Crescendo: A Utah Jazz MyLeague

[JazzMan]

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CRESCENDO
A UTAH JAZZ FRANCHISE

Custom Roster
30-Team Control
Season Length: 82 Games
Quarter Length: 12 Minutes
All-Star Difficulty
Real FG%
Real FT%
Draft Class Year One: EmbraceThePace
Draft Class Year Two and Beyond: JazzMan's Fictional Classes

[JazzMan]

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Just two years ago, the Utah Jazz were at the bottom of the totem pole in the NBA and the Western Conference. At a conference-worst 25-57 record, the Jazz displayed not only their youth but their lack of experience, and frankly, lack of talent. Rookie point guard Trey Burke showed flashes of brilliance in between freezing cold shooting nights, Gordon Hayward struggled to become the number one option for an NBA team, Derrick Favors spent most of the season growing into his starting role, Alec Burks made the most of his opportunities but had an impending shoulder injury, and Enes Kanter was a versatile offensive option but a poor defender.

Enter Quin Snyder. Snyder was hired immediately after the Jazz let Tyrone Corbin go after the poor 2013-2014 campaign. Corbin may have been able to keep his job, had he not started Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams over Alec Burks and Enes Kanter. However, his weird affection with playing veteran players led to a year of minimal development for half of the Jazz's young players. The Jazz were going nowhere and fast, and they needed to make a change.

Snyder instantly revolutionized the Jazz offense, but the league-worst defense did not see much improvement in 2014-2015. Enes Kanter was still a turnstile on offense, and Derrick Favors was playing out of position at center. Gordon Hayward blossomed into a legitimate number one option, but the disappointing performances from Burke and Kanter (especially defensively) all but guaranteed that the Jazz would finish near the bottom of the Western Conference yet again. However, rookie point guard and fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft Dante Exum was inserted into the starting role ahead of a struggling Trey Burke, and while Exum wasn't a threat offensively, his defense helped energize the Jazz. However, the Jazz were still losing games.

Near the trade deadline, Enes Kanter wanted out of town. He had been frustrated with the Jazz for the last two years, no thanks to Tyrone Corbin's incompetence, and had enough. The Jazz shipped him to rival Oklahoma City for merely a second round pick and the rights to German big man Tibor Pleiss. Not exactly the haul you would expect for a former third overall pick and a budding offensive weapon down low. However, this allowed for one man to enter the Jazz starting lineup. One man who could turn the porous defense into the top defense of 2015.

Rudy Gobert was put into the starting lineup while Enes Kanter was injured for a stretch of games and the Jazz's defense improved significantly. The "Stifle Tower" was a nightmare for teams defensively. Teams were afraid to drive into the paint with him and Favors, also an excellent shot blocker, mucking things up in the lane. When Kanter was dealt, the Jazz unleashed Gobert on the rest of the league. And when Gobert was unleashed, so was the Jazz defense, which helped Utah go 21-10 over their last 31 games.

The Jazz would end up finishing with a 38-44 record. Though they weren't a threat for the playoffs, the Jazz showed in the second half of the season that they could dominate games with their defense. Exum and Gobert proved that defense can still win ballgames. All of this was being done with Utah's third best scoring option, Alec Burks, injured for the season after getting his shoulder surgically repaired.

Utah was everybody's Western Conference playoff sleeper darling. Even in a tough West, most experts felt that the Jazz would sneak into the playoffs at the eighth seed. And then, during the offseason, Dante Exum tore his ACL playing an exhibition game for his native Australia. Though losing Exum is a crushing blow, the Jazz are still projected to make the playoffs behind the play of Hayward, Favors, and Gobert.

Can the Jazz make the playoffs without one of the young players who helped turn them into a defensive powerhouse? Will they have to bank on Trey Burke saving his young career or will they need to make another move to help shore up the point guard position?

[JazzMan]

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2015/2016 JAZZ SEASON PREVIEW

UTAH JAZZ 2015-2016 ROSTER
#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	SALARY
#2	Joe Ingles	G/F	28	6'8"	213 lbs	$2.15M
#3	Trey Burke	G	22	6'1"	190 lbs	$2.66M
#5	Rodney Hood	G/F	23	6'8"	208 lbs	$1.35M
#10	Alec Burks	G/F	24	6'6"	211 lbs	$9.46M
#11	Dante Exum (Injured)	G	20	6'6"	196 lbs	$3.78M
#13	Elijah Millsap	G/F	28	6'6"	215 lbs	$845K
#15	Derrick Favors	F/C	24	6'10"	268 lbs	$12.00M
#20	Gordon Hayward	F/G	25	6'8"	230 lbs	$15.41M
#21	Tibor Pleiss	C	25	7'3"	242 lbs	$2.90M
#23	Chris Johnson	G/F	25	6'6"	201 lbs	$981K
#24	Jeff Withey	C	25	7'0"	235 lbs	$947K
#25	Raul Neto	G	23	6'2"	172 lbs	$900K
#27	Rudy Gobert	C	23	7'1"	245 lbs	$1.18M
#33	Trevor Booker	F	27	6'8"	240 lbs	$4.78M
#41	Trey Lyles	F/C	19	6'10"	240 lbs	$2.24M

The Jazz have one of the youngest and most promising rosters in the league. The team revolves around the Big Three frontcourt of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Rudy Gobert. All of the success of the Jazz will ride on these three, although it'd be ideal if they can get help elsewhere, most notably at the point guard position. With just two healthy point guards currently on the roster, look for the Jazz to potentially make a move to acquire a third point guard since Dante Exum is injured for, presumably, the whole season. Will Trey Burke start for the Jazz or will Snyder look to have Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, or Rodney Hood be the primary ball handler for the starting unit?

Speaking of Hood and Burks, is it possible that we will see a three-wing starting lineup at some point this season? Meaning that the Jazz would go with a unit of Burks, Hood, Hayward, Favors, and Gobert? That lineup is tremendously long and features three players on the perimeter whoe can handle the ball and set up the offense and facilitate. The Jazz may need help down low behind Favors and Gobert. Trevor Booker is an excellent energy big, but his shooting is shaky at best. Trey Lyles is a young, talented rookie out of Kentucky, but is very inexperienced and needs time to adjust to the NBA level. Jeff Withey is a legit seven-footer who can fill in for Gobert in a pinch and keep up the defensive pressure and shot blocking. Not much is known about rookie Tibor Pleiss, aside from the fact that he is 7'3" and very long.

Along with either Hood or Burks, Joe Ingles will look to provide some scoring and a versatile offensive skillset off of the bench. Ingles started 32 games last season for the Jazz in Burks' place after his injury. Elijah Millsap and Chris Johnson likely won't receive much playing time, but they can provide energy off of the bench and some solid defense on the perimeter.

The Jazz will be fighting for a playoff spot in the deep Western conference, and will be battling Oklahoma City for the Northwest division crown. Can they get it done? Time will tell.

[JazzMan]

JAZZ @ PISTONS: SEASON OPENER

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Interestingly enough, the Jazz have decided to start Raul Neto and Rodney Hood in the backcourt over the Burke/Burks duo. It is presumed that Trey Burke and Alec Burks are being kept on the bench to provide a steady scoring punch with the second unit.

The key matchup tonight is the Rudy Gobert/Andre Drummond duel down low. The two will be scrapping for rebounds all night, and it will be interesting to see how both players perform tonight against each other. It should be a tough matchup for both players.

[JazzMan]

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Hayward, Favors Lead Jazz to Win

October 28th, 2015

Despite a 23 and 8 outing from Reggie Jackson, the Jazz were able to hand the Pistons their 2nd loss of the season, dropping them to 0-2. Jazz forwards Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors combined for 42 points, 11 boards, 9 assists, and 4 steals en route to the 99 to 89 victory for Utah.

Rudy Gobert held Andre Drummond to 6 points and 12 boards on the night, while grabbing himself 8 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 points, as well. Alec Burks had 16 off of the bench for Utah, while Trey Lyles put in 11 quality minutes, grabbing 2 boards and scoring 9 points. Rodney Hood played well in the starting lineup, scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 boards.

The Jazz did a great job of slowing the pace and not allowing Detroit to make it a track meet. Utah had the ball for almost 28 minutes during the game, as they didn't allow Detroit to find a rhythm all game. Detroit shot just 7% (1 for 15) from behind the arc, while Utah was 7 for 29 from three.

Utah continues their road trip with a back-to-back against the 76ers and the Pacers on the 30th and 31st.

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[JazzMan]

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Steph Curry Suffers Serious Injury

October 30th, 2015

Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry suffered a serious leg injury in tonight's loss against the Houston Rockets. The MRI's are revealing that it is a lower right leg stress fracture, and it will take Curry 6 to 8 months to fully recover.

This is a major blow to the reigning champion Warriors, who rely on Curry's scoring, shooting, and playmaking to dominate the opposition. This opens up the Western Conference playoff race tremendously with Curry essentially out for the season.

[JazzMan]

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WEEK 1 WRAP-UP

The Jazz were able to get off to a 3-0 start this season despite playing their first three games on the road. After a solid win over Detroit, the Jazz were able to sneak out of Philadelphia with a 3 point win, and they dominated the Pacers in Indianapolis in convincing fashion.

The Sixers game was a back-and-forth affair, and we saw rookie big man Jahlil Okafor go off for the 76ers. He finished with 27 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, and 3 blocks, while fellow rookie T.J. McConnell had 15 points and 10 assists on the night. However, Jazz forward Gordon Hayward himself quite the game as well, finishing with 24 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Alec Burks had 16 points off of the bench, Derrick Favors had 15 and 10 with 2 blocks, and Rudy Gobert had 11 points, 13 boards, 3 assists, and 4 blocks on the night.

On Halloween night against the Pacers, Derrick Favors showed up as a monster for the holiday, finishing with 30 points, 11 boards, and 5 steals while shooting 13 for 20 from the field. Alec Burks finished with 22, 6, and 5 off the pine. The Jazz held the Pacers to 36% shooting from the floor in the 97 to 71 victory.

Through the first week, Derrick Favors is averaging 21.0 points, 9.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 3.3 steals, and 1.0 block per game. Gordon Hayward is right behind him at 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals. Alec Burks is averaging 18 points off of the bench.

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In league-wide news, the big topic of the week is the major injury to the reigning MVP, Stephen Curry. Curry will be out for the majority, if not the entire year. Golden State is now 1-3 on the season and could keep falling.

The 76ers have declared Joel Embiid to be out for the season, and some reporters inside the Sixers camp are claiming that Embiid could be on the trade block this season. The former 3rd overall pick has yet to play in an NBA game in his young career.

Zach Randolph suffered a spinal injury and will be out 4 to 6 months for the Grizzlies. This is a crushing blow for an aging Memphis team that was looking to contend despite their closing window. They may make a move for a replacement power forward, otherwise their immediate replacement is PF Jarnell Stokes.

Bradley Beal also suffered a spinal injury and will be out 2 to 4 months for Washington. Beal was shooting poorly his first 3 games of the season, but was still a key part in the Wizards' offense.

[JazzMan]

For anyone wondering, I believe I will be doing the one game a week approach, meaning that I will choose one game each week to play.

The games that I choose will be loosely based on significance and interest towards playing each team, as well as if I have played them already this season. I may actually drop a schedule of the games that I plan to play this season.