Utah Jazz Top Plays So Far

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

We are still in the thick of the All-Star break and that means no Jazz basketball until Thursday. But fret not, for I have amassed the top 10 Jazz plays of the season up to this point for your viewing pleasure. Some plays were selected simply based off of “wow” and others because they truly impacted the game. Without further ado, the top 10 plays from your Utah Jazz.

Honorable mentions (in no particular order):

Trevor Booker’s “mop shot.”

The birth of the Trey Lyles celebration.

Former Jazzman Lou Amundson “intentionally” airballs two free throws for the sake of chicken.

10: Gobert with the finger roll

For most people, a simple double pump finger roll might seem routine. But when someone the size of Rudy Gobert pulls it off, it’s amazing. This move demonstrates Gobert’s improving offensive skill set and is worthy of the number 10 slot.

9: Houdini magic

Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of the nickname “Houdini” but it’s usage is wholly applicable for this play. How Burks finishes most of his drives is beyond me and this play is no exception. Surrounded by defenders, with his back to the basket… you could say it was one of his best magic tricks.

8: Favors gets the hoop and the harm to tie the game late

On degree of difficulty and style alone, this play wouldn’t sniff the top 10. But the context surrounding it makes it noteworthy. With the Jazz down by three, Favors catches Burks pass and finishes, plus the foul. He would make the free throw and the Jazz would go on to win in overtime.

7: Mel-no

When Carmelo Anthony was driving down the lane, the only thing he had on his mind was putting Gobert on a poster. The big man turned the tables on Anthony and turned Melo into a poster of his own.

6: Alec’s throw down

The merits of this dunk have been widely contested on Twitter. Is it a dunk if he throws the ball into the hoop? Regardless of where you stand on the issue, this play speaks to Burks’ freakish athleticism. Bonus points for doing this anywhere in the vicinity of DeAndre Jordan.  

5: Neto’s no-look bucket

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Not to say that Raul Neto hasn’t been good this year, but he was definitely lucky on this one. It was a headsy play by Neto to still attempt the shot after being fouled and he was rewarded with the bucket and the free throw.

4: Rudy rises up for the finish

This play was the perfect combination of pretty and productive. It was a big bucket in the fourth quarter of a close game. Neto’s pass was a little high, but I don’t think Gobert minded one bit. Even if Gobert never develops much more on the offensive end, Jazz fans will be ok if he can sky for a few lobs every game.

3: Big Shot Rod

Rodney freakin’ Hood. What a beautiful shot! Fading a bit, defender in his mug… It was truly a cold-blooded shot by Hood. The shot sent the game to overtime, which provided Jazz fans one of the only plays to top Big Shot Rod’s clutch three pointer.

2: Burks buries Jon Leuer

It wouldn’t surprise me if Jon Leuer’s body was found somewhere in the outskirts of Salt Lake City because Alec Burks killed him on this dunk. Another controversial example of what or what isn’t a dunk, Burks showed no mercy as he soared through the air of whatever the arena was named at that point. The bench lost its collective mind and Trevor Booker became possessed and began flailing on the court.

1: Gordon’s game winner

By every definition, Gordon Hayward was truly too big, yo. In a place where the Jazz hadn’t tasted victory in over half a decade, Hayward came through. Jazz Twitter has been quick to point out how Hayward rarely delivers in big moments, but on that night, with that shot, the trolls were forced to retreat back under their bridges. Hayward’s dagger in Big D has been the top play in Jazzland this year.

Jazz fans, feel free to let me know what you think is right or wrong about my top 10 in the comments section below.