Crowder fitting in well with Jazz, still has work to do

Jae Crowder has some studying to do.

The Utah Jazz small forward, whom the Jazz traded for two weeks ago, admitted as much on Wednesday. The Jazz went through an extensive practice in their first workout since the all-star break, a practice that lasted over three hours. It was the first time Crowder was able to go over many of the plays and wrinkles in coach Quin Snyder’s offensive system.

Crowder knows the basics. He knows where to be, and he knows a lot of the offense is read and react. At the same time, he also knows he has to learn the playbook. So, no better time to do that than the present, as the Jazz prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

“I have a lot of homework to do tonight,” Crowder said. “They threw a lot at me today, and I have my work cut out for me. But it takes time.”

If Crowder’s first few games with the Jazz say anything, he appears to be a good fit, after coming from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Snyder has given him significant minutes off the bench at small forward and power forward, and he’s delivered.

In an average of 29 minutes per game, Crowder’s averaged 14.7 points and five rebounds with the Jazz. He’s fit in well defensively with Utah’s switching-heavy scheme. He came up big last Wednesday in the fourth quarter of a win over the Phoenix Suns.

Now, he has to learn the playbook, so instinct can become second nature. On Wednesday, the Jazz went long in practice, but it wasn’t all physical. A lot of it was film work and getting back into a routine.

“I’ve played OK,” Crowder said. “I still have a lot to learn. I still have to learn the guys I’m playing with because each guy on the court plays off one another. It’s a special thing that these guys have, and it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of it.”

An absence

Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio didn’t practice on Wednesday afternoon, and instead received treatment on his hip. Rubio has missed the last two games with soreness in the hip, and his status for Friday night’s matchup with Portland is yet to be determined.

In his absence, the Jazz have been starting rookie Donovan Mitchell at point guard, with fellow rookie Royce O’Neale in the starting lineup at shooting guard.