Utah Jazz
Four game start a heavy test for the Jazz

The NBA is finally back! After a crazy offseason, most of us don’t know what to expect from the Jazz or their western rivals. Here is a quick preview of what to look for in the first four games of the season for the Utah Jazz as well as some tips for what the Jazz will need to do to win.

Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) tries to go around Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets – Wednesday OCT 18
The Jazz open the season against a team that might just be their polar opposite. While the Jazz are expected to have a top 3 defense lead by Rudy Gobert, the Nuggets are hoping to have a top 3 offense, lead by Nikola Jokic. Add the fact that the Jazz lost a star free agent this summer while the Nuggets landed one, and it creates a truly interesting dynamic for this Rocky Mountain Rivalry.
While both teams are expected to be battling for playoff spots, no one can agree on how high or how low to set expectations for either team. The first game of the season is always tricky, so let’s just enjoy the game, not read into whoever wins or loses, and rejoice that Jazz basketball is back!

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns talks to his teammate during the basketball match of the 2017 NBA Global Games against Golden State Warriors in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
@ Minnesota Timberwolves – Friday OCT 20
The Jazz hit the road for the first time and head to Minnesota, where expectations are higher than they have been in years. After adding established stars Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to an already talented young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, Wolves fans will be banking on ending their 13-year playoff drought. Meanwhile, the Jazz are counting on long-time Timberwolf Ricky Rubio to help them overcome the loss of Gordon Hayward and return to the playoffs.
This matchup, while too early in the season to draw any definitive conclusions from, could be a good early-season gauge for both teams’ playoff hopes. Can the Jazz, who boast a stingy defense, create enough offense to keep up with high-scoring teams like the Wolves? And can Minnesota, whose offense was already ranked 9th pre-Butler/Teague, improve their poor defense enough to beat well-coached teams like Utah?

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Saturday OCT 21
All eyes around the NBA will be on Salt Lake City tonight as the new look Thunder visit the Jazz. Excitement is high in Oklahoma City after GM Sam Presti miraculously turned a collection of overpaid, borderline starters into Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. To be fair, when you add two all-stars like that to a team sheet that already includes MVP/charging bull Russell Westbrook, you are allowed to be excited.
Finding the right balance between three ball-dominant scorers could be a challenge for the Thunder. The Jazz, on the other hand, are faced with the opposite challenge: the potential of not having a go-to scorer. Who will step up to become their number one scoring option in the wake of Hayward’s departure? This should be an interesting storyline to follow as the season goes on.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Zach Randolph defends during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
@ Los Angeles Clippers – Tuesday OCT 24
The Jazz return to Los Angeles just six months after ousting the Clippers in Game 7 of the first round—a loss that put the final nail in the Lob City coffin. Chris Paul’s ensuing trade to Houston, as well as the signing of Danilo Gallinari, means the Jazz return to LA to play a team that looks very different than the one they beat in April. In a contest between two teams with playoff hopes in a loaded Western Conference, a couple of key matchups could determine who takes home the W.
First, the big man battle—you can bet Rudy Gobert has this date circled on his calendar. He relishes the opportunity to prove himself (and disprove his critics) against all-stars like DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. Derrick Favors will also match up against Griffin, which could be a good measure of whether or not Favs is back to his athletic best. The other intriguing matchup comes at the point guard position, with passing genius Ricky Rubio pitted against annoyingly feisty Patrick Beverly. If Rubio can win this matchup and keep the Utah offense flowing with Beverly nipping at his heels, the Jazz should have enough to get the win.
Utah Jazz
NBA Free Agency is here for the Utah Jazz

NBA Free Agency is day is here for the Utah Jazz. What can we expect to take place? Will the Utah Jazz make a trade? Is this the day Rudy Gobert or Mike Conley or Donovan Mitchell gets traded? Do the Jazz have a free agency move to be made? David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA insider take a look at all of these questions and gives you the free agency primer. Is the market drying up on the Utah Jazz? The Clippers and Wizards have already made moves and the Atlanta Hawks have used their draft capital. Rumors continue with Rudy Gobert at the forefront and we take a look at what those deals might be for the Utah Jazz and what would have to be included to make a deal happen. Then a look at the Utah Jazz options at the tax payer mid level contractsand what the Jazz current roster looks like and what could take place. Locked On Jazz Podcast 💻 https://www.lockedonjazz.net/ 🎧 LockedOnJazz.com https://buff.ly/2FEZTVY 🎧 Apple https://apple.co/3Dc8QBq 🎧 Spotify https://spoti.fi/3IfvgVX 🎧Stitcher https://bit.ly/3pkGyzB 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3I8TwJz
Utah Jazz
New Utah Jazz Head Coach Will Hardy: What formed him, what influences, style of play and staff

Reports have the Utah Jazz hiring Will Hardy as their new head coach. The 34 year old assistant to the Boston Celtics and formerly of the San Antionio Spurs is on the verge of becoming the next head coach of the Utah Jazz. The Jazz believe in Hardy giving him a reportidly 5 year deal. David Locke, the radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, breaks down the influences that formed Will Hardy from his unique college experience at Williams College to his journey to the Spurs bench and all the coaches that have touched him along the way. One thing has been universally true about Will Hardy, everyone knew he was on the path to great things and leading people. The quotes about him from his high school coach to his college coach to Gregg Popovich all tell the same story. Locke also digs into what he believes the style of play will be and what will happen with his coaching staff.
0:00: Open
3:00: What is Will Hardy’s journey
5:00: The influence of Williams College
8:00: Curt Tong, the life changer
12:00: Quotes from his coaches
15:00: 6 to 60 it didn’t matter
24:00: Style of play
28:00: Will Alex Jensen stay with the Utah Jazz
31:00: Coaching circles
Locked On Jazz Podcast 💻 https://www.lockedonjazz.net/ 🎧 LockedOnJazz.com https://buff.ly/2FEZTVY 🎧 Apple https://apple.co/3Dc8QBq 🎧 Spotify https://spoti.fi/3IfvgVX 🎧Stitcher https://bit.ly/3pkGyzB 🎧 Google https://bit.ly/3I8TwJz
Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz free agency decision making tree, the case for Johnnie Bryant and NBA Menus

The NBA Free agency is looking and the Utah Jazz decison making tree is becoming more and more clear. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, takes you through the steps the Utah Jazz front office is going through to determine what they do in the off-season. the real question is there a good solution and a correct route for the Utah Jazz and do they dictate that ability. Yesterday we looked at the case for the Utah Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen as the Utah Jazz head coach. Today we do the same with New York Knicks and former Utah Jazz assistant coach Johnnie Bryant. The case for Bryant is very similar to numerous other coaches in the search. Then it is time to go shopping and look at the menus of NBA rosters. Locked On Jazz Podcast https://www.lockedonjazz.net/ LockedOnJazz.com https://buff.ly/2FEZTVY Apple https://apple.co/3Dc8QBq Spotify https://spoti.fi/3IfvgVX Stitcher https://bit.ly/3pkGyzB Google https://bit.ly/3I8TwJz
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