Rolling the Dice, One More Time

It's funny what a little buzzer-beating 3-pointer can do.

I've gave up on this Jazz team after four games this season -- right when I wrote the "Boozer for a Can of Tuna" and "It's Over" pieces. Of course I still followed the team, watched all the games I could, did the Game Thread when I had my computer handy. And I still hoped for something good to come from the season. But nothing had ever proved me wrong when I proclaimed the season over.

I didn't think they'd be a lottery team. But I knew after four games that they wouldn't compete for a championship, that Boozer's presence would get in the way of figuring out and building the future Deron-centered team, and the whole season would be stuck in neutral. Another array of talented dudes mashed together into a mediocre team.

And the next 34 games played exactly to script. A couple good wins, several lousy losses, but a mostly predictable record that never left me elated after a win or devastated after a loss. There was no team chemistry, a dead ESA, fans filled with ennui, and game after game after game played by a bunch of guys that just didn't play like a team. 

Every now and then they'd put together one of their good wins, and some would hold out hope that the Jazz had suddenly turned a corner (Kevin O'Conner, you can put your hand down. We all know I'm talking about you). And as much as I had hoped they had, I knew they hadn't. The real problems were never solved. Even in the best of games, the same chemistry problems were there, ESA was still kind of dead. Nothing changed.

And then Sundiata Gaines hit the game winner last night.

Ladies and Gents, if the Jazz are ever going to turn the corner and make something out of this season, this is when it will happen. Look at that whole sequence again:

1. Team Chemistry: watch Boozer run out to the court in mad euphoria for Yatta (freakin' Boozer!!!! Acting like a maniac after something besides getting an "and 1" for himself). And I could tell it wasn't just because of the shot or the win--it was for the dude who took the shot.

That's what team chemistry is: scrubs cheering the stars, stars going bonkers for the scrubs. It's getting excited because you made outlet pass and then set the screen for the guy who got an assist passing it to someone else. It's the coaching staff jumping up because they're just excited to have been a part of it (even Sloan on the verge of wrecking his bad knee).

2. ESA was went bonkers. It was the first time I've seen it all season. It's hard to go crazy for a star that is disliked, for a team that's going nowhere, for an organization that seems hell-bent on wasting the prime of one of the best 5 players they've ever had. Even bad-ass plays (like a few dunks by Ronnie B. or crazy passes by AK) were acknowledged with a small patter of polite applause.

But that crowd after Yatta's shot, that was LOUD. That was excited. That was euphoria. I wish like hell I had tickets to the Milwaukee game just to see how the crowd reacts when Yatta comes out for the first time during pre-game warm-ups. Or when he checks in the first time.

I believe that a part of the Jazz less-than-dominating home record is because the crowd's not as wild. But now that's erupted ... well they say it's easier to maintain trust once earned than to earn it in the first place.

Put it all together, and this is it: this is their shot to make something good out of this season. 

Thus far this has been one of the 2 least enjoyable seasons of my lifetime. The next few weeks will tell us whether that's going to change or not.

Finally, after so many disappointments, I can honestly say that they may--may--have turned a corner. At least they finally have a chance. And I'm finally really excited to watch the next few games. Do I believe a championship is coming in June? No. Will I be disappointed in them again? Maybe. Will I feel stupid for saying they could be the moment? Very possible.

But what the hell. Let's roll the dice and see what happens ... one more time.