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SALT LAKE CITY — Six-game winning streaks were the norm for your father’s version of the Utah Jazz. Home-court dominance, blowout wins and offensive displays were, too.
However, your version of the Utah Jazz hasn’t experienced that same success. After the win Saturday over Detroit, the Jazz earned their first five-game winning streak in three seasons.
The growing success has brought more attention and more acclaim though, yet it hasn’t detracted from what has powered the team through its post-All-Star game push — strong defense and an improving offense that is liable to erupt at any time.
The Charlotte Hornets were unfortunately caught in the wrong place at the absolute wrong time. Facing a hot team no one in the NBA wants to play, the Hornets, despite having a 29-35 record entering the game, entered Salt Lake as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference, giving the Jazz another opportunity to pick up a quality win.
Utah succeeded, hitting 15 3-point shots to earn a 94-66 win over the Hornets to clinch the six-game winning streak.
The Jazz made a franchise-record eight three-point shots in the first quarter, and tied the franchise-record for most threes in a game with 15.
The Jazz opened the game quickly, utilizing sharp-shooting. Utah hit 8-of-9 3-pointers in the first quarter — a franchise record — and took a 30-16 lead. The lead extended to 61-30 at halftime.
Snyder said the team played a strong offensive game.
“When the ball is passed accurately, and on time, they’re just better shots,” he said, referring to Utah’s 19 assists. “We got it going tonight, and sometimes that can be infectious.”
Utah shot 42.3 percent in the game while holding Charlotte to just 29.5 percent. The Jazz made 15-of-24 3-point shots, with Rodney Hood shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from distance.
As games like this become more common, it’s time for stories of what the Jazz were in past generations to stop though, because the current roster is the real story.
For instance, rookie Hood got his third career-high in four games, scoring 24 points in the game.
Hood said his offensive game has felt locked-in as of late.
“I felt like I got in a little groove, and I just knocked down shots when they came to me,” he said. “It’s been amazing just being healthy, getting my foot finally right. (I’m) just being more aggressive, especially when Gordon (Hayward) isn’t on the court.”
#UJ1
Drafted by the Jazz with the 23rd pick in last year’s draft, Hood was a strong player for Utah’s summer league team before suffering a recurring foot injury. However, since his return, he has claimed the starting shooting guard job with authority.
Snyder said Hood has grown since becoming healthy.
“He’s confident, and he’s getting some of that from the group,” he said. “He’s so focused offensively that (offense) just kind of flows. I think he also understands that it's OK to miss. If he’s got a good shot, we want him to take it, and he’s taking them.
“The other thing is his midrange game adds a lot. He’s taking good shots because his threes are clean, and if he’s not open, he shot fakes and goes in.”
Also, Rudy Gobert had his third 20-plus rebound performance in four games, finishing with nine points and 22 boards.
The Jazz beat up the Hornets on the glass, gaining a 61-36 edge.
Gobert said the performance was a complete win for the team.
“They scored 66 points and they got two threes at the end,” he said. “I think it’s one of our best defensive games of the year. I think we played great defense, but we made shots."
Nothing is derailing the Jazz over the past week. While some young teams would struggle with how foreign the winning streak is, the team hasn’t stopped pushing for more.
As the team prepares for its final game of the homestand Wednesday against Washington, Snyder said the Jazz have to continue to handle success with an attitude of wanting more.
“I think (handling success) is one of the key things right now for us as a group,” he said. “We haven’t had that much success; we’ve had a little window here where we’ve experienced some good things, and we’ve earned some good things. That’s maturity — that you’re not satisfied.”
The Jazz are now 11-2 since the All-Star break.
NOTE: Jazz coach Quin Snyder commented on Greg Miller stepping down from his position as CEO of the Miller Group of Companies, saying, “Everybody, since I got here, I’ve been thrilled with the support across the board. I don’t see it affecting anything that I’m doing.”
