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Is It Worth The Money to Sit Front Row at a Utah Jazz Game?

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A Quick Background on Utah Jazz Games I’ve Attended

Is it worth the money to sit front tow at a utah jazz game?

Growing up just 10 minutes north of Salt Lake City, I became a Utah Jazz fan at an early age. Unfortunately, I was the eighth of nine children in a blended family with seven teenagers at once. So, needless to say, I wasn’t attending many games at the Delta Center.

As the years have passed, I’ve slowly been able to afford closer seats. In my late 20s I was able to finally sit lower bowl at a game. And at the ripe old age of 31, I was able to sit on the fifth row for the 2019 opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

That being said, I had no idea what was in store for me as I rode in the car with my brother to the November 6th game against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.

As we drove, he turned to me and said “Well, I’ve got good news. I was able to upgrade the tickets to court-side…”

I immediately began to shake out of excitement/nervousness. This was something I’d always dreamed of, but would it live up to my expectations?

My Rocky Road to Sitting Court-side at a Utah Jazz Game

Now even though we didn’t have a lot of money, I was a super lucky kid. Every game could be seen on local channel 14, or KJZZ as it was more commonly known.

Another reason I was lucky was the fact that every kid who played Junior Jazz got to go to a game with their team. The seats were always at the very top of the nosebleeds, but it was still my favorite day of the year.

I can still remember the old jumbotron with the grainy screen. I remember the Jazz Bear skits that would play on that screen, one in particular where he had a demolition derby with the Sacramento Kings mascot.

I even have parts of building surrounding me as I type this… Four of the old green seats now live in the Utah Jazz Fan Show studio.

Sitting Court-side at a Utah Jazz Game

What is it like sitting on the front row of a Utah Jazz game?

We arrived at Vivint Smart Home Arena around 5:45 PM, more than an hour before tipoff. We were led to the Utah Jazz Courtside Club for dinner, which included way too much fish (I hate fish). BUT, the service was great, as well as the food that wasn’t garbage meat from the toilet sea.

We ate super fast and made our way to our seats to watch the teams warm up. These are some of the sweet views we got:

Finding Myself on TV While Sitting on the Front Row of a Utah Jazz Game

Eventually the game started, and I found myself sitting two seats from Joel Embiid multiple times throughout the night. I could also hear what was being said in the huddle, along with some expletives during a technical foul rant by PHI coach Brett Brown.

Most surprising was the amount of times I found myself on TV. How did I know that I was on TV? Everyone from my life reached out to tell me, whether I’d talked to them recently or not.

In Conclusion…

Is it worth it? My answer is A RESOUNDING YES.

I thought about it the entire next day after not sleeping the entire night because I was too busy reliving the experience in my mind.

I’m honestly not sure how I could possibly top it in my basketball watching career. I just pray it’s not the first and ONLY time in my life that I get to do it.

Really, when it comes down to it, if you love the Utah Jazz, and can afford it, I’d highly recommend it. But that’s for everyone to decide on their own.

What We Learned from Utah Jazz Early-Season Road Trip Woes

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Utah Jazz road trips are never easy to stomach these days. But while it’s never fun to see the Jazz in the losing column, the season is young. There’s lots to be learned from these slip-ups. Unfortunately, there will also probably be some more slip-ups as the team figures out exactly who they are.

Utah Jazz road trip woes

Let’s take a look at the positive and negative takeaways from the past week of Utah Jazz NBA basketball.

Utah Jazz Early-Season Road Trip Positives

Donovan Mitchell – The Boy Wonder

If you’ve watched ANY Utah Jazz basketball in the past two years, you know the kid can hoop. Plain and simple. The question Jazz fans have been asking since seeing the put-back dunk off the Alec Burks miss is just how good can he be?

After six games, Spida is averaging 25.7 points per game on 52% shooting. I know it’s early, but it this is where he starts the year off, imagine where he’ll be come the All Star break!

What we learned from Utah Jazz early-season road trip woes

I fully expect Donovan to be an All Star this year. And while his team dropped two on the road in early November, Donovan was the only reason the game was close at all.

But most importantly, when the ball is in his hands, I feel optimistic something good will happen. When he pulls up for the mid range jumper, I feel as confident as I would be if he were going in for an uncontested layup.

I haven’t felt that way in a long, LONG time.

Bojan Bogdanovic – Feed The Beast

We knew the Utah Jazz front office was going to get some talent to help their stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. What it seems like we didn’t know was ANYTHING about Bojan Bogdanovic.

Bojan is averaging better than 2o points per game six games into the season. Plus, the Croation looks like he’s the bonafide scoring threat the team needs to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Whether he’s taking it to the hole for the tough finish through contact, or hitting the deep elbow 3-pointer without even grazing the rim, Bojan can score.

Utah Jazz – Rule #1: Defense First

Utah currently sits second in the league in terms of team defensive rating.

What we learned from Utah Jazz early-season road trip woes

This defense is elite. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been enough for the Jazz to remain in first place. To understate it, the offense is still a work in progress.

Nobody Important is Worried About Mike Conley

Utah Jazz Early-Season Road Trip Negatives

Back-to-Basics: Rebounding Needs Work

The Utah Jazz were visibly out rebounded by the Clippers Sunday night in Los Angeles. In fact, the final rebounding totals were LAC 54 rebounds to Utah’s 37…

With Derrick Favors playing in New Orleans this year (RIP), Utah has been transitioning to more of a “small ball” lineup. This places the bulk of the rebounding duties squarely on Rudy Gobert’s shoulders.

Now we know Rudy can hold his own when it comes to rebounds, but can he make up for an entire team who has seemingly forgotten how to box out?

Not to mention the fact that Ed Davis is now out at least a month with a leg injury. Look for rebounding to improve under the fine tutelage of Quin Snyder.

Offense of Everyone Not Named Bojan or Donovan

I’m just going to leave this here…

What we learned from Utah Jazz early-season road trip woes

NBA Referee Patterns

The Utah Jazz, especially now that Ed Davis is out for extended time, need to learn how to manipulate NBA Referees.

I know that sounds like I just said they need to learn how to cheat (maybe they do need to learn how to cheat…), but that’s not what I mean.

It just seems like the refs call a million fouls either on the Jazz or the opposing team at a certain time, and have to make up for it later on.

For example, against Phoenix, refs called a ridiculous amount of fouls against Utah in the 3rd quarter. During that time, the Suns were able to get out to a decent lead.

However, the 4th quarter was the opposite story, with most of the fouls being called against Phoenix. Simply put, the refs want to call an even game, and know when they need to favor a team to make it happen.

The Jazz need to come out physical from the start of the game, which will ultimately lead to refs calling less fouls for more physical defense later in the game. #Solved

In Conclusion…

We learned a lot about the Utah Jazz during one of their first mini road trips of the season. Hopefully we right the ship and get back to the winning ways we’re used to!

Utah Jazz Look to Get Back On Track Wednesday vs. Philadelphia 76ers

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Despite Donovan Mitchell’s heroics, two straight losses leave the Jazz limping back to Vivint Smart Home Arena.

The Utah Jazz went 0-2 during their latest mini road trip in California. Both losses (first to the Sacramento Kings, then to the Los Angeles Clippers) came even though the Jazz led late in the 4th quarter.

Both losses also came despite great play from Utah’s star player Donovan Mitchell. The third-year did everything in his power to make sure his team was at least in the game during crunch time.

Bojan Bogdanovic helped, but ultimately the third scoring option never materialized and the Jazz dropped both close contests.

What to Look For: Philadelphia 76ers vs Utah Jazz

Joel Embiid (fresh off suspension) vs. Rudy Gobert

Joel Embiid will be rejoining his team after serving a two game suspension for fighting with Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony-Towns (see The Ringer’s breakdown below).

Normally, this game would be scheduled rest for Embiid, who is infamously scared to play against Rudy Gobert in Salt Lake City. Fortunately (hopefully) for Jazz Nation, the suspension likely means a full-strength Embiid vs Rudy contest.

Donovan Mitchell vs. (Perennial ROTY Ben Simmons)

We all know about Donovan’s Rookie of the Year snub to a sophomore Ben Simmons. In some ways, this seems like the rivalry that will never die… even though it’s kind of not a real thing.

However, we know there’s not a lot of mutual respect between Mitchell and Simmons, which makes it special every time the two are on the court at the same time.

Here’s to hoping we see a Jazz/76ers matchup in this year’s NBA Finals so this can be a real rivalry once and for all.

PS: Ben Simmons shoots with the wrong hand!!!

Which Mike Conley shows up for Utah Jazz?

It’s no secret that some who claim to be Jazz fans are already on the Mike Conley hate train. Especially on Utah Jazz Facebook.

For the love of all that is good and decent, let’s give the man some time to get used to the altitude. Six games is nowhere near enough time to write off one of the greatest teammates in the history of the game.

Check JazzFanShow.com to see if my take has changed after 20 games!

That being said, look for the veteran point guard to play a bigger roll in the offense after two days of practicing (three hours per day…) with Quin Snyder.

Will anyone besides Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic be able to put the ball in the basket?

We’ve seen Conley go off for 29 points once. Other than that, the offense of players not named Donovan or Bojan has been atrocious.

Utah Jazz Look to Get Back On Track Wednesday vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Once again, look for all of this to work itself out in the nice two-day break the Utah Jazz are currently enjoying.

Six hours of practice can go a long way…

Defense and Donovan Mitchell

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Defense and Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz Fan Show

As a family of Jazz fans put it on social media, “Our 182-day wait is over.” The NBA season finally descended on Salt Lake City last night, and it came with a bang. Not only was everyone excited about seeing this new-look Jazz team play in its first meaningful game but also Adam Silver was in the house that Larry built after announcing that the 2023 All-Star Game would be coming to Utah. The scene was set for an epic opener to the 2019-2020 season, and the Jazz did not disappoint.

There are multiple story lines that could be written about the game: Bojan Bogdanovic spraining his ankle, only to come back to hit a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter; Mike Conley going 1 for 16; or Emmanuel Mudiay looking more and more like a viable rotation piece. However, the two biggest story lines from this game, and the biggest reasons why I think the Jazz won the game, have got to be the team defense and Donovan Mitchell’s start to what I believe will be an all-star season. 

The Defense

Just last week, I noted how lethargic the Jazz’s defense was during the preseason. Not only did the Jazz finish dead last in defensive rating among all NBA teams but their defensive rating was also worse than some of the international teams that participated in the preseason. The Jazz’s defense (or lack thereof) was a big reason why they went 0 for against NBA teams during that stretch. There was a lot of discussion in the media about whether this Jazz team was even capable of being a top-10 defensive team with their new additions. 

Defense and Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz Fan Show

True to form, Rudy Gobert’s words of assurance came to fruition last night. The defense started out with a bang, only allowing the Thunder to score 12 points in the first quarter. While the Thunder did go off for 34 points in the second quarter, the Jazz held them to just 95 points for the game. If the Jazz hold teams to an average of 95 points per contest this season, they are going to win a lot of games. Some of the other impressive stats include holding the Thunder to 38.6% shooting percentage, only allowing 34 points in the paint, and having a defensive rating of 94.1. I am almost convinced that any team with Rudy Gobert in the middle coupled with Coach Q’s defensive scheme is automatically going to be a top-10 defensive squad. They are both that good.

Donovan Mitchell

If you are one of the few who hasn’t already bought a ticket for the Donovan Mitchell train, you better buy now before prices go up even higher. This kid never ceases to amaze. Let’s go over some of the things he wanted to work on in the offseason to see how he did in game one.

Defense and Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz Fan Show
  • Be more efficient: he went 14 for 22 – Check!
  • Make better decisions with the ball: only one turnover while being the primary ball handler in large stretches of the game – Check!
  • Be in better shape: while this one is difficult to tell since it was the first game of the season when everyone seems to have a bounce in his step, Donovan seemed to get stronger as the game went on, so I’m going to go – Check!

And for good measure, Donovan scored 32 points, got a career high 12 rebounds, and got his first career double-double. I’d say that’s not too shabby for one night’s work.

In Conclusion

While there are still a lot of questions to be answered on how this team is going to gel as the players get more familiar with one another, there are two things that look like they’ll be a constant on this team: Rudy anchoring a solid defense and Donovan continuing to amaze us with highlight plays and scoring.

Utah Jazz Preseason Wrap Up

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Now that the preseason is in the rearview mirror, we have a little better perspective on what this Jazz team is and what it can become. Let’s look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of this Utah Jazz preseason.

Since I like to end on a good note, we’ll go in reverse order.

The Ugly

The big white guy defending Georges Niang (see below):

Utah Jazz Preseason Wrap Up

The Bad

Today, the team is not looking like it’s ready to contend for a title, or even a western conference championship. There is a lot to get done in order for this team to gel and come together before talk of contention can commence. The defense struggled mightily, giving up an average of 128.75 points per contest against NBA competition, which ranked 33rd in efficiency. Given that there are only 30 teams in the NBA, that means they finished behind some of the international teams who participated in the preseason.

Can you say struggles?

What makes matters worse is that we didn’t even see the high-octane offense that many thought we would see given the offseason acquisitions.

Fortunately, we did see flashes of it, particularly against the younger teams, New Orleans and Sacramento. Overall, though, it was difficult to watch guys turning the ball over, look discombobulated, and clank threes off the rim.

The Good

Aside from some nice individual performances (here’s looking at you, Donovan), most of what was good about the preseason was the opportunity for time on the floor together. There are so many new pieces to the team this year that it was inevitable not everything was going to be peachy king from the jump. Having time on the court against other teams was valuable to help the players start to mesh and have the coaches experiment with rotations. It’s worth noting that Quin Snyder is one of the best in the business at having his teams improve throughout the season.

I don’t expect to see all of the Jazz’s ills cured by the time they tip off against the Thunder next week. However, I do suspect that there will be significant improvement from month to month. This team is chalked with more veteran leadership than it has been in many years. That bodes well for keeping the whole team towing the line and staying on task.

The Irony from Utah Jazz Preseason?

Ironically, I believe that some of the bad we saw during the preseason was due to these veterans, especially those who are 30+, saving what’s in the tank for games that matter. We saw improvements of some of the Jazz’s younger players, including: Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, and Tony Bradley.

While Tony Bradley’s talents may not be needed extensively this season, Donovan’s and Royce’s most certainly will. Donovan looked more decisive with the ball in his hands, and he was a more efficient player. Royce not only looked like he belonged but he also looked like a sharpshooter from distance. If he can become a reliable 3 and D guy this season, he may end up being a regular in the starting lineup.

Coach Phil(osophy) | Harden’s Flops Ruining Youth Basketball

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James Harden's Flops Are Ruining Youth BasketballCoach Phil(osophy)

“How are playing styles of current NBA players affecting youth basketball around the country?”

As the NBA continues to push it’s offensive product, we are continually seeing a lack of defense. The poster boy for this (drawing bogus fouls) is none other than James Harden, who I’ll discuss later on.

It seems to me that the league is lacking coaches willing to play through the foul-count. If they were more focused on defense and forced the refs to continue making calls, the entire league could get away from the 140-point games we’ve been seeing.

Now, I’m not suggesting that all these points aren’t good for the league. What I’m saying is that this type of play is giving the youth an unrealistic view of basketball.

Defense should be the absolute first thing every young basketball player learns. Then, as bodies grow and basketball IQs increase, these players can work on breaking down a good defense.

Right now, young players are only seeing ISO (isolation) ball, slam dunks and 3’s. None of this is realistic in the youth arena.

James Harden – Loophole Extraordinaire

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that James Harden has found the loophole for defensive fouls.

James Harden's Flops Are Ruining Youth Basketball

He attacks the basket and is rewarded for throwing his body into the defense, even though establishing contact is not necessarily drawing a foul. Bull-rushing through the lane and getting the foul has turned the NBA purely into 3PAs and free throws.

Harden alone has averaged 10.2 FT’s per game over the last SIX YEARS!!

James Harden's Flops Are Ruining Youth Basketball

I believe Donovan Mitchell said it best:

“If that’s what he needs to win the MVP, so be it.”

James Harden's Flops Are Ruining Youth Basketball

I’m not unhappy with the way the league plays offense as a whole, but if more teams were willing to get aggressive, get into the offense AND give everything they had on defense, the outcome may be different.

Too bad we can’t get playoff defense during the regular season. I guess that’s why we watch 82 games… to get to the chance to win 16.

Coach Phil’s Conclusion?

James Harden’s Flops Are Ruining Youth Basketball

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. Founded by Ryan Van Dorn and Kelby Jones in September of 2018.

You can hear the show Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 AM MST on 1280 AM and 97.5 FM The Zone.

The Jazz Fan Show is also now available in podcast format! Click the links below and subscribe today!

iTunes

Spotify 

JazzFanShow.com

TryDayTrading.com

1280TheZone.com

The Zone Sports Network App

Soundcloud

Why Subscribe to The Utah Jazz Fan Show?

The show began in an attempt to create more content around the Utah Jazz for the fans to enjoy.

Our goal has been to contact and bring together as many die-hard Utah Jazz fans as we can, and we’re having a great time doing it!

If you or someone you know love the Utah Jazz, contact us today for a chance to come on the show and discuss what it means to you to be a Utah Jazz fan!

PLUS, listening to The Jazz Fan Show is your best way to get information on upcoming Giveaways, including our first giveaway…

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A
SIGNED CUSTOM DONOVAN MITCHELL JERSEY

“Classic” Jerseys Hint at a “Classic” Utah Jazz Team

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"Classic" Jerseys Hint at a "Classic" Jazz Team

Last week’s game against the Mavericks felt good.  The Jazz certainly didn’t have their best game in history. They struggled with certain aspects of the game, especially free-throw shooting, but their victory never really felt in doubt.

This win seemed to instill a confidence back into the players and the fan base that this version of the Jazz can have success and do some pretty special things when they are playing their game.

The “Classic Edition” Jazz Jerseys

The Jazz donned their “Classic” Purple Jerseys for the first time this year and they did not disappoint.

It was obvious that the Jazz organization and fans alike were excited to show off the new threads.

Since I was a kid, purple has been my favorite color. Now I remember why.

The “Classic Edition” jerseys somehow manage to give a nod to the historic past of the Jazz while simultaneously promising a bright (purple) future.

A New Classic Jazz

The jerseys weren’t the only aspect of the game that resembled Jazz past, the play on the floor did the same. However, the past wasn’t so long ago.

The first half of this game gave fans glimpses into the kind of suffocating defense that the Jazz are capable of and were so known for last year. The players fed off of each other’s energy and seemed to really play a Quin Snyder defense.

The Mavericks did make a push in the second half, and to be honest the Jazz didn’t look quite as sharp. The intensity, however, did not decrease.

The game turned chippy, the game turned physical, and while I hated how many foul shots were taken, I did love the intensity of the Jazz.

Win or Lose, You’ll Know You’ve Played the Jazz

At the beginning of the season I remember saying that win or lose, opponents are going to hate playing against the Jazz.  So far this season, I haven’t seen as much of that attitude as I expected.

But that night I saw it.

The game got pretty heated with six technical fouls and one flagrant.  The Mavericks were frustrated that they were losing. They were frustrated at the Jazz defense, and they responded with their own aggression.

In this humble Jazz fan’s opinion, this has been and should be the identity of the Jazz moving forward:

Hard-nosed defense, not backing down and having each other’s backs.

Not only do I believe this will lead to more Jazz wins, but I also think it will make the hopefully few losses that the Jazz suffer more bearable.

Remember: Apathy is the enemy of fandom.

The Jazz released their schedule for each jersey at the beginning of the season.  They may have to modify that schedule to include a few more “Classic” Jazz nights.

I’m sure the fans will appreciate it.

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a radio show, podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. Founded by Ryan Van Dorn and Kelby Jones in September of 2018.

Listen to the show Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 AM MST on 1280 AM and 97.5 FM The Zone.

The Jazz Fan Show is also now available in podcast format! Click the links below and subscribe today!

iTunes

Spotify 

JazzFanShow.com

TryDayTrading.com

1280TheZone.com

The Zone Sports Network App

Soundcloud

Why Subscribe to The Utah Jazz Fan Show?

The show began in an attempt to create more content around the Utah Jazz for the fans to enjoy.

Thus, our goal has been to contact and bring together as many die-hard Utah Jazz fans as we can, and we’re having a great time doing it!

If you or someone you know love the Utah Jazz, contact us today for a chance to come on the show and discuss what it means to you to be a Utah Jazz fan!

PLUS, listening to The Jazz Fan Show is your best way to get information on upcoming Giveaways, including our first giveaway…

Coaches or Players? Who’s More Important to NBA Success?

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coaches or players

Ask Coach Phil

“Are players or coaches more important when it comes to NBA success?“

First, let’s look at (recently fired) Ty Lue, Luke Walton, Steve Kerr, and our very own Quin Snyder.

Sure, the Cavs went to the Finals last year, but besides Lebron leaving, the team basically stayed the same. The results? An 0-6 start and a fired Ty Lue.

Luke Walton took over the Warriors coaching responsibilities in Steve Kerr’s absence. He went an unprecedented 39-4, starting 24-0, and eventually got the Lakers Head Coaching position. None of that technically counts, as wins are awarded to the head coach, but you have to believe it was more the players rather than the coach.

Why? His record starting this season with the Lakers over the past two years is 61-103.

Is Steve Kerr really this good or does he allow his three, then four, now FIVE All-Stars to run the show?

Will Ty Lue find another coaching position? Will Luke all of a sudden be a terrific coach now that Lebron plays for the Lakers??

Quin Snyder’s Approach

Quin Snyder has got something going with Jazz Nation. I like the approach he has taken.

His record starting his 5th year is 177-153, steadily improving as his tenure lengthens. He even lost potentially Utah’s biggest star in the last decade and continues to get better.

The “team” approach needs to be adopted by more across the league. The guys we have are truly buying into this philosophy. From their actions on the court, their interactions with the fan base, to the many “different” leading scorers every night.

In the first five or so games, Mitchell, Ingles and Rubio have taken turns pouring in the most points. In a game filled with the Big 3, Big 4 and in the Warriors case Big 5, Coach Quin continues to build the “team” concept. The new #teamiseverything is proof.

Team isn’t any one thing, team is everything.

This is only a nod to what Coach  Snyder kept saying all throughout last year:

“The strength of our team, is our team.”

Time will only tell if we can keep the growth like it has been, but for now, others should learn from the same blueprint Utah has been using.

Coach Phil’s Conclusion?

Pieces help to finish the puzzle, but ultimately, if you are trying to get guys to buy in on your culture, build it yourself.

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. Founded by Ryan Van Dorn and Kelby Jones in September of 2018.

You can hear the show Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 AM MST on 1280 AM and 97.5 FM The Zone.

The Jazz Fan Show is also now available in podcast format! Click the links below and subscribe today!

iTunes

Spotify 

JazzFanShow.com

TryDayTrading.com

1280TheZone.com

The Zone Sports Network App

Soundcloud

Why Subscribe to The Utah Jazz Fan Show?

The show began in an attempt to create more content around the Utah Jazz for the fans to enjoy.

Our goal has been to contact and bring together as many die-hard Utah Jazz fans as we can, and we’re having a great time doing it!

If you or someone you know love the Utah Jazz, contact us today for a chance to come on the show and discuss what it means to you to be a Utah Jazz fan!

PLUS, listening to The Jazz Fan Show is your best way to get information on upcoming Giveaways, including our first giveaway…

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A
SIGNED CUSTOM DONOVAN MITCHELL JERSEY

Utah Jazz History Doesn’t Repeat Itself… and That’s Okay.

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Utah Jazz History Doesn't Repeat Itself... And That's Okay

Utah Jazz History – Thoughts Before the Opener

As I look forward to tonight’s season opener, I’ve spent all week thinking of Jazz of seasons past. The years of Jazz fandom have come as a blessing and a curse. I have fond memories of watching and going to games with friends and family, but I also have had my heart broken a few times as well (Jordan pushed off on Russell).

Utah Jazz History From my Childhood

Utah Jazz History Doesn't Repeat Itself... And That's Okay

My dad has been a season ticket holder longer than I’ve been alive. That’s right, back to the Salt Palace days. I specifically remember him paying for a subscription to Homecourt Magazine, and I worshiped those magazines.  I wanted to know every single thing about each player. I’d rip the centerfold posters of the players out of the magazine and hang them all around my bedroom. My dad would also bring home the Gametime program from each game, which at the time seemed like a magazine but now I realize they are just the programs. I would spend evenings in the backyard shooting hoops with my Gametime magazine, acting out how I felt the game should have gone.

History Repeats Itself

As a nineties Jazz fan, I never realized how good I had it.  I didn’t understand that part of having two once in a lifetime Jazz players on the team at one time meant that I may never see players like that play for the Jazz for the rest of my life.  As a high school social studies teacher, I often say to my class the “history repeats itself”, and that’s what I was looking for with the Jazz. After John and Karl retired, I found myself searching, like many Jazz fans, for who would take their place.

The years immediately following John and Karl’s retirement, Jazz fans watched Kirilenko’s freak athleticism and could be mildly entertained. However, the real sting of the loss of those two hadn’t quite sunk in.  In 2005, when the Jazz drafted Deron Williams, I remember thinking to myself “this guy is going to be the next John Stockton”. He wasn’t. When the Jazz added Boozer in 2004, they had their Malone replacement. He wasn’t. Thus began my quest to have history repeat itself in the Jazz organization. I didn’t understand how the Jazz could win without those guys. I repeated this maddening optimism with Mo Williams, Paul Millsap, Devin Harris, Al Jefferson, Trey Burke, and Derrick Favors. I’ll even admit that last year when the Jazz traded for Ricky Rubio I was finally content that the Jazz had found their pass-first point guard that they had needed.  I was desperate to relive the glory days of John and Karl.

Utah Jazz History – A “New Era”

This last season, I finally came to my senses. Watching the Jazz stand pat in the offseason made me realize that the front office and coaching staff are excited about the current roster. How was that possible with no Stockton and Malone to run the patented pick-n-roll? The Jazz may not have replicated their 1997 NBA Finals roster, but they did manage to assemble a roster that could get back there. A new generation of Jazz stars are arising, and with them, a new Jazz philosophy: “Team is Everything”.

Let’s face it, the West is stacked.  Even so, analysts from around the country are giving the Jazz a shot at being right up there with the best. If Donovan can grow this year at the same rate he did last year, if Rudy can continue to have a presence like the Defensive Player of the Year that he is, if Jinglin’ Joe can keep stroking it, I don’t see why the Jazz can’t beat any team on any given night. This team had a strong showing last year, and the exciting part is that there is still room for improvement. Donovan made this clear a few weeks ago in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune’s Gordon Monson when he said, “… We can’t live on what we should’ve, what we could’ve done. No, let’s just go out and do it. Everybody has that same hunger and passion. We’ve all been underrated our entire careers.” This passion combined with humility is what Jazz fans love. It is the reason Stockton became a household name. But those days are over, in the past, the history has been written. Tonight, the “new era” Jazz continue to write their own legacy.

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. Founded by Ryan Van Dorn and Kelby Jones in September of 2018.

You can hear the show on Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 AM MST on 1280 AM and 97.5 FM The Zone. If you’d like to be notified when articles and podcast episodes are released, subscribe below!

Five Reasons We’re Pumped for The 2018-2019 Utah Jazz Season

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Five Reasons We're Pumped for The 2018-2019 Utah Jazz SeasonFive Reasons We’re Pumped for The 2018-2019 Utah Jazz Season

It is finally here. The Jazz preseason starts this Saturday. The Jazz will have their first preseason test against the Perth Wildcats.  The team from Australia includes the one time Jazz man, Bryce Cotton, who was the MVP of the NBL this past season.

With the regular season around the corner, here is a list of five things to look forward to this Jazz Season.

5. The Style

Style has always been an important aspect of the NBA.  It’s funny the same guys that criticize their wives for watching “Project Runway”, tune in early to an NBA game to see what crazy style Westbrook is rocking that game.

The Jazz have never been a team known for their style, but this particular group seems to have a certain swagger that make them fun to watch.  Some of the style questions fans will watch for are:

5 Things to Look Forward to This Jazz Season
Courtesy of DeseretNews.com

  • Will Ricky Rubio keep the Samurai hair?
  • Is Rudy going to bring back the salute?
  • Will Donovan get his signature shoes?
  • Will the Classic jersey receive the same support as the City jersey from last year?

4. The Improvement

This summer the Jazz committed to the plan to bring everyone back from last year. Because of this, we don’t have a lot of new players to analyze and predict how they will fit in.  Grayson Allen is of course the exception, but he’ll be mentioned more below. Since the roster looks similar to last years’ the big question is, where will the Jazz improve?

The first place to look is at the Jazz stars.  Rudy Gobert is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. If he can maintain his defensive presence while continuing to improve his offensive game, he is going to be in the conversation for best center in the league. Donavan Mitchell took the league by storm last year.  If he plays every season at the same level he finished last year, he will be one of the best Jazz players ever. The crazy thing is that he might, and in my humble opinion will, get better.  Mitchell is well on his way to becoming a very special player not just recognized in Utah, but in the league.

The second place to look for improvement is at the backup guard position.  Dante Exum still leaves so many questions for Jazz Fans.  While the optimism seems to be waning a bit, it is still hard to not see the incredible upside that Exum has. Alec Burke is another question mark. Last year he was a consummate professional racking up DNPs, while at the same time being prepared when his number was called.  Most players usually don’t have a huge improvement year as late in their career as Burke is, but then again, Quin Snyder isn’t most coaches, so it would be great to see Alec take a step forward and be a veteran presence and contributor. Other players that hopefully can show some improvement include Royce O’Neale, Jae Crowder, and the return from injury of Thabo Sefolosha.

3. The Bromances

5 Things to Look Forward to This Jazz Season
Courtesy of KSL.com

This one is kind of an odd one, but the comradery of this version is fun.  Whether it’s Gobert and Neto doing their camps together over the summer or Mitchell and O’Neale attending BYU and UofU sporting events, the players seem to genuinely like spending time together. Hopefully the Jazz have another season of pranks, jokes, and Instagram jabs to look forward to this year.

2. The Awards

Last year the Jazz were in the awards discussion for the first time in years.  Mitchell won the dunk contest, Gobert won the DPOY, and Mitchell and Snyder were finalists for the ROY and COY honors. Obviously Donovan won’t be in the running for the Rookie of the Year, although a sophomore did win it last year, but Quin and Rudy will hopefully be right back in the conversation for their respective honors at the end of this season.

To put Donovan in the MVP conversation would be wildly optimistic. However, there is a fair chance that the Jazz could have two all-stars for the first time in ages.  The stacked Western Conference may impede this a bit, but it is still possible.  If Mitchell and Gobert do make it to the All-Star Game, they’ll hopefully spend more time showing their talents, and less complimenting John Wall’s handles.

1.The Attitude

The number one thing to look forward to this Jazz season, is the attitude of the team.  There is a toughness in this team that is rare in the NBA.  Quin Snyder has the team committed to defense and for the most part, there is buy in by each individual player.  Other teams in the NBA are going to hate matching up against the Utah Jazz. Win or lose, the Jazz had a tendency to make their opponents work last season, and there are a lot of teams that don’t want to do that.

The players always had each other’s backs last season, and the first full season of Jae Crowder in a Jazz uniform will only add to that.  Then there is Grayson Allen.  All antics aside, Allen is a tough kid. It is to be seen how much playing time he will get his rookie season. If this were the Jerry Sloan era, the answer would probably be very little. But we will see. What can be expected, is that when Grayson plays, he’s going to play hard. This will only strengthen the overall attitude and swagger of the Jazz.

Regardless of the final record and the playoff position, this year is almost certainly going to be a good one to watch. The Jazz are back and we couldn’t be happier.

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. Founded by Ryan Van Dorn and Kelby Jones in September of 2018.

You can hear the show on Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 AM MST on 1280 AM and 97.5 FM The Zone. If you’d like to be notified when articles and podcast episodes are released, subscribe below!