On The Horizon

Jim Squire

The Morning After Recap: Sunday, January 29--Searching for Billy Edelin

Green Bay freshman Keifer Sykes' head wound blew the UFC on Fox event out of the water, gore-wise (via 30FPS)

1/28 Men's Basketball Bracket Buster Projections--College Sports Madness

Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward, Jimmer Fredette know the transition from college to the pros isn't easy--Deseret News
Utah Jazz fall in Big D while big names sit--Deseret News
Jazz-Mavericks: Report card--Deseret News

FORWARDS: Paul Millsap provided yet another 20-point night — his third straight with at least that many points — while adding seven rebounds. However, Dallas' recent acquisition, Lamar Odom, essentially matched Utah's hot-handed big man with 19 points and five boards, including a trio of 3-pointers. Odom's ability to roam on the outside seemed to do more than keep Millsap on his toes. Gordon Hayward dished six assists to complement his eight points, but his counterpart, Shawn Marion, scored 16 points. Grade: C

Jimmer's 10 points helping Kings keep it close vs. Jazz--Deseret News

Gordon Hayward leads Utah with 12 points — more than he's had in a game since the Jazz won in Denver two weeks ago.

Utah Jazz-Sacramento Kings: Instant Analysis--Deseret News

While regular scoring leaders Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson struggled, swingmen Gordon Hayward and C.J. Miles responded with 21 and 20 points, respectively. The Kings were paced by a slicing-and-dicing Tyreke Evans’ 31 points and nine assists.
...
Hayward’s return: Another player made famous by the NCAA spotlight, Gordon Hayward, also enjoyed a nice breakout game. Showing an aggressiveness that has been noticeably absent recently, Hayward put forth a complete game. He scored a team-high 21 points, while recording five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

More importantly, Hayward was not hesitant to shoot. Throughout the night, he knew when to shoot and when to dish the ball. While he had a few struggles defensively, this was a game the Jazz coaching staff and fans hope will be the start to some more consistent play.

Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings: Report card--Deseret News

FORWARDS: What's this, an off game from Paul Millsap? He only had six points, but still contributed with 14 rebounds. Gordon Hayward had what might have been a breakout game, finishing with a season-high 21 points. The Jazz struggled with Jason Thompson in the first half, but adjusted and quieted him in the second half. John Salmons was a non-factor.

Grade: B+

Utah Jazz escape Jimmer Fredette, Kings with 96-93 win--Deseret News

But it was the Jazz's Gordon Hayward and C.J. Miles who stole his thunder and saved the day for the Jazz on offnight for usually reliable Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.

Hayward led Utah with 21 points and Miles scored 20 points off the bench, playing extended minutes and starting the second half after Raja Bell strained his right adductor.

Utah Jazz: Jimmer Fredette has heroic opportunity, but Jazz win--Deseret News

Gordon Hayward hit a free throw a second after Fredette's 25-foot airball and the Jazz survived their first encounter with Jimmermania, escaping with an emotional and much-needed 96-93 victory.
...
On this night, rather, the dynamic duo turned out to be Gordon Hayward (21 points) and C.J. Miles (20 points). Picking up the slack for their struggling stars, the young swingmen were instrumental in getting the Jazz (11-7) back on a winning path after tough losses to the defending NBA champs and to lowly Toronto at home Wednesday.
...
"It makes us a much harder team to guard," Hayward said, speaking of contributions from the Jazz wing players. "It's easy when you just throw it in the post and if they're not going then it's just like, 'What do you do then?' So it's good when we step up like that. We need to do that."

Utah Jazz notebook: Raja Bell glad he caught injury early--Deseret News

HOLDING ON: Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin shook his head in disbelief and relief at the end of Saturday's game.

Not because of Jimmer Fredette's 3-point attempt that could've won the game for the Kings. Rather, he couldn't believe second-year forward Gordon Hayward carelessly threw the ball to Earl Watson by the Sacramento bench in the final moments.

The ball harmlessly rolled away while time expired, but. ...

"Four seconds on the clock. Just hold it," Corbin said. "They're going to foul you. Don't jump in the air and throw it. If you throw it, throw it up so the clock can run out, but don't throw it toward the baseline and give them a chance to get another possession of the ball."

It worked like a charm, and Hayward sheepishly said he'll hold it next time.

"Just young," Corbin added. "That turned my stomach more than the Jimmer shot."