Marc's Remarks:
Hayward Buzzer-beater Brings Hope to Himself and Jazz Fans
By: Marcus Jensen |
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward shoots a buzzer-beater
versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Melissa Majchrzak
|
3.4 seconds left on the clock and the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers are tied. LeBron James had just evened the game with three free-throws. It's do-or-die. Overtime or game-winner.
Forward Gordon Hayward took the inbound and received a screen which happened to knock James to the ground. He dribbled right, stepped back and fired a fadeaway over Tristan Thompson.
As the ball went through the hoop, the crowd erupted in approval. But there was something different about this buzzer-beater over any that I have seen previously. It was the look on the face of Hayward after the shot found the net.
Hayward had a grin from ear to ear. I don't know exactly what went on in his head, but I can venture a guess, because I have seen that face before. It was joy, but also a sense of relief. After all he had gone through, all the talk that had surrounded him through the offseason. After he had signed the maximum contract to stay in Utah. He knew what he just did was special for his team and for the fans.
The Jazz had offered Hayward a deal for him to stay in Utah, somewhere around $12 million a year. Hayward and his agent asked for $13 million, which the Jazz refused. Hayward then shopped himself around the league and received an offer from Charlotte to the tune of a maximum contract, $16 million.
The Jazz were at an impasse, match Hayward's maximum deal or let yet another player leave the team in free agency – the new face of the franchise. The Jazz matched the offer.
Then came the reports that the Jazz had matched the offer, much to the chagrin of many Jazz fans. "Why wouldn't you give him $13 million but would give him $16 million?" "Hayward isn't a max-deal kind of player."
Hayward was even asked this in a press conference, "Is it your goal this season to live up to the contract you got?" To the dismay of those same Jazz fans, Hayward said he didn't feel like he had to live up to anything. He had received the contract and that was that. Perhaps Hayward realized that wasn't the right thing to say, even if that is how he truly felt.
His contract said that he was now "the man." He is the number-one option for the Jazz and he is expected to live up to that standard every night for the foreseeable future. That is a big weight to carry, even for the ninth pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. It was something that many fans weren't sure he could handle.
In that moment, after sinking the game-winning shot against the team with the best player in the NBA, the look Hayward had on his face was one of relief. He had proven himself to the fans. He had proven himself to the organization. He had proven himself to himself.
Yes, it is only one game. Hayward has had game-winners before. But there was something different about this one. It seemed, after some difficult seasons, Hayward was finally enjoying basketball again. He believed in himself, his teammates and his coach. Hayward sees the upward swing the team is in now. He sees their arrow pointing up and he is part of it.
Hayward said on his blog that he believes this team can win each and every game it plays. He didn't have that confidence in years past. And for the most part, he was right. The Jazz have lost a few close games. This isn't the team being pummeled night in and night out. This is a competitive team. Even if the record doesn't show it, this team has improved leaps and bounds already over last season. This team has new life it had been lacking.
Hayward is a big part of that. He is playing at an all-star level early in the season. He has taken the leap that all Jazz fans expected of him. There have still been some bumps but the improvement is obvious. The future is bright in Utah. The present is fun to watch. The past is finally behind them. It will be a fun ride.
Forward Gordon Hayward took the inbound and received a screen which happened to knock James to the ground. He dribbled right, stepped back and fired a fadeaway over Tristan Thompson.
As the ball went through the hoop, the crowd erupted in approval. But there was something different about this buzzer-beater over any that I have seen previously. It was the look on the face of Hayward after the shot found the net.
Hayward had a grin from ear to ear. I don't know exactly what went on in his head, but I can venture a guess, because I have seen that face before. It was joy, but also a sense of relief. After all he had gone through, all the talk that had surrounded him through the offseason. After he had signed the maximum contract to stay in Utah. He knew what he just did was special for his team and for the fans.
 |
Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward celebrates with teammates
after hitting a game-winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Photo by Andrew Bernstein.
|
The Jazz had offered Hayward a deal for him to stay in Utah, somewhere around $12 million a year. Hayward and his agent asked for $13 million, which the Jazz refused. Hayward then shopped himself around the league and received an offer from Charlotte to the tune of a maximum contract, $16 million.
The Jazz were at an impasse, match Hayward's maximum deal or let yet another player leave the team in free agency – the new face of the franchise. The Jazz matched the offer.
Then came the reports that the Jazz had matched the offer, much to the chagrin of many Jazz fans. "Why wouldn't you give him $13 million but would give him $16 million?" "Hayward isn't a max-deal kind of player."
Hayward was even asked this in a press conference, "Is it your goal this season to live up to the contract you got?" To the dismay of those same Jazz fans, Hayward said he didn't feel like he had to live up to anything. He had received the contract and that was that. Perhaps Hayward realized that wasn't the right thing to say, even if that is how he truly felt.
His contract said that he was now "the man." He is the number-one option for the Jazz and he is expected to live up to that standard every night for the foreseeable future. That is a big weight to carry, even for the ninth pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. It was something that many fans weren't sure he could handle.
In that moment, after sinking the game-winning shot against the team with the best player in the NBA, the look Hayward had on his face was one of relief. He had proven himself to the fans. He had proven himself to the organization. He had proven himself to himself.
Yes, it is only one game. Hayward has had game-winners before. But there was something different about this one. It seemed, after some difficult seasons, Hayward was finally enjoying basketball again. He believed in himself, his teammates and his coach. Hayward sees the upward swing the team is in now. He sees their arrow pointing up and he is part of it.
Hayward said on his blog that he believes this team can win each and every game it plays. He didn't have that confidence in years past. And for the most part, he was right. The Jazz have lost a few close games. This isn't the team being pummeled night in and night out. This is a competitive team. Even if the record doesn't show it, this team has improved leaps and bounds already over last season. This team has new life it had been lacking.
Hayward is a big part of that. He is playing at an all-star level early in the season. He has taken the leap that all Jazz fans expected of him. There have still been some bumps but the improvement is obvious. The future is bright in Utah. The present is fun to watch. The past is finally behind them. It will be a fun ride.
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