The 2016-17 NBA season is underway and despite losing two of their first three games during tip-off week, the Utah Jazz got some strong performances from players new and old.
Let’s be real here — after all the offseason hype about the Utah Jazz, Tip-Off Week was just a little bit underwhelming. After getting picked by some to win 50 games and challenge for a top-four seed in the Western Conference, the Jazz got off to a 1-2 start and looked less than impressive at times.
Before beginning Week Two with a surprising win over the San Antonio Spurs, there was a crazy amount of doom and gloom rolling around on Jazz Twitter; after just three games. Some of it persists even now after snapping their San Antonio losing streak.
Although the team was expected to face a struggle in the season’s first month with injuries and a difficult schedule, some fans have been ready to hit the panic button.
“Haters gon’ hate,” as the saying goes, but I’m here to tell you that despite a blowout loss to the L.A. Clippers and a less-than-impressive win over L.A. Lakers, there were positives to glean from the first week of Jazz basketball. Specifically, some big-time performances by Jazz players who are working hard to help carry the load in Gordon Hayward‘s absence.
So if a win over the Spurs isn’t enough to get your goose, here are five performances by Jazz players from the opening week of the 2016-17 NBA season that may.
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