Can Utah Bounce Back? Yes.

Posted by D. Chris Estey on November 15, 2009

“My confidence in this team’s ability and potential is growing by the day.” – D. Chris Estey (Me) about 3 weeks ago.

Being the eternal, and sometimes even stubbornly irrational optimist that I am, I am standing by that statement. Well … sort of. The Jazz really did look fantastic in the preseason! And they seem to be finally shaking the early season jitter with the wins in New York and Philly and playing tough for 48 minutes in Cleveland. However, not much of what we saw in the preseason games seems to have carried over. So here’s my problem; and I’m hoping that some of you can identify with this and perhaps we can find some sort of a common understanding with regard to our current predicament. I have heard people say that if you set your expectations low, it’s much harder to be disappointed. Right? Subsequently, if the results of this anticipated event (which you are expecting so little of) emerge triumphant and successful, well then you have a very unexpected and pleasant surprise awaiting you.

I have been a Jazz fan for 28 years, 3 months and 27 days. Plus nine and a half months in the womb. Starting in 1984 (at the age of two) and moving along through the course of my Utah Jazz journey I have suffered through a grand and whopping total of (brace yourselves) ONE losing season. Let me just try to set my expectations low for this team. Here I go, I’m going to try … Hold on a sec …

Alright I’m back! It didn’t take. I’ve come to the glorious conclusion that I am completely and totally incapable of losing hope for this team. There have been way too many times that we have seen them bounce back from far worse, with far less. Throughout the painfully rocky start that we have all been recent witness to, I feel that there have been a number of glaring omissions; silver lining’s (formerly rays of light Ben, haha) around these dark clouds of defeat. First of all let’s look at the last couple of seasons.

The Jazz staggered and stumbled their way into the 2007-2008 season with a 16-16 start including a miserable month of December in which they lost 6 in a row and 8 out of 9 between Dec. 4 and Dec. 29. Many a team would have crumbled and faded. Yet, they did exactly what the Jazz do by running off a streak of 38-12 the rest of the way and posting the 2nd best record in the NBA through the second half of the season. They finished with 54 wins and gave the Lakers all that they could handle in the Western Conf semi-Finals.

Last year, 2008-2009 the Jazz started the season short handed with Deron Williams riding the pine with a severe ankle sprain. In a tremendous display of resiliency and grit the Jazz held down the fort starting 7-1 without the help of their budding superstar. However, they would go on to finish the season by dropping 11 of the last 18 and 7 of the last 9; sentencing themselves to an early first round exit to the eventual champion LA Lakers.

It’s worth pointing out that the way that they started and the way that they finished have been diametrically opposite one from the other in each of the last two seasons. Despite the slow start in 07-08 they were able to kick it into the next gear and overcome the early season adversity. But then in 08-09 they crashed and burned at the end of a season that featured an inspiring 7-1 start.

“Welcome to the Utah Jazz roller coaster ride! This is Craig Bolerjack I’m joined by Ron Boone. Make sure you keep your hands and legs inside the ride at all times however, feel free to leave your beating heart right out on the track because the Laker car is coming up right behind you. Oh and don’t forget Jazz fans! Buckle up!”

One more example, and I hate to use this but if the shoe fits then put the damn thing on, right? In the shortened 1998-99 season the San Antonio Spurs limped out of the gates with a dismal 6-8 start. I remember Jim Rome making the comment, “That’s what you get for resting healthy players for the sake of getting a better draft pick.” Well, it worked, and they would go on to win 31 of the next 36 games. Oh, and let’s not forget about the part at the end where they walked away with that shiny LOB Trophy hoisted above their heads.

Now, I’m not saying that in order for the Jazz to have a good season they need start off by playing like crap. The point I am trying to make is that there is a ton of basketball yet to be played. They have shown flashes of greatness; specifically in the short-handed loss on the road to Cleveland, and in the first three quarters on the road in Denver and in Dallas (I know, I don’t like to think about it either!). However, unlike in 1998-99, this season is 82 games long and I’m confident that they will figure it out somewhere along the way. After 3 competitive games on a 2 and 2 Eastern road trip they just might be starting. Only time will tell and although the ride has been rough it’s been worth every bump, every turn, every up and every down. So, personally, my expectations are yet to be compromised. I will keep you all posted if anything changes.

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A.G. on November 15, 2009 said:

Good post. My expectations are always high for this team too. I am, however, having a hard time knowing what to think about the way the Jazz have played the last two games. Deron Williams hasn’t been on the floor for either one, and yet the Jazz look like a completely different (possibly better?) team. When D-Will himself called for a change in his famous tweet I would have never guessed it would have been his absence acting as the catalyst. This team HAS changed, at least in the last two games. I’d like to think this team would have played just as well, if not better, with Deron in the lineup. But honestly, I can’t be certain until he is back on the floor. With everybody claiming Boozer as a locker room distraction I can’t help but think we all might have missed something else. I don’t like to think this way, because I love D-Will (some might call it a man crush), but maybe it was Deron that was causing some of the problems. He is a winner, maybe to a fault. I can’t help but think he may have been putting way too much pressure on everyone, including himself. If that is the case, I can only hope that his two game absence has given him some perspective on his life and his team. We all know the Jazz need Deron to be playing at a high level for this team to be successful, but I think he also needs to have fun. That has been the biggest difference I’ve seen. The last two games everyone was having fun. I hope they can continue on this path when Deron gets back, ‘cause if they do, it could be that start of something very VERY good.

P.s. I hope everything is well with Deron and his family.

Kentucky Homer on November 15, 2009 said:

A thought provoking post. Everyone has opinions…like armpits, and at times they stink.

I have wondered about the unrealistic expectations of some ‘fair weather fans’. This team is not expected to be a contender for the NBA title by anyone outside Utah. Their big star is a point guard who has shown brilliance, but the question remains…does he make the other players on this team better? (A glance at the team’s performance with him out of the lineup the past two games may be a telling point.)

The problems in the team chemistry with the Carlos Boozer situation create poison. Paul Millsap’s contributions have diminished, and one wonders if the big contract has lowered his incentives.

People snipe at a Hall of Fame coach in blogs, etc. These people have probably never had anything close to the success and respect that Jerry Sloan has earned both as an All Star player as well as a Hall of Fame coach.

Am I disappointed with the start…YES! But I’ve not given up yet. There will be a big difference when Boozer is gone, and the future draft potential is great.

What I miss is seeing players who exhibit the toughness that Jerry Sloan’s teams always demonstrated. Stockton is gone and Harpring is hurt. We need someone who will lead by example and not by ‘Tweet’! I almost wish for one of the Jazz to get so emotional about the outcome of the game that they would go after a member of the opposing team on the floor! A technical and suspension might just be the catylist for a turnaround. (I don’t like Ron Artest, but you get my point, O.K.?)

Anyway, as long as Sloan is there, the Jazz are my favorites…win or lose! And yes, I think the future may be VERY bright for this franchise!

P.S. Also hoping all is well with D Will and family.

Jared on November 16, 2009 said:

Sorry, but I am playing the pessimist today. Everyone is acting like the team has turned a corner by what? Beating a pathetic Nicks team? Winning a good game against a mediocre Nets team? Even loosing to a mediocre Cavs team has people brimming with confidence. We have accomplished NOTHING! We are 2-2 at home and 2-4 on the road! Nothing has changed. We are still the same team we were last year. The only bright spot in a very bleak picture is the play of our rookies, and guess what – they are not pieces to a championship contending team. The thing that frustrates me the most about the Jazz is when the fans seem to buy in to the idea that where we are (currently 4-6, 4th in the conference) is some kind of accomplishment. We will be lucky to make the playoffs this year, and with one of the highest paid rosters in the league. Milsap is playing horribly. We already have an impressive list of pathetic games. Houston beat us on our home court without their two best players. We saw our players curl up in a the fetal position for the 4th quarter in Dalls. We were then demolished by the pathetic Sacramento Kings. Goodness, we made Tyreke Evans look like Michael Jordan reborn. The smoke is so thick I can’t see my hand in front of my face, and you guys are acting like the house isn’t on fire!

D. Chris Estey on November 16, 2009 said:

I have to take issue with that comment Jared. LOL. Believe it or not, about 90% of this article was written prior to the 4 game road trip. You must not have read it very closely because the article was not about, “Hey look how good they are doing! They beat the Knicks and Sixers and almost won in Cleveland!” It was about how we shouldn’t get too worked up over a mediocre start as the Jazz have shown time and time again that they can recover from adversity. That there is no reason to panic less than 10 games into the season.

Linda on November 16, 2009 said:

A.G. Your post gives some food for thought. Both my husband and I noyiced the “fun” aspect and have noticed how disgusted how DWill gets if the team is making mistakes. He needs to lead not by being disgusted but by teaching and expecting improvement. We have to have DWill but maybe he will learn a little from his being gone. I too will always be an optomist where the Jazz are concerned. We just arrived home (midnight) from the autograph party (only part was a poor choice of words) and I an anxious already to turn around and head back on Wednesday to see my Jazz play!!

Clark on November 17, 2009 said:

You failed to mention what sparked the 16-16 Jazz team into rattling off 38 wins in 50 games. they traded for Kyle Korver. They need another trade to be the catalyst of the season.

Here are some thoughts on that matter.

http://jazzingitup.com/2009/11/17/this-team-has-a-fever-and-the-only-rx-is-more-cowbell-i-mean-a-trade/

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