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 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

#1 A quicker-than-expected and all-around connection

Those of you who have been following my media day and training camp coverage are probably sick of hearing me bring this up, but chemistry is something that has been a bit of a concern for this Jazz team heading into the 2019-20 season. That’s not a knock on any player on the team, new or returning, but with so many new faces, maintaining a closeness can be hard to do.

That’s doubly true when considering how tight-knit the Jazz squad of the past two years has been. This group has enjoyed a rare chemistry that has largely led to a success beyond what many might have otherwise suspected.

All along the way, though, this team has looked superbly comfortable with one another, and that continued on Friday night with newcomers like Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic clearly laughing and enjoying themselves with their new teammates, and a spirit of camaraderie sweeping up and down the roster.

In fact, things have been going so well that Quin Snyder had the following to say about the team’s quicker-than-expected adjustment to one another, per UtahJazz.com:

"“You expect teams to take a little bit of time to get to know each other. This group, there’s kind of a natural connection that these guys have shown. There’s a lot of work to do, but you see a group of guys that values the same thing, that appreciates playing together.”"

That ‘natural connection’ was obviously on display on Friday night and is a bright sign of what this upcoming season could hold from a cohesion and chemistry standpoint.

But the connection doesn’t end with the players, but clearly extends to the passionate Jazz fanbase as well. The team of the past two years was highly beloved by the Utah faithful, perhaps more so than any group since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. With several members of that crew leaving, such as Ricky Rubio, Jae Crowder and Derrick Favors, some wondered if they could come to embrace the newcomers in the same fashion.

So far, that doesn’t appear to be much of a problem at all. Mike Conley heaped praise upon the Jazz fans in attendance on Friday, and from his entering the court with a trio of youngsters, to tweeting out his love for the fans afterwards (see below), to the overall interaction and reaction of all the Jazz newcomers and their new fans, it was clear to see that this team is certain to be well-embraced as well.

https://twitter.com/mconley11/status/1180313366507577344

Those that departed the team this summer will be missed, but if early signs are any indication, this new-look squad will make a smooth transition in terms of chemistry and fan appreciation. A tight-knit group can lead to big things in terms of basketball performance and, as evidenced on Friday night, the 2019-20 Utah Jazz squad appears very much on that path.

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