The NBA preseason typically doesn't mean much besides deciphering who on each team's rosters get the last spot. Sometimes, it's already pre-determined. In the Utah Jazz's case, they want to prove to the NBA that their tanking is firmly in the past and that they're about to embark on an exciting new chapter. All it took was one half against Denver for them to prove exactly that.
The Jazz didn't dominate the Nuggets in the first half, but it was clear that with their new starting five - Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Darryn Peterson, Jusuf Nurkic - that Utah isn't to be messed with, and it didn't just come from the starters.
It was really their rotation period that revealed just how dynamic the team's rotation will be. Markkanen, George, and JJJ did their thing, but we also got glimpses of what Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, Svi Mykhailuk, and Jaxson Hayes are going to look like in this rotation.
The Jazz should be proud of their primary talent, as they definitely showed themselves in the first half, but seeing everyone's roles in real time was what really stood out.
Bailey's improvement as a two-way wing was on display, Collier proved his three-ball might be here to stay, Hayes showed awareness on multiple fronts, and Mykhailiuk continues to demonstrate that Utah was right to keep him.
It was 63-52, signifying not exactly dominance, but signaled that even if there will likely be growing pains, they're going to compete for 48 minutes night in and night out, a fresh changes of pace from the last two years.
The shackles are finally coming off
It's true that Utah has some internal improvements to work on. Such is the case when trading a valued cog like Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the benefits to this season is that it's simply going to be about who's going to work in Utah and who isn't.
Because the Jazz should be more than happy to simply throw whatever they want against the wall, this is going to be a free and easy season that should serve as the first step to something beautiful. There's a possibility this will end in a play-in elimination or they could be the team no one wants to face in the postseason.
Today, we got a glimpse of what Utah has going for them. After four tough years, Will Hardy finally gets to show the NBA world what he has in store for them with no kid gloves to speak of. The preseason is more or less a sample, and it's not like the Jazz thoroughly dominated every facet of the game, but ladies and gentlemen, Utah Jazz basketball is back!
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