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Josh Howard has agreed to terms with Utah

Is it really that hard to give a guy the clean slate? I'm looking forward to getting to know Howard as my new teammate. I don't care who he was. I care who he is. (Deep, I know, and I'm not charging a thing for it.)
 
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Every NBA analyst these days will say that it's better to be really bad (temporarily) that to be consistently mediocre. But even with that in mind, I don't see how Howard makes us that much better. Is he that type of player that legitimately adds 10 wins? Doubtful. 2-3? Maybe.

I don't think he'll make a huge impact on the standings, and really only takes away from minutes for the young guys. Not sure how this benefits this year or long term.

I disagree. If nothing else, it tells the world that the Jazz aren't ever satisfied. They always want to improve. This tells potential free agents that the Jazz are always committed to get better. If you sign here or get drafted by us, you need to bring your A game.

I think this will translate to a much better winning percentage than what we ended the season with, because really, Josh signing is just another sign that whoever plays for the Jazz appreciate and are committed to working hard and getting better. I'm sure Josh or his agent followed up on the reports out of our camp. I would, if I were a free agent and needed to know more about the current teams wanting me.

Also, I think it'll be great to have Josh playing against our younger players in practice every day. It's how you get better, better competition. Think about it. When do players improve the most? When they're pushed the most. You can only do so much on your own and pickup games. Going hard in intense practices translates into a better team in games.

You should be excited! :)
 
From what I remember, someone made a post about Howard being a great guy and I made some tongue-in-cheek comment about him smoking weed and disrespecting flag and said, "great guy." Then from there it's grown into something it shouldn't, although it's annoying to me that people don't have a problem with dopers when it could in fact hurt the team and its image. I personally want him to be a good pick up whether or not he smokes pot, but I don't want him to do anything stupid that could jeopardize the Jazz or what they've represented in a long time.

No one wants Jazz players to make the organization to look bad but it happens. I understand your concern with players who have down some dumb things in the past but people change. Besides the fact that the Jazz have a short leash on nonsense for the most part so I wouldn't worry if he screws up again that he will be on the Jazz roster. However, he didn't kill or rape anyone so I think Josh should be given a clean slate and hope he is the player he once was. If he is the player he was in Dallas then KOC has done it again.

Sometimes as humans we tend to be too judgmental instead of being more compassionate towards flawed people. I just think as a fan we should judge what people do on the court since we have no idea the circumstances surrounding "off court incidents". I am not saying we should not look at red flags but I will always believe people can change if they choose to change. Howard's transgression were not that serious to forever judge his actions.
 
please stop

"No **** Sherlock. Illegal and bad are synonymous."

Yes, indeed, every law is moral and good. Breaking any law is bad. Please, people, stop debating with someone who does not understand the difference between legality and morality. Assured futility.
 
Smoking pot is illegal regardless of what you or I think about it. Disrespecting the flag is different. It's just poor taste.

I say the guy should get cut if he gets a speeding ticket. That's like illegal and shows a total lack of character and stuff.
 
From what I remember, someone made a post about Howard being a great guy and I made some tongue-in-cheek comment about him smoking weed and disrespecting flag and said, "great guy." Then from there it's grown into something it shouldn't, although it's annoying to me that people don't have a problem with dopers when it could in fact hurt the team and its image.

Damn dopers! That's where I draw the line. This team cannot afford employing a doper! That doper virus is one that's impossible to stop...pretty soon you might as well change the franchise to the Utah Dopers.
 
you might as well change the franchise to the Utah Dopers.

Interesting.

I don't know if it's still true, but Utah used to have the highest rate of presciption drug abuse in the country, or something like that.

In which case, The Dopers would actually make more sense than The Jazz. Someone get Greg on the phone.
 
https://www.deseretnews.com/article...sk-of-giving-Josh-Howard-a-second-chance.html

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris excited to have his friend Josh Howard join team



By Jody Genessy, Deseret News


SALT LAKE CITY — By taking a risk on signing Josh Howard, the Utah Jazz showed they're willing to give people second chances.

But what about Howard's well-publicized negative incidents, you wonder?

The marijuana admission? Drag racing? Reported (and refuted) hangover-related game absence? National anthem disrespecting?

The dirty laundry's been aired out.

Skeletons are no longer in the closet.

Having done their homework on the 31-year-old, the Jazz are willing to get past his checkered past.

Howard's fresh start begins today.

He's scheduled to practice with the Jazz this morning and should dress, maybe even play a few minutes, in tonight's intrasquad scrimmage.

"It's an opportunity for him to continue playing basketball, and that's what we talked about," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "You've got to learn from your mistakes and move on. You may not get another chance after this one, and I think he understands the magnitude of that."

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor admits he doesn't have an absolute assurance that Howard will be a model citizen in Utah. But the Jazz — players, coaches and management alike — are pretty confident he'll add instead of detract or distract.

"You try to do as much intelligence work as you can," O'Connor said. "What he's done since then is as important as what he's learned. Over the last couple of years, he's been terrific."

Except for his knee, that is.

Shortly after being traded from Dallas to Washington in 2010, Howard suffered a surgery-requiring ACL tear. Last season, he attempted to return too soon and was hampered by tendinitis.

Just another twist in a windy road.

In 2006, Howard helped the Mavericks earn a spot in the NBA Finals. In 2007, he was invited to the All-Star Game as a fill-in reserve. In 2008, he wandered onto a bizarre path of controversy in Dallas.

And since 2009, Howard has all but fallen off the NBA map. He's only played in 18 games since injuring his knee 21 months ago.

He's ready to turn the Jazz's risk into redemption...
 
Interesting.

I don't know if it's still true, but Utah used to have the highest rate of presciption drug abuse in the country, or something like that.
Yeah, the following Desperate News report focuses on overuse of painkillers in punks (teen).
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/660200893/Utah-No-1-in-prescription-drug-abuse.html

However, prescription pain medication has risen to be the fourth most-abused drug in the state, ahead of cocaine & crack.
https://www.useonlyasdirected.org/the-problem

This article mitigates the claim of prescription drug abuse in Utah by pointing out the Utahans use an above average quanitty of a wide range of pharmaceuticals (for example, penicillin, insulin, thyroid hormones, antirheumatics, and anticonvulsants). It also points out that Mormon-heavy Idaho and Arizona don't have a high rate of antidepressant use, so it may have something to do with Utah's policy on (and practice of) health care rather drug abuse (exclusively).
https://www.fairwiki.org/Utah/Statistical_claims/LDS_use_of_antidepressants


In which case, The Dopers would actually make more sense than The Jazz. Someone get Greg on the phone.
I do like the notion of Utah giving players a second chance. What doesn't make sense is that they are renting him for one year. This could be Wes Matthews redux. Or not.
 
It also points out that Mormon-heavy Idaho and Arizona don't have a high rate of antidepressant use, so it may have something to do with Utah's policy on (and practice of) health care rather drug abuse (exclusively).
https://www.fairwiki.org/Utah/Statistical_claims/LDS_use_of_antidepressants.
Self-medicating and having a good time are related but different things. One could also make the case that suspending disbelief because familial and societal connections rely on it to some degree leads to cognitive dissonance.
 
Agreed. Who cares if someone has smoked weed before? Like I tell everyone, it's a plant!
Nobody ever seems to bring up these so-called legal prescription and non-prescription drugs that many more people are hooked on, and abusing.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk
 
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