Utah
‘I love the vibe of this team’: Jones, Toscano-Anderson impress in first action with Jazz
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MEMPHIS — Juan Toscano-Anderson stopped mid sentence as he mirrored on his first minutes with the Utah Jazz.
“I like basketball, so to have the ability to get out and play the sport that I take pleasure in, particularly with this workforce,” he stated following Utah’s 117-111 loss to Memphis. “I just like the vibe of this workforce.”
That is when the swingman paused for a short second.
“Let me right myself: I like the vibe of this workforce.”
It has been 4 days since Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones received to a New York Metropolis lodge to fulfill their new workforce. Wednesday’s expertise provided extra proof to what he already believed: Being with the Jazz could possibly be a liberating expertise.
He will not all the time see 25 minutes of motion — Lauri Markkanen and Rudy Homosexual had been each out Wednesday, and Collin Sexton joined them early within the contest — however he is seen that there’s a chance in Utah if he proves he may help profitable.
If something, he and fellow newcomer, Jones, confirmed on Wednesday that Jazz coach Will Hardy may look to them once more, if wanted.
Toscano-Anderson performed 25 “refreshing” minutes on Wednesday — essentially the most he is performed in a recreation since November 2021, and the primary because the commerce that introduced him to Utah final week. Jones performed eight minutes, however offered a giant spark together with his athleticism. The Jazz received these eight minutes by 10 factors.
It did not take them lengthy to suit proper in with the workforce.
Toscan-Anderson hit a nook 3-pointer shortly after checking in late within the first quarter; and as for Jones, the primary play the Jazz referred to as when he entered the sport within the third quarter was a lob for him. He mishandled it, however a bit later he added an athletic alley-oop end.
Toscano-Anderson had 7 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Jones completed with 7 factors, two rebounds and two blocks.
“I believed that their competitiveness, their athleticism, their physicality actually stood out tonight,” Hardy stated. “I believed they helped change the tempo of the sport.”
That was particularly apparent with Jones. It takes a particular athlete to pop in an NBA recreation, and Jones did that. His electrical lob end within the third quarter was the spotlight, however there was a lot extra to it.
Jones outran gamers down the court docket, the 2 blocks he had got here due to how briskly he was off his toes, and he held up simply superb when he was switched onto Memphis guards on the perimeter. It was solely eight minutes, however he could have simply grabbed the backup middle minutes from Udoka Azubuike.
“Yesterday, we went over some script, so I received to study some new performs,” he stated.
It was throughout Jones’ time on the court docket that the Jazz made a giant push to get again within the recreation — feels like he is able to study a number of extra.
“I believed that Damian got here in and actually gave us a burst, athletically,” Hardy stated. “He ended up having a few good finishes above the rim. Defensively, confirmed some capability to remain in entrance of the ball and alter photographs on the rim — clearly an excellent athlete.”
Hardy praised Toscano-Anderson’s communication on the protection finish and the way he made fast choices offensively. Toscano-Anderson spent his first years within the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and received accustomed to enjoying in a read-heavy system the place everyone seems to be a part of the set; it is one just like what Hardy has put in in Utah.
The transition hasn’t been too overseas to him.
“I feel I may match anyplace. I feel that is the fantastic thing about this offense, the fantastic thing about this construction, this workforce — very dynamic,” he stated. “Wherever coach is comfy placing me, I feel I can thrive.”
No marvel he likes — no, wait — loves the vibe.