Reinforcements are on the way.
After going through their first full practices in weeks on Monday, Mike Conley and Rudy Gay are primed to return to the court sometime this week.
While Jazz Nation may want to stand up and start chanting with joy at the thought of them returning for Wednesday's showdown with the Warriors, both players admitted that there are a few hurdles to cross — mainly see how their bodies respond to practices on Monday and Tuesday.
"I feel a lot better. … Each day, it's getting better," Conley said on Monday post-practice. "Today was my first time really practicing with contact. … Last week was just transitioning from walking to jogging to running. I still feel it, but it's obviously good enough to kind of wear it down a little bit and see where it's at."
"It's better," Gay added. "I wanted to take time to get the inflammation down. … It's going to be there but just have to play through some things."
They're both hoping to be back in action against the defending champs but also believe that Friday's game against Minnesota (and the return of Rudy Gobert) is another feasible option.
Conley has been out since suffering a popliteus strain in his left leg after colliding with Portland's Jusuf Nurkic on Nov. 19. Upon video review, the knee injury appeared severe. Still, Conley recalls sitting on the court and reviewing a mental checklist in his head, hoping for the best.
"Early signs seemed like they were checking out," he said that night. "I was going through that process while laying on the floor. I was testing it myself."
For Gay, his injury occurred a week before Conley's on the final game of a brutal road trip.
While it's unclear which play it happened on, Gay suffered a third MCP joint sprain in his left hand. He's since had a brace, a splint, and has now been practicing with his two fingers taped for precautionary reasons — although he doesn't think it'll last long.
"My prediction? The first quarter of whatever game I play in," Gay replied with a laugh when asked when his tape would come off.
Now that they're ready, it's hard to determine who will be more excited to watch Conley and Gay return to the court.
On one end, Conley and Gay were instrumental in Utah's 10-3 start, which means the players themselves can't wait to be playing with their teammates again.
On the other end, while the coaching staff is thrilled about the return of their two most-veteran players, there's another reason they can't wait to see them back on the court.
"You should ask Will (Hardy) when he'll hire me. … Me and Mike have put our time in," Gay said with a laugh.
"For the most part, I was in coach's ear, the assistant's ear," Conley added with a smile. "They're happier I'm out on the court and not in their ear as much anymore."
According to both of them, they've tried to stay involved despite not seeing the court — but that hasn't diminished their mentality regarding returning.
Conley has been a bucket of nerves, watching the team's struggles and knowing he can't do anything but sit on the bench.
"I kind of get in helpless mode. I tell the guys all the time, I get real fidgety and start playing with my hands and get anxious," Conley said. "I see things in real time, but I can't tell Collin to dribble to the basket, or Nickeil to dribble to the basket, or to look to the corner. So I just sit there, and I know something might happen, good or bad, and I have no control over it. That makes me want to get back even quicker."
Regardless of when they suit up again, the time is now closer than ever — and it couldn't come at a more perfect time.