NBA Regular Season: Utah Jazz (7-6) at Sacramento Kings (3-9) -- Player Focus Gordon Hayward

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 14:

Utah Jazz (7-6) @ Sacramento Kings (3-9)

#UTAatSAC Game Stream -- Sactown Royalty (SB Nation Blog) -- Jazz vs Kings coverage

Player Focus: Gordon Hayward

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Mo Williams will not play tonight. Jamaal Tinsley will start. Earl Watson will back him up. But the guy who probably has the best chance to make a big impact on both sides of the floor tonight will be Gordon Hayward. The team will be looking for a guy to set the tone of this game bereft of the usual leadership being out. Gordon goes hard, and is way more assertive when his role and responsibilities increase. They are increased at least for the short term with Al Jefferson being a finisher, not a starter; and with Paul Millsap becoming disappointingly inconsistent this season. Gordon gravitates to leadership positions and he wants the ball when it's winning time.

That doesn't mean he's more clutch than Paul Millsap, or more reliable down the stretch than Big Al. Not at all. He is the one guy who can really get a team going with aggressive play from the get-go. If Gordon doesn't start then we'll expect his fire off the bench.

Honestly, no one on the Kings can stop him when he has his mind set. He's the player to watch tonight.