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Utah Jazz Fans Shouldn’t Dwell On Success Of Former Players

Mar 8, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) reacts after a play against the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Being the kind of guy that likes to sling cards in his spare time, talk of poker hands that could have been or almost were are a common encounter in my life. From the endless tales of pocket aces being cracked to bad beats on river cards, Hold ‘Em players often bemoan their improbable defeats. Me? I like to look forward; focus on the task ahead. For Utah Jazz fans begrudging the success of former players, this could be a philosophy to keep in mind.

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Despite the team’s positive transformation, many among the Jazz faithful find themselves questioning recent roster moves given the upswing certain players have experienced since leaving Utah. The most obvious example of this is the reinvigorating of Enes Kanter‘s game since joining the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kanter’s sudden ability to be a good teammate and share the basketball, coupled with increased scoring and rebounding output, has some wondering if coach Quin Snyder and general manger Dennis Lindsey missed the boat on the former No. 3 overall pick. Fans and media alike are also calling into question the dismissal of other players who have shown improvement:

Still mystified why Jazz didn't give him a chance. RT @hoopshype: Toure Murry has had three triple-doubles in his last seven D-League games.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) March 9, 2015

After signing with the Jazz this past August, Toure Murry saw only one minute of regular season court action with the team and was ultimately waived in early January. Since then, Murry has been tearing it up with the D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and appears to be on the fast track toward his NBA return.

In addition to Murry, former Jazzmen Elliot Williams and Chris Johnson are finding their feet with other teams. Last night, the two squared off against one another when the Milwaukee Bucks hosted the New Orleans Pelicans. Each player impacted the game for their respective teams.

In 31 combined minutes, the line for both men equated to 15 points on 6-of-10 from the floor, three rebounds, two assists and zero turnovers. Not too shabby for a couple of castaways from a losing team.

Chris Johnson balling out for Milwaukee in the same game as Elliott Williams. Jazz alums
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) March 10, 2015

There’s no way around it—Kanter, Murry and the rest are doing elsewhere what they were prohibited from doing while wearing Jazz blue. The idea that our team failed to get all it could from them can be disconcerting. With that being said, ultimately, one would be wise to remember what the franchise has been able to accomplish in their absence.

Even with the team’s defensive revival, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been if Kanter and company could have put it together earlier in the season. Nonetheless, dwelling on past hypotheticals is simply not productive as relates to moving forward.

Questioning a team’s decision-making is one thing. Getting hot and bothered over perceived mistakes from the past is another matter entirely.

So maybe the Jazz folded away a potential full house by relieving themselves of the aforementioned. So what? The team has been raking in the chips ever since and, for the first time in many years, have seemingly been dealt a hand that could break the bank.

As the great Kenny Rogers once said, “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em…Know when to fold ’em.” For my money, the Jazz have gambled and are winning the game.

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