Last night, the Utah Jazz were on the wrong side of history
The Utah Jazz dropped a heartbreaker to the San Antonio Spurs by a final score of 104-102 last night. It was the type of night most Jazz fans will want to forget. On the other hand, it’s one Spurs fans will remember forever.
Longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich became the most winningest coach in NBA regular season history in last night’s action. The number is 1,336: it’s not one that anyone’s likely to pass soon.
Coach Pop is entitled to the unyielding respect of fans of the Utah Jazz (and every other NBA franchise). With that said, he hasn’t been the thorn in this team’s side that some might assume.
Utah Jazz have made life difficult on Pop
Throughout history, the Jazz and Spurs have competed in 24 playoff games. They’ve split them at 12 apiece.
Granted, the first series the Jazz won came in 1994. Popovich was merely a wet-behind-the-ears assistant at the time. Still, the Jazz also vanquished his Spurs in 1996 and 1998.
Unsurprisingly, the Jazz’s fortunes against the Spurs took a turn when Karl Malone and John Stockton retired. In fact, things have never quite been the same for the Utah Jazz. Popovich and his enduring Spurs eliminated the Jazz in 2007 and 2012.
Utah Jazz could learn from Pop, Spurs
The Spurs have been synonymous with winning since Pop took the helm in 1996. The Utah Jazz would love to establish a similar foundation under Quin Snyder.
Of course, drafting a Tim Duncan is the first priority. While the Jazz have fielded competitive rosters for most of the last two decades, they’ve never hosted a player of Duncan’s caliber. The Spurs also deserve general credit as an organization for consistently excellent drafting.
A lot of chips need to fall accordingly for an NBA coach to win the most games in the league’s history. Give Popovich credit: one of those chips is that same head coach’s basketball acumen.
Next. Ranking every season in Jazz history. dark
Utah Jazz fans would be within their rights to be concerned about last night’s loss. Still, they can take some consolation on being a part of history: even if they were on the wrong side of it.