Reflections from the Not-Cheap Seats: Jazz vs. Clippers
Utah Jazz
4

Reflections from the Not-Cheap Seats: Jazz vs. Clippers

October 18th, 2016 | by Matt Pacenza
During Monday night’s preseason Jazz blowout win over the Clippers, my 12-year-old son and I were fortunate enough to sit in VIP courtside seats for the first time in our lives. The fourth row seats — right behind the...
no-cover
Utah Jazz
1

Jazz Streak Ends in New Orleans: Thoughts on Holidays and Threes

February 10th, 2016 | by Matt Pacenza
Well, dang, you can’t win ‘em all. You can’t blame Jazz fans for being greedy: Taking a 7-game winning streak into New Orleans to play the struggling Pelicans, an 8th win seemed a decent bet. But it wasn’t to be, as the...
Can the Jazz Snag a Superstar? Evaluating Trades for Love and Griffin
Utah Jazz
24

Can the Jazz Snag a Superstar? Evaluating Trades for Love and Griffin

January 31st, 2016 | by Matt Pacenza
It’s trade season and the Jazz find themselves in a fascinating situation: loaded with young talent and draft picks, but with a few clear holes to fill. The great Zach Lowe wrote a terrific state-of-the-Jazz column on ESPN.com...
News and Notes From Jazz @ Cavs 11/10/15
Utah Jazz
3

News and Notes From Jazz @ Cavs 11/10/15

November 10th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
Sigh? Yes, the Jazz had a nine point lead halfway through the fourth quarter Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the NBA’s best teams. And, yes, they ended up losing by four points, after Rudy Gobert twisted...
Playoffs Pessimism Part II: Are Stretch Runs Sticky?
Utah Jazz
10

Playoffs Pessimism Part II: Are Stretch Runs Sticky?

October 19th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
In my previous post, I evaluated a claim that optimistic Jazz fans make: That a team that improved significantly during last season will get even better this year. I found, however, that such back-to-back jumps in wins are...
Playoffs Pessimism and the Plexiglass Principle
Utah Jazz
5

Playoffs Pessimism and the Plexiglass Principle

October 5th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
Last year’s Jazz team improved by 13 games, from 25 wins to 38. Given that the Jazz’ core players are young and improving, most fans are projecting a significantly better record for the coming season — enough to land...
Salt Lin City? A Proposed Free Agent Target
Utah Jazz
21

Salt Lin City? A Proposed Free Agent Target

June 8th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
It’s hard to exaggerate how woeful the Jazz point guard play was last year. That’s the bad news. The good news is that even with such poor production at PG, the Jazz by the end of 2014-15 were a playoff-caliber team in the...
Boosting the Jazz Offense: Key to a 2015-16 Playoff Run
Utah Jazz
1

Boosting the Jazz Offense: Key to a 2015-16 Playoff Run

March 16th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
This Utah Jazz’ recent, red-hot run has shined national attention on the Jazz defense, largely responsible for the team’s 10-2 record since Feb. 20. Partly due to increased minutes for one freakishly athletic Frenchman, Rudy...
Improving the Arena Experience: Advice from a Fan
Utah Jazz
4

Improving the Arena Experience: Advice from a Fan

February 10th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
The email arrived early last May. The Utah Jazz were offering several hundred season tickets for the 2014-15 season at a special price. The price? The cost per game would equal the draft slot the Jazz received during the upcoming...
The Triple Team: Three Thoughts on Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans 2/9/2015
Utah Jazz
2

The Triple Team: Three Thoughts on Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans 2/9/2015

February 9th, 2015 | by Matt Pacenza
A trio of observations about the Jazz come-from-behind win on the road over the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, as soon as I finish stroking my beard. 1. Steve Who? It’s surprising, given how badly the Jazz have needed outside...