Final
Rockets aim for 2-0 start in visit to Salt Lake City
Oct 29, 2014 - 1:52 PMVideo
The Jazz kick off a new regime with a new head coach, players with more experience and a new attitude.
Utah was the worst team in the Western Conference last season with a 25-57 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years. This isn't your Jerry Sloan Jazz team from years past, but Utah is hoping it can get back there in a few years.
Not much is expected from the Jazz once again and there's a new head coach in Salt Lake City. Quin Snyder will be drawing up plays for the Jazz and was named head coach back in June. Tyrone Corbin was not offered a new contract and Snyder gets his shot at becoming a head coach in the NBA.
"The opportunity to join the Utah Jazz and to be part of such a highly respected franchise with an incredibly bright future is a great honor," Snyder said. "I approach this opportunity with gratitude and humility and am committed to doing everything I can to help the Jazz become a championship- caliber team."
Snyder has some talent to work with in Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke and Enes Kanter. It appears the Jazz are committed to building around Hayward, who established career-best averages of 16.2 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Charlotte Hornets offered Hayward a four-year deal worth $63 million and Utah matched it.
"As we have said since the start of last season, we have always seen Gordon Hayward as a significant part of the future of the Utah Jazz," Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said. "Gordon is a young, multi-faceted player and a high-character individual who we are pleased will remain a member of the Jazz for many years to come."
Lindsey hopes rookie Dante Exum can establish himself as another young piece to the puzzle. Exum was the fifth pick of this summer's NBA Draft and brings speed and ball handling skills to Utah. Rodney Hood was the Jazz's other first-round draft pick and went 23rd.
The Jazz, whose roster has 11 players under the age of 25, have lost four of their last five season openers, but are 12-3 in lid lifters at Energy Solutions Arena. Utah is 1-1 in season openers with Houston and 18-22 all-time in Game No. 1.
Houston took care of the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-90, Tuesday night in the season opener for both clubs at Staples Center. Former Laker Dwight Howard had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and James Harden led all scorers with 32 points, making 7-of-17 from the field and 15-of-16 free throws.
Trevor Ariza scored 16 points in his Houston debut and Terrence Jones also netted 16 for the Rockets, who scored 31 points in each of the first two quarters. Ariza was 5-of-8 from 3-point range and the Rockets made 12 of their 29 3-point attempts.
"We looked pretty solid on defense," said Harden. "We did a pretty good job of executing. For me, it's just getting into a rhythm."
Kobe Bryant had 19 points for the Lakers.
The Rockets won two of three games against the Jazz last season. Utah has a 62-29 record all-time against Houston in Salt Lake City. Hayward averaged 18.3 points against Houston last season. Harden scored 25 ppg in the three games.
Oct 29 11:17 PM- HOUSTON: 75
UTAH: 72
End of 3rd
Oct 29 10:47 PM - HOUSTON: 58
UTAH: 50
Halftime
Oct 29 10:05 PM - HOUSTON: 27
UTAH: 27
End of 1st
Oct 29 9:36 PM - HOUSTON: 0
UTAH: 0
1st Quarter - 11:43
Oct 29 9:13 PM
Related News
- Knicks Robbed By Late Call on Jalen Brunson Feb 13
- Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers game preview Dec 26
- Alperen Sengun’s career night lifts Rockets over Pelicans 106-104 Dec 24
- LISTEN: Kiss Of Death, Episode 70: Regular Season Game 27 - Rockets defeat Pelicans Dec 23
- Utah Jazz complete 17 point comeback against Toronto Raptors Dec 23
- NBA trade rumor: two or three teams will try for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen Dec 23
- NBA trade rumor: trading for Lauri Markkanen is “wishful thinking” Dec 23
- Rockets hope to snatch one from Pelicans before Christmas Dec 23
- Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors game preview Dec 23
- LISTEN: Kiss Of Death, Episode 69: Regular Season Game 26 - Rockets defeat Mavericks Dec 23
- Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans game preview Dec 23
- Rockets dump shorthanded Mavericks 122-96 Dec 23