bid, but Clark received minimal playing time. After a summer league where his main skill

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Another of Booker

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]It

[Xiao Yao You]

Stability comes from the head coach, and the Jazz org love to preserve stability. However, current Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey is shaking things up, and that's both a good and necessary change.

We'll see if it was good. Necessary to get the new GM's guy I guess.


Richard Jefferson made the most money last season on the team, over $11 million, played 2,213 minutes, his "on court%" was 5th best on the team, playing over 56% of his available minutes, and was both 6th on the team in FGA per game and his "On court FGA%". (I know, I have stats in my spread sheets that no other Jazz blogger has. But hey, that's just to blind my haters. Or something.) He was a big part of what we did last year, and if you forgot, what we did was win 25 games. He's gone.

tank failed! They look like they've set themselves up to fail even better this year though!


Marvin Williams made the third most money on the team, played 1,674 minutes, but had he been uninjured he would have gone past the 2k minutes barrier last year as well. His "on court%" was also above 50% (52.84%), and was 7th best on the team. He was also 7th in on court FGA% and FGA per game. I love Marvin Williams, but seeing him go to a playoff team is for his best interest.

Best interests of the Jazz certainly!


Andris Biedrins made the second most money on the team, a whopping $9 million which gladly came off our cap so our team could match the max offer for Gordon Hayward. So in a way, this was his biggest assist of the season. In a box score way, though, he had no assists last season, but still made $9 million dollars.

I thought he could have helped them. When Kanter got benched though he was out of the equation.


I am only including Brandon Rush and John Lucas III here as significant moves because they help complete the picture of what a regime change the team is going though. Rush had an entirely forgettable season, but still made the 6th most on the team. John Lucas III was shoe horned into a starters spot as Trey Burke sustained an injury in preseason, which is more than any third stringer should ever be pressed into. If you break down his numbers he was a frequent enough shooter to bounce up the 'big deal' rankings on this team. He did not play a lot, but still managed to be an NBA point guard for nearly 30% of all the available point guard minutes the team had last year. So, yeah. Wow.

Should have never been expected to be a back-up which was the case.


Out with the old, and in with the new. And there's a lot of novelty here. A new head coach in Quin Snyder; two new rookie 1st rounders in Dante Exum and Rodney Hood; and effectively a new bench in Trevor Booker, Dahntay Jones, and Steve Novak. Novak is better suited to being a stretch four than Marvin Williams is, so in a way this is technically an upgrade.

In the fact that he's not in the rotation yes it's an upgrade to Marvin starting.


Booker is likely to play in more than 6 games for the Jazz this year, and is an upgrade over Beans as well. Jones wasn't even in the league last year -- but then again, neither was Brandon Rush.

Obviously RJ is better than rookie guard/forward Rodney Hood, but Dante Exum is light years ahead of Lucas.

Is he light years ahead of Garrett though? Not yet.


If you add this to the fact that there are eight returning players who are under the age of 25 then you see that perhaps the most significant off-season addition was that everyone got one year older and more experienced. Another ring around the trunk will mean a lot for this young club.

Except that overall they got a lot younger.


In the interest of full disclosure here, though, many fans are curious about the absence of these two additions:

Not bringing over Ante Tomic and Raul Neto are significant off-season moves as well because a 25 win team shouldn't be too proud to shoo away the talented assets they own; especially not after their successful Euroleague and FIBA play. Regardless, all of the huge changes with the roster will make a huge difference with how the team plays on the court, and fans will be able to see that.
With those two the Jazz rotation would look pretty good. Right now it's looking ugly!

[QUOTE]What are the Jazz' biggest strengths?

The overriding perception of the Jazz right now is that they are a bad team that will be stuck in the lottery once again, despite collecting and cashing in for multiple lotto picks in the last few seasons; picks that have resulted in players that are overlooked in their respective draft classes if you pay attention to online polls from big media (ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Slam Magazine, etc). I do not share in that opinion, in fact, I see Utah as being far from hapless. Furthermore, the greatest strength I see in this team

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]I don

[Xiao Yao You]

Other teams don't wait until the rookie contract is up before a) trying to improve raw players, and/or b) trying to get a return on the risk/investment by having them do good things for the team by being in the damn game. He was a #3 pick, remember? Sheesh!

And he's been playing since he was a rookie. Giving guys time just because is a joke! Obviously they will be doing that this year because they have no other choice because of the young roster.


Stop me if you heard this before, but I think the third major goal should be discipline with this team. They are young, and you don't want them learning bad habits (on or off the court), or feeling entitled to being in the NBA.

You just said they should be playing regardless. That's not entitlement?


Bringing in a bunch of hungry NBA DL guys to training camp will push our young core more than a bunch of one-and-done mercenaries who have 'buddy buddy' deals with a cronyism-centric coaching staffs.

Disagree. Vets are important to have around. Something they are certainly lacking now.


So I guess the main goals for this Utah Jazz team are the same ones that they had last year. Evidence of improvement needs to be seen.

The main goal appears to be tanking.


Why should you be excited for this lotto team?

Sure, last season the team was specifically built for the NBA draft lottery. And that includes all the fun and games of going out there 82 nights in a season, and nearly having the worst season in franchise history. The team reported a home attendance average of about 18,176 people in the stands, but that just didn't pass the eye-ball test at all. The team last year didn't have any imagination on offense, were astoundingly poor on defense, and played at such a slow pace it only seemed to make the season seem longer than it was. It wasn't a fun team to watch, yet there were some die hards. Props to them for sure, but if there ever was a Utah Jazz era to be concerned customers about it was the previous era.

The new era promises much more for fans. For starters, get this, the team will attempt to score buckets in transition this year. They'll also try to fit the offense to the talents of the players, and not shoe-horn Derrick Favors or Enes Kanter in Al Jefferson's old playbook. This Jazz team has a point guard who can dunk -- and finish Alley-oops, not just throw them. The bigmen will be allowed to expand their range. And the pull quotes from practice this year are more likely to be informative and constructive, instead of the "get better / be better / young guys / you know" mantra. (It's no "Hare Krishna / Hare Rama," but it's a start Ty. Tybots could meet you at the gate in airports and try to sell you stuff. You have to be really old to get this reference.)

The most important reason is the simplest. This era will return Jazz style back to the Jazz franchise. The team is filled with hip athletes who get along and want to play with one another. The coach is bringing in an offense that flows, swings, jives, and jams. It's going to be the offense that Pistol Pete Maravich would have been perfect for, but instead we get to see Gordon Hayward and his clean cut looks in that role. (Floppy socks not included) The players will be smiling on the court, and getting fans out of their seats -- and not out of a desire to beat the traffic out of the arena after another blowout loss at home.

Good times will be back, even if the winning may not be. This is the perfect storm for this fanbase though, this season and the seasons after it will make a new generation fall in love with the Jazz for the right reasons, reasons beyond geographic convenience. When the team moved to Utah the fans had to wait a few years to see good basketball. But when they did, man. Organic growth of the team, the franchise, the players, and the fans developed a special bond in Utah. This season is the start of that next flowering. New coach. Young guys. Threes, dunks, and giving it all out on the floor.

Pathetic attempts to make the playoffs at the cost of your soul (bringing in non-Jazz players, playing a non-Jazzy style) robbed us of some crucial developmental years recently. The front office eventually saw what us SLC Dunkers saw, and everything we asked for has happened. (Get coach who wanted to teach, not scrounge for wins; no mercs; feature the youth; play a style that fits the talent the front office drafted) Now all that's left is the easy part for us fans.

Fall in love with Jazz again, fall in love with Jazz basketball again.

[Xiao Yao You]

1. This Utah Jazz team is the youngest Jazz team ever.

This is the natural benefit of having a number of draft picks over the years,

Too many young guys!. Shouldn't have more than 3 D-league talents and I count 6.


and Utah will reap the rewards this season. Of the 15 players still under contract 12 of them are 25 years old or younger; 8 of those 12 are under 24; and 5 of those 8 are under 23 still. The average age is 24.12 years old by October 31st (the traditional idea of when the NBA season starts); and a huge part of that is Steve Novak. Novak, at 31.41 years old, is the only guy over 30 on the team.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Age Table

Crazier still is the fact that our two YOUNGEST players are our two point guards. Furthermore, among the 10 normative rotation players a whopping eight are the youngest eight players on the roster. If you charted the age groupings you don't get a standard distribution.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Age Chart

And the Novak stands alone . . .

Green. Very green. Eleven of the players are 25 or younger. No one has an excuse to be tired, and this is a team that can play at a quick pace for a long period of time. And that's precisely one of the foundations of Quin Snyder's offensive game plan as well. Re-tool the defense, get stops, then get out and run.

Some people think youth is a hindrance. But not these guys. These guys are too young to even know fear. And as a group of fearless kids with everything to prove this is going to be a really fun team to watch and root for.

It's just so sad to look at that first table and do the math and recognize just how many of the Jazz players I am old enough to be the father of. (Which compounds just how awkward it is for a dude 12 years older than me trying to pal around with these guys, like they are buds.)

.

2. This team is almost explicitly the Jazz model of roster balance

During the free agency period I talked a bit about my own roster balance model (...which puts a lot of trust in the bigmen by going with only five PFs or Cs in a 15 man roster, and going for four full time ball handlers . . . just in case of disaster). A few days back I actually looked at the last 16 Jazz rosters, broke down the season-to-season turn over, and figured out what their roster philosophy actually is. TL;DR -- the Jazz usually go with 3 point guards, 6 wings, and 6 bigs.

What's the deal with this season's squad? It's almost exactly the actual averages.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Posotion Breakdown Chart

Spooky

(N.B. The second string of numbers, 3.38, 5.94, 5.75, is the actual averages from the last 16 seasons.) Yes, too many bigmen by 4%. Too few guards, but it's 93%, 98% and 104%. That's very impressive and most likely just a co-incidence with how the last 16 seasons went (with injuries and so forth). If Brock Motum is cut then the bigmen group goes to 100%, but we'll adjust that when it happens.

This point isn't that interesting, I get it. But let's move on . . .

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3. This Jazz team is a strange mix of players from the South, Midwest, and outside the country

Among the places I grew up in, I've lived in both Los Angeles, and under the New York media bubble. The coasts thing that they are the only important part of the continent. And that's a shame. This Jazz club has zero representation from those self-aggrandizing regions.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Home Regions

Yes, I draw the lines a little different from other places, but I will never, ever put Kentucky in the Midwest.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Region Breakdown Map

People from NYC think they are the best players in the world. People form Cali do as well. People from Seattle / Portland have a chip on their shoulder and expect to be able to play against anyone. The Jazz didn't bring any of those people to the locker room this year.

Utah is traditionally a tough sell, or it used to be before people had wireless internet and DVR's to entertain them at home. It was hard to keep good talent because Salt Lake City was unattractive. As a result the Jazz had to either go with players from a specific genetic phenotype or European dudes. And yes, this year's Jazz squad does have four guys from outside the US, but two of them are technically Oceanic, another is Muslim, and the 'real' European dude is a black guy. (In your face, preconceived notions!)

Stocking up on guys from the South is a smart move, especially the smaller town guys. Guys like Rodney Hood grew up in so much obscurity that being regarded and loved as a Jazz player in a medium sized city (and smaller market) will go a long way. Having a shared culture helps, and with the majority of the team being from the South you can tell the camaraderie in the locker room is already there.

The next largest region is the midwest, but that's just a lot of states. Though, Trey and G-Time are both born and raised in the same neck of the woods. Steve Novak is a little bit more north, but he's not going to shy away form the Utah winter.

And speaking of that, Carrick Felix has basically lived his entire life in this Mountain time zone / environment, by being from Nevada, going to high school in Arizona, and then college in Idaho and Arizona.

This is an interesting mix of players from 'chip on the shoulder' parts of the nation where players are often overlooked. And they are already building chemistry together through their shared cultural heritage, and can adapt to what Utah has to bring quite easily. Heck, Derrick Favors -- a guy born and raised in Atlanta -- already lives in Utah 12 months of the year. This is really crazy.

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4. Their player name anagrams are ridiculous

Most normal people sleep. I don't. As a result I had to figure out what their names can spell out.

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Name Anagrams

Dante Exum is sweet music, so obviously, he's a maxed tune. Trey Burke is still fighting his last coach, so, he's gonna rebuke t(r)y. What about Tourre' Murry? I guess somewhere in his family tree he has some Genghis in him.

But seriously, Gordon Hayward as Hardwood Angry? (Is this some high concept Blacksploitation film with a Caucasian guy in the lead?) Alec Burks and Bra Suckle? I get it. We've all seen his tongue action. I also appreciate Ian Clark as "Air Clank" like "Air Jordan", but missing a shot. If you've seen him shoot this is obviously an ironic nickname. If you've seen the ladies he likes, Barbi dolls, it makes sense to call Enes Kanter "Eastern Ken". I don't know what to make with Acrid Fervors though. Those are two words I know, but just not in conjunction with one another.

By far the best on is Jeremy Evans . . . the former dunk champ naturally makes "Jam seers envy" him.

Are you also a crazy person? What are your anagrams?

.

5. No Jazz team has had this much talent on it

The best Utah Jazz teams in franchise history were built around a #13 and #16 draft pick. The third best player was a second rounder. I'm talking about Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Jeff Hornacek. The romanticized Jazz team was usually a collection of players who fit the system, and were able to become something greater than their own flawed parts. Jerry Sloan became a legend the season he took Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, and Raja Bell to a 42-40 season. Jazz teams 'made do' with obvious limits.

This team seems to have no limit. There are three Top 5 picks, six Lotto picks, and nine 1st rounders on this team. It's never been this stacked.

How many stars? How many NBA caliber players?


Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Draft Position Table

There are three undrafted players (Toure' Murry, Ian Clark, and Brock Motum). There are three second rounders (Steve Novak, Carrick Felix, and Jeremy Evans). And then everyone else is a 1st rounder. This may be normal for other teams, but completely novel for the Jazz -- a team that ALWAYS made the playoffs and were usually picking at #27 or lower every year.

If you group the players by draft position you get this:

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Draft Position Chart 1

That is a nice balance between draft positions, but if you group the players by cumulative draft position you get this:

Utah Jazz 2014 2014 Roster - Player Draft Position Chart 2

If you look at the information the majority of the Jazz' rotation will be not just 1st rounders, but lottery picks. Trey Burke, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, and Dante Exum should play the most minutes this season. They'll be shored up by Trevor Booker, Rudy Gobert, and Rodney Hood.

I still can't believe at just how crazy this team is, as the 15 man roster which includes three undrafted players, has an average draft position of 27.8. There were some times when Jerry Sloan took a team that had 9 players who were second rounders or went undrafted to the playoffs. The hand Quin Snyder has been given -- though young and untested -- has so much potential it's hard not to get excited about it.

This season the Jazzz will bring a Top 5 pick off the bench, because the entire starting lineup of Lottery picks under the age of 25 are better than the rookie.

Let that sink in.

This is a crazy roster and a crazy year. A young, hungry, somewhat chip on their shoulder-y roster of overlooked players from smaller markets . . . that are your Utah Jazz this year.

So even if the traditional media overlooks the Jazz, Jazz fans are in for a treat this year.

[Xiao Yao You]

Given those shooting struggles, it may seem strange that the Charlotte Hornets signed Hayward to a max offer sheet this summer, and that the Utah Jazz matched that contract, retaining him.

it sucks!

[QUOTE]But Hayward has a diverse array of offensive skills and, perhaps more importantly for a Jazz team without many standout players, he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]While what the 76ers are doing, namely, tearing down a roster and abandoning any chance at winning now to stock talent for the future through lofty picks

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] Jazz are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their final spot, and have looked into the waiver wire. Currently, power forward Brock Motum is thought to be the 15th player on the roster. And while the Aussie has played well, he

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Now, with Jeff Hornacek

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Hood

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]This year's power rankings from ESPN are likewise unkind to the Jazz. ESPN predicts Utah will win 26 games

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Jazz center Derrick Favors was asked about Bovada projections about him averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds this season. His prediction:

[Xiao Yao You]

David Locke: Derrick Favors sore left knee will not play tonight Twitter @Lockedonsports

Rudy!

[Xiao Yao You]

The Utah Jazz announced via press release Friday they have exercised the third-year options on guard Trey Burke and center Rudy Gobert. Deseret News

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]For the first time in the pre-season the Jazz transition defense broke down. The Jazz allowed 20 fast break points and in the 3rd

It feels like Gordon Hayward is a different player. He went to the rim hard for another vicious jam and then a few possessions later went right back to the rim again. He is faster, stronger and more powerful in the air then he has ever been. Will be exciting to watch him play with this new found strength throughout the season. He did have two disappointing turnovers late in the game.

The Jazz didn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] They went 5-3, and in the end had the 12th ranked offense (at 100.37 points per 100 possessions) and the 2nd ranked defense (allowing 92.12 points per 100 possessions) of all preseason teams. That

[Xiao Yao You]

This much does seem apparent as the Jazz prepare to begin the 2014-15 regular season next week: They're definitely a better ballclub than they were last season, when they trudged through a forgettable 25-win campaign, and they're gradually but steadily going to get better.

I'd say it's very arguable. Their bench is going to have a tough time of it and they are way too young..


Why? Because for the first time in a long time, or maybe ever in franchise history, their roster is filled with players whose best days in the NBA are still ahead of them. And that goes for Snyder, their first-year head coach, too.

Might bode well for the future but not necessarily this year.

[QUOTE]After all, they've only got one guy, forward Steve Novak, who's been in the league more than four years.

"Preseason can sometimes weigh on guys," fifth-year Jazzman Gordon Hayward said, "but I've been really proud of our focus and energy. We've worked a lot on transition defense, which Coach has stressed for us to work on as a team. There's a lot we need to work on as the season begins."

Hayward had a game-high 24 points for Utah and Alec Burks added 20, while Trey Burke was also in double digits with a dozen and Enes Kanter finished with 10

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] Snyder opted to go with guard Ian Clark over Exum in the second unit.

Why?

One big reason, Snyder said: "I think Dante was struggling a little bit against what were very strong, physical guards. He

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The play off the bench has been up and down, and that

[Xiao Yao You]

a hierarchy that includes Hayward, Burke and Derrick Favors as the three cornerstones.

Alec and Kanter get no respect still!

[QUOTE]But Friday night offered the chance to play a close game that Utah largely hadn

[Xiao Yao You]

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived forward Brock Motum. Following the move, Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

Eric Pincus: Utah Jazz waive Theron Bussey III and Brock Motum @BBallInsiders Twitter @EricPincus

Three Eye Sports: Tre Bussey @TreBussey11 has signed with the @utahjazz - plan is to spend the year with @IdahoStampede - congrats Tre! Twitter

Why didn't they have him in camp?

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The defeat against a team that thrives off of a similar pace as the Jazz also showed Utah where it needs to improve. Once again, the young squad struggled with turnovers (21, leading to 22 Phoenix points). Things bogged down in an 18-point second quarter. Players simply weren

[Xiao Yao You]

It

[Xiao Yao You]

The Jazz will be better than they were last season, by a decent margin.

I'm not convinced of that. the 1,2 and 3 look like they could be real thin behind the starters.

[QUOTE]To quote Lennon and McCartney, they "couldn't get no worse." Surpassing 25 wins, the Jazz will accomplish. The Vegas over/under on Jazz victories, set at 24 or 25, is a good bet for the over. The guess here is by at least five wins, maybe five more beyond that.

I'm putting the total at 32.

The tough Western Conference is a wall to climb, a wall still leaning toward the Jazz. But unlike a year ago, the losses won't completely drown out the wins. Instead, heart will be taken in the modest differential from 57 defeats last season to 50 now. The Jazz will better learn to win games at home.

The coach has the advantage of a yet-advancing team with yet-advancing players, such as Trey Burke, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, Rudy Gobert, Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, and to a lesser extent Gordon Hayward. On account of the Jazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: For the record, Tre' Bussey was indeed signed by the Utah Jazz this week and then waived. Jazz gave the D-League prospect a workout in SLC. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

seems to be conflicting reports of him being in the league draft. I assume Jody would know though.

[Xiao Yao You]

It was never formally announced

[Xiao Yao You]

Not only do the Jazz have starters who are all 24 or younger, but they also have two rookies, 19-year-old Dante Exum and 22-year-old Rodney Hood, who are likely to be regular rotation players.

and 2 2nd year players who hardly played last year. Of the 4 Gobert appears ready for the rotation.

[QUOTE]That's not exactly a recipe for success in the NBA.

[El Kabong]

Oh sweet, grabbed Joe Ingles off waivers. He's from Happy Valley originally, about 30 minutes away from where I live.

Also got Jordan Hamilton as well. Seem to be shoring up the 3 spot a bit.

[Xiao Yao You]

Says he was Exum's favorite player growing up and his first autograph.

They needed help on the wing. Hamilton was a rotation player last year on a good team so he should play eventually. Toronto looks to have a pretty good roster that he was cut from. Clips certainly do. Hit the 3, rebound and defend a bit it looks like. 24 so he fits right in age wise.

Ingles didn't play when they played the Clipps. He's their 2nd oldest player now as a rookie! You think he's an NBA talent? I've seen him with the national team for quite a few years. Might have Motum in Idaho ready too.

We call the valley south of Salt Lake Valley Happy Valley too because of the mormons btw.

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Derrick Favors (left knee) didn't practice today, but he's listed as probable for Wednesday's opener. Twitter @tribjazz

[El Kabong]

I think he could be an OK rotation guy. He can pass and hit the 3, so it sounds like he has the potential to fit in nicely with how Snyder wants the team to play. Could be a Hayward-lite type player for them. Still, probably won't get much apart from junk time, but he'll make sure Exum goes alright too which is a plus.

[Xiao Yao You]

Yeah I figured Motum would make it because he was an Aussie so it makes sense.

[El Kabong]

Yeah I figured Motum would make it because he was an Aussie so it makes sense.
Yeah, they've usually been roommates when they've played together on the National squad, so they both get along with each other well enough it seems.

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah Jazz: Dante Exum was the top player on my draft board for a reason. It will take him a few years to figure everything out but basketball players with his physical gifts do not come around very often. Utah grabbing him fifth overall was excellent and Rodney Hood should fit nicely with their unusual swingman group. The Jazz also took fliers on Carrick Felix and Steve Novak without giving up much and brought back Gordon Hayward on the Hibbert Max which will be fine as the cap explodes in the near future. I just wish Utah had used their remaining cap space as a bludgeon to get an asset like what Milwaukee did with the Clippers.

still could get an asset. Cap space and roster spots

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The most brazen conversion attempt happening right now is in Salt Lake City. Trevor Booker and Enes Kanter are currently being thrust into the role of

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah Jazz: The Jazz will get substantially more minutes this season from compelling talent than the last few seasons. Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert make Utah a rare team that should expect 48 minutes of reliable rim protection

Favors wasn't reliable last year.


while Gordon Hayward can shoulder less of the offensive load thanks to an improved perimeter rotation

Look thin to me even with the latest moves


. Hopefully Quin Snyder can figure out if Enes Kanter works with their main pieces before he hits restricted free agency next summer.

Might be Favors who they see works with Kanter and Gobert. Who knows?

[Xiao Yao You]

Favors' return would certainly be good news for a Jazz team that can ill afford injuries to its key contributors.

"He's one of our anchors, to our defense and our offense," Hood said. "He's one of our leaders. If he's not out there, we've got to come together more as a group. If he is, we'll definitely be happy."

afalk@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribjazz

They can afford to lose someone up front more than they can on the wing or point.

[Xiao Yao You]

The small forward averaged 11 points, three rebounds and three assists with the Aussies this summer in the FIBA World Cup.

3 assists on the wing is pretty good.

[QUOTE]Hamilton, a late first-round pick by Dallas in 2011, played three seasons with the Nuggets before finishing the 2013-14 campaign in Houston. The 6-7 forward has averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in his NBA career.

The Jazz roster now has a maximum 15 players heading into Wednesday's season opener against Houston.

FAVORS UPDATE: Jazz center Derrick Favors didn't practice again Monday, but the fifth-year big man is listed as probable for Wednesday's season-opener against Houston.

"He

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]While starting five games during the preseason

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]Though a roller-coaster ride is expected

[Xiao Yao You]

Jody Genessy: Derrick Favors (knee) practiced today but Trey Burke (left patella tendinitis) did not. Both are probable Wednesday. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Ingles is Exum's Australian national team roommate & says he might try to room with him here. Will lean on the rook to learn the system. Twitter @tribjazz

[El Kabong]

My team in the Australian league the Adelaide 36ers are looking likely to grab Brock Motum. They were originally gunning for Joe Ingles (who's from Adelaide) when he was first released by the Clippers.

[Xiao Yao You]

nice. he's a good player

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE] Utah

[Xiao Yao You]

With players such as Dante Exum and Burks able to get to the rim, or pass out to scorers such as Hood, Novak, Burke and Hayward, the 2014-15 Jazz should be better than last year.

thin bench. younger. better?

[QUOTE]How much better?

Plan on four games beyond last season

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]the bench looks a bit thin right now, and unless the starters can play 35 minutes a night, which isn

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]After ending discussions on the possibility of a contract extension with the Utah Jazz, center Enes Kanter plans to enter restricted free agency next summer, his agent told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday.

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Kanter's agent, Max Ergul, mentioned Kanter's potential with a new system/coach and the new TV deal as some factors in their decision. Twitter @tribjazz

Aaron Falk: Ergul had high praise for Dennis Lindsey and Quin Snyder, and said Kanter is "very happy with the direction." Twitter @tribjazz

[Xiao Yao You]

Aaron Falk: Derrick Favors has missed some time recently with a sore knee, but he went through shootaround today and will play tonight. Twitter @tribjazz

[Xiao Yao You]

[QUOTE]The Australian brings a unique skillset to the table. For starters, he