NBA Preseason

Ryan Kostecka

Will Hardy understands the preseason isn't about winning and losing.&nbsp;

It's about growth, seeing progress day in and day out, and watching that progress play out on the court.

Although Utah's preseason ended on Friday night as the Jazz fell 115-101 to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, Hardy was proud of how his team played.&nbsp;

"I'm actually really excited. … I like this group a lot," he said postgame. "I think they're capable of playing really good basketball."

Some of the progress Hardy was hoping to see was from the starters, who struggled mightily against San Antonio on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

With Mike Conley back in the lineup, the Jazz got off to a much better start. They were more cohesive on offense, finding open looks while getting out in transition. Defensively, they were the aggressors and brought physicality to the Mavericks. 

Lauri Markkanen had arguably his best game in a Jazz uniform, finishing with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He finished 9-of-13 from the floor, showing the ability to score at multiple levels. His ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim at 7-feet tall while hitting shots from beyond the arc is why Utah is so high on the big man from Finland.&nbsp;

It was also quite the performance from veteran Rudy Gay, who turned back the clock to finish with 16 points and six rebounds. More than just a veteran presence on the team, Gay was phenomenal with pushing the tempo in transition and finding a way to get to his spots on the court.

The Jazz went toe-to-toe with Doncic and the Mavericks through three quarters, battling the whole time. It was a game of runs, as both teams had them, but no one could pull away.&nbsp;

Dallas got hot from three-point territory in the fourth quarter to take a 16-point lead, but Utah refused to go away. Thanks to plays by Walker Kessler and Talen Horton-Tucker, the Jazz got the game back to single digits before falling in the end.

While Markkanen and Gay were putting up the points, Conley showed how good he is as the leading man in Utah's backcourt. Although he shot just 2-of-8 from the floor, he finished with seven points and seven assists, running Hardy's new offense to perfection.&nbsp;

Kessler continued his stellar preseason as a rookie, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jarred Vanderbilt added eight points and eight rebounds.&nbsp;

Utah now has four days off before opening up the season against Denver on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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"I Like This Group A Lot" | Utah Shows Growth In Preseason Finale

Heading into his first season as head coach, Will Hardy knew there were bound to be growing pains for the Utah Jazz.

After all, just three of Utah’s top 10 rotation players returned this season. Add in 14 new players and the writing was on the wall about the potential ups-and-downs the Jazz would face this season.

But Hardy’s message through the trials and tribulations has always been simple — “play hard.” And that’s what Utah did on Tuesday night.

Despite trailing by 20 points entering the fourth quarter, Utah battled back to cut the deficit to six with just over three minutes to play. Unfortunately that was as close as they would get, falling 111-104 to San Antonio.

“We want to play a style of basketball that our fans are proud of,” Hardy said postgame. “We fought our way back (in the end), just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Going with a lineup consisting of Rudy Gay, Jared Butler, Simone Fontecchio, Walker Kessler and Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah played exactly how Hardy envisioned. The Jazz outscored San Antonio 31-18 in the final frame.

“I was really proud of that group,” Hardy said of the fourth quarter. “Their physicality, they continued to play through some mistakes, covered for each other on defense. It really bled into our offense. … They were able to find that rhythm of what we’re trying to do and what we’re working on in practice.”

Kessler, one of the key acquisitions in the Rudy Gobert trade, showed his valued skillset as the 7-foot rookie was a problem for the smaller Spurs. His ability to run the length of court, move his feet defensively, grab rebounds, and show soft hands on offense was a key component to the comeback.&nbsp;

“In the fourth quarter, he really found his identity and stuck to keeping it simple,” Hardy said of Kessler. “He played defense without fouling, protected the rim, rebound, and really ran. It’s a learning process for him. … He’ll watch film and continue to work.”

Kessler finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in 25 minutes.&nbsp;

“I do recognize that I am a rookie, it is my third preseason game, and I didn’t get a summer league,” Kessler said. “I have to give myself some credit, but at the same time, do super well. … There’s a lot I can get better at.”

Despite the near-heroics in the end, the start of the game wasn’t what the Jazz were hoping for. Unable to contain San Antonio at the point of attack, Utah found itself down 39-26 after one.&nbsp;

Trailing by 19 midway through the second quarter, the Jazz went on an 11-2 run to keep the game from getting out of hand early. Jared Butler and Lauri Markkanen combined for nine of the points.

The Spurs began the second half on fire, going on a 9-0 run to lead by 25. But the Jazz refused to wilt, ending the quarter on an 11-6 run to set the stage for the drama-filled final 12 minutes.&nbsp;

Markkanen led Utah with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson added 12 points and seven assists. Butler was sensational with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Kelly Olynyk and Horton-Tucker added 10 points apiece.&nbsp;

The Jazz will wrap up their preseason slate when they face Dallas on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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"We Fought Our Way Back" | Late Rally Comes Up Short As Utah Falls To San Antonio

With the NBA season set to begin in one week, Will Hardy and the Utah Jazz know how much work has to be done in order to be ready for the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 19.

Hardy and the Jazz will have the opportunity to showcase their growth two more times this preseason, beginning tonight with the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff if set for 7 p.m. MST from Vivint Arena.

Here are three things to watch in Utah’s next two games.

1.) Rotation QuestionsWith just two games — 96 minutes of court time — left before the season opener, how Hardy elects to go through his rotations will be key heading into next week.

Mike Conley, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Olynyk all started the first two preseason games. Malik Beasley started the opener but Jordan Clarkson — the reigning sixth man of the year two seasons ago — got the nod against Portland.

With those six firmly entrenched in the rotation, Collin Sexton, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Walker Kessler have been the first players off the bench and gotten a significant amount of time on the court.&nbsp;

That’s nine players already — with more surely in the mix for minutes. Stanley Johnson, Cody Zeller, Ochai Agbaji, and Rudy Gay have all played well in spurts throughout the preseason, giving them the opportunity to carve out roles.

It’ll be interesting to see how Hardy navigates the upcoming two games, especially with the starters expected to play more minutes in order to ramp up conditioning before the start of the year.

2.) Defensive EffortOne of the issues that plagued the Jazz the most over the past couple of seasons was their struggles matching up defensively. 

With Hardy now taking over and nearly an entire new roster in uniform, he’s has made it a point to focus very heavily on the defensive side of the ball.

“Guard your yard,” was Olynyk’s response about the core value of Hardy’s defense.&nbsp;

Through the first two preseason games, it would appear that the Jazz are continuing to improve in that area.&nbsp;

After a rough opening against Toronto, Utah’s effort against Portland was significantly better. The Jazz appeared much more comfortable in rotations, as well as communication. There were less breakdowns and better closeouts, a great sign moving forward.

With only two games left in the preseason, Hardy will continue to want to see this defense evolve and get a little more complicated as time goes on.

3.) Late-Game ScenariosOver the past couple of seasons, it was clear that whenever the Jazz needed a bucket — particularly in crunch time — Donovan Mitchell would have the ball in his hands. 

But with Mitchell now taking over in Cleveland, it leaves Utah with a hole in late-game scenarios.&nbsp;

There are a number of players capable of creating their own shots like Markkanen, Sexton, and Clarkson. Conley is a phenomenal shooter and one of the best facilitators in the game.&nbsp;

How Hardy navigates shot clock and late-game management is definitely something to watch the rest of the week.

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"Guard Your Yard" | Three Things To Watch In Utah's Final Preseason Games

Entering Vivint Arena on Saturday morning, many fans didn’t know what to expect.&nbsp;

It was their first time seeing head coach Will Hardy in person, as well as key newcomers like Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Jarred Vanderbilt. While Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley are extremely well-known, it was also the first time fans would be seeing the veterans in their new roles with a young and inexperienced Utah squad.&nbsp;

But when Jazz Nation left the arena a few hours later, it was clear that the excitement surrounding Hardy and the team is legit and continuing to build.

Throughout the 90 minute scrimmage, the players were able to captivate those in attendance with numerous jaw-dropping dunks, deep three-pointers, and one questionably-sang song. Altogether, the Jazz were able to perfectly blend competition and joy together as everyone appeared to have a great time. 

For those who weren’t able to be in attendance, the Jazz released a behind-the-scenes video of what went on throughout the day — including center Udoka Azubuike being mic’d up throughout the event.

Utah returns to action on Tuesday night when it hosts San Antonio in their third preseason game of the year. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.

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Utah Center Udoka Azubuike Mic'd Up For Jazz Open Scrimmage

After two games into Will Hardy's coaching tenure — albeit preseason games — it's clear that the rookie head coach has a vision. 

"I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning," Hardy said last week. "I understand that there are individual aspects to playing at this level, but I want people that are solely focused on winning basketball games for the Utah Jazz. We will be tough, we will play with passion, we will be a team."

Not only has he said as much since he was first hired in June, he's getting his players to buy into his philosophies on both ends of the court — never more evident than the amount of growth between the first two preseason games earlier this week.

"I think we were able to stick to our identity as a team on both ends for more of the 48 minutes tonight," Hardy said following Tuesday's victory over Portland. "Everybody who went into the game tonight played the way that we want to play. Tonight was sort of representative of how we're going to have to be this year. … It's a team effort."

Here are five things to know following Utah's first two preseason games.

1.) Rotation UnsettledOne of the most challenging things about coming in as a new coach — with 10 new players entering the fold — is figuring out the starters and rotation players. Hardy admitted as much last week, believing that the preseason would be used as a way to determine the rotations Utah uses moving forward. 

Mike Conley, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Oynyk started both games, while Malik Beasley got the start in the opener and Jordan Clarkson got the nod on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Only Collin Sexton, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Walker Kessler appear to have carved out roles in the rotation. But solid performances by Stanley Johnson, Cody Zeller, Ochai Agbaji, and Rudy Gay have them firmly in the mix.&nbsp;

With a whole week of practices ahead, one might think that the rotation over the next two preseason games will more closely resemble what to expect when Utah tips off with Denver on Oct. 19 in the season opener. As to what that rotation may be — only time will tell.

2.) Defense Takes Step ForwardWhen Hardy took over as leading man, he was sure that he wanted tough, hard-nosed defenders who could guard multiple positions. 

After a rough showing in the opener against Toronto, Utah responded with a much better performance against Blazers. Armed with a bevy of athletic wings with length and strength, the Jazz were able to cause absolute chaos and force Portland into rough possessions and 17 turnovers.&nbsp;

Looking to find his spot in the rotation, Johnson was close to dominant on defense. Using his strength and athleticism, he defended 1-4 and was sensational on the perimeter, constantly speeding up the Blazers and forcing them into bad shots.

"Stanley really brought a lot of energy and toughness in particular on the defensive end," Hardy said. "That's his identity as a player and that's how he can help our team, being somebody who has a massive impact on the defensive end."

3.) So Much LengthAlready touching on Johnson's ability on defense, the Jazz found other proven defenders who made life for the Blazers much more difficult. 

Aided by Vanderbilt, Beasley, and Alexander-Walker, the Jazz are full of players with incredible wingspans capable of staying in front of their respective opponents and not getting beat to the rim.

That was never more apparent when Markkanen, an athletic 7-foot wing found himself one-on-one with Damian Lillard, one of the best scoring guards in the league.&nbsp;

Markkanen moved his feet well enough to stay in front of Lillard, forcing up a contested three-pointer that clanked off the rim. While it was simply a missed shot, it was further evidence that this team is buying into Hardy's defensive philosophy.&nbsp;

4.) Conley Turns Back The ClockAfter a season last year that did not live up to his standards, Conley entered this year with a point to prove. 

Through two preseason games, it appears that he’s ready to put last year behind him and looks much more similar to the player named an All-Star two seasons ago.&nbsp;

In 22 minutes per game, Conley is averaging 11.5 points per game — but most impressively, doing so on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point territory. Conley appears quick and is back to making elite decisions with the ball, whether pushing the tempo or knowing when to pull up from beyond the arc.&nbsp;

His ability to return to form this season will go a long way into determining the success of the team — and through two games, it appears he's on the right path.&nbsp;

5.) Kessler Making Positive ImpactAs a rookie who did not play in the NBA Summer League, the odds were stacked against Kessler being somebody who could contribute immediately. 

Although it's a small sample size, Kessler should be able to find himself in the rotation throughout the season, showing starter potential as well.&nbsp;

It’s apparent that his skillset and athleticism are NBA-level, as his feel for the game is already advanced for his status. His ability to find himself in the right spot more often than not while showing elite instincts defensively is why the Jazz are so excited about his development. 

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"Stick To Our Identity" | Five Things To Know About Utah's Two Preseason Games

Heading into the second game of the preseason on Tuesday, Utah head coach Will Hardy wanted growth and consistency.&nbsp;

Following massive offseason changes — including the hire of Hardy — it was paramount that the Jazz continued to grow before the regular season starts on October 19.&nbsp;

Following great shooting nights from their veteran backcourt, the Jazz earned their first preseason victory following a 118-101 win over the Portland Trailblazers. The victory was also the first of Hardy’s career.

“I think we were able to stick to our identity as a team on both ends for more of the 48 minutes tonight,” Hardy said postgame. “Everybody who went into the game tonight played the way that we want to play. Tonight was sort of representative of how we’re going to have to be this year. … It’s a team effort.”

In his typical starting point guard role, Mike Conley finished with 16 points and two assists. He shot 6-of-9 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, looking very comfortable in Hardy’s offense.

In a rare start, Jordan Clarkson finished with a team-high 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 3-of-5 from three-point territory. Typically one of the best sixth men in the league, Clarkson showed great patience as a starter by letting the game come to him and knowing when to attack, fishing a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.&nbsp;

While the Jazz shot significantly better tonight compared to Sunday’s opener, the most significant difference was their attention to detail on the defensive end.&nbsp;

Utah communicated a lot better and showed monumental growth in their rotations. They did a better job of closing out consistently and looked more cohesive as a unit with their on-ball pressure.&nbsp;

Looking to find his spot in the rotation, Stanley Johnson was close to dominant on defense. Using his strength and athleticism, Johnson defended 1-4 and was sensational on the perimeter, constantly speeding up the Blazers and forcing them into bad shots.&nbsp;

After finding themselves trailing by six after one, Utah’s deficit grew to 10 before Malik Beasley and Conley took over.&nbsp;

The Jazz went on a 14-3 run as Beasley and Conley knocked down two three-pointers apiece to give Utah the lead. The game was tied at 54 at the half.&nbsp;

An 8-0 run by the Blazers gave them a 66-61 lead and all the momentum midway through the third quarter. But once again, Utah responded with a run of its own to take a 70-69 advantage — a lead they would never relinquish.&nbsp;

Going to its bench for most of the fourth quarter, the Jazz would extend their lead as they outscored Portland 36-25 for the win.&nbsp;

Kelly Olynyk added 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Collin Sexton finished with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and three rebounds.&nbsp;

Utah returns to action on Saturday when the Jazz host an open scrimmage at 11 a.m. MST at Vivint Arena. They’ll then host the San Antonio Spurs next Tuesday in their third preseason game of the year.&nbsp;

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"It's A Team Effort" | Energy On Both Ends Of Court Leads To Victory

Despite a very solid showing in the first half, Utah's inexperience with one another played a factor against the cohesive Raptors as the Jazz fell 114-82 on Sunday evening in Edmonton, Alberta.

"I think there was some good to take away," Hardy said postgame. "Obviously, there's some stuff that we have to get a lot better at. To me, it was a tale of two halves."

With 14 new players on the roster — 10 of whom saw action — Lauri Markkanen stood out the most.&nbsp;

After an incredible showing at EuroBasket this past summer, Markkanen continued to show how much his game has progressed after dropping a game-high 20 points in 24 minutes. He added five rebounds and two steals, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor.&nbsp;

Another bright spot for the Jazz was the play of guard Collin Sexton, one of the key components of the Donovan Mitchell trade a month ago.&nbsp;

In his debut, he put up 11 points off the bench — including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. One of the more talented scorers in the league, Sunday's time on the court was Sexton's first action since last November when he suffered a knee injury and missed the remainder of the 2021-22 season.&nbsp;

While growing pains are expected under Hardy — especially considering how many new players the Jazz are trying to incorporate — it was clear that Utah will do precisely what Hardy wants them to do.&nbsp;

"I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning," Hardy said earlier this week. "I understand that there are individual aspects to playing at this level, but I want people that are solely focused on winning basketball games for the Utah Jazz. … We will be tough, we will play with passion, we will be a team."

Despite the final score, the Jazz battled all game long — particularly in the first 24 minutes when they went into the half trailing 50-49. Their physical style of play was evident as they forced 10 first-half turnovers, 23 in total.

"We didn't make many shots but executed well, guarded well in the half court," Hardy said. "Second half, we got a little bit disorganized and our communication wasn't very good."

Rookie Walker Kessler added 11 points, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.&nbsp;

The Jazz continue their preseason road trip to Portland to face Damian Lillard and the Blazers on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. MST.

"This is a new group that's learning each other," Hardy said. "There's adversity in any NBA game, and tonight we didn't deal with that adversity in the beginning of the second half very well."

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"A Tale Of Two Halves" | Utah Falls In Preseason Opener

After an offseason full of change, the time has come to see what the new-look Jazz can do.&nbsp;

Utah kicks off the 2022 preseason when it travels to Edmonton, Canada, to face reigning rookie of the year Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. MST and will be on AT&T SportsNet and NBATV.

So many questions remain unanswered as the Jazz prepare for their four preseason games — all before kicking off the regular season on Oct. 19 against Denver.&nbsp;

What will Utah's offense and defense look like with new head coach Will Hardy at the helm? With only three returners from last season's team, who breaks into the starting five? What will the rotation look like?

These are just a few questions that should gain clarity on Sunday afternoon — all while ushering in a new era of Jazz basketball that Hardy promises will reflect the fanbase and their desire to win.&nbsp;

"This team is going to be representative of this organization, and it's going to be something that's reflected with the fan base," Hardy said earlier in the week. "I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning. I understand that there are individual aspects to playing at this level, but I want people that are solely focused on winning basketball games for the Utah Jazz."

Led by returners Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and newcomers Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and Malik Beasley, the Jazz look on paper as if putting the ball in the hoop shouldn't be much of an issue.&nbsp;

"When I look at the roster, I think we're a skilled offensive team," Hardy said. "I think we have a lot of guys who can dribble, pass and shoot. … We have a lot of guys who can play in a lot of different spots on the floor."

While the offense shouldn't be a problem, most questions appear to be on the defensive end.&nbsp;

Jarred Vanderbilt and Kelly Olynyk will be the stalwarts, but who can emerge as defensive stoppers on the wing? Will rookie Ochai Agbaji find his calling, or will someone like Beasley take the next step forward on that end of the court?

Despite having a few established players on the roster, many eyes will be on some of the newer and younger guys and the roles they can carve out with the team.

Simone Fontecchio, one of Europe's best forwards, is coming off a stellar showing at EuroBasket, where he led Italy in scoring.

Walker Kessler is a talented rookie, while Leandro Bolmaro is a former first-round pick with potential. Talen Horton-Tucker was a significant role player for the Lakers the last two seasons, while Jared Butler is entering his second season after showing legitimate promise last year.&nbsp;

And then there's Nickeil Alexander-Walker, someone who has drawn raves throughout training camp after having a few really good seasons with New Orleans.&nbsp;

Regardless of how Utah attacks the preseason opener and who emerges as vital rotation players, Jazz basketball is officially back.

“We will be tough, we will play with passion, we will be a team,” Hardy said.

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"We Will Be Tough" | Hardy Makes Debut As Utah Opens Preseason Against Toronto

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