Know it’s just preseason and all, but im super hyped to see the new squad today ! LETS GO JAZZ! EVEN YOU DARRYN PETERSON !

Gday everyone, I've decided to start following NBA this year. I've gone with Utah Jazz to follow because I absolutely adore jazz music. And my favourite colour is purple. Which also works out well because my AFL team is the Fremantle Dockers who are also purple.

I know next to nothing so what do I need to know about this team? Historical wins? What players should I be keeping an eye on during games? I'm excited to get into this sport!

Thanks all!

Flip, Brice and Josh Green are out.

It’s fucking here. Darryn Peterson plays basketball today. Ace Bailey and Keyonte George play basketball today. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr play basketball today. Brice and Flip and Nurk and Isaiah and Svi play basketball today. It’s finally fucking here. We finally get to watch a basketball team that isn’t trying to fucking lose every week. No more sitting Lauri for tummy aches, no more shutting down players early, no more mid season nose jobs, no more fines for tanking. We fucking made it. Even though the outcome of this game doesn’t matter, I’m so fucking stoked to be here, today, watching this shit.

I think this would be a really fun playoff matchup. The Lakers obviously have the best player in the series with Luka, but I really like how our starting five matches up with them, especially with the size of Lauri, JJJ, and Nurkić.

Where I think Utah could have a real advantage is depth. The Lakers’ bench looks pretty thin, while the Jazz have a strong supporting cast.

The biggest questions for Utah would be how we overcome Walker Kessler inside, how our backcourt holds up defensively, how we’re able to contain Luka and Reaves, and how our lack of playoff experience affects us. I think Ace would be our difference maker if he makes a big defensive jump. I expect our center question will be addressed before the trade deadline if we’re legitimately competing.

Looking at their first pre season game lineup, coach preferred to try out DP at the two and LM at the 3. I just don’t know how you can start LM and bench Ace……

The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 because they thought they were tanking by not playing the top players in the fourth quarter of a couple of games even though they played the first 3 quarters, the Jazz had several youngsters they were developing, and won one of the games.

But they won't penalize the Wizards even after one of their players actually admitted to tanking to get the first draft pick.

Starter

I wrote about Darryn Peterson.

The growth I’ve seen in him in just a few months, how he’s seemed to fit right into Utah and the Jazz.

And why his teammates almost can’t believe he’s a rookie.

Probably my favorite story I’ve written so far — let me know if you have any questions!

It's good to know JJJ has been using his voice on the court and setting the tone for the team's defense. With youth, length and strength, it would be fantastic to see this Jazz team play tough defense.

1. Magic; a PG that could play any position on the court. Nearly averaged a triple double for his career. 9 finals in 11 seasons. The best to do it.
2. Curry; Best shooter of all time. Arguably the best off ball offensive play ever. 4 Championships in 6 appearances. Unanimous MVP. Changed the game.
3. Stockton; All time assists and steals leaders by thousands. Shot with incredible efficiency, would transfer to the modern NBA well. Gritty defender. The blueprint for the true point guard.

Just my top 3. What are yours?

Everybody has been saying great things about the work that Brice has put in this summer. I'm excited to see the result on the court. Hopefully Brice and the Jazz can reach a good deal on an extension for his contract.

Now that we’re coming out of the rebuild, just for fun, who’s one player we lost along the way that you wish was still on the roster?

Not saying we should trade to get them back — just someone you enjoyed watching or think would fit really well with the team we have now.

Some notable names:

Jordan Clarkson
John Collins
Kevin Love
Collin Sexton
Kris Dunn
Simone Fontecchio
Taylor Hendricks
Cody Williams
Mike Conley
Jared Vanderbilt
Talen Horton Tucker
Kenneth Lofton Jr.
Luka Šamanić

Excluding Walker Kessler and NAW because those answers would make this way too easy.

Hello Jazz fans, warriors fan with a question.

Why did the Jazz trade Kessler? It seems like there is a legitimate hole at centre now, that maybe Nurkic can fill, or you have a developing centre right. But I'm imagining big lineups of Kessler, JJJ and Lauri that would have been so good?

Was the Lakers offer too good to turn down, or is Kessler not as good as people think he is rn? Was there cap problems? Do the coaches think JJJ can play the 5? I don't quite get it, feel like your lineups would be insane with him...

I have a lot of family and friends who've been convinced that the front office is just lying to us or something and still wants to tank when

1, we don't own our pick

2, tanking doesn't have benefits anymore.

3, we have our guys

If you go to a game this year and for the coming years, the Jazz will be trying to win on a nightly basis, playing everyone, and playing as hard as possible. People all over socials have been against Austin Ainge's media day quotes due to what he said last year about being done tanking, yes, the Jazz are in fact, done tanking, and they're going to be pretty good if I had to guess.

Will we start rough? Maybe, we might only be .500 at the deadline or maybe even a few games under, but we're going to compete for the playoffs as hard as we can this season and it will be different. I don't know why anyone still thinks otherwise.

Hopefully having another Aussie on the team is good luck

The question mark with the Jazz this year is how decisive they can be. Fine tune details around a clear objective for them to minimize the path. Immediately, Taking shots when they have looks to build the habits even if they don't fall. Deciding a clear 2nd and 3rd lineup every night that is designed for that game. Every day putting in a bit of time on the small things and minimizing time with media and travel to maximize their focus and practice. Media doing what they can to keep the questions light and open ended so they players are comfortable to be themselves and learn from mistakes. With a small fast and skilled highly roster and 3-4 guys who can handle the ball on the court any time, how to get the most out of their screens and technical play. Knowing how to get a play called for each one and get them comfortable early in schemes to build on it. Using the Jazz particular strength of speed to beat the 5 out since they have so much rebounding. A lot of the teammates haven't played together and getting them to a role. These decisive choices that will need to be made early will shape the future.

Out of bootcamp, I'd like to hear some talk about their identity to the lineups. Reasons for the types of plays that they plan to run. How they plan to split the time with the 2 ballhandlers and the floor. Where they can simplify their communication so they can get mostly contested shots on defense and setting up for a passing big like Nurk, running 2 ball handlers and handoff, or a rim runner like Mo Bamba. I think it would be nice to get some discussion on the goals of the bootcamp and how they are evaluating whether they are able to get to the point where they make the decisions quickly. If they plan to run a more complex defense and focus on communication or stick to a more singular syle and work on execution. It's a time for the Jazz to lay out their identity. And I want them to have a goal to share it.

Got an exclusive sit down with Jazz POBO Austin Ainge. Let me know if you have any questions.