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Expecting Player Loyalty Without Being Loyal to Players

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Expecting Player Loyalty Without Being Loyal to Players

Derrick Favors and What December Means For a Utah Jazz Fan

Well, it’s December yet again, and we all know that the means…

As fans of the Utah Jazz, December means this is the first thing we get to read on Twitter every morning:

“BREAKING: Sources claim Utah Jazz interested in trading Derrick Favors for [ENTER PLAYER NAME HERE].”

This year, the Utah Jazz have found themselves at the forefront of yet another round of trade rumors surrounding veteran and recently resigned PF Derrick Favors. This season, the rumors include the Chicago Bulls and young forward Jabari Parker, who has been phased out of Chicago’s rotation due to his inefficiency and poor shot selection.

The rumors began when Bill Simmons’ The Ringer released the following in a recent article:

“Parker was worth the risk when the Chicago Bulls signed him this past summer because the Bulls had nothing to lose. They needed to meet the minimum salary threshold, and it’s not often you can get a look at a 23-year-old former no. 2 pick with team control for a second season. It has just failed miserably.
Parker has remained a zero on defense who relies on the inefficient midrange to get his points. As a result, new Bulls head coach Jim Boylen is phasing Parker out of the rotation and the front office is looking to trade him, with “several teams” interested, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported last Friday. Parker makes $20 million this season and has a non-guaranteed deal for another $20 million next season. It’ll be difficult to find a suitor with the salaries and assets to make a deal that’s worth it for the Bulls, but there are options.
The Utah Jazz are one of the teams interested in Parker, according to multiple league sources. Derrick Favors is an awkward fit next to center Rudy Gobert, and his $16.9 million on the books for next season is non-guaranteed, meaning he could be one of the pieces involved. Favors can’t be traded until January 15, so Chicago would have to wait. Would it be worth it? The Bulls are loaded with young bigs, so it’s hard to see them taking back Favors unless additional assets are included. Utah has all of its future picks, except for a 2020 second-rounder going to the Cavaliers, and has two other seconds incoming.
Parker’s value has diminished, but the Jazz are desperate for offense. They rank 23rd in offensive rating this season, and last in offensive rating in the fourth quarter. Parker doesn’t care about playing defense, but the rest of the team does; if they can help him get stops, maybe he can help them buy a bucket.”

Derrick Favors Opinion?

Let’s listen to what he had to say…


Gotta love seeing a player like Derrick letting everything roll off his back like this. The man is a pro, which is another reason it may be worth keeping him around moving forward.

Utah Jazz React to Derrick Favors Trade Rumors

These trade rumors have continued on, even with the Utah Jazz denying any interaction at all with the Chicago Bulls organization during the season.

This Year Different for Derrick Favors/Utah Jazz?

This year is different in the sense that Derrick chose to come back to play in Utah during the offseason, even when most expected him to be heading elsewhere. He also was one of the biggest reasons the Utah Jazz were able to get a playoff series win against OKC during the end of last season.

So when I heard the trade rumors this year, I immediately had this question enter my mind:

Why is it okay for the Utah Jazz to trade Derrick Favors at a moment’s notice, but not okay for Gordon Hayward to leave during free agency?

I personally let everyone know where I stand when it comes to Gordon Hayward’s decision to bail on the Utah Jazz during a recent Jazz Fan Show podcast, which you can listen to by CLICKING HERE.

Since I said those things, my attitude has actually softened on the entire thing. Honestly, Hayward didn’t want to be on my team, so why would I want him on my team?

In contrast, Derrick Favors showed the Utah Jazz that HE DID want to be on the team by signing the extension during the offseason.

Yet, I still see posts and tweets from people claiming to be Jazz fans who would cut ties with Derrick Favors for Jabari Parker in a second.

Are Jabari and the Jazz a Match?

Another reason this year’s trade rumors are leaving me more or less flabbergasted is the fact that people assume the Utah Jazz are actually thinking about making this trade.

It’s almost as if we aren’t remembering how Utah was flirting with Jabari during the offseason, but chose to pass when Jabari had the following to say about playing defense:


But now, all of a sudden, the Jazz are suddenly interested again, after he’s already been given up on by two organizations in just a few years?

Give me a break.

In conclusion…

I know that was a very long way of leading up to the simple point I really want to make here, which is…

Jazz fans CAN’T call for a Derrick Favors trade and still complain about how Gordon Hayward decided to leave.

The entire foundation of this type of attitude contradicts itself, which is the last thing this organization needs…

Team Favors

As for me and my house, we’re all Team Favors.

The dude has been a Jazz man for a really long time (came over for DERON WILLIAMS, PEOPLE…), and it’s hard for me to imagine the Utah Jazz on the floor without him.

The guy has shown his loyalty by resigning, proven his worth night in and night out, and even represented the community positively by always making sure to compliment Salt Lake City and the entire state of Utah.

Obviously, if there were some sort of trade that was mutually beneficial to the Utah Jazz AND Derrick Favors, I’m all game. But until that trade presents itself, let’s all just appreciate the true pro we have in our organization.

Derrick, if it were up to me, you’d have a place here in Utah as long as you’d like.

About the Utah 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.

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!

The Utah Jazz Fan Show:

Where Everything’s Made Up and the Stats Don’t Matter

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

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

By Andy Allred

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.

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In Utah, we make legends 💜

A post shared by Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) on

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…

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

Takeaways From the Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event

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Takeaways From the Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event

Kelby’s takeaways from the Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event.

The Utah Jazz Meet The Team event went off without a hitch Friday evening. The beginning-of-year fan night experience sees small changes in format year to year, but this season’s event was one for the books.

For an overview of the Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event, CLICK HERE.

First Thing’s First – Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event.

First off, I know it’s a bit of a stretch to try and find takeaways from the friggin’ FAN NIGHT, but that’s the kind of thing we do at The Jazz Fan Show.

Without further adieu, my takeaways:

#1 | SO MANY Utah Jazz Fans

I arrived at Vivint Smart Home around 3:30 PM to record some segment for an upcoming episode of The Jazz Fan Show. I miraculously found free street parking next to the steps on the northwest corner of the arena.

As I came around the corner, I was surprised to find a line of people waiting for the doors to open… at 5:00 PM.

Now, I know an hour and a half isn’t actually that long, but this wasn’t for a game. This was a FAN NIGHT.

Pretty impressive.

As the night moved forward, the entire lower bowl of the stadium filled up. To my surprise, the first few rows of the upper bowl were also full.

We love this team, plain and simple. They work hard, win games and never back down.

But I think a lot of that love lies in how the team interacts with each other. We’re all friends when it comes to our Utah Jazz.

That will never change.

#2 | Still Looking Good in Purple

It was rumored ahead of the Utah Jazz Meet The Team Event that players would be showing off their new Classic Edition Purple uniforms.

Even though I knew the purple was coming, it was still almost overwhelming to see the jerseys in person. I felt it my chest.

It literally gave me chills.

“We look good in purple,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

I think all of here at The Jazz Fan Show agree.

#3 | Offseason (of Nothing) Was Good To Us

When Jae Crowder was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Rodney Hood, I have to admit I had my concerns. He just didn’t look good in Cleveland, which was surprising following his time in Boston the previous year.

Again, as happens so often in my life, I was forced to admit I was wrong almost immediately.

After seeing what Jae did during the final stretch of last season, I could see some serious potential.

“Give him an offseason with the Jazz coaching staff and I think he’s gonna make a big improvement,” I’d always say (mostly to people who didn’t want to be talking to me about basketball).

It already looks like that offseason is paying off. Jae is noticeably thinner and moving around better. I can’t wait to see how his role evolves throughout the year.

Derrick Favors also came into camp in even better shape than his already surprising transformation last season. Could it be that chasing kids around the house all summer is better for you than we thought?

#4 | Taking a Shot In The Dark (Hey-oh)

There were a few things I wanted to see improvement in almost immediately this upcoming season. One of those things was the shooting of one Dante Exum.

Coming off shoulder surgery last season following an injury-plagued career, Dante’s shot looked like the rust may have done permanent damage to those shooting mechanics.

But I’m happy to say he was absolutely lighting it up during the 3-point shooting competition, along with Ricky Rubio, who has improved his shot exponentially since arriving in Utah.

Can’t wait to see how Dante improves after an offseason of health.

#5 | Watching Grown Men Dance Badly

I hate this, and that is a MASSIVE understatement.

I literally had to turn my head and pretend it wasn’t happening.

 

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Rookie dance off

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This gives me no joy.

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!

Sports Illustrated Ranks Three Jazz Players #51, #56 & #57 in NBA’s Top 100

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Jazz Fan Show - Sports Illustrated NBA Top 100

Sports Illustrated Ranks Three Utah Jazz Players 51, 56 & 57 in NBA’s Top 100

The incomplete list is being revealed chunk-by-chunk, with Derrick Favors, Joe Ingles and Ricky Rubio coming in between 51-60.

Sports Illustrated’s The Crossover, written by Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney, recently released its Top NBA 100 list for the upcoming 2019 NBA season. Coming in between spots #51 and #60 were three players for the Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors, Joe Ingles and Ricky Rubio.

To view the entire list and read more from Sports Illustrated, CLICK HERE.

Jazz Fan Show - Derrick Favors

Ranked No. 51 – Utah Jazz Forward Derrick Favors

To start, the highest ranked Jazz player outside of the NBA’s top 50 is Derrick Favors. Derrick comes in ranked number 51 on the list. Many fans thought Favors would sign a deal elsewhere last offseason. However, no complaints were heard when he resigned with Utah.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated has to say about Derrick:

“Rudy Gobert casts a long shadow, the kind that obscures just how good his frontcourt partner can be. If transported to another team, Favors (12.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG) could anchor a defense all his own with even greater optionality. Gobert is the sort of defender whose strengths are so specific and so pronounced that they all but commit a team to defending a particular way. Any schematic discussion regarding Favors is more open-ended; his team could drop against the pick-and-roll, pressure the ball, switch outright, or even rotate between those options as some highly effective defenses do. No matter the approach, Favors is the kind of big you can trust to execute it.
Or, if you’re the Jazz, you can roll out Favors and Gobert in tandem to stomp opponents down by 7.3 points per 100 possessions in the regular season and 10.9 points in the playoffs. Consider those data points with the necessary disclaimers (namely, that the Jazz limit the exposure of those big lineups in matchups they’re poorly suited for), but the reality of playing Favors at the four is less dated than one might think. For opponents other than the Rockets or Warriors, Favors can be punishing. Smaller forwards just don’t have much recourse when Favors rolls to the rim, but playing a more traditional big to counter Favors then plays right into the hands of the Jazz defense. Players don’t need to be dominant to help turn a specific matchup. They need only to have the right combination of skills at the right time, as Favors often does.”

Jazz Fan Show - Joe Ingles Sports Illustrated

Ranked No. 56 – Utah Jazz Guard Joe Ingles

Two years ago, this ranking may have warranted a spit take from most fans. If you would have told me Joe Ingles (signed off waivers, looks like an agin math teacher) would even be considered for this list, I’d have called you insane to your face.

But here we are. Joe Ingles, one of the most talked about Jazz men nationally (and internationally) is a legitimate NBA star. The lovable, foul-mouthed father of two-year-old twins comes in at number 56. Here’s what Sports Illustrated had to say about the Aussie:

“If you were to ask a basketball coach to describe their ideal role player, they might unknowingly profile Ingles (11.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.8 APG). Think about it. They’d want someone who’s easy to play with, like a pass-first wing player who also happens to be one of the best three-point shooters in the league. Beyond that, they’d want someone with enough of a handle to initiate some offense and enough vision to make smart plays. Defensive commitment is a given, and the ability to guard multiple positions is a perk. The player would need to be intensely competitive, but it’s best if they’re also unassuming. Coaches would want the kind of player who understands his team’s principles enough to know when to break them—a delicate blend of reliability and creativity.
It’s not hard to find more athletic or higher-scoring players. The trick is finding many who are as good as Ingles when it comes to supplying the things that teams actually need.”

Jazz Fan Show - Ricky Rubio

Ranked No. 57 – Utah Jazz Guard Ricky Rubio

Towards the beginning of the 2017-2018 season, it’s been well documented that the Jazz were in a bad place. A bad record, injuries and inconsistent play was seriously hampering the team, which still seemed to be reeling from Voldemort(GH)’s departure.

It was at this time that Jazz fans, myself included, began to call for a change. At the top of our list for potential players to trade was Ricky Rubio.

Let me just take a moment to publicly announce how wrong I, and all of Jazz Nation, truly was.

Ricky went on to be one of the most effective point guards in the league. He even outplayed last season’s MVP Russell Westbrook in the first round of the playoffs.

Look for Ricky to start the season better this year. The learning curve and adjustment periods should be well behind him. Here’s what Sports Illustrated had to say about the Spaniard:

“Rubio (13.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.3 APG) is prone to weeks-long mirages of effective shooting, in which it appears—for some fleeting moment—that his long-range accuracy has turned a corner. The back half of last season was the most prolonged and compelling fantasy yet: 41 games in which Rubio made 41% of his threes, coinciding with Utah playing genuinely dominant basketball. That figure will not hold. But to be fair, it doesn’t have to. Given where Rubio is coming from (31.5% shooting on three-pointers over his first six years in the league), even modest, reliable improvement could be transformative.
When you’re already one of the best defenders, passers, and rebounders at your position, a smaller step forward can feel like a stride. There are two factors at work (and thus two parallel reasons to believe in his progress last season): Rubio has now posted a career-high effective field goal percentage in three straight seasons, showing a clear developmental arc; and separately, only now is Rubio playing for a coaching staff that seems to really understand him. You can’t just plug Rubio into any system and hope for the best. Utah gets that, and has found ways to push their point guard without missing the boat on what makes him so valuable in the first place.”

About The Jazz Fan Show

The Jazz Fan Show is a podcast and blog focusing on all things Utah Jazz. It was started 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!