This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A day into the opening week of practice, you'd be hard pressed to find a coach or player who had yet to claim that defense would be the hallmark of his team this year.
But on the Utah Jazz's first day of camp, new coach Quin Snyder wasn't simply emphasizing D, it was all he was talking about on the practice court.
A goldfish could count on its fingers the number of offensive plays Snyder and his staff called in their first set of two-a-days.
Zero.
Zip.
Zilch.
"We didn't run a play all practice," said fifth-year forward Derrick Favors, who will be expected to help anchor the Utah defense this season.
It will, of course, require more than just talk and a day's practice to bring about change. The Jazz preached the gospel of D last year, too. Six months later, the 109.1 points Utah allowed per 100 possessions were the most of any team in the league. Put more simply: Nobody's defense was worse.
Now Snyder, who takes over for Tyrone Corbin, is tasked with moving the Jazz out of the NBA's cellar. And to do that, he's starting at the beginning: transition defense.
"It's the first part of any defensive possession," Snyder said of his emphasis in the week's first practices. "So if you're not back in transition, you don't get a chance to play any other type of defense."
Only the Lakers, 76ers, Timberwolves and Mavericks (the lone playoff team on this list) allowed more fast-break points last year than Utah, which watched opponents gallop to 1,277 of them.
If this year's Jazz want to win more than the 25 games of a season ago, they know they'll have to do better.
"As a young team, if we can get [into our transition defense] and put them in the half court and make them play, it gives us a better chance to win in the long run," said rookie guard Dante Exum.
Make or miss, guards and wings need to get back. But Snyder made it clear his bigs aren't exempt, even as they continue to fight for offensive boards.
"It's not either/or. It's both," the coach said. "… We've got to have our bigs back to form a wall, so people see bodies and see a crowd. They don't see space."
"It's going to take some work," said the 6-foot-11 Enes Kanter. "I have to be in more shape. We all have to be in better shape."
It's one of the reasons Favors dropped more than 10 pounds over the offseason, in part by cutting out candy and bread.
"It's challenging, man. They want you to get the offensive board and get back," he said. "It can be done, but it's challenging."
Snyder will make other defensive changes, too. For the new head coach, getting stops is about more than just hustle and desire.
"It's habits," he said. "It's mental hustle. If you're not quick to react, you're late and you can't catch up. It's like a sprint. Whoever gets out of the gate quickly has an advantage. And especially if you look at the point guards in the West. They're coming at you pretty quick."
Twitter: @tribjazz —
Teams in transition
Most fast-break points allowed in 2013-14:
1. L.A. Lakers 1,369
2. Philadelphia 1,364
3. Minnesota 1,337
4. Dallas 1,280
5. Utah 1,277
Fewest fast-break points allowed in 2013-14:
1. Charlotte 838
2. L.A. Clippers 908
3. Indiana 958
4. New York 962
5. Miami 988
Source: NBA.com/stats —
Jazz key dates
Tuesday • Preseason opener
Wednesday, Oct. 29 • Regular season opener against Houston Rockets