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Portland, Ore. • As the Utah Jazz head into the final week of the preseason, a line is being straddled.

The Jazz are fighting for rhythm and continuity, important in order to hit the regular season with some momentum. At the same time, they are fighting for healthy bodies and fresh legs.

This is why Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward all sat out Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. But it's also why most of the remaining rotation started and played heavy minutes.

Coach Quin Snyder's goal for the remainder of the week — two more preseason games after Sunday night — is execution. That, along with more efficiency. It's no secret that the offense hasn't looked great in the last few games, but that has more to do with fatigue and scheduling, Snyder said.

So, following almost a week off, with a heavy dose of practice, Snyder wants to see better spacing, better shooting, and better offense in general.

"We want continuity, but we want healthy players as well," Snyder said. "I think it's hard to get continuity, if you aren't healthy. Rudy had a long summer and he played a lot of basketball. So bodies can wear down too quickly, if you aren't careful."

Affording Gobert a bit more rest has been a goal for Snyder, and that's a big reason for him sitting out in Portland. Hayward's back has been sore, and Favors also has a sore lower back. Both should be ready to go for the regular season, barring any further complication.

"It's very important for us to close the preseason right and to be playing well going into the regular season," Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood said. "We have to get guys reps, and we're still playing different lineups and still getting used to each other. So it's very important to start out the right way, because you want to be playing your best when it counts."

The Cooligan

Former Jazz player Jack Cooley — whom the team waived this week — has been picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cooley, a center out of Notre Dame, played for the Cavs in Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors.

Lillard's return

Portland point guard Damian Lillard played against the Jazz on Sunday, after sitting out last week's win over Utah at EnergySolutions Arena. Sunday marked the first time this season Utah played against one of the premier point guards in the NBA.

The replacements

Hood, Tibor Pleiss and Trevor Booker started for Utah against the Trail Blazers. Snyder said he wanted to get those three some extra work with the remaining starters, as they figure to be important cogs in the Jazz rotation this season.

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