Staff Post: Preseason Storylines, Encouraging Quotes, Surviving Summer

Many curious eyes will be on Bogdanovic this fall. (Andy Lyons via espn.com)

Once again, Salt City Hoops’ writers are keeping a watchful eye on all things Jazz as the season creeps nearer. And in this latest group post installment, they distill all the biggest narratives as the Jazz have now reconvened for the 2019-20 season.

From media day to training camp and now into exhibition play, a panel of writers weighed in on what they think the key storylines and messages have been so far for a team looking to crack into the contender class.

Enjoy!

What is the most interesting storyline as the Jazz prepare for their season to start?

Dane Coles: Chemistry. The question came up time after time during almost every interview with players, coaches and front office executives: how will the team mesh with so much change? It’s a valid question considering the new blood and the fast-approaching season. The answers ranged from Joe Ingles’ casual declaration: “The best way to figure it out is to play games,” to Ed Davis confidently stating, “When you have a group of true professionals who want to win, it’s easy to work together. It won’t be a problem.” I happen to trust the front office with who they’ve chosen to bring in.

David J. Smith: For me, it is how this new Jazz team acclimates to each other. While most have been working out together for a while, this is the time for Mike Conley Jr., Bojan Bogdanovic, Ed Davis, Jeff Green and Emmanuel Mudiay to really dig in deep. Most of those are true pros whose playing style should mesh quickly to their new teammates, and within Quin Snyder’s system. Other key storylines: Dante Exum’s return to the lineup and who wins the 15th roster spot.

Thatcher Olson: With the crumble of the Warriors’ dynasty due to injury and free agency departures, the West is once again wide open. The Jazz join a cluster of teams (Houston, Denver, Clippers, Lakers, etc.) with a realistic claim at winning the West. With an upgraded roster and a focus on improving their offense while keeping their dominant defense, the expectations are high. Can the Jazz deliver and be a top team in the regular season and playoffs? Against the backdrop of higher expectations, a first or second round exit won’t be good enough this year.

Dan Clayton: Without a doubt, I’d say it’s Conley. If he is able to fit in seamlessly, then the Jazz have three of the game’s top 25 or so players. As the era of Big Threes has seemingly drawn to a close in favor of more star duos around the league, Utah could be in the interesting position of having a true Big Three. But after such a long run in Memphis, it will obviously take Conley some time to settle into his new surroundings, so don’t be surprised if he, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell need some time to really gel.

Which player are you most excited to watch throughout the Jazz’s preseason?

Dane: The pick and roll possibilities with Gobert and Conley are enough to make me salivate. But I will actually say Bogdanovic. In his media day interview, Dennis Lindsey said, “I can see him having Klay Thompson type of games.” That is a very scary thought for opposing teams! The addition of Bogdanovic makes the Jazz an absolute nightmare to gameplan. He adds a lethal dose of offense that could explode at any moment. And he’s no slouch on defense either.

David: Most eyes will understandably be on Conley and Bogdanovic. A guy that should get ample opportunity in the preseason is Mudiay. He was the addition that probably surprised Utah fans the most. He has had his struggles in his young career but started to show some encouraging progress last year in New York. He has size, athleticism and potential. It will be quite interesting to see how Snyder uses him over the next few weeks. It could forecast how the team feels Mudiay can fit in.

Thatcher: Among several new additions, the player I’m most excited to watch is Bogdanovic. Last year he led Indiana to the playoffs as their first option on offense (after a Victor Oladipo injury), and he moves to the Jazz as their fourth or fifth best player. He could be a big X-factor for the Jazz when teams have to concentrate on Mitchell and Conley, and it will be very interesting to see how he fits in.

Dan: If Exum were fully healthy, I’d be extremely curious to see how/if he’s able to pick up from where he left off after playing some of his best pro ball back in December and January. But alas, we might have to wait to see where the Aussie guard is. While Conley is undoubtedly more important to the Jazz’s success this season (see my answer above), I’m really curious to see how they’ll use Bogey. He can do a lot of different things on a basketball court, but he certainly won’t have the same role he had last season in Indiana. How often will the Jazz use him as a creator? Which position will he play/defend most often? Who will the Jazz start next to him?

What was the most encouraging or exciting quote/tidbit you heard from media day?

Dane: That everyone has the same thing on their minds…championship. Green and Davis both mentioned that was a major reason for signing in Utah. Georges Niang was very clear that this is a team that can win a championship and they all believe it. Snyder will obviously keep the players in the mindset of one game at a time throughout the season. But just knowing that the players believe in this group and in each other individually is truly something special.

David: It was not one specific quote, but the overall feeling. First, each of the new additions seemed genuinely excited to be in Salt Lake City, citing the team’s chances to truly compete for a championship. Second, there continues to be a strong camaraderie among the players. The joking and fun natured jabs not only made media day even more entertaining; it intimated a unity already forming—a characteristic that has buoyed up the Jazz squads the past several seasons.

Thatcher: I’m still firmly on #ExumIsland. Assuming health, which I realize can be a big assumption, he could really provide a spark off the bench. Dennis Lindsey mentioned Exum playing both wing and guard, giving Quin Snyder options to play around with lineups. Exum can still be a huge plus on defense, helping Royce O’Neale and Ingles guard one of many star wings in the Western Conference. While not a proven commodity yet, Exum could be an additional X-factor on defense and offense for this team.

Dan: As a Brooklyn guy, I liked Mitchell’s comment here about how after years of working in the South, Conley is helping the New York-born Mitchell slow down his mental process. Frankly, I also liked just about everything out of Jeff Green’s mouth. The dude just sounds like a veteran, and the more we see and hear from him, the more I think he’s going to be in a position to impact this team in some important ways.

We all know and love the media day cliches. What’s the most cliche of all the cliches… free space on Media Day Cliche Bingo?

Dane: Twice Mitchell said, “Control what we can control.” This might be the most accurate cop-out to any question. The media and all fans want to know what to expect from the upcoming season and how the new changes will work. The problem is, the players don’t know yet either. It’s a process that takes time and repetition. As the players and coaches put in the work, the product will show itself on the court in due time.

David: Optimism truly reigns supreme on media day. Every player feels he is in the best shape of his life. Each coach expects greatness from his roster. Most general managers look at their offseason like the proud dads of newborn babies. It is great fun. For the players, it is how much time to put into their offseasons. For the coaches, it’s how the team will be more dedicated to defense while playing at a faster pace.

Thatcher: The most overhyped cliche is certainly “muscle watch.” How many times have we heard about a certain player backing on the muscle or losing weight and finally getting in shape? My personal favorite from this season is 181-pound Avery Bradley losing 40 pounds this offseason…!?

Dan: Yeah, nothing beats “15 pounds of muscle,” and this year we get to add an element of intrigue around heights, since the NBA is requiring teams to update player measurements. But an even more ubiquitous cliche: every team has some version of the “improve every day” mantra. 

What did you do to survive the long offseason:

Dane: Well I started by adding my Jazz Note pin to my hiking backpack so I’d always have a piece of the Jazz with me. Then I binged (more than I care to admit) regular season and playoff games from the last two years while I consumed (more than I care to admit) Dr. Pepper and any and all sour candy. Watching FIBA World Cup games at 4 a.m., listening to NBA podcasts, recording every episode of The Jump, Jazz Twitter (God bless almost all of you) and Thursday night pick up ball. It was tough…but we did it, Jazz nation. We’re back!

David: Six kids really help keep this father occupied! But beyond that, this was a truly epic offseason. With all the stars changing locales, the epic trades and the endless stream of pointless workout videos, summer 2019 was one for the books. As for the doldrums of August and September—Jimbo Rudding’s tweets saved the day!

Thatcher: Getting up at 5AM to watch FIBA could only be called “surviving”, right? I enjoyed watching FIBA and some Jazz players in different roles than we’re used to, and took a break from sports.

Dan: Life changed quite a bit for this basketball writer during the 2019 offseason. A new arrival to the Clayton family helped distract me from a basketball-less August. Normally I spend the NBA offseason catching up on books, but this time around I was lucky if I could sneak in a few winks. Also, after the wild offseason that David mentioned, I had a lot of work to keep my salary spreadsheet updated.

That does it for this one. Make sure to follow these four writers and the rest of our Salt City Hoops crew for more commentary and fun as the 2019-20 season gets underway.