Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward has high hopes for himself, team

Published: Saturday, Sept. 22 2012 5:10 p.m. MDT

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Summary

Like fans, Hayward is interested to see how the team will come together with the offseason acquisitions of veterans Mo Williams, Marvin Williams and Randy Foye. Hayward pointed out that all three incoming players are "tough physical guys."

"I think as a player you kind of want to improve both as a team and individually from year to year," Hayward added. "I've done that from my rookie to sophomore year. Hopefully I'll do that again this year. Same goes for the team. We missed playoffs first year (39-43 in 2010-11), made it barely the second year, so this year needs to be better than that."

A smile flashes on Hayward's face when the subject of his newlywed teammate comes up again. He called it "a very eventful summer" for Evans, the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk champion who signed a three-year deal with the Jazz prior to getting married to his college sweetheart.

"It's tough for us to find minutes for him. I think he showed last year any time he gets out there on the floor he makes stuff happen. He brings energy," Hayward said of the bouncy 6-9 Western Kentucky forward who entered the NBA the same year as the Butler product. "That's just what he does as a person too in the locker room: he brings energy. He creates that chemistry that we all have, so I was really happy for him."

Having watched Evans cut a rug at his wedding, Hayward also reconfirmed what some Jazz fans already know.

"He's got some moves."

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Featured Comments

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scalman

Temecula, CA

That extra muscle will help Hayward when he plays small forward, which he will do some of the time, and it will help him get to the rim, too, regardless of the position he plays. I'm still waiting to see if there are going to be any more changes More..

5:56 a.m. Sept. 23, 2012
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VeraLouise

Sandy, UT

Finally some basketball news is starting to squeek through. I've had the schedule pasted up on my refrigerator door since the day it came out. It can't get here fast enough for me. Congrats to Jeremy Evans! Glad he is still with the Jazz! More..