In a season rapidly progressing toward nightmare status, the Utah Jazz may be forced to focus on the little things for positive reinforcement. Eight consecutive losses will do that for a team. And there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for the Jazz.
But if developing the young talent is a goal, then Rodney Hood's game on Friday night should be a step in the right direction.
Sure, the Jazz suffered a 98-93 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic. But Hood, the rookie out of Duke, played the best game of his young career, scoring a career-high 15 points and needing just six shots to get there.
"I saw a guy playing with energy tonight," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "I saw a guy who is competing, and you could feel his presence out there. He was flying around out there, and he was working."
Early in the season, Hood has been struggling with his perimeter shot. He's been sidetracked by foot ailments, and he's sometimes been buried a bit on the bench behind Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks.
But with Burks out indefinitely due to a bum shoulder, Hood received his second consecutive nod in the starting lineup. He certainly responded, shooting 4 of 6 from the field and making all three of his shots from behind the arc.
More importantly, Hood mixed it up. He took the ball to the basket, getting to the free-throw line five times. He played very well defense on Orlando guard Evan Fournier, and he seemed to get more aggressive as the game progressed.
"I'm just trying to stay with my shooting habits, do the same thing in my shot every time," Hood said. "I've been working with the coaches, trying to stay consistent. I knew my shot would start to fall — it's just a matter of staying with my habits."
The Jazz are going to need Hood to continue to knock down shots if they want to break out of this long slump. Either way, Hood on Friday night provided a glimpse of the future. He looked like the guy Utah fans hoped they were getting on draft night.
These are the little things that can make a losing streak at least a little bit more palatable.
tjones@sltrib.com
twitter: @tjonessltrib
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) is helped up during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) guards Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) guards Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Orlando Magic guard Ben Gordon (7) runs around Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) blocks Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) runs around Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) shoots past Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) is guarded by Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) and Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) runs past Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) shoots past Orlando Magic center Dewayne Dedmon (3) Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) and Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker (33) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) runs past Orlando Magic forward Andrew Nicholson (44) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) passes around Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) guards Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) is fouled during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) runs around Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) walk off of the court after the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) walk off of the court after the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) walks off of the court after the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) go for the ball during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) go for the ball during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) go for the ball during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) watches during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Orlando Magic forward Kyle O'Quinn (2) watches during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) and Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) go for the ball during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder watches during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) guards Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) and Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) celebrate during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) during the game at EnergySolutions Arena Friday December 5, 2014. Orlando Magic won the game 98-93.