Sure sounds like the Jazz haven't completely given up on Cody Williams

After an unimpressive rookie season, things weren't exactly looking up for Cody Williams heading into this season. The preseason didn't improve anything, and he received barely any playing time when the season started. However, last night, he not only got his chance, but he thrived in it, demonstrating that Utah hasn't given up, and he's given them reason to.

Will Hardy certainly took fans by surprise when he inserted Williams into the Jazz's lineup to start the fourth quarter. It's not like Williams exactly took the world by storm, but the Jazz nearly came back from a 19-point deficit, and Williams had a lot to do with that.

He played inspired defense and scored some clutch buckets. In a stark contrast from last season, Williams looked... confident? Taking on a tough defensive assignment while looking for his shot? Who was this man, and what has he done with Cody Williams?

Now, Williams looked fantastic in the Summer League, so it's not like any improvement from him isn't entirely out of right field. However, starting the season on the shelf can truly mess with a player's confidence, especially for someone like Williams who seemed like he had no confidence when he started his NBA career.

But instead, Williams stayed ready, which is actually a really good sign moving forward. He hasn't let being benched affect his mentality as a player. It's a tiny step forward, but any sign of progress is progress nonetheless.

Can the Jazz fit Williams into their rotation?

It was great to see Williams reward Hardy's faith in him. Williams looked like a two-way player, which is something the Jazz definitely need in their hopes of building their next title contender. It's only one game, but if this is a sign of things to come, there would be no reason for Hardy not to see through what the Jazz have with Williams if his confidence has improved this much.

Well, besides the fact that the Jazz have plenty of players who will want to play. Hardy played Williams because some of the other players on the roster weren't exactly doing their job. Odds are, it just wasn't their night, and he'll want to play them again no questions asked.

But he can't ignore what Williams showed last night because he contributed to winning basketball, even if the Jazz wound up losing to the Trail Blazers anyway. He showed that he deserves opportunities to play. If the Jazz agree, the only problem is, someone might be put in the doghouse to make room for him.