2015-16 Utah Jazz - The tanking is over!

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3262510...truggles-prove

And Utah surrendered 44 points in the paint, a glaring sign that playing without Rudy Gobert is going to take some getting used to.

But I thought Favors was an elite rim protector?

"It was frustrating," Jazz power forward Derrick Favors said. "We could've played better tonight on both ends of the floor. We have to be better at taking care of the ball and we have to be better defensively."


Favors shot the ball seven times in his first game this season at the center position, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but not having his usual impact as the Jazz struggled to get the ball inside to him.


Utah was also hurt by Rodney Hood, who went 1 for 8 from the field for three points in 24 minutes.


"I thought it was the second half in general," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. "Too many turnovers, especially there in the third. They knocked down some big shots, some threes. It unraveled quickly for us. I think it was just one of those games."


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They were also hurt by Trey Burke starting to think he's a lot better than he is again.

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3262457...-sloppy-second

[QUOTE] "He's a big presence for us, especially defensively. But a lot of the stuff they got was from the perimeter, some 3s from their big men

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http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/jazznote...zz-stay-afloat[QUOTE] Defensively is where it

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3261043...joins-the-club

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...nd-a-loss.html

[QUOTE]Hayward had used words like

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...dy-Gobert.html

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...nst-Magic.html

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http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonjaz...l-on-the-jazz/

Scott Skiles is arguably the best defensive coach in the NBA and the Magic are showing signs of being a Skiles team.

I thought it was Snyder? Doesn't he get all the credit for Rudy's dominance?
[QUOTE]

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http://saltcityhoops.com/the-rundown-magic-jazz-12315/

they could have a few teams between them and the playoff spot they so desire.

Don't think the front office or coaching staff really desire it. The players sure.

[QUOTE] That word is key, though; nights like these where the force1 is absent from their game have only become tougher to play through minus a key contributor.

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...-stronger.html

[QUOTE]You could certainly forgive the Utah Jazz for feeling a little bit snakebitten these days.

After all, before the 2015-16 season started, they lost their starting point guard, Dante' Exum, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered while playing for the Australian National Team this past summer.


Then just 16 games into the regular season, starting center Rudy Gobert went down with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, a freak injury he sustained in practice that will keep him sidelined indefinitely.


Just like that, two-fifths of what would've been Utah's preferred starting lineup this season

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...Jazz-loss.html

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...nst-Magic.html

"Gave them some extra opportunities by turning the ball over," Burke said. "It is unlikely of us.

It is?

We gave them some life and they stayed in it and had a chance to win it and won. I think we just need to learn from our mistakes on turning the ball over.


"I think it was getting a little loose out there. I think we got loose on the offensive end at times. They took advantage of it and got some easy baskets in transition and got some confidence. We can't allow that to happen going forward.


"They knocked some big shots down in critical moments, gained confidence from it," he added. "It was a tough one for us. We have to learn from it. ... We will get better."


For Orlando (11-8), six players scored in double figures in a balanced attack led by Tobias Harris' 17 points and seven rebounds. Big man Nikola Vucevic, taking full advantage of Gobert's absence in the middle, had 16 points and eight boards, while Fournier added 14 points and six rebounds and Elfrid Payton contributed 14 more points and seven assists.


Nicholson and Victor Oladipo also scored 14 points apiece, and Oladipo dished out seven assists in the Magic's fifth straight win.


"I didn't feel like we were as engaged defensively as we needed to be from the get-go," Snyder said. "Offensively, certain groups, we had very poor spacing, we were driving into each other, and we made ourselves look bad at times during stretches.


"We're trying to make plays and the lane's clogged. We couldn't get in there, and we've got to take better care of the ball.


"We shot 33 3s," he noted, making 14 of them. "It's a different game when we're small. ... For awhile there, we were making a lot of them. And that's what the game dictated based on what we had."


Harris scored seven quick points to help Orlando move out to an early 10-point lead at 22-12, but Hayward's 16 first-quarter points allowed the Jazz to pull within 29-25 at the first break.


Joe Ingles ignited Utah's offense in the second quarter, driving for a layup, feeding Favors for a two-handed slam and then hitting back-to-back 3s as the Jazz moved out in front by five, 49-44.


The Magic wouldn't go away, though, as Vucevic's steady inside scoring lifted Orlando back into a 54-all tie before Burks hit a corner 3 just before halftime to put Utah back on top 57-54 at intermission. Burks scored 10 points in the second period and Ingles had eight.


In the second half, the Jazz led much of the way and stayed in contention until the final 7 1/2 minutes, when turnovers, missed shots and the Magic's strong play on both ends of the floor made Utah do a disappearing act down the stretch.


The Jazz remain home to host Indiana on Saturday.


EMAIL: rhollis@desnews.com

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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8...dy-Gobert.html

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3266766...pacers-jazz-in

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http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3266168...stating-injury