Dec 17, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is defended by Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks (10) in the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Am I tough on the Utah Jazz? Sure, sometimes. But it’s in the same way a parent would get after their kid for under-performing. We only want the best for them. A couple of weeks ago I lamented that the Jazz weren’t satisfying Quin Snyder’s points of emphasis checklist.
But they continued to work hard, and improvements were noted, signs that Snyder’s guys might be about to get over the hump and nab a few dub’yas.
Earlier in the day of a back-to-back in Miami against the Heat, after a bone chilling loss in New Orleans in which the Jazz led for a good portion of the evening versus the Pelicans, Quin Snyder said the Jazz had played well for 40 minutes, just not the last eight. It’s been a recurring theme: Utah gets up or down and puts together half or three-quarters of a game, only to come up short.
Granted, Chris Bosh was out, and Dwyane Wade dropped 42 on them, but the takeaway here is that the Jazz put together 48 full minutes of fine basketball for the first time this season.
Way to play 48 minutes of basketball tonight!! Great team win lets keep it going. #euroooooo
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) December 18, 2014
Speaking of Rudy Gobert, who does he think he is, a point center with a Wilt Chamberlain finger roll?
Voleur! Ce girafe au galop! Quoi! Il a fait ça!
Gobert continues to impress with ever-improving skills and confidence. Remember to keep that ball up high on O rebs, big fella, like Pau Gasol does, up where few can challenge you for it.
And while we’re on the topic of confidence, we would be remiss to ignore Enes Kanter. Not that we haven’t noticed, but you can’t be tired of hearing about how well he’s doing, can you? Two days ago we did up a little ditty on Kanter’s game showing signs of having reached a next level of play, and the very next night he drops a new career high on the poor Pellies.
There’s an old Turkish proverb that states “The tree branch should be bent when it is young”
But, focusing on another, more specific area of improvement this time, Snyder wants Enes taking corner threes. And some fans don’t like it. Take a breath and realize that the goal isn’t to win 50 games, or even 40, this year. It’s to build confidence and instill a style of play in young players that will eventually become automatic to them, playing the game the right way.
To do that there always has to be growing pains. There will be nights where the results may seem like it’s all one big waste of time.
There’s an old Turkish proverb that states “The tree branch should be bent when it is young,” meaning building the habits that will last a lifetime, or in this case a career, might be a little painful at first, but are necessary in order to reach the desired end result.
Snyder has yelled at Kanter, pulled him from games to speak with him, told him he has to learn to take that corner three and believe he can make it. Enes Kanter is two for his last five corner threes, and popped out at the perfect time to drain one in rhythm with no hesitation versus the Heat.
The play started with a pick-and-roll on the right high post, that didn’t pan out. The Heat had been locking down on defense in an attempt to close a gap the Jazz had held all night long. So, Gordon Hayward took the ball back up to the top of the key to reset where he passed left elbow to Rodney Hood who would try to set up Kanter who was on the low, left block.
POP! Nothing but net. Check out Hayward. He knew it was going down
That in turn didn’t pan out either so the ball goes back up top to Hayward who drives with a dwindling shot clock.
The second Enes saw Hayward drive the lane, with all eyes on him, the big Turk softly shoved his man toward Gordon and popped out to the corner, setting his feet squarely behind the three-point line, aligning his shoulders perpendicular to the basket.
The entire Heat defense collapsed solidly on Hayward, with an intense focus on what he would do next. Hayward drove all the way to the restricted area and kicked out.
All eyes are on Gordon Hayward as he drives the lane
Kanter didn’t even think about it — because over-thinking ruins rhythm, and Kanter is playing with confidence right now. POP! Nothing but net. Check out Hayward. He knew it was going down. He took off for defense by the time Kanter’s release came.
Enes Kanter hits the corner three on a kick-out drive from Gordon Hayward
Hayward was like, “Yeah, good play, guys. That’s three. On to the next play…” Nice cluster of red jerseys there, Miami. Suckas!
Playing point, Gordon Hayward crossed halfcourt with 19 seconds left on the shot clock. The Jazz offense ran three different plays in the half court in 13 seconds before finding the soft spot in the defense. The Jazz had 23 assists on 35 made field goals, shooting 53% overall and a blistering 56% from three on 14-25 tries.
Check marks next to Snyder’s checklist for playing with the pass and pace.
Certainly the Jazz played with purpose, more than doubling up the Heat by the end of the first quarter, 33-16.
Two more check marks.
• Play with purpose ✓
• Play with pace ✓
• Play with the pass ✓
• Defense ✓
It’s been more than a few frustrating games, but the Jazz are going in the right direction and finally putting in a full game effort while settling into a scheme that will come more fluidly, without having to stop and think about it. Helluva solid 48 for them last night in Miami in insuring that the Utah Jazz continue a tradition of winning at least one game on their pre-Christmas road trip.
Utah is now 2-4 on the second night of back-to-back games in 2014-15 with the Orlando Magic up next, followed by the Charlotte Hornets and former fan fav Al Jefferson the next night with a stop on the way home for the red hot Memphis Grizzlies before the holiday.
Oh, and that Gordon Hayward guy? Yeah, he’s still pretty good.
The NBA is counting All-Star fan votes via Twitter. Let’s see some Gordon Hayward #NBAballot tweets.