From the G-Mill e-mail to season ticket holders:
Damn, that gets me downright giddy for next year. Trading the franchise player and losing the longtime coach was a small step back. And the nuclear reactor in Japan is experience a small increase in temperature.
Dear YB85,
I want to thank you for your continued support of the Utah Jazz. It’s Season Ticket Holders like you who make our franchise a success and give us the reputation of having the best fans in the NBA.
This past season brought both excitement and some frustration for all of us. There were many great games that had us on the edge of our seats. We were the cardiac kids early in the season with great come-from-behind wins. Remember Miami and Orlando? We were the talk of the NBA.
We witnessed great improvement during the season from Al Jefferson. He was passionate and never gave in, a real motivator for his teammates when the going got tough. After the All Star break, he averaged 22 points per game (12th in the NBA) shooting 52% while grabbing 11 rebounds per game (3rd in the NBA).
We knew we had a solid player in Gordon Hayward when we drafted him at number nine last June. Some fans were skeptical, but Kevin O’Connor took the stage in EnergySolutions Arena and asked to fans wait two years and then see how they feel about the pick. Well, it didn’t take two years to see Gordon’s true potential. How about that game in L.A. when he carried the team to a big win over the Lakers? He was the number one three-point shooter in the NBA after February 1, shooting 53%.
Paul Millsap stepped up and made his presence known scoring 17 points a game after averaging 11.6 the season before.
Devin Harris showed his leadership and veteran experience. Of the 16 games he played, he led us to four wins against playoff teams.
Derek Favors, the youngest player in the NBA, has shown tremendous upside. I look forward to watching him develop.
Our players are young and have proven that they can compete with some of the toughest teams in the league.
Coach Ty Corbin was asked to step up midseason and win games while juggling injuries and player trades beyond his control. We saw how he brought the team together down the stretch and motivated them to play Jazz basketball even though we were out of the playoff hunt. This shows great character, leadership and the skill level needed to be a winning coach in the NBA.
Despite this exciting news, I am not satisfied with the results of the season. I expect us to win and am disappointed that we are not in the NBA Playoffs. But, I am confident that we will return soon.
We made some tough decisions this year. We took a small step backwards in order to position our team for the brightest future possible. Our goal is to bring a championship to Utah for the fans and our community. I am confident that our coaches, players and front office will continue to do all they can to build a team we are all proud of.
I am excited about Jazz basketball and I’m thankful you’ve chosen to be a part of it. Your commitment to this franchise is appreciated. We couldn’t do it without you.
Go Jazz,
(G-Mill, stoked)
Damn, that gets me downright giddy for next year. Trading the franchise player and losing the longtime coach was a small step back. And the nuclear reactor in Japan is experience a small increase in temperature.