The patience shown by a team built primarily through the Draft was rewarded last season when the Jazz won 51 games and advanced two rounds in the playoffs. Suddenly, the growing pains were all worthwhile. Gordon Hayward was especially productive, making the All-Star team and seeing increases across the board in performance. Also, center Rudy Gobert became a beast in the paint, ranking among the league leaders in blocked shots and rebounds. Veterans George Hill and Joe Johnson were added the previous offseason for stability and balance, and suddenly the Jazz found themselves a top-five team in the West.
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ICYMI
The punch to the gut was well received and deflating when Hayward dumped the only NBA team he ever knew for the Celtics. … The Jazz declined to extend Hill’s contract and he bolted for Sacramento. … Utah GM Dennis Lindsey tried to recover by trading for Ricky Rubio, who had good seasons in Minnesota and will become the starting point guard. … They also drafted Donovan Mitchell, who was great during summer league.
THREE POINTS
1. It’s hard to imagine Rubio being anything less than an asset for the Jazz. Sure, his 3-point shooting is below-par for a point guard, but his quick hands defensively and lob passes to Gobert will make up for that.
2. First Hill, now Rubio; the last two offseasons the Jazz added point guards ahead of Exum, who was supposed to be the point guard of the future. Is that a lack of faith in the Australian? Looks like it, although Exum can change the narrative with a solid performance in this, his money year. He’s still only 22.
3. Utah’s investment in Alec Burks still hasn’t paid off. Not long after the ink dried on his contract extension a few years ago, Burks became injury prone and still hasn’t played at least 80 games in a season in his career (although, with the trend of resting players, who does anymore?). He’s finally healthy, but has he lost his place in line?
MAN ON THE SPOT
Derrick Favors jump-started the Jazz building process when he arrived six years ago in the trade for Deron Williams. He emerged as a tough big man in the blocks who developed a decent mid-range jumper. But last season was forgettable, with knee issues that hampered his upward trend and limited his mobility and held him to 50 games. His contract pays $12 million this season but expires next summer. Since there isn’t any significant extension talks right now, will the Jazz trade him at the deadline, rather than allow him to leave in July?
STARTING FIVE
Ricky Rubio | 11.1 ppg | 9.1 apg | 4.1 rpg
One of the league’s best pure passers with great point guard instincts must live with spotty outside shooting.
Rodney Hood | 12.7 ppg | 3.4 rpg | 1.6 apg
Solid-but-not-spectacular swingman finds himself at the crossroad; has he hit his ceiling already?
Joe Ingles | 7.1 ppg | 3.2 rpg | 2.7 apg
Forged a spot in the rotation and had his moments in the team’s 2017 playoff run.
Derrick Favors | 9.5 ppg | 6.1 rpg | 1.1 apg
Injuries and inconsistency in 2016-17 plagued a player who, two years ago, was a foundational rock for the Jazz.
Rudy Gobert | 14.0 ppg | 12.8 rpg | 2.6 bpg
A premier big man on the glass and against the rim made significant strides offensively to become a double threat.
KEY RESERVES
Joe Johnson | 9.2 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 1.8 apg
Veteran gave the Jazz a lift last season, especially in crunch time, along with leadership.
Alec Burks | 6.7 ppg | 2.9 rpg | 0.7 apg
Injuries have limited him to 100 games the last three seasons. Rookie Donovan Mitchell could push him for minutes.
Dante Exum | 6.2 ppg | 2.0 rpg | 1.7 apg
Still hasn’t lived up to expectations, although he did have moments during the postseason after Hill’s injury.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Utah is a trendy pick for Team Destined To Fall, which is understandable; the Jazz won 51 games and did lose Hayward. The challenges are obvious, then. They must find a reliable 20-point scorer and bail-out artist and that person might not be on the current roster. It’ll be help by committee, with everyone pitching in to fill the void. In the meantime, the young players must develop and the vets must stave off the aging process if Utah plans to return to the playoffs this season. This could go either way, based on the health of Favors and Burks and how quickly Rubio adjusts to his new teammates.
Veteran NBA writer Shaun Powell has worked for newspapers and other publications for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here or follow him onTwitter.
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