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By means of the primary 5 video games of the 2024-25 season, Keyonte George did not shoot the ball properly.
Frankly, many Utah Jazz gamers struggled with capturing (together with Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, Cody Williams and John Collins), however there was plenty of scrutiny when it got here to George and rightly so. While you’re the one enjoying level guard and anticipated to set the tone, whereas additionally taking plenty of photographs, the expectations for execution are excessive.
And it wasn’t simply his 3-point capturing. He was missing within the midfield, missing contact across the rim, and the remainder of his sport suffered as properly. He was in a basic droop, capturing 20% from 3, simply 28% from the sector and averaging 4 turnovers per sport.
After the primary sport of the season and a 3-of-18 capturing efficiency from George, he was discouraged. Shaking his head, trying on the flooring whereas answering questions from reporters and clearly indignant with himself. Curiously, because the unhealthy nights on set elevated, George’s angle appeared to enhance.
This was due partially to the teaching employees’s team-wide mandate on physique language.
“The video games are approach too lengthy and the season is approach too lengthy to overreact to something that does not go our approach. The physique language half is essential to us as a bunch. We do not need to be a crew that complains, requires calls, or continually seems like we have been wronged.
Jazz coach Will Hardy
“The video games are approach too lengthy, and the season is approach too lengthy to overreact to something that does not go our approach,” Jazz coach Will Hardy stated. “The physique language half is essential to us as a bunch. We do not need to be a crew that complains, requires calls, or continually seems like we have been wronged.
The message was easy: issues will not all the time go your approach, however you may’t all be like unhappy puppies. Choose your self up and hold combating for 48 minutes together with your head held excessive.
Then there was an extra message for George. As Hardy watched the younger guard combat for each mistake and missed shot, he requested George what he would say to a teammate who was going by a disaster?
Clearly, George would by no means inform a teammate to hold their head and be ashamed. He would inform a teammate to maintain capturing, consider within the work they put in every single day, and eliminate something that is mistaken. Proceed to the following room. Hardy instructed George to take his personal recommendation and speak to himself the identical approach he would speak to a teammate.
Then he requested one other query.
“He requested me if I had a canine and I instructed him sure,” George stated. “I’m going to go house tonight and my canine doesn’t care if we lose. I imply, he is simply completely happy to see me. The tail will wag, he’ll need to exit. It sort of takes you again to a spot the place, you realize, we clearly need to come right here and win, that is our occupation. However the sport lasts 48 minutes and there are 24 hours in a day. So we won’t let these 48 minutes destroy what we need to do exterior of that. So it helps me put issues into perspective.
Happily, the disaster didn’t final lengthy.
Within the three video games since that five-game droop, George shot 43.3 % from 3-point land and averaged simply two turnovers per sport. And the success was contagious as different gamers additionally started to search out the again of the online.
New with Jazz
Quote of the week
“It’s good to know that… that we’re not that unhealthy at capturing.” — Will Hardy, coach of the Utah Jazz.
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November 9 | 3:00 p.m. | Utah Jazz @San Antonio Spurs | NBA Tv
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November 12 | 7 p.m. | Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns | KJZZ
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November 14 | 7 p.m. | Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks | NBA Tv
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November 16 | 8 p.m. | Utah Jazz @SacramentoKings | KJZZ
