The Jazz didn't play last night but it sure felt like they lost. I know Houston lost (yay for playoff standings) and Detroit lost (yay for GS pick) but the Suns victory knocked us down to 9th again. The Suns and the Jazz both have 3 games left. The Suns face the Nuggets, us, then the Spurs. We obviously face the Magic, the Suns and then the Trailblazers. It looks like we have the easier road especially since all our games are at home. I am nervous though I am trying not to be, I know the Jazz control their own destiny, win out and we're in the playoffs but still... We never know with this team. I would love to think they will definitely make it, I try to be positive about things, but this is so hard. We're so so so close if we don't get in now it will be so disappointing!
This season is so eerily similar to 2004-2005 season (Deron's rookie year). Young players getting better, rough start, inconsistant play, strong finish. That season we know we did not make the playoffs, We missed by a game or two. Lets hope this year has a happy ending!
David Locke did in-depth interviews with Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward. They are a pretty good listen. A few things that stood out the most to me while listening:
- Both Hayward and Favors do not let nor want opponents to feel at any given moment
- Favors lost his grandma shortly after the last season ended. What a tumultuous time for Favors, get drafted, live in N.J. where they are constantly talking about trading you, get traded to Utah, experience the biggest downfall in NBA history, seasons ends, grandma dies. Wow, what a strong man to go through all that and be a better player than last year, never complain about any of it, and never use it for excuses.
- Hayward believes he will be an All-Star someday.
- Hayward feels his worse game came against the Nuggets his rookie year where he had to start and guard Melo cause AK was out. He had six fouls in just about 15 mins of play.
- Favors likes to read in his spare time. He likes to read things that he wants to read, and does not want suggestions from Locke (this bit in the conversation reminded me of " I like things that are cool and not boring").
- Hayward still feels like he is a kid in college and not yet in his grown up life.
- It took Gordon and Jeremy one hour to walk from where they parked at City Creek to pick up food from the Cheesecake Factory and walk back to their car. It should have taken a few minutes but they were stopped so many times. Gordon said they always agree to do pictures with anyone that asks, but he says its getting kind of crazy.
- Favors remembers everyone from his middle school and high school years who told him he wouldn't make it to the NBA. Favors, when young, didn't think he'd make the NBA. He figured he'd graduate H.S. and get a 9-5 job somewhere.
Josh Howard held a charity event last night. I haven't seen too much written on it yet. There were a few funny tweets from BTS before the event:
Let's hope Devin uses those two balls to lead us to 3 more straight wins (bwahahaha)
I can't picture Hayward not being good at something with how competitive he is. I guess a gamer, tennis player, basketball player, son of an engineer just doesn't have time for bowling.
Did any of you go to Josh's event? I know Clint (@clintonite33) went and tweeted about it some.
Jeremy Evans has his art website up. It is here. This mural is just awesome and I think Fes could stare at it for hours
The Jazz are holding a promotion for the last home game of the season. You can win 2 VIP dinners (before the game) and 2 lower bowl seats to the game Click here to enter.
My greatest Jazz promotion "win" was obviously sitting courtside with Greg Miler. A few years ago my daughter was chosen to be a Courtside Kid. It was tons of fun for her. She was able to stand on the court during warm-ups (me too since I was with her), she got to retrieve balls for the players, who were all super nice to her. The coolest part was we were able to stand in the high five line during intros. It was sooooo cool! I received high fives from every Jazz player. The best one was from Deron cause he didn't just give me a high five he held onto my hand a little afterwards.
My daughter got a picture with a player (we did not get to chose the player. The KOOF chooses you!!!!)
What is your favorite Jazz contest you have won?