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Auburn Hills, Mich. • The NBA is a long way from naming its coach of the year.

But if that postseason award contained a March vote, Quin Snyder would get an endorsement from Stan Van Gundy.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Pistons coach praised his Utah Jazz counterpart for the job he's done this year in putting the Jazz in position to make a run at home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

"To me, he's one of the best 3-5 coaches in the NBA," Van Gundy said. "He's not doing anything different than he did last year. He's just got more personnel to do it with. He's just done an excellent job with these guys. They are very very good."

Snyder — when told of Van Gundy's words — sounded sheepish. But Snyder also has the backing of his players.

"He's for sure one of the best coaches in the league," Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood said. "You can tell by the plays that he calls and everything he does on and off the floor. Guys love playing for him, and he's a big reason that we're doing what we are."

Snyder went 78-86 in his first two years, as he took over a rebuilding Jazz franchise. But even with losing records in those first two years, the improvement in the team was noticeable. He won 38 games in year one, when many experts picked Utah to win no more than 30 games.

The Jazz went 40-42 a year ago and narrowly missed the postseason. Utah has already surpassed that mark by mid-March.

Hood leaves game

Hood left Wednesday's win over the Pistons with soreness in his right knee, sitting the second half. He played 10 first-half minutes and grabbed four rebounds. He went 0 of 4 from the field and didn't score.

If Hood can't play Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Jazz would likely start veteran Joe Ingles in his place.

At the right time?

In what is a four-game road trip, the Jazz are catching three of its opponents on the second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland is the lone team on the trip which will have a day off before playing the Jazz.

tjones@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribjazz