The J-Notes
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Reactions to Utah Jazz end of season player interviews

By Jared Woodcox

May 8, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) pats Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) on the back during the final minutes against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) pats Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) on the back during the final minutes against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) walks in to the area prior to the game against the LA Clippers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) walks in to the area prior to the game against the LA Clippers in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

Derrick Favors

Ask just about any Jazz fan to list reasons why the team may have failed to reach their maximum potential this year and you can bet that without a doubt most would mention the fact that Derrick Favors had a very underwhelming season. After looking poised to break out after an impressive year in 2015-16, Favors was hampered by injuries all year long and never truly had an opportunity to shine.

Much like his teammates before him, Favors was optimistic despite a year that was frustrating personally for him. I suppose I’m not sure exactly how I thought Favors would react to the tough season he faced, but I’ll say I was pleasantly surprised with his responses. He didn’t seem bitter, discouraged or overly frustrated at all about his injuries or his lack of playing time this year.

I think that bodes very well for him next year, if (and that’s a BIG IF) he can stay healthy. Favors was supposed to be an integral part of this Jazz team and he has the physical tools and skill set to still accomplish that. Hopefully he remains positive and can still become that dominant force that Jazz fans have felt he can be.

He also expressed nothing but excitement and happiness to be a member of the Jazz, which may come as a surprise to some given that his playing time and impact were significantly more limited than they were last year. Of course injuries played a large part in that, which Derrick obviously knows, so I imagine that he feels like this organization trusts him and as long as he puts in the work and gets his body back on track, he should be able to find himself in a productive starting role once again.

The most interesting part of his interview was that he mentioned that he will be going into the offseason 100 percent healthy. Given that he looked off all season long with the knee injury, then tweaked his back during the postseason and was at one point listed as questionable against the Warriors, it seems a little odd that he would consider himself having made that speedy of a recovery and now being 100 percent, but hopefully it’s accurate.

At the start of the season, many thought that Favors would receive a contract extension in the middle of the year. Of course his struggles prevented that from happening, so as he enters the final year of his current contract, he will have a lot to prove next season.

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