The J-Notes
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Team USA scrimmages offer ample chances to see Utah Jazz players in action

By Jared Woodcox

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: Donovan Mitchell #53 of Team USA streches during the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team Training Camp at Melbourne Sports Centres on August 21, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: Donovan Mitchell #53 of Team USA streches during the 2019 USA Basketball Men's National Team Training Camp at Melbourne Sports Centres on August 21, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz fan favorites Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles will both be in action for Team USA versus Australia scrimmages this week in preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

For any and all Utah Jazz fans missing out on the thrill of watching their team in action, you have the good fortune of being able to catch two of the team’s lead guys over the course of the next few days. With Team USA in Australia for the next round of scrimmages before the FIBA Basketball World Cup gets underway, Jazz fans can catch both Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles in consecutive outings.

Of course, the first one may be a bit of a challenge for the average working person to catch as Thursday’s USA vs. Australia scrimmage takes place at 3:30 am MT. Team USA will get a second look at Australia on the following day at a somewhat more reasonable time as Mitchell and Ingles will go head-to head yet again on Friday at 10:00 pm MT.

Last of all, Team USA will wrap things up with yet another 3:30 am MT contest on Monday morning in a scrimmage against Canada. All three games will be televised on NBA TV.

Although Team USA has had its ups and downs, including a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Select Team in Los Angeles, it righted a lot of its wrongs in the recent scrimmage against Spain and looked much more cohesive. As this young and inexperienced squad gains more familiarity with one another in the upcoming trio of scrimmages, they should only become more and more well-prepared for the start of competitive play that lies just ahead.

The meaningful play of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, held this year in China, begins on August 31st. None of the three Jazz players participating will suit up for their country until September 1st, however, with Joe Ingles and Australia playing Canada at 1:30 am MT, Rudy Gobert and France taking on Germany at 6:30 am MT, and Donovan Mitchell and Team USA going up against the Czech Republic at 6:30 am MT as well.

These upcoming scrimmages and games figure to be an excellent experience and proving grounds for all three Jazz players, particularly Donovan Mitchell who is seeking to prove himself as a force on the presumed favorite of the tournament in the wake of several notable stars bowing out of competition. Team USA will be depending heavily on Mitchell living up to his star potential as the starting shooting guard if they are to ultimately come out on top in the competition.

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Although Utah Jazz regular season basketball doesn’t get underway until October 23rd, between the upcoming Team USA scrimmages over the next few days, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which features three prominent Jazzmen, lasting until September 15th, and then training camp and preseason starting shortly thereafter, the gap between now and meaningful Jazz basketball is certain to fly right by.

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