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Utah Jazz: 'Underachieving' but 'OK' so far into season

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By Jody Genessy, Deseret News

Published: Friday, Dec. 7 2012 8:45 a.m. MST

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Summary

This season has been about as mediocre as it can get for the Jazz, who are 10-10 but full of hope.

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The biggest improvement, Corbin pointed out, needs to be in simple consistency.

The Jazz have shown they can execute well and push the ball in a preferred up-tempo style while setting the pace.

Utah players have also shown they can clamp down and play defense, even putting together their stingiest showing in Wednesday’s 87-81 win over Orlando.

They just haven’t done it in enough extended situations.

“We want to do it for a complete game. That’s where we have to grow,” Corbin said. “On defense, we’ve got to make sure we’re getting back and stopping transition baskets. We have to get sequences where we get a sequence of stops while we’re scoring to get those gaps and make those runs longer. We want three, four, five stops in a row. More than just once or twice a game.”

Corbin envisions having a team that pounces on opponents from the tipoff instead of one that often requires a jumpstart. A team that finishes strong instead of falling apart as has been the case lately would be nice, too.

“That’s when you’re growing on the defensive end,” he added, “when you’re consistently getting stops and (going on) runs.”

Millsap said the Jazz have stayed together and haven’t let unspecified “off-the-court issues bother us,” so that’s a positive.

But he’s cognizant it hasn’t jelled with the new guys, young guys, returning veterans like planned, so that’s a negative.

“We’re a much better team than we put off, I guess,” Millsap said. “A couple of games we know we should have won, we just didn’t pull it off. Whatever the case may be, we should be a lot better.”

With 62 games remaining, there’s still plenty of time for that to happen.

“Everybody’s been on the same page so far,” he said, “and that’s how we’ve got to keep it.”

And hope it translates into more W's than L's. After all, 10-10 is as equally good and bad as it gets. It’s mediocre. The definition of a C grade, isn’t it?

Professor Corbin was hesitant to put a letter grade on the Jazz through the first quarter.

“To say that we’re A, B or C … I would say that we’re growing and we’re growing in the right ways on both ends of the floor,” he said. “I don’t want to put a grade on that just yet.”

Williams was willing to cut his new team some slack.

“We’re still in the top eight in the West, so obviously you’re in a pretty good position,” he said. “So, I’d say B- maybe.”

When your hopes are at the A level, that’s certainly underachieving but OK.

"First thing, you have to be in the picture, and we’re in the picture now," Corbin said. "Now we’re trying to jockey (for position) and see how high and where you finish in those top eight teams."

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

TWITTER: DJJazzyJody

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Featured Comments

See all 9 comments »
plyxply
SLC, UT

Um, if you only get 50% on a test it's an F. Of course for Corbin and the Jazz front office that means half of the games were A's and half of the games were moral victories which I guess equals out to a B.
It's so disappointing More..

  • 12:29 p.m. Dec. 7, 2012
  • Top comment
WhatsInItForMe
Orem, Utah

With all the new faces that aren't used to playing with each other, and so many road games early in the season, their record is better than I'd expected.

I think they'll make the playoffs, but whether they advance depends on More..

  • 9:07 a.m. Dec. 7, 2012
  • Top comment
Scandrus
Cedar Hills, Utah

Go to a game and sit where you can hear the coach, Corbin "calls out" his players all the time. If you expect him to do it in the press your nuts, it will not happen and it shouldn't happen. Also, to the guy who said .500 winning More..

  • 1:56 a.m. Dec. 8, 2012
  • Top comment
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About the Author
Jody Genessy

Jody Genessy

Jody is a sports writer who covers the Utah Jazz for the Deseret News (yeah, rough life). He also writes about his fitness/health journey and triathlon exploits in his "Losing It!" column. He has been with the paper since more ..

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