Utah Jazz

Good shooting bailed Utah out against Phoenix, Will Hardy said, and the possession battle is his biggest worry: "They had 20 offensive rebounds... That coupled with 18 turnovers, the math is against you most nights."

"I think this is when we start building habits and, you know, transfer to the regular season." Isaiah Collier had five steals in the Utah Jazz's preseason game and put them down to competing. He sees preseason as where those habits begin.

"18 steals for us is a really high number." From the Jazz's media availability: Isaiah Collier started it and Ace Bailey's hands and length kept it going, but they don't expect to force turnovers at that rate every night.

Utah's Ace Bailey says his offseason conditioning (track work, 3-minute runs, bikes, 80/20 intervals) was aimed at a bigger role, because "you want to play longer." His focus is defense: "I'm not worried about the offensive end. I mean, I can score." His model: Kawhi Leonard.

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jaxson Hayes started together for the Utah Jazz, and Will Hardy called the two-big pairing a good sign while lineups are still being worked out: "their size, I think, gives us a little bit of an anchor defensively."

"I can go get coffee. I can maybe make a shot. I could talk to somebody. I can watch your dog. I just want to be a part of the program." Blake Hinson, who had 14 points and 6 rebounds off the Utah Jazz bench, said he feels comfortable with the group.

Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier "both know they have a ton of responsibility to create offense for our group," Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy said. Collier pressures defenses in transition and one-on-one; George uses movement away from the ball to get open on cuts to the basket.

Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy called the Jaren Jackson Jr.–Lauri Markkanen frontcourt a matchup problem because of their physicality, but warned it won't always look smooth: "It's going to be a work in progress... There will be games where it can feel a little bit clunky."