Healthy Jazz Finally Developing Chemistry And Continuity

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz returned to Salt Lake City for a short stint to host the Toronto Raptors before heading out on the road to face the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night. As of Thursday, the Utah Jazz will have played seven games in seven different cities over a 13 day stretch. Over the the last two weeks, with Mike Conley once again featured in the lineup, the team appears to be developing the chemistry and continuity the organization expected when the roster was assembled over the summer.

The Jazz are currently riding a five-game win streak, the longest in the NBA, most recently knocking off the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in Detroit. The game marked the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury in December that Conley play on both ends of a back to back games.

With Conley back and fully available, the Jazz may finally be at a point where they can truly begin to develop chemistry as a full roster.

Quin Snyder discusses the teams ability to start developing continuity with a fully healthy Mike Conley back in the lineup. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/lgOAWtVD2v

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 9, 2020

Early in the season, Conley was developing alongside a roster that heavily featured Emmanuel Mudiay, Dante Exum, Jeff Green, and Ed Davis. With Exum and Green no longer with the team, and Mudiay and Davis out of the rotation, Conley was forced to return to a group that had undergone massive changes from his first 22 games with the team. Additionally, the team added Jordan Clarkson to the back court which has forced further adjustments for the rotation.

Conley is in the midst of his best stretch of basketball this season. Since returning to the start lineup, the veteran guard is averaging 16.8 points per game, 4.8 assists and connecting on 47 percent of his field goals and 44 percent of his three-point attempts. Conley’s continued improvement, mixed with his rowing chemistry with the roster should pay dividends for the Jazz over the final 19 games of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Ben Anderson of KSL Sports and Sarah Todd of the Deseret News sat down to discuss the Jazz latest win streak, including the role of Conley in the rotation.

Coronavirus And The Utah Jazz

The Jazz are taking measures to educate their players about how to protect themselves against the novel Coronavirus. The Jazz met with their medical staff, and staffers from the University of Utah to raise awareness about the virus and to alleviate unfounded concerns.

As opposed to holding media availability on the team’s practice floor, the Jazz moved the session into their media meeting room within the Zions Bank Basketball Center.

The Jazz and the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies announced proactive and preventative measures that they have implemented to minimize for employees, fans, customers and guests their risk of potential exposure to Coronavirus.

Quin Snyder discusses the precautions the @UtahJazz are taking regarding coronavirus as a team. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/uaMbeWA8dl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 9, 2020

Coronavirus Resources

Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.

What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy: ksltv.com/432037/what-is-covid-19/

Latest coronavirus stories from KSL can be found at ksltv.com/coronavirus/.

Where in the world has the coronavirus already appeared? See the map: ksltv.com/?p=432035

Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus: ksltv.com/?p=432060

How do I prevent it?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• • Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

• If soap and water is not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.