The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Three reasons for optimism after ‘Meet the Team’ event

By Jared Woodcox

Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 30: Mike Conley #10, Rudy Gobert #27 and Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz pose for a portrait during the 2019 NBA media day at vivint.SmartHome Arena on September 30, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 30: Mike Conley #10, Rudy Gobert #27 and Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz pose for a portrait during the 2019 NBA media day at vivint.SmartHome Arena on September 30, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Although it was just a friendly preseason gathering, the Utah Jazz ‘Meet the Team’ event displayed further reasons for fans to be optimistic about the 2019-20 squad.

It’s easy to get sucked into premature preseason hype with any team. When teams are facing an abundance of optimism at the prospect of a new year, meaningless preseason contests or a combination of both, things can appear much rosier than they really will be once the rigors of the 82-game NBA regular season get underway.

Such should be remembered when looking at the Utah Jazz, who have managed to attract a lot of praise thus far before the season has even gotten underway. Nevertheless, something just feels different this time around. Maybe it’s the fact that on paper this team is undeniably strong. Perhaps it’s that several metrics project them to be a juggernaut. Maybe it’s that there’s just an unmatched confidence emanating from their ranks.

Or it could be a combination of all of those things!

Whatever the case, the excitement and belief the Utah Jazz players have in themselves and this team for the upcoming season is nothing short of tangible. They have a chance to be great, and they aren’t shying away from that very plausible possibility.

And between tidbits we hear about practice, quotes from training camp interviews and so much more, it’s hard to not get swept up in the hype circling this team. And in case you weren’t feeling giddy enough, Friday night’s Utah Jazz ‘Meet the Team’ event provided more of the same.

Yes, as I acknowledged, events like these are built to be lighthearted, optimistic occasions where the pure joy of a new, upcoming season is the focus. So anything witnessed in the friendly competition of an in-house event should be taken very much with a grain of salt.

But yet again, things are just feeling different this time around with this Utah Jazz team. So let’s keep this hype train going with three aspects of the Meet the Team event that are very much reasons for optimism in Jazz land.

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