HighlandHomie
Well-Known Member
I pulled this quote from Trey is the tank killer thread because Stoked hit the nail on the head. Regardless of which camp you were in this season (to tank, or not to tank), it should go without saying that we all have the same end-goal; the Jazz back as a title contender.
Looking back on this season, one thing that stands out to me is that we never really formed an identity. Luckily we have no selfish players on our team, but with that no one really took the reins as the go-to guy. Burke has that in his blood (figuratively speaking of course).
I feel like a rocky start to the season with injuries/adjusting to the league, as well as natural humility of a rookie coming into a franchise and just trying to do 'his part' and fit in, didn't allow him to be that guy.
Last night down the stretch of regulation and the first OT, he didn't have the ball in his hands much. Hayward and Burks each took turns as 'the closer'. I have confidence in both those guys to make plays, but Burke has proven his moxy time and time again in the last two years during crunch time.
Forget gripes about Corbin as a coach, a big reason we lost a bunch of games this year is that we never got in any type of rhythm with these guys playing specific roles. It was like they all kept deferring to each other in turning points of games.
Next season, and every season after he is on the squad (hopefully his whole career), this HAS to be Burke's squad in terms of being the guy with the rock in his hands when a play needs to be made.
Obviously none of us know the dynamic in the locker room in regards to the players personal relationships with each other, but hopefully everyone gets on the same page in the offseason and preseason about the Jazz being Trey's squad on the court.
That will definitely help us take another step forward, along with adding some more pieces this offseason via the draft/free agency/trades. That being said, this is the most important offseason for the Jazz. I can't wait to see how it unfolds.
