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SALT LAKE CITY - The Jazz have been demolished in three games in the playoffs, but if they are able to learn and grow this playoff run won't be a failure.
The Jazz's playoff exit is looking more of a question of when than if. After the Game 3 102-90 loss at home against the Spurs they are down 3-0 and no team has comeback from that deficit in the NBA. On top of that, the closest game was a 12-point Spurs victory. Even the most diehard Jazz fan will now be counting down the minutes until the end of the lockout-shortened season.
So, most likely without an early-draft pick, the playoffs will be worth it only if the young players are able to find out what they need to do to get better from the top- seed in the West. The Jazz players that need to step up in the years to come are their lottery picked players from the last two years.
Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are expected to be the anchors down low for years to come and in this series they get to learn from one of the most fundamentally sound big men ever to play the game in Tim Duncan.
"When I'm off the court I'm watching Tim Duncan and his post moves," Kanter said. "I'm also watching Al Jefferson, his footwork and everything, it's just really helping me."
Duncan had 17 points and six rebounds. He also added three assists and three blocks. The three assists are more than all the Jazz big men combined and the young players can see why that is so important.
When I'm off the court I'm watching Tim Duncan and his post moves.. it's just really helping me.
–Enes Kanter
"That's the most unselfish team I've seen," said DeMarre Carroll. "At one time they passed the ball five times all the way around the horn, everybody had the shot, but they kept passing. Even though they missed the shot each guy understood that the other person is really not selfish. That's the biggest thing when you are an unselfish team you know you can do the little things are you are still going to get the ball."
The Jazz call themselves a "Superstar-less" team. No on shines bigger or brighter, but the big-3 of the Spurs lead their team in assists as well as points. This is what the Jazz will need to do to take the next step. They are built a little different, but they need to watch and gain knowledge of what to do.
"We got to be better in every facet of the game," said Gordon Hayward. "Offensively and defensively, they've outplayed us this far. We got to be better, there's a lot of things we can take from this."
Manu Ginobili ended the night with only six points, but added 10 assists. This is another player that the Jazz can learn from. Hayward can learn from his play making ability. How to create shots for others and himself. Rookie Alec Burks might learn how to come off the bench and produce, which he did pretty well adding 11 points.
Everyone on the Jazz team can learn from Tony Parker, the biggest thing might be just taking what you are given and not forcing action, but letting the game flow.
"They do all the little things, all the details that matter," Hayward said. "You try to take something away from them and they always hit the extra guy really quickly and hit that counter on you."
The big-3 of the Spurs have controlled this series, but not in their role-defined ways. Ginobili has had a poor offensive showing so far, but has added big plays when needed and played great help defense. Duncan's defense has been phenomenal against Jefferson. Parker has scored at will and kept the offense running. Two words come up often about the Spurs, patience and execution.
In losses you got to take it as a learning experience. You got to take something from it. You can't put your head down, you got to pick yourself up, learn from it and move on.
–Gordon Hayward
"They are patient with their offense, they execute their plays," Favors said. "They don't hold their heads down or nothing like that, so you can learn from them, but we out there playing for pride, so we got to come there for Game 4 and be ready."
The young players have a lot to learn, but as an early- fourth quarter run showed they are also willing to step up for the team. When Burks, Carroll, Favors and Kanter were on the court with veteran Jamaal Tinsley they found themselves in a 13-point hole. The bench players went on an 8-point run to trim the lead to five. It didn't hold and the Spurs pulled away again, but it shows the attitude of the youth in Utah.
"I don't get intimidated or distracted or nervous, none of that," Favors said. "I just go out there and play hard, play my game and I don't really play for stats."
The success of these playoffs might not be seen this season, or next. If the Jazz are able to stick together and make a run with this group of players this experience could be priceless. However, they will have to grow and not let the sour ending ruin the lesson.
"In losses you got to take it as a learning experience," Hayward said. "You got to take something from it. You can't put your head down, you got to pick yourself up, learn from it and move on."
