The curse of who? – Four ridiculous explanations to the Utah Jazz’s slow start

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 19: Jonas Jerebko #21 of the Golden State Warriors and teammate Stephen Curry #30 react to their 124-123 win over the Utah Jazz at the end of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jerebko had the winning basket. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

The Curse of the Swedish Swish

In the name of continuity, the Utah Jazz parted ways with just one rotation player this offseason – stretch-four Jonas Jerebko. After the Jazz opted to not pick up his option, the so-called Swedish Swish went on to sign with the Golden State Warriors.

For the most part, Jazz fans were sad to see Jonas go, but understood the move. And while cheering for the Warriors was out of the question, I doubt anyone wished ill of Jerebko.

However, then he made his return to Vivint Smart Home Arena in Utah’s home opener, and a game that Utah led for nearly the entire way was absolutely spoiled by the former Jazzman. After a Kevin Durant miss just before the final horn that would have resulted in a Jazz win, Jerebko managed to tip the ball in right before the buzzer to give Golden State a one-point victory.

Jonas Jerebko was the unexpected hero for the Warriors as they beat the Jazz on his last-second tip-in. pic.twitter.com/s7xdBATdHC
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 20, 2018

It was certainly labelled as a revenge game for Jonas who the Jazz decided not to bring back. However, considering how poor Utah’s spacing has been, how terribly they’ve shot the three and how much they’ve missed a stretch-four with Jerebko’s shooting ability, I’m thinking that Jonas’ reappearance was more than just a revenge game.

I’m thinking it left along with it a curse. The Curse of the Swedish Swish, haunting the Jazz for parting ways with a guy who may have been more undervalued than we knew.