Game 12 Takeaways – Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics
Jazz Survive Furious Boston Comeback in Hayward’s Return.
Gordon Hayward returned to Utah for the first time as a Boston Celtic Friday night to take on his former team. Jazz fans (The Jazz Fan Show included) have undoubtably circled this game on the schedule as “must watch” since Hayward was unable to play in last year’s game due to… that whole…. leg… snapping in half…. ordeal.
Utah held a big lead late in the game, but Boston mounted a furious comeback to bring it close near the end. Luckily for Jazz fans, Utah was able to fend off the Celtics, and an incredibly sad-looking Gordon Hayward, to win its second straight at home 123-115.
Watch the full game highlights below:
Game 12 Takeaways – Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics
Quick Notes
#1 | I Feel… Shortchanged
I obviously had a lot of feelings in regards to Gordon Hayward returning to Utah for the first time to face the team he… shortchanged years before. In fact, I even went as far as refusing to say the guy’s name (instead, I referred to him as Voldemort).
So, needless to say, when I thought about G-Time’s return, I expected to be so furious that going to the game wasn’t even an option for me. The truth is, and I’m not proud of this, I was scared I may whip a battery at GH from the stands during a rage blackout where I’m screaming “YOU WANT TO PLAY IN BOSTON?! I’LL GIVE YOU BOSTON!”… or something like that.
I am reminded of The Count of Monte Cristo’s Alexandre Dumas:
“How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
However, after all was said and done, I can honestly say I feel genuinely sorry for the guy. He’s obviously not back to where he was, or even close. Can you blame him, though? There must be some PTSD inside of him from that, right?
But even more important, and surprising, was how robbed I felt of the joy that would have filled my soul had the Jazz beat a Celtics team with a fully-healthy Gordon Hayward throwing everything he had at us.
But what was I expecting? Satisfaction?
Unfortunately, Alexandre Dumas warned me of this:
“Fool that I am,” said he,”that I did not tear out my heart the day I resolved to revenge myself”.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Please heed my warnings, Jazz fans: Revenge is never as satisfying as you think it’ll be.
Let us all move on from this embarrassment. Instead of dwelling on our dreadful past, let us focus on our rich and blessed future:
Hey Rev, can I get an Amen?
#2 | Joe the Jazz Man
Why do we love Joe Ingles so much in Utah?
Perhaps it’s because he is an underdog, and in Utah, we identify with underdogs because that’s what we’ve always been.
So when Joe Ingles goes off for 27 against his former teammate (tying a career-high), it makes my heart happy.
I say we just guarantee him an assistant spot the second he retires. Anyone object?
#3 | Jae the Jazz Man
Jae Crowder is another underdog who I’ve come to love watching during his time as a Jazz Man.
Two seasons ago, while playing for the Celtics, Jae was visibly upset following a game against the Jazz because Boston’s home-crowd was cheering for Gordon more than their own players.
Eventually the Celtics traded him to a systemless Cleveland team last season in the deal that brought Kyrie in.
This had to be tough for the man after losing his mother and playing such a big part in a very special season for the Celtics.
Well, Jae, there’s no need to worry anymore, my friend. You’re a Jazz Man now.
Congrats on one helluva win.
#4 | The Future vs The Past
Every time Donovan got the ball and the defense switched so GH was guarding him, the crowd began screaming for him to take it to the hole.
This was just really interesting for me. I’d never seen it so obviously noticeable before.
#5 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Friday around lunch time, I began the drive from Salt Lake to Las Vegas along with my wife, my buddy Chase and his girlfriend Jess. We arrived in Las Vegas around the beginning of the second quarter, found the nearest sports bar and settled in for the night.
It’s important to note that I was wearing a throwback Karl Malone jersey and a Utah Jazz hat. My wife had a Jazz shirt on, my buddy Chase was also rocking a throwback John Stockton jersey (because John wouldn’t have been John without Karl and vice-versa and so on…).
During the remainder of the game, I had around five strangers walk up to me to talk about the team, Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles and, of course, Gordon Hayward.
To be honest, our exchanges were all rather pleasant. People in Las Vegas seem to be pretty generally on board with how our team is shaping up.
I’m not really sure why I’m including this other than to make this point: I repped the Jazz in Las Vegas and people respected it.
Well, for the most part. There were the hand full of Celtics fans paying to have Irish rock music playing on the juke box and giving us dirty looks the entire time.
Scoreboard, Ireland.
Scoreboard.
Game 12 Takeaways – Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics
Prop Picks
Winner:
Tie: Kelby(.5) and Andy (.5)
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