How Will The Utah Jazz Head Into The All-Star Break?

The biggest unofficial holiday in America is Super Bowl Sunday.

On the day of Super Bowl Sunday, there was one NBA team, the Utah Jazz, that found themselves in practice. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder had his team working only a few days after the Jazz got a surprising 110-100 victory over the best team in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors.

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The Jazz did a good job defending the Warriors shooting guard, Klay Thompson, as he only finished with 12 points. But the Warriors had another player, Stephen Curry, who went off for a 32-point explosion, which is more than enough reason to want to work harder in practice.

The practice started at 11 a.m. and didn’t end until around 2 p.m., just in time to watch the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl.

Though a lot of basketball teams might have been doing other activities, the Jazz were staying sharp and getting ready to prepare to win future games. Those are the little events that happen when a winning culture is getting established.

Who can blame Snyder’s decision? The extra time paying attention to the smallest details are what’s making the difference for one of the youngest teams in the league. The Jazz are starting to play a lot more carefully, better defensively, and because of it their team is starting to stay in a position to win games.

One of the reasons why the Jazz have started to develop the desire for winning games is because of the attitude and personality that coach Snyder brings. At this point Snyder has made it abundantly clear to the players on the roster what the direction of the team is going to become.

The Jazz want to play a slow paced game offensively, but on the other hand they are a smothering team defensively. So far his philosophy has worked, as the Jazz have one of the slowest teams in the league, and their defense is No. 11 in points allowed per game.

With a 17-31 record, the Jazz are on pace to win more games than a season ago, and the long practices they keep having is what’s pushing this young team to keep getting hungrier.

It’s been said that it’s good for workers to have an appetite, because an empty stomach drives them on.

For the Jazz, they should want to work more. The fact that the franchise hasn’t had an All-Star selection since 2011, when Deron Williams was on the roster, should motivate the young players on this team to want to end the streak. The young players that are being alluded to are forwards Gordon Hayward, and Derrick Favors.

Each of the two young and talented players have the chance to become All-Star players in the league as soon as the Jazz starts to win more games.

Feb 3, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

The fact the Jazz have two unofficial All-Stars on their team but neither of them will get the opportunity to play for the millions upon millions of fans who are going to watch the 2014-15 All-Star Game in New York City is a terrible feeling. It’s also a feeling that should want to keep them hungry for more recognition and notoriety throughout the league.

Thankfully the team can stay as hungry as they want because their coach, Snyder, isn’t about to let the team get content about their recent failures. What Snyder’s lesson holding practice during Super Bowl Sunday taught the team is to never settle for less, don’t get content, and to finish strong.

Speaking of finishing strong, we got to see some of the winning habits of practice translate on the court. When the Jazz played against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Jazz had the lead, 47-44, entering halftime. This is the same Portland Trail Blazers team that a lot of people feel will get to the Western Conference Finals.

At halftime the Jazz only had three turnovers, they shot 47.5 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from the three-point line, and 70 percent from the free throw line.

Even though the Jazz would lose the game 103-102, they went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league.

Since the Jazz are starting to finally play more competitive games, they now have a new test right before All-Star break. The Jazz will play in difficult games against great Western Conference opponents including the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

If the Jazz can finish strong before beginning the All-Star break then they will set themselves up to win around 30 games or more, and compete for the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings.

To ask this team to win six straight games against the Western Conference is a little too much to ask for. The Jazz’ biggest win streak this season is two games. Their best stretch of games was winning four out of five.

However if the Jazz can put together a good string of games similar to the time when they won four out of five games, like winning four out of six, then they’ve shown they’ve truly matured and gotten better.

Finish strong.

Next: Is Quin Snyder The Best Rookie Coach In The NBA? He's Making A Big Case

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