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Tribune Jazz beat reporter Tony Jones will answer readers' questions in a Twitter mailbag each week. You can submit questions using the hashtag #TonyTalks. Here is the this week's questions.

Tony's reply • It was a problem against the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls, but it hasn't been as much of an issue for most of the season.

The Jazz have a lot of pieces that can get things done offensively, even with Rodney Hood and Derrick Favors struggling a bit with injury. Joe Ingles, Joe Johnson and Alec Burks all are skilled offensively, not to mention George Hill, the starting point guard.

Mostly, what ailed the Jazz on the latest trip was their inability to make shots from the perimeter. They worked a lot of open looks into their offense and weren't able to convert those looks into baskets.

Once they start hitting those shots again — and they will — things will get better for the offense.

Gordon Hayward's decision doesn't exist in a vacuum, so this stretch won't sway what he's thinking one way or the other. The fact that the Jazz are 43-28, having their best season since 2010 and there are a lot of pieces to get better going forward may carry a little more weight.

Tony's reply • The Jazz enter Wednesday night's game against the Knicks in the fourth spot. When the schedule is finished and the playoff spots are locked in, that's when the Jazz will worry about whatever playoff opponent they will draw.

As for that opponent, it's going to be a challenging matchup whether it's Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis or Oklahoma City. Every playoff team in the Western Conference is a good team. I don't think one road is easier than the other.

Tony's reply • The scoring isn't the concern.The defense when Rudy Gobert is off the floor is the concern.

That's what's been hurting the Jazz's second unit. They have enough guys who can put the ball into the basket coming off the bench. But Favors' minutes with Gobert off the floor have proven pretty valuable.

Favors is a very good rim protector and a guy who can create offense on his own in the post. His presence has put a bow on the second unit on both ends of the floor in a lot of games. Without him, the Jazz have had to improvise a bit.

The Jazz clearly have taken the long view with this. They know a healthy Favors is a key to competing and getting out of the first round of the playoffs. If they have to sacrifice some games in the short term for playoff health, that's what they are going to do.