By Matt Payne, utahjazz.com
On Wednesday, November 5, Gordon Hayward sank a step-back jumper at the buzzer to beat LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
That was a great night.
From where I was sitting, though, Monday night’s loss to Chicago was even better.
Sound strange? Well, it might be, and you don’t have to agree with me, but that doesn’t change how I feel.
EnergySolutions Arena was rocking last night—despite another slow start, and despite the fact that Utah’s comeback attempt fell just short when Hayward’s potential game-winner bounced disappointingly off the rim.
“The best thing is that there’s an understanding a little bit that these guys are trying,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said after the game. “If we’re not putting it together early, the fans aren’t mad at us—they’re trying to help us, which is a big difference. Now, they may not be happy or excited, but we feel like we’re in it together.”
Forget, for a minute, the destination on this one (a loss) and think about the journey (everything leading up to the final shot).
Against Cleveland, the Jazz led throughout against a talented team that hasn’t put it together quite yet. Against Chicago, the Jazz dug themselves a 21-point hole and had to claw back against one of the best teams in the league.
And yes, Hayward���s buzzer-beater versus the Cavs was spectacular and is certainly the single best moment of the season so far. But the game against Chicago was more than just a moment—it was a consistent buildup of plays and effort and determination that had the crowd on its feet for nearly the entire second half, when there were a dozen or so plays—threes by Burke and Ingles, a reverse layup by Favors, a rejection by Gobert, a monster dunk by Kanter—that nearly blew the roof off.
And then there was the legitimate animosity toward the Bulls in general, and Jimmy Butler specifically. Early in the fourth quarter, Butler picked up a technical foul for standing over and cursing at Ingles after a foul—and the fans weren’t having any of it. They made sure Butler knew that you can’t try to punk one of our guys in our house, berating him with boos and taunts each time he touched the ball for the rest of the game.
It was awesome.
So forget the fact that the outcome was less than ideal. And yes, Hayward struggled last night. He didn’t get many open looks, and missed those that he did get. He was hounded by Chicago’s physical defense and was often mugged when he went inside (and amazingly didn’t draw a single foul call). And then he missed the potential game-winner.
Yep, not a good night for him.
But here’s the thing that stuck with me. About 45 minutes after the game, after all his media responsibilities were finished, Hayward was leaving the arena alongside his wife. He thanked several well-wishers and kindly greeted arena employees, but the look on his face said it all—he was devastated.
He hadn’t come through with the game on the line, and it still bothered him.
Hayward cared. And the other players care—a lot.
“For this group, the fan support is huge,” Snyder said. “We’re a young team, and when you’re young, you tend to react to adversity on your own rather than letting it bring you together. Our fans are part of our team, and they’re really helping us come together right now. Our guys feel it. And I do, too.”
So thank you, Jazz fans. Even though your team didn’t win, you made last night one to remember.