A Thank You to the Utah Jazz

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ICYMI: Gordon Hayward is a free agent, but I’m convinced he’s going to stay. From a basketball point-of-view, here are the reasons why he should.

The Hood shimmy. Gobert’s 35 and 15 vs the Knicks. Joe Ingles corner three to bury the Lakers. The giant two-step from the foul line in Sacramento force OT and then the miraculous tip in to win it. Hayward dunking all over the Bucks. All the back door lobs from Ingles to Hayward. Joe Johnson in the playoffs.

Wasn’t it a fun ride?

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThere was something different about this year’s team, something that the following words can’t quite pin down or paint and describe. There was just something about the 2016-2017 Utah Jazz team and organization that transcended what happened on the hardwood; some bond that connected us to them.

And for that I’d like to say thank you.

Basketball has, and will always forever be, a sport, a game, recreation. But to many of us, basketball has, and will always forever be, something more. My earliest memories stem from basketball. My childhood highs and lows revolve around the Utah Jazz. My most meaningful conversations have all been rooted in a gospel discussion on the Utah Jazz. Even my most meaningful relationships, the bonds were created by and forged through the Utah Jazz.

As a kid, it was leaving for games right after school so we could watch the team drive in, warm up, get autographs, walk to Crown Burger, and walk back for tip off. In high school, it was playoff parties at friend’s houses and saving enough cash to all go to one together. In college, it was cramming as many people into a living room as possible, just to watch week-night bball.

This year? It was all of that, plus a little more.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsPerhaps it was because of the playoffs. Perhaps, because we’ve been in some dark days, something has been missing. No one loved the Trey and Ty era, but we endured it and stuck through it. We cheered for our draft lottery victories and always looked forward to the next year. Only, that year would start and someone would get injured and things would crumble. Even going into this year, the team held so much promise but it was hard not to be skeptical. Would it all come together? Experts picking us as a 4th seed? We haven’t been to the playoffs in years, but the 4th seed? C’mon, let’s be real.

So we fought. All year. Played our guts out. All year. Had adversity, all year. But kept with it, all year. And we cheered them on every step of the way. All year. We wanted them to live up to that promise, and they did. They dug into their potential and delivered on that success we craved. It resulted in a playoff berth, barely missing out on that 4th seed.

And, the playoffs, my goodness! What an epic seven-game series that epitomized our season and the highs and lows. Rudy goes down? Of course he would. Hayward has…food poisoning? Of course he does! Next man up, play with heart, coaches put players in position to be successful, and players make the plays. And what do you know? We win three on the road to get ‘er done. It was an up and down whirlwind. And it was amazing.

We ran into a steam train the next round, but we again showed how we don’t just roll over. There were spurts and quarters off excellent Utah Jazz basketball, highlighted by a relentless Gordon Hayward who would step back, spin, and swish jumpers. We’d get down by twenty, well of course we would, but we had the resolve and tenacity to bring that lead down to six. We had our moments, just not enough to steal a game or two but it wasn’t enough to taint the season.

Sure, an off-season of uncertainty awaits, but we can wait to dwell on that later. For now, I want to remember a burst of speed from Dante Exum to blow by Klay Thompson. I want to remember Favors rising up to dunk in Draymond’s face. I want to remember Ingles popping his elbow out and the leftie swishing a three. I want to remember Hayward curling off a screen, looking only at the basket, and drilling a jumper.

No, it’s not just a cliche, but this team gave me hope.

Life is hard sometimes, but I always felt a break when it came to basketball. When the mountains of the world seemed too big, I could undwind and destress by simply turning on the TV, logging onto Twitter, or listening to a podcast. As long as it revolved around my Utah Jazz, my world could keep on chugging. As fans, we have bad days and hard days, but this year we found solace in 7 PM tip-offs, watching a team that fights through it all. They fought, and maybe deep down in us, we realized we could fight too.  We connected to Slow-Mo-Joe, were crazy over Dante Exum, and slighted when the national media didn’t give Hayward or Gobert more love. We were underappreciated, unrecognized, and that seemed to hit personal levels.  These were our boys, we loved them, so we wanted the best for them. Game after game, they gave us something to cheer for. And game after game, we couldn’t help but be proud of the effort and the results.

51 wins. A division banner. A first round playoff win. An All-Star. An All-NBA Center.

Thanks for the memories fellas.

(Thanks for visiting The Tortured Fan! If you like what you’re reading, follow me on Twitter @JazzJunkie12 or go like The Tortured Fan Facebook page. Go Jazz!)

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One thought on “A Thank You to the Utah Jazz”

  1. Nice article from a definite basketball junkie. Same for me. Watched Jerry West in State finals. Was a WVa fan for ever and still am. Started watching the Celtics with Cousy, Jones and Jones and Russel, etc. Became a Jazz fan in the 80’s and have been so ever sense. Played and coached in high school and it has entwined my life. This team has captured my heart in their play and just never give up attitude. It has been quite a ride. Thanks for the post and for the memories. Thanks to the Jazz.

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