Baseline Expectations

Posted by Ben Hoeksel on October 05, 2009

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m an “8-5′er”. I work Monday through Friday every week, and I get two weeks vacation time to use when I feel so inclined. I know people with much lighter work schedules, and others who have to work the graveyard shift. Although it’s unfair to expect perfection from us workers all of the time, it’s not unreasonable to have certain baseline expectations of us, as employees.

As a die-hard Jazz fan, each time I arrive at the Energy Solutions Arena, I have similar baseline expectations of the team, each time they hit the court. First: yes, fans should absolutely buy the cliché that they should play hard each and every night. Does that mean players are not entitled to an off night? Absolutely not. That comes with the territory. Some times your shot is going, sometimes it isn’t. In the 2008-2009 playoffs Kobe Bryant and the Lakers were in town for games 3 and 4 of the first round. In game 3, Kobe went 5-24 from the field and a whopping 1-4 from distance. He was awful. I loved it. It was fantastic. I’m struggling to mention the next game: but in short, he was 16-24 and was ridiculously on fire. There’s no doubt his effort was there the entire playoffs. Now, I’m going to stop talking about that series before my head explodes…

Next, fans should expect intensity. Coupled with intensity, I’d throw focus into the mix. Is there anything more obnoxious than watching a team (the Jazz, thankfully, never do this), who is getting absolutely torched in a game, and the camera catches the bench laughing and goofing off? Players have the responsibility to their team and the fans, to not take losses lightly. For some reason, I think I’d sleep better some nights if I knew I wasn’t the only one who was suffering insomnia we lost a lead, and blew a game.

Lastly, fans should expect professionalism. There has to be a certain amount of professionalism in an NBA player. No, I’m not talking about wearing a suit 24/7 while talking with the bluetooth headset to your financial advisor about your latest investment; but I mean, keeping your nose clean. Not getting DUIs, or getting in a fight at the club, or running out into the crowd to punch a fan (cough, cough…excuse me…), etc.

That’s why I love being a Jazz fan. These all are things that the Miller Family and Jerry Sloan and his coaching staff have instilled in this franchise, over the last 20 something years. When the team wasn’t playing hard, there went Larry right behind them into the locker room. That rubbed some national people the wrong way. Not me. I loved it that he told the team exactly what the fans were seeing. I loved it that he held the players accountable, when they were taking plays off.

Jerry is the same. I’ve seen numerous players pulled out of the game within minutes of entering, due to Jerry’s expectations of effort, intensity, and performance. You just don’t get that in other teams around the NBA.

This high level of accountability coupled with an ownership team who passionately care about the team, and the type of character the players possess, it what has made the Utah Jazz a model franchise for the NBA. Thankfully, most of the players on this Utah Jazz team have all of the above attributes. Take a look at Matt Harpring. When has that guy ever taken a play off, offensively or defensively? Isn’t that one of the huge reasons he drives opponents crazy? It’s like that scene in Rudy where that guy rips into Rudy, because he’s going at it too hard in practice and making everyone else look bad. EXACTLY. That’s what we want! And NBA GM’s and coaches want that too.

So, what do you guys think? Does this go without saying?

2 Comments

Pat on October 06, 2009 said:

Totally agree. It’s nice to always know that with such an old schoo, hardline coach you’re always going to get the best out of the players because they know not to mess w/ Sloan. We can be pretty sure that all of our guys are going to put in their all, if not, they’ll be benched.. that’s a good feeling if you’re a jazz fan. Good job!

Linda Kay on October 06, 2009 said:

That’s why I feel like I can always be proud to be a Jazz fan. Some of the youngsters want a little more pizzaz but I am old enough to like good old hard work and honesty. Larry Miller didn’t get to where he was with pizzaz, it was with hard work and dedication.

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