The J-Notes
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10 Takeaways From Jazz Summer League Day 1

By Greg Foster

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Mar 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) fouls Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko (8) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Summer has always been my favorite season. The days are long; the sunsets are stunning; pools, lakes, parks, basketball courts and campgrounds are open; I can hike/bike/walk wherever I’d like; and the only cold thing around is the drink in my hand. I’ve always cherished the dog days of summer and it makes sense–I’ve owned dogs all my life.

What’s more, this hallowed season gives us summer league hoops. A time for the young and hungry to prove that they have the chops to belong in the world’s best basketball league. Summer league is a rite of passage; a place where expectations are set, and excitement both peaks and plummets. And it’s one that Utahns know well.

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I grew up going to the Rocky Mountain Review with my Pops. I remember watching Greg Ostertag dominate Tim Duncan—only to be continuously disappointed over the course of his career. I laughed hysterically when Kyrylo Fesenko showed up with bleached blonde hair and Jerry Sloan lost his mind. I got goosebumps watching Deron Williams and Ronnie Brewer link up for #SCTop10-worthy plays in 2006. Best of all, I witnessed a young Kevin Durant torch anyone who dare guard him in 2007.

It was easy to fall in love with those games. Salt Lake Community College was the perfect venue. It’s a gym small enough that fans are practically stacked on top of each other in a way that mimics a coliseum. The atmosphere was as electric as it was intimate. Many a tear was shed when the Jazz announced that the RMR would close its doors in 2008.

That’s what made last night so special. Fresh paint adorned the floor and windows of Energy Solutions Arena. Food trucks lined the arena as a local blues band blazed through BB King covers. Children held their father’s hands as they made their way to their seats for the first time. And 10,000+ of the best fans in the NBA roared as summer basketball tipped off in Salt Lake City for the first time in six years. You’d be off your rocker to think I wouldn’t be there. So yes, I sat in the front row, delved out $10 for a Michelob and cheered my guts out.

I also took a few notes about the game. Here’s what we all can take away from the 100-82 drubbing the Jazz handed the Celtics.

10) It’s Summer League

Take it in stride. Temper your expectations. Chill. Remember that most of these dudes won’t make the league. They’re nice players, but most don’t have the skills to hack it in the NBA. As aforementioned, summer league is a place where Greg Ostertag mopped Tim Duncan. It’s one thing to put up numbers in the playoffs, it’s another to do it against a bunch of guys who’ll be tightening the knots on their Home Depot aprons come next week.

9) Lack of Outside Shooting

Last month, we all witnessed the Golden State Warriors splash their way to a Larry O’Brien trophy. Never has the three-point shot been more important to a team’s success than right now. It’s moved from a commodity to a necessity.

Last night, the Utah Jazz shot 9-26 for 34.6 percent. That’s not a terrible, but it’s not great either. Last season, the Jazz ranked 19th in three-point percentage, if the team wants to make the leap to a contender, the amount of threes made is going to have to increase.

8) Trey Lyles DNP

It was kind of like going to a Metallica show, only to find out that James Hetfield wouldn’t be singing. Ever since the Jazz drafted Trey Lyles, the excitement and anticipation of seeing him play has been brimming. He was one of the best players on one of college basketball’s best teams. Not seeing him don a Jazz uniform for the first time last night was a huge letdown.

Unfortunately, for us fans, the NBA is a business and sometimes that can get messy. In this case, it’s all about salary cap space. The silver lining is that Lyles should be inking his contract today and hopefully that means we’ll get to watch him when the Jazz head to Vegas this Friday.

7) Olivier Hanlan Was Basically a DNP

I thought the Jazz made a good move when they drafted Hanlan. He got his fair share of buckets at Boston College. But last night, he was a dud. The good: he made a three pointer. The bad: that was his only bucket. His only other contribution was a single assist. To top it off, he was minus-five in 12:30 minutes of action.

The Jazz are logjammed at the point guard spot and will be signing draft-and-stash hopeful, Raul Neto, ASAP. For Hanlan to make the team, he’s going to improve in a hurry. I have my doubts.

Apr 10, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) shoots in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

6) I Really Like Marcus Smart

The kid is a pitbull in a pair of Adidas. Sure, he shot 30 percent and struggled in spurts, but he’s gritty, fearless, plays tough defense and does the dirty work. Fact is, he was the only reason the Celtics were even in the game at all. Along with his game high 26 points, Smart also snagged five boards and dished out eight assists. A guy like that has staying power in the league.

I don’t think he has star potential, but he’s going to have a nice career.

5) Brock Motum Played Some Screen Door Defense

Brock Motum seems like a nice kid. He plays hard, has a nice motor and can do some decent things on the floor. Last night, defense wasn’t one of those things. He got taken behind the woodshed one too many times. He constantly lost his man, got blown by while attempting to close out and gave up easy post bucket after easy post bucket. That’s not a good look for a guy trying to make a NBA roster.

4) Jack Cooley Went Beast Mode

Last night, Jack Cooley did his best Matt Harpring impression. It seemed like every time I blinked he was hitting the floor—diving for loose balls, setting jaw-rattling screens or attempting to dunk on someone’s skull. He attacked the glass like a hungry grizzly bear, tallying 13 boards to match his 13 points. Jazz fans idolize that kind lunch pail mentality. If Cooley keeps it up, he’s going to keep earning those cheers and checks.

3) Rudy Gobert Has an Aura About Him

Outside of the statues, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player more beloved by fans. Rudy didn’t suit up and never stepped foot on the court. All it took was him taking a seat behind the bench for the ESA to erupt into a “Rudy-Rudy-Rudy” chant.

At one point in the second half, those cheers reached a crescendo. A Celtics layup went awry, resulting in the ball becoming lodged between the top of the backboard and its supports. Everyone wanted Rudy to show off his seemingly endless arms and corral the ball. It didn’t happen, but Rudy merely embracing the fans more than sufficed.

Moreover, Rudy does looks like noticeably bigger and seems to be putting in some serious work this offseason—via his Instagram page. He no longer looks like a baby giraffe strapped to a pair of ice skates. Let’s hope it’s a sign of good things to come.

2) Rodney Hood Was the Best Player on the Floor Last Night

Over the final six weeks of last season, Rodney Hood looked like the steal of last season’s draft. He’s proven he can score, create his own shot, defend and that he belongs in the NBA. Last night was no exception. After starting off slow, Hood exploded.

At around the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Jazz had a 70-76 lead that looked as if it would be squandered. It was then that Hood drove the lane and finished a floater in traffic for the and-one. It was the turning point in the game. Hood took over the quarter, dropping 15 of his 23 points in those closing minutes. He further stuffed his stat sheet with 10 boards, four assists and two steals.

The effort was obviously there, but Hood seemed to play so effortlessly. It was a blast to watch.

1) Dante Exum as We’ve Never Seen Him Before

Sporting some much-needed bulk and a Kardashian-esque backside, Dante Exum did some dazzling last night. On one play he was leaving defenders in the dust with a wicked crossover followed by a stepback jumper that found nothing but the bottom of the net. On another, he’s going coast-to-coast, absorbing contact in the lane and finishing strong for an and-one that would make Carlos Boozer blow out his vocal chords. When that wasn’t enough, Dante was busy going to the line after trying to tear down both the rim and the heads off his defenders. Even better, he did most of this being guarded by Marcus Smart.

Dante wasn’t just good last night, he was dominant for long stretches. The timid, shell-shocked rookie we saw last year seemed to be exorcised from his body. He attacked and made plays on both sides of the floor, finishing the game with 20 points, five boards, five dimes and a game best plus-31.

The only downer to Dante’s performance is that he sprained his left ankle and is now out indefinitely. But the takeaway remains, if Dante looks to have turned a corner. If he can continue playing this aggressively and make the kind of leap he showed last night during the regular season, the Jazz are going to be a scary team.

Having summer basketball back is the best. Hell, anything beats having to talk about baseball.

Next: Dante Exum's Breakout Game Spoiled By Injury

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