Three thoughts on the Utah Jazz’s 133-126 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers from Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen.
1. Jazz win, but risk top-5 pick
With neither Danny Ainge or Ryan Smith in attendance, the Jazz’s players thought they might try something a bit mischievous — actually winning a game.
Okay, I’m kidding, of course.
The win means that the Jazz have fallen into a tie for the worst record in the league. Should that continue through two more games, that would mean a coin flip at the end of the season would determine whether the Jazz hold the No. 1 or No. 2 slot in the lottery.
Either first or second doesn’t change the odds at Cooper Flagg, or even the draft’s first four picks. The Jazz will have a 14.0%, 13.4%, 12.7%, and 12.0% chance at the No. 1-4 slots regardless of how they finish the season.
NBA Draft Lottery odds. (Tankathon)
The win today though did mean that they have now have a chance at drafting sixth — about a 10% chance.
Truth be told, I think the drop-off in prospect quality happens at No. 4, so I’m not too worried about the win or the coin flip. But it certainly would be nice to have your pick of the litter at No. 5, or the first chance to pounce on a top prospect in case one of the teams above you screws up and drafts a Marvin Bagley equivalent.
It reminds me a little of a game 11 years ago. As the Jazz fought for draft positioning, they ended up winning the final game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves in double overtime. The Jazz’s front office was, I can report, extremely mad at then-coach Ty Corbin for winning that game. That win also didn’t end up impacting the Jazz, as they won the coin flip and neither they nor the teams around them won the lottery.
2. Late game execution lessons from the national championship game
The good news is that the Jazz’s youth generally played well late in order to get the win. Kyle Filipowski, especially, was sensational: 30 points (13-17 FG), 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block? Yeah, that’s a terrific line.
After the game, coach Will Hardy said he was most impressed with his team’s late-game execution. They did pull this loss out of a hat, taking advantage of bad Blazers turnovers and missed free throws in order to turn a 3-point deficit and no ball with 20 seconds left into a win eventually. And Hardy said they took lessons from the week’s biggest game — he said the team watched the end of the college basketball national championship together in the film room.
That game, you’ll remember, was marred by some pretty terrible late-game execution, especially from the side of the Houston Cougars.
What did the Jazz’s young players learn from that experience?
Keyonte George noted time and score issues: 47 seconds left, you have to get a two-for-one. With 19 seconds left, it’s important to go quickly, in order to ensure you get off a shot.
Brice Sensabaugh noted the Cougars’ poor spacing and how nervous they seemed. “(It’s about) keeping the floor open. In overtime, the teams that usually win are the teams that come out playing like it’s another first quarter.”
And Kyle Filipowski noted both of the above. (Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, and of course Taylor Hendricks didn’t play tonight, though it is worth noting Hendricks’ hat.)
It’s funny: most of the players on the floor in that title game are actually older than the Jazz’s rookies and sophomores. I forget that sometimes.
3. Dan Roberts’ tribute game
We knew this day had to come — but it’s still disappointing to see it get here.
For the entirety of the Jazz’s time in Utah, Dan Roberts has been the team’s public announcing voice. That’s 46 years, an absolutely incredible run. He is now retiring.
We here at The Trib named the “How ‘Bout This Jazz” newsletter after his catchphrase — which, ironically, the Jazz reportedly asked him to stop using a few seasons back. Tonight, the staff wore T-shirts with that slogan on it. He also appeared in his own separate “Alt-Cast” on SEG+; you could watch the game with only the PA sounds and Roberts’ voice occasionally narrating the changes to the scoresheet.
It makes sense that there’s no one besides Roberts with the organization left who started working here in 1979, that’s too far away. But I think he also represented something much more significant: one of the only ties left the Jazz have to the Stockton and Malone era.
Think about it: Stockton and Malone themselves aren’t really tied to the organization in any way other than a cameo appearance every couple of years. We’ve lost Jerry Sloan; the Laydens are no longer involved. The Miller family sold the team. The arena renovations have changed the look of the place, and the upcoming ones are about to change even more. Even longtime stalwarts like Dave Fredman, Phil Johnson, Gordie Chiesa, Richard Smith no longer work for the club.
We do have Thurl Bailey, and they’re wearing purple again, thank goodness. But beyond that, it feels much longer than 25 years ago that the Jazz were truly great.
I think that’s what Dan Roberts is for me — his voice is a nostalgic link to that era, to my childhood. He announced those Finals games, his voice echoing around the edges of the most watched NBA games of all time. When I began coming to games as a fan more regularly years later, around the Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams days, he brought life to those crowds.
Now that my profession brings me to the Delta Center every game night, Dan has been the constant. The only constant. It’ll be weird when, next year, Jazz games are announced by someone else. It’ll feel somewhat wrong, maybe for years.
So here’s to the job Roberts has done for 46 years — he’s a voice that has bridged generations.
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