SDH's 2014/2015 NBA End of Season Worst to First Countdown: 20. Utah Jazz

2014/2015 Projection: 25-57, fourth place Northwest Division, fourteenth place Western Conference Actual Finish: 38-44, third place Northwest Division, eleventh place Western Conference	Projected 2014/2015 Finish 27	Actual 2014/2015 Finish 20
Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 95.1 (26th) Points Allowed: 94.9 (1st) Team FG%: .447(19th) Opponent’s FG%: .446 (14th) Team FT%: .721 (26th) Team Three Point FG%: .343 (19th) Rebounds per game: 44.0 (11th) Opponents rebounds per game: 39.2 (1st) Turnovers per game: 14.2 (22nd) Opponents turnovers per game: 12.6 (23rd)	Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Gordon Hayward (19.3) Rebounds per game:  Rudy Gobert (9.5) Minutes per game: Gordon Hayward (34.4) Assists per game:  Trey Burke (4.3) Field Goal Percentage: Rudy Gobert (.604) Free Throw Percentage:   Jeremy Evans (.830) Three Point FG Percentage: Steve Novak (.485) Steals per game: Gordon Hayward (1.4) Blocked Shots per game:  Rudy Gobert (2.3)
SDH’s Hero to Honor: Quin Snyder Here is a Cinderella story for the ages: a young rookie coach with no prior experience takes a team in which the majority of players have yet to reach their 25th birthdays and despite missing the playoffs, manages to shatter the expectations of not only his fans, but those who had overlooked them.  With the lack of both experience and maturity, the Utah Jazz were not even expect to reach 20 wins, let alone match the 28 they won last season; yet the team still managed to finish ten games ahead of their previous record while at the same time post impressive overall stats that would out-shadow even the most tested of veteran teams.  In spite of finishing with a losing record, the Jazz managed to finish the regular season among the top teams in the league in points and rebounds allowed, while at the same time managed to outscore their opponents, albeit by a rather slim +.02 margin.  Had they been in the Eastern Conference, they would have easily earned the seventh or eighth in the playoffs, but sadly they are in a heavily loaded Western Conference where 45 wins--which would have earned a team fifth place in the East--did not even manage to get in the door.  Regardless, Utah fans must not only be ecstatic about their team's surprising finish, but also jumping out their seats with excitement as this team will only get better in time and if it continues to improve, return to the post season might come sooner rather than later.	SDH’s Face to Forget: +Dante Exum So much was said about this young Australian kid that many had him in line to being possibly the next +Kobe Bryant, which ultimately led him to being selected fifth overall in last summer's draft; however, as with the majority of his rookie class, Dante Exum fell well short of expectations.  While many expected him to easily assimilate to the NBA style of plays because of his size, skills and superior basketball IQ, Dante seemed lost like a deer stuck in headlights and was unable to find any sense of rhythm and consistency as can be seen by his .349 field goal percentage.  And it was not as if he was not given an opportunity to succeed as he was able to appear in all 82 games and even managed to play an average 22 minutes per game, which is quite impressive for a player just coming into the league; yet, all he managed to produce a meager 4.8 points and 2.6 assists per game making some speculate whether or not he will even remain in the league let alone become the star that many have anticipated him being.  For now the safest response to Dante's less than earth shattering performance is that he is still a work in progress and at just 19 years old, he has plenty of time to evolve into a pretty decent player.  Fortunately for him, Dante will not have the pressure to shoulder the burden of leading a team as that title has already been given to Gordon Hayward and all he has to do is provide solid role support to assure the Jazz continue to march upward toward legitimacy.
It almost seemed improbable to think that a sports team situated in the middle of nowhere, with little of no access to any media exposure, would end up becoming one of the most successful professional franchises in modern sports history; however, that has been the case for the +Utah Jazz who for more than thirty years have defied all regular conventions and has become a model for building a winning organization.  In spite of not being around a major metropolitan area with little or no access to the mainstream media, the Jazz have garnered as much, if not more exposure and acclaim than team that have such advantages rivaling such storied franchises as the +Los Angeles Lakers, +New York Knicks, +Chicago Bulls, and +Boston Celtics. When even mentioning the Jazz in conversations, no one even points out that in having had 25 winning seasons in the past 31--16 of which they won 50 or more games and 14 in which they at least advanced past the first round of the playoffs--Utah did so without the good fortune of having the ability of attracting marquee free agents or the fact that two of the greatest players that have ever worn their uniform did not even get drafted in the top ten of their respective draft classes.  Even when the Hall of fame duo of Stockton and Malone bid farewell to Salt Lake City thus ending an glorious era in not only Utah basketball but also in +NBA history, the Jazz still managed to bounce back after a falling out of playoff contention for three years, and rebuilt itself into a contender once again, and used the same formula they did before despite the hurdles they had to overcome; however, that era has proven to be short lived and now the Jazz and their fans find their legacy on the verge of being swallowed into the void of irrelevancy as smaller market teams like themselves are now in threat of being swept under the rug.  2015 was expected to be the end of not only a franchise, but an end of an era where even a small team like the Jazz could make a grand mark on the world stage as it was going to be the first chapter of a once noble franchise's fall to oblivion. Not many gave the Jazz a chance as the team came into the 2015 regular season with a roster where the majority of the players were under the age of 25 with less than five years of experience and a rookie head coach whom no one had even heard of; however, what was supposed to be a wash of a season ended up to be one of the year's biggest and most pleasant surprises.  Instead of allowing themselves to be rolled over by the rest of the league, this team of young adults actually competed giving even the best teams a run for their money thanks to their surprisingly mature and cohesive style of play as well as an even more remarkable performance on the defensive end that would even put some of the most hardened veteran teams to shame.  Even though they did not make the playoffs, the Jazz, despite all their youth and inexperience, managed to defy all expectations finishing third place in their division behind the +Portland Trail Blazers and +Oklahoma City Thunder and with a record of 38-44, would have earned the team a playoff berth had they been playing in the much weaker Eastern Conference.  What made this season even more amazing was not just their record which blew away possibly even the most optimistic expectations from sports pundits, but the numbers that the team produced as whole where upon seeing them, would make many wonder how they did not manage to have a better record or make the playoffs in the first place.  Not only did the Jazz finish the season among the league's top teams in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage allowed, but they also managed to outscore their opponents--albeit by a rather slim +0.02 margin; yet, in spite of such a strong showing, they neither managed to earn themselves a winning record or come near to making the playoffs. From watching this team play, no one would have even fathomed that a group of twenty somethings would be able play with such focus and disciplined ball that it held NBA teams down to an average of under 95 points and forty rebounds per game as well as out-rebounding them by a plus five margin and holding them to a field goal percentage of under .450; yet in doing so, Utah proved to not only the league, but the world that news of its demise were completely overblown.  In fact, with such a impressive performance, especially on the defensive end, this team will most certainly bounce back much faster than the majority of basketball fans, media, even the team itself had ever anticipated in their wildest dreams as the Jazz can no longer be considered as a lumbering dinosaur on the verge of extinction, but now can boast of being one of the league's up and coming teams with possibly the deepest treasure trove of under 25 talent in the league. With their young ages and the limitless high ceiling of each Utah Jazz player , given a year or two, they might just upset the balance of power in the Western Conference finally breaking the stranglehold of the few teams that have remained in the Western Conference Playoff picture which can best described as cruelly oppressive for the past few years.  To witness a team so young connect so quickly and execute with such cohesion and discipline on both ends of the floor is almost as mind-boggling as the fact that this is the team who for more than three decade have defied the odds and so openly questioned conventional basketball wisdom where successful teams has to come from large and more lucrative markets.  By putting forth such an impressive performance, Utah has once again put itself in a place where they can bring itself back into the spotlight thus silencing their critics and doubters. To prove how stacked with young talent this Jazz team is, one can point out how it simply traded away +Enes Kanter, a player that many see to be potentially a future All Star, to the +Oklahoma City Thunder for nothing more than a couple of garbage players, a future first round pick that would at best be in the late twenties, and a veteran in which they later waived.  Kanter was selected third overall in the 2011 NBA Draft and over the past four years had been developing into a rather impressive player as can be seen by the steady improvement of his numbers; however, in spite of that, Kanter's minutes were being squeezed thanks to the presence of equally talented teammates +Derrick Favors and +Rudy Gobert which frustrated him to a point of demanding a trade.  The Jazz were more than happy to oblige with Kanter's demand sending him over to Oklahoma City without a second thought and he would go on to put on a career performance posting an average of 19 points and 11 boards in the 26 games he playing in OKC; however, that did not phase the Jazz one bit as Kanter's replacement in the starting lineup, Rudy Gobert, would go on to finish the regular season with 8 points, nearly 10 rebounds, and over two blocks per game in just over 26 minutes of playing time.  Although many criticized letting go of Kanter for so little in return after finishing so strongly in the Thunder, Gobert might prove to be just as good if not better than Kanter as can be seen by his continual growth over the course of the season to the point where in the last two months he was averaging a double double in points and rebounds while blocking over two shots per game.  That is just one example of how bottomless the depths of the talent in Utah's roster and how limitless high their players' ceilings are and as time passes there will be even more controversies such as the Kanter affair if rookie Dante Exum progresses to develop and take minutes away from +Trey Burke and +Alec Burks, who are currently ahead of him on the roster chart; however, with such a luxury of having such a wealth of talent, do not expect the Jazz's coaching staff or its front office to worry about it.                                         With so much talent that has yet to reach its full potential and from what the players have shown thus far with their overall discipline, defensive intensity and solid offensive execution, it will not be a matter of if the Jazz will overtake on of these teams, but only a matter of when as Utah looks to return to prominence once again as on of the Western Conference's elites and that time may come sooner rather than later.  Right now no one has yet to pay attention to the Jazz since most of it has been spent on focusing on teams such as the +Golden State Warriors, +Houston Rockets, +Los Angeles Clippers, +Memphis Grizzlies, +Dallas Mavericks, +Portland Trail Blazers and +San Antonio Spurs since they currently hold the balance of power in the Western Conference; however, no team can afford to sleep on the Jazz, especially the Blazers and the Thunder--two team who have essentially owned the Northwest Division for the past three or four years. This team is too simply good to be underestimated and it might just pull off an equally implausible performance as the +Atlanta Hawks did this past season; however, unlike Atlanta, Utah has far more talented players who have a far higher upside.  Many had the Jazz pushing up daisies when legendary head coach Jerry Sloan resigned after over a quarter century of service four years ago, but it seems that the team has potentially found a new coaching legend in Quin Snyder--someone who virtually flew under the radar and turned about of raw, green behind the ear whipper snappers into one of the league's fast rising teams.  After this season, the next one will certainly be one of excitement for Jazz fans as they enter a new era with such hope for the future and once again prove to the world that an NBA team does not need to be in a big market of it wants any chance at a championship.

SDH's 2014/2015 Worst to First Countdown for the First "Slap-mester" (Oct/Nov/Dec): 24. Utah Jazz

+Utah Jazz Win/Loss Record as of December 31st, 2014:  11-21, fourth place Northwest Division, 13th Place Western Conference	Projected 2014/2015 Finish 27 Current Rank as of December 31st 24
Team Statistics and League Rank as of December 31st,  2014:  Points Scored: 96.1 (23rd) Points Allowed: 100.2 (17th) Team FG%: .454 (19th) Opponent’s FG%: .472 (27th) Team FT%: .744 (19th) Team Three Point FG%: .334 (25th) Rebounds per game: 41.9 (19th) Opponents rebounds per game: 39.1 (2nd) Turnovers per game: 14.0 (17th) Opponents turnovers per game: 11.4 (29th)	Individual Statistical Leaders as of December 31st, 2014: Scoring (ppg): Gordon Hayward (19.2) Rebounds per game:  Derrick Favors (8.3) Minutes per game: Gordon Hayward (35.3) Assists per game:  Trey Burke (5.1) Field Goal Percentage: Rudy Gobert (.619) Free Throw Percentage:  Alec Burks (.820) Three Point FG Percentage: Gordon Hayward (.458) Steals per game: Gordon Hayward (1.3) Blocked Shots per game: Rudy Gobert (1.7)
Worst of the Class: +Dante Exum  Some may consider this unfair to call him a flop considering he is just 19 years old; however, after being selected fourth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, people were correct to expect far more than Dante Exum has given up to now.  This guy was touted as the next great player of his generation along with +Andrew Wiggins and +Jabari Parker, but thus far he along with all the other so called superstar prospects have far from lived up to their expectations.  After all, wasn't this supposed to be one of the deepest and most talented draft in NBA history?  Unfortunately, so far these rookies have been a complete letdown save for a few exemptions as none of the top picks have made their projected impact.  Hopefully Exum in time will live up to the hype that came with him upon entering the league because he certainly has the tools to be a star with his size, skill set and athleticism; however, right now he has made numerous Utah Jazz fan scratching their head wondering if their team made a mistake in picking him so high.	First of the Class: Gordon Hayward For those who thought that signing Gordon Hayward a max level contract was a bad idea, they certainly must be eating their words, as Hayward has proven thus far that he is well worth the money.  Along with leading his team in scoring, Hayward also has proven to be an excellent all around player showing leadership on the offensive not only putting points on the board, but also getting his teammates involved with his nearly five assists per game.  Defensively, he has also stepped in front of the line leading his team in steals per game, while providing a solid presence on the boards averaging five rebounds per game as well.  To think that some people even questioned the idea that he belonged in Utah, even going as far to allow him to head off to the +Charlotte Hornets before the Jazz stepped up to match the offer sheet he signed with them.  Not only has he proven to be well worth the money and the length of his deal, but with his current play, he has proven himself worthy of being the face, heart and soul of this franchise for years to come.
Although they currently rest at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and they may not see the post season for quite a few years, who cannot love the Utah Jazz?  Despite their rather grim outlook as they take their first steps out of the Jerry Sloan era with a new head coach and a roster than can be considered more of a daycare than an actual basketball team, there is still plenty to be excited about.  Here is a team that has arguably one of the deepest treasure troves of young talent in the NBA and so far in spite of their record, they have still been quite entertaining to watch. Even those they have won just a third of their games, they have keep all their games rather close falling by an average of four points while at the same time have played rather disciplined and efficient basketball in spite of having such a young and inexperienced team.   Their defense leaves little to be desired, but much of that has to do with the previously mentioned immaturity and lack of experience; plus, their defensive woes have been compensated in some regard by their rather impressive offensive execution that can rival even the most seasoned veteran team in the league. Much of the credit has to go to the team's rookie head coach Quin Snyder who took a team in which the majority of players have yet to reach the age of 25 and turned it into a rather cohesive unit in spite of the trappings in which numerous young team's fall into.  With a young team consisting of primarily top 10 draft picks, there may be a case for conflict as each of these players share not only the same age, but also the desire to be the one in charge forsaking the team and focus on their individual statistics.  Yet, upon looking at the statistics, there seems to none of that as the team's overall field goal percentage is rather high while their field goal attempts per games rank among the lowest in the league thus giving the assumption that the Jazz as a whole are not only very selective, but also very responsible with the shots they take.  On the flip side, Utah, in spite of allowing their opponents to shoot better than .470 from the field, have also been able to limit the amount of shot attempts that they take as the Jazz rank fourth overall in the league in opponents' field goal attempts per game.  Overall, Snyder has had this team running in sync and efficiently like a well oil machine assuring that every shot attempt taken is a quality shot and that every possession is utilized to its potential for the best result. In terms of offensive execution, it should also be noted that for such a young team as the Jazz, they have managed to keep their turnovers in check falling in the middle of the pack among the lead leaders in turnovers per game at around 14 per game.  That seems to be the median amount of turnovers in the league as they range between 14 and 15 per game which puts Utah in the same company such as +Brooklyn Nets, +Washington Wizards, +Phoenix Suns and +Golden State Warriors--teams who, unlike the Jazz, are currently in the midst of the playoff hunt in their respective conferences.  In an ironic twist, there is also a intriguing contradiction that despite it ranking near the bottom of the league in opponents' field goal percentage, they rank among the top teams in blocked shots per game, so they do in some respect provide a strong presence at the rim regardless of what the numbers say.  Their top ten ranking in blocked shots per game certainly shows that defense is certainly a priority regardless of what the statistics say, although it does still has quite a ways to go until it reaches at the same level with their already impressive offensive execution.  All sign points to the Utah Jazz heading in the right direction in terms of developing their young players and returning themselves to playoff contention one day; however, that is easier said than done as they find themselves in a rather oppressive Western Conference. In a conference where seven of the eight playoff spots have been spoken for essentially for the past five or so years, it leaves a young aspiring team like the Jazz with little or no chance to climb up the ladder with little or no room to maneuver.  Already, all eight spots have been taken up with four of those teams coming from the same division--namely the +San Antonio Spurs, +Houston Rockets, +Dallas Mavericks and +Memphis Grizzlies of the Southwest Division--with two more being held by the Pacific Division leading Warriors and +Los Angeles Clippers.   Other than the +Portland Trail Blazers, who currently have a lock on first place in their division and one of the top four records in the West, the entire Northwest Division has essentially been blocked out of having any chance of making the playoffs.  Even the +Oklahoma City Thunder, a Northwest Division team that has seen plenty of playoff success for the last four or five years is on the outside looking in as it is one of three teams which not only include the Suns, but an upstart +New Orleans Pelicans team that are fighting tooth and nail for the eighth and final available playoff spot.   Such a prospect of having little to look forward to being stuck in such a cold and repressive system such as the Western Conference is certainly not very motivating considering that the Jazz may be resting at the bottom on the pack for quite some time; however, with every dark cloud there is a silver lining and for the Jazz, their silver lining probably shines the brightest. Thanks to the wealth of young talent--many of which have not reached the age of 25, the Jazz can simply wait for father time to slowly deteriorate their foes while their rather green roster continue to gel and grow stronger with each passing season.  As these young guns grow older and continue to improve their feel for their game, they will improve incrementally with every losing season building on an already solid foundation based on smooth, efficient offensive execution and a developing defensive game.  Utah already has a core of three all star caliber talent in Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and +Enes Kanter  to build upon and right now they sort of resemble a the greatest front court tandem of all time--one that not only sported three hall of famers, but had also made five NBA Finals appearances winning three NBA Championships.   Gordon Hayward has already shown signs into developing into a near facsimile of +Boston Celtics  legend +Larry Bird with not only his scoring ability, but his rebounding, passing and overall basketball IQ while his two front court mates look to emerge as future superstars themselves. Since being drafted at the age of 19 years old, Derrick Favors has slowly been developing into one of the league's top big men while Kanter, who has been often overlooked, has been silently putting up strong numbers which have continued to improve with each passing season. Together Hayward, Kanter and Favors have the potential to become this generation's Bird, Parish and McHale; Plus add along complementary pieces such as the super athletic Alec Burks, as well as a sharpshooting Trey Burke in the back court, the Jazz have the makings of probably the most dangerous starting five than has ever been seen in the NBA.  One can argue that this starting five have the potential to possibly eclipse the starting lineups led by the historic dynamic duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone because unlike the Stockton and Malone duo where the offense focused primarily on them, this current incarnation of the Jazz have five devastating weapons instead of just two.  Right now all the pieces seem to fit well together with Burke and Hayward facilitating the offense by not only scoring, but also getting the ball to either Kanter or Favors in the paint while finding a slashing Alec Burks either heading  to the basket or waiting at the corner to shoot the three.  Add the fact that along with an iron clad starting five, the Jazz also boast an exceptional supporting cast consisting of players who would more of less start for any NBA team had they not been previously picked up by the Jazz. Backing up Gordon Hayward is the high flying Jeremy Evans who with his athleticism and physical style of play reminds many of a young Gerald Wallace, a player that went from being a mere role player on the bench of an extremely deep +Sacramento Kings team to becoming one of the premier rebounding small forwards in the NBA.   Evans is followed by another blue collar big in Trevor Booker, who has built a sterling reputation as a bruiser in paint while playing for the Wizards and has spent the season being the primary backup of both Kanter and Favors.  Despite coming off the bench in limited minutes, Rudy Gobert has proven himself to be quite a presence in the paint as he is fifth in the league in blocked shots per game while at the same time leads the Jazz in field goal percentage and is the third best rebounder on the team behind Favors and Kanter averaging over seven per game.  Last and certainly not the least are two young rookies who have been touted as future stars in Rodney Hood and fourth overall pick Dante Exum, who at 22 and 19 years old respectably have plenty of years ahead of them and might just live up to the expectations tagged upon them.   Altogether the Jazz look to be a roster that is more than ten players deep and the question will no longer be whether or not Utah will make the playoffs sooner or later, but whether or not the front office will be able to keep such a young and talented team together. Although they already have Favors and Hayward locked down for the next our to five years, both Gobert and Kanter will be in high demand once they become free agents and they both will command very high pay raises with their size, skills and potential.  It is a shame that Utah may have to make a choice between keeping a physical shot blocking blue collar beast in the paint or the multifaceted Kanter who can basically score from anywhere one the court and at just 22 years old has a limitless ceiling. Nonetheless, there is plenty of talent to be had and very few teams have the luxury to have so many players who are not only young, but also have limitless upside and give them a few years together, they will certainly emerge into something special; however, as it stands now, they will have to settle with being on the outside looking in for quite some time.  Nonetheless, if they continue to maintain their solid and efficient offensive execution and continue to develop their defense which is strong in rim protection, but lacks a strong perimeter presence, the Jazz might just surprise us all and emerge as a playoff contender far earlier.  For now however, all anyone who is loyal to the Jazz can do is just enjoy the effort that their exciting young team has given them thus far, win or lose.

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs.Kings, December 8th

+Rudy Gay  scored 29 points, and the +Sacramento Kings overcame the absence of center +DeMarcus Cousins to beat the struggling +Utah Jazz  101-92. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Magic vs. Jazz, December 5th

Tobias Harris scored 22 points and +Victor Oladipo added 20 as the +Orlando Magic  edged the +Utah Jazz  98-93. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Raptors vs. Jazz, December 3rd

Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 39 points leading the +Toronto Raptors s to a 123-104 win over the +Utah Jazz. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Thunder, November 26th

Reggie Jackson (22 points, 8 assists) led the +Oklahoma City Thunder to a 97-82 victory over the +Utah Jazz. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Warriors, November 21st

Five players scored in double figures as the +Golden State Warriors  trounced the +Utah Jazz 101-88. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Raptors, November 15th

+Demar Derozan scored 27 points, +Jonas Valančiūnas added 17 with 14 rebounds as the +Toronto Raptors  ripped the +Utah Jazz 111-93. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Knicks, November 14th

+Gordon Hayward  dropped 33 and +Trey Burke hit the step-back triple buzzer beater to seal the win for the +Utah Jazz  over the +New York Knicks 102-100. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets, November 12th

+Damian Lillard scored 27 points and dished out a season-high nine assists as the +Portland Trail Blazers  routed the +Denver Nuggets 130-113. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Hawks, November 12th

Paul Millsap scored 30 points and grabs 17 rebounds as the +Atlanta Hawks  beat the +Utah Jazz at home in Atlanta.  Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Pacers, November 10th

+Roy Hibbert scored 29 points and grabs five rebounds as the +Indiana Pacers  beat the +Utah Jazz  in Indianapolis. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!  

SDH Presents Derrick Favors Unleashing for a Career High 32-Points

+Derrick Favors found his way to the basket often in tonight's game against the +Phoenix Suns. Favors scored a career high 32-points to lead the +Utah Jazz to their first win of the season. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents Klay Thompson Cashing in for a Career High 41-Points

A day after signing an extension, +Klay Thompson  shows why he's worth every penny. Thompson poured in 41-points to lead the undefeated +Golden State Warriors  to a 127-104 victory over the +Los Angeles Lakers.  Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!

SDH Presents Utah Jazz Shootaround: Alec Burks 11.1.14

+Alec Burks comments on re-signing with the +Utah Jazz.  Catch more highlights and get all the latest news, scores and recaps, along with analysis and opinion of the +Utah Jazz as well as the rest of the +NBA  right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks! 

SDH Presents Utah Jazz Shootaround: Quin Snyder 11.1.14

Coach Snyder talks about re-signing Alec Burks and facing the +Phoenix Suns tonight.  Catch more highlights and get all the latest news, scores and recaps, along with analysis and opinion of the +Utah Jazz as well as the rest of the +NBA  right here on +Slap Dog Hoops.  Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below.  It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks! 

SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 27. Utah Jazz

+Utah Jazz  Overall Win/Loss Record :  25-57,  fifth place Northwest Division 2014/2015 Projection: 25-57, fourth place Northwest Division, fourteenth place Western Conference Projected 2014/2015 Finish 27
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 95.0 (29th) Points Allowed: 102.2 (18th) Team FG%: .444 (24th) Opponent’s FG%: .473 (30th) Team FT%: .747 (22nd) Team Three Point FG%: .344 (25th) Rebounds per game: 41.2 (23rd) Opponents rebounds per game: 42.5 (14th) Turnovers per game: 14.0 (13th) Opponents turnovers per game: 12.2 (29th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Gordon Hayward (16.7) Rebounds per game:  Derrick Favors (8.7) Minutes per game: Gordon Hayward (36.4) Assists per game:  Trey Burke (5.7) Field Goal Percentage: Jeremy Evans (.527) Free Throw Percentage: Trey Burke (.900) Three Point FG Percentage: Ian Clark (.355) Steals per game: Gordon Hayward (1.4) Blocked Shots per game:  Derrick Favors (1.5)
Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performance and Potential Impact: Trey Burke (PG) Alec Burks (SG) Gordon Hayward (SF) Derrick Favors (PF) Enes Kanter (C)	Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performance and Potential Impact: Jeremy Evans (F) Dante Exum (G) Trevor Booker (F) Rudy Gobert (C) Steve Novak (F)
This is not so much of a preview than more of a eulogy as it literally marks an era for not only the Utah Jazz and its fans, but the +NBA and literally the sports world in general.  From 1984 to now, Utah could be considered as one of the most winning-est teams in NBA history to have never won a Championship as the team reached the almost playoffs almost every season for the past 30 years. Always being able to reach so close yet so far away, the Jazz had two chances to claim that elusive NBA Title in 1997 and 1998, but were thwarted both times by a four man band otherwise known as "Jackson, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman."   Nonetheless, save for a few aberrations three year hiatus from the post season from 2004 to 2006, and three misses in  2011, 2013 and this past season, Utah has been an almost clockwork like consistency of not only being one of the top teams in the regular season, but also remained as a regular tenant among the NBA's elite. This is a team who all but never found itself in the lottery, nor had the luxury of being able to attract and acquire big name free agents, yet still managed to maintain a strong winning tradition for the past three decades.  All of its all time greatest players, save for the lone exception of +Deron Williams, who was picked third overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, were not even in the top in their respective draft classes.  John Stockton (1984), who finished his career as the league's all time leader in both assists and steals, was selected rather low at 16, while his Hall of fame partner Karl Malone, who finished second all time in points scored and sixth in rebounds, was selected 13th overall the following year.  Most recently, the two most recent Jazz members other than Williams to earn All Star selections--+Andrei Kirilenko (2004), was selected 24th overall in 1999 NBA Draft while +Carlos Boozer (twice in 2007 and 2008) was not even picked in the first round of his draft class. Such an accomplishment is almost unheard of in today's NBA where teams purposely lose in order to attain high draft picks and pay off huge buyouts in order to get enough cap space to attract a marquee name free agent.  In fact, the Jazz through the last thirty years have been at a major disadvantage when it came to attracting free agents period and were never bad enough, until very recently, to qualify for the NBA Draft Lottery.  In terms of location, Utah is as isolated as a state can get in the Continental United States--literally in the middle of "Middle America," virtually cut off from mainstream America as one can get; nonetheless, the Jazz were not only able to build a consistently winning team while fostering a strong winning culture, but also able to garner not only national, but worldwide attention.  During most of the 1990s going into the 21st century, the Utah Jazz probably got as much attention and exposure from national networks such as +NBC, and +TNT, as major market teams such as the +Los Angeles Lakers, +Chicago Bulls, and +New York Knicks.  For the past thirty years, the Utah Jazz were not just an exception to the rule when it came to building a winning and prosperous franchise without top five picks or strong media exposure, but it virtually took the rule book, tore out the pages, and wiped its proverbial backside with it. Now all of that one time proud legacy has now been reduced to ash as both the Jazz and its loyal fans find themselves on the outside looking in and at the bottom of the NBA food chain.  All of the remnants of past glory are now gone and have been replaced by an organization with no real identity and no sense of direction.  Sure, the team is stacked with so much bright young talent loaded with the size and athleticism that would be  considered as the envy of the league; however, with little or no capability fully utilize their strengths, Utah finds itself not deaf, but dumb and blind as well.  The Jazz spent much of the season fumbling around deciding whether to commit to signing team leader Gordon Hayward to a max contract extension, but had their hands forced by the +Charlotte Hornets to an offer sheet, and had to either match the offer or lose him for nothing.  Now Utah has Hayward at very huge price tag of about 16$ million per year, but has little or no idea what to do or where to go with him as he returns to a talented roster of young guns who are looking to be the alpha male of the organization. With the one time strong and proud foundation this team once had lost in the annals of history, what once looked like a promising young team that was charged with carrying the torch now looks like a recipe for disaster.  Everything that the Jazz once stood for has been swept away and flushed down the toilet as it went about a rebuilding strategy that goes against everything it once stood for.  This one time organization that prided itself with its commitment to excellence has had to resort to playing the "tanking game,"--purposely throwing seasons in order to qualify to attain a top three or five draft pick. A short time ago, this practice would have been considered not only shameful, but blasphemous as well; however, this is the direction that the front office of this "new Utah Jazz" has chosen and thus has resulted in not only its own demise, but the loss of its own soul. So, its is with heavy heart that I say a sincere and heartfelt goodbye to the team once known as the Utah Jazz--a franchise that thumbed its nose to the rules only to fall prey and victim to them.