The Utah Jazz (2-4) take on the Denver Nuggets (4-2) tonight at EnergySolutions Arena at 7:00 PM as they will play their final preseason game before opening up the season for real on Wednesday at 5:30 PM against the Detroit Pistons on the road. The Jazz have lost 4 straight games in the preseason after falling on Tuesday to the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-102. The Jazz added a new player on Wednesday as they signed free agent forward E.J. Singler to a contract. Their roster is now at 16 players. The Jazz will need to make an additional cut before the season gets underway.
Through the 6 games this preseason, the Jazz are being led in scoring by Trey Burke, who is averaging 15.0 points per game in 5 games played. His assists need to come up as he is only averaging 2.6 assists per game. However, it has been good to see him playing better offensively during the preseason. Let’s hope he continues to progress as the season begins on Wednesday. He needs to continue to stay aggressive and driving to the basket as he is running the offense
There are 4 other players averaging double figures for the Jazz including Rodney Hood (14.0), Gordon Hayward (13.4), Alec Burks (12.7), and Derrick favors (11.8). Rodney Hood has played well this preseason and will be a great spark for the second unit. He has shot the ball well and is playing with a lot of confidence as he is about to enter his second year in the NBA.
Here is Utah Jazz forward Gordon with the media after shoot around today:
The Utah Jazz are glad to have Alec Burks back healthy again as he has played in all 6 games of the preseason. He causes problems on defense as he drives to the basket and gets to the foul line. He is able to handle the ball as the Jazz at times have gone without a true point guard on the floor this preseason. Burks takes some of the scoring pressure off of Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors.
Derrick Favors talked with the media after shoot around. Here is that audio:
The Jazz will always work on defense as that is what Head Coach Quin Snyder is always preaching, but one thing they definitely need to improve is their team free throw shooting. They have struggled once again during the preseason. Their free throw shooting could cost them some games during the regular season if they don’t pick their percentage up.
Here is Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder with the media after shoot around:
It will be good to start having games count for real next week. The Jazz coaching staff and players are ready to get it going. If the Jazz remain healthy they have a good chance at making one of the final playoff spots this year in the Western Conference.
