This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For the better part of a month, Quin Snyder's message has been the same.
Finishing with the No. 4 seed and garnering homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs would be a welcome achievement. But health, above all, carries the most importance for the Jazz. Yes, Snyder would say, his Jazz would put forth a significant effort to gain the homecourt edge. But not at the expense of the overall well being of the roster.
On Wednesday, Snyder proved emphatically he wasn't paying us all lip service.
The Jazz would go on to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the regular season finale at Vivint Smart Home Arena. But Snyder certainly put that victory in peril, pulling his rotation regulars well before the Spurs pulled stars like Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Snyder did so in order to preserve the players he has been nursing back to health, people like George Hill, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood. Snyder did so, knowing the Jazz could lose. He did so without knowing whether the Los Angeles Clippers took care of business against the Sacramento Kings.
In the end, Snyder cared about health, even at the expense of a few wins. Now, as the Jazz prepare for the Clippers Saturday in Game 1 of the first round, we get to see how well the gamble has paid off.
"To be honest, the concerted effort started in October, when guys started falling out in training camp," Snyder said. "Sitting Gordon [Hayward] on Monday was a little unusual. Other than that, pretty much everything we've done, we're hoping it works out. Both Derrick and George needed that time to get right. So now, the challenge is to play through whatever is ailing you, and to try to avoid anything else significant."
If Wednesday was an indicator, the Jazz look to be in the best health they've seen in a season where their preferred starting lineup played together just 13 times.
Favors and Hood, in particular looked like their old selves, guys the Jazz have rarely seen this year. Playing at backup center and at power forward, Favors had a spring in his step that reminded of the old Favors. He dunked anything he had the opportunity to dunk. He was fierce in the pick and roll game and with his back to the basket. His mid-range jumper looked true, even if several shots popped in and out of the basket.
Most importantly, Favors was a monster defensively. He blocked shots, he contested even more. He guarded effectively on the perimeter, the trait that always made him unique as a big man.
Favors said his knee feels the best it has in months. He said he's capable of playing 30 minutes a night in the playoffs, if need be.
"That was definitely the strategy, to get guys to heal up and to get guys right," Favors said. "We needed to get ready for this time of year. I feel good now. I really just want to go out there and play as hard as I can and make an impact."
Hood and Favors, simply put, will have a big effect on whether the Jazz can defeat the Clippers and make it out of the first round. Snyder knows what to expect from Hayward and Rudy Gobert. He knows Hill will be a steady hand on both ends. Hood and Favors are the wild cards. Without them, the Jazz were still a 51-win team this season. With them in the lineup and playing well, the Jazz were almost as good as any team in the league.
"I We've gotten a lot healthier over the last month, and we're in a much better place health-wise," Hood said.
The question is how effective Hood, Hill and Favors will be, and whether any of their lingering injuries flare up during the first round. The schedule certainly helps. The Jazz get two days off before Saturday's Game 1. They get two days off before Game 2 and two days before Game 3.
So for the first three games, at least, the Jazz avoid the wear-and-tear format of the regular season, which figures to help with recovery. That should bode well for the Jazz in that sense, even in a playoff series against a good team that figures to a tough out for Utah.
"Our entire goal was just to get guys back to where they need to be," Hood said. "We had a great regular season, we got 50 wins. Now, we're just trying to have a good couple of days of practice, and get ready for the playoffs."
Twitter: @tribjazz —
Jazz update
• The Jazz have played 13 games with their preferred starting lineup of George Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. The Jazz finished 11-2 in those games
• Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors have played in three of the final four games of the season. They weren't in the starting lineup in those games, as both were on a team-imposed minutes restriction
• Hill, Favors and Hood have missed a combined 88 games with various injuries this season.
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Jazz vs. Clippers
Game 1 • Saturday at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. MDT
Game 2 • Tuesday at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. MDT
Game 3 • April 21 at Utah, 8 p.m.
Game 4 • April 23 at Utah, 7 p.m.
x-Game 5 • April 25 at L.A., TBD
x-Game 6 • April 28 at Utah, TBD
x-Game 7 • April 30 at L.A., TBD
x-if necessary