I've so enjoyed watching the Jazz. As a 40 year premium seat holder here in Philly, I suffered through 4 straight years where no game mattered and very few included Sixers who gave any glimpse of long term impact...all to draft one unicorn Embid, and miss on numerous others. Danny Ainge is playing chess while the rest of the league are playing checkers. He has matched a skilled clear young coach with highly skilled and undervalued players to put a really entertaining and winning TEAM on the floor.
I've heckled Clarkson for his lack of conscience in his previous incarnations, but he's been really excellent both running the show at times and stepping up when needed. Kelly Olynick might be the most underrated player around. He appears to me to have gotten stronger , he battles both for rebounds and on defense, even if his quickness is less than impressive, and he is both unselfish and capable of knocking down 3's.Kessler recognizes his role and for a rookie big, makes positive impact in most of his runs. Plus even though many of them have just met, the Jazz give off a vibe that they care for and want to play for each other. At their present winning % they win more than 50, absent a major injury to Markenin or one of the other keys, such a result would be unlikely but not unfathomable . Any team winning 50 is a "legitimate" contender. With their culture, length shooting and coaching they will give any Western Conference team a battle. Not a high bar to shoot a higher % in the play-offs than Mitchell(who I really respect as a player) did during his runs with the Jazz...just sayin...
I am in full agreement that fans should enjoy the good times when they appear. And there is nothing more "good time" than when a team has zero expectations and morphs into something unexpectedly significant. When you can see with your own eyes the joy the players have for playing the game, and the joy of playing FOR one another, it's magic. If a Jazz fan is regretting anything right now, then what are they even doing watching sports?
With Markkannen, his main issue was an inability to remain healthy enough to play effectively, or at all. It's nice to see a guy who's struggled with injuries show out like he has, and hopefully, he can maintain his good health.
One of the saddest things is when exceptional athletes are unable to become all that they might because they can't stay injury-free. That particular list is nearly endless.
I've so enjoyed watching the Jazz. As a 40 year premium seat holder here in Philly, I suffered through 4 straight years where no game mattered and very few included Sixers who gave any glimpse of long term impact...all to draft one unicorn Embid, and miss on numerous others. Danny Ainge is playing chess while the rest of the league are playing checkers. He has matched a skilled clear young coach with highly skilled and undervalued players to put a really entertaining and winning TEAM on the floor.
I've heckled Clarkson for his lack of conscience in his previous incarnations, but he's been really excellent both running the show at times and stepping up when needed. Kelly Olynick might be the most underrated player around. He appears to me to have gotten stronger , he battles both for rebounds and on defense, even if his quickness is less than impressive, and he is both unselfish and capable of knocking down 3's.Kessler recognizes his role and for a rookie big, makes positive impact in most of his runs. Plus even though many of them have just met, the Jazz give off a vibe that they care for and want to play for each other. At their present winning % they win more than 50, absent a major injury to Markenin or one of the other keys, such a result would be unlikely but not unfathomable . Any team winning 50 is a "legitimate" contender. With their culture, length shooting and coaching they will give any Western Conference team a battle. Not a high bar to shoot a higher % in the play-offs than Mitchell(who I really respect as a player) did during his runs with the Jazz...just sayin...
I am in full agreement that fans should enjoy the good times when they appear. And there is nothing more "good time" than when a team has zero expectations and morphs into something unexpectedly significant. When you can see with your own eyes the joy the players have for playing the game, and the joy of playing FOR one another, it's magic. If a Jazz fan is regretting anything right now, then what are they even doing watching sports?
With Markkannen, his main issue was an inability to remain healthy enough to play effectively, or at all. It's nice to see a guy who's struggled with injuries show out like he has, and hopefully, he can maintain his good health.
One of the saddest things is when exceptional athletes are unable to become all that they might because they can't stay injury-free. That particular list is nearly endless.
Thanks for the good read.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Re: Ken Mauer it is at least convenient when the most racist-looking dude in the league, is in fact racist as all hell.