So far this season (9 games in) I have enjoyed reading posts and posting in the GameDay threads. After watching last night’s game (Pacers) I was surfing the r/UtahJazz posts and noticed an article about THT and why he thinks we should believe in him.
Now I’ve read all the comments about him and Sexton and the rest of the Utah Jazz players and staff. Apparently, some of the players read these posts too. It got me to thinking about some of the things I’ve read and frankly, some of my own posts.
Coaches and players know what bad losses feel like, if you’ve ever coached a youth sport, you know. The fans(parents,families) really lose faith quickly. Second guessing coaches, players, the organization as a whole. They begin shouting at refs, expressing their negative opinions on the sidelines etc … Not a great environment for the players, or any of the participants for that matter.
I’m seeing a lot of that behavior this season with our favorite team. The amount of negative comments about THT, Sexton, Clarkson,just about every member of the team is just not good. If the players read these comments, it’s not good at all.
Some of the best teams start with the worst records. As you build, the winning usually takes care of itself. The atmosphere you build becomes the culture, culture attracts talent, talent affects winning, and the winning feeds the culture.
Yeah, we’ve seen some poor basketball this season and I can empathize with the other fans about those losses but let’s not tear the team apart from the inside out. Let’s respect the players, coaches and staff and support them with positivity. After all, Utah has a tough time attracting free agents when we’re winning, what do you think a bad team with terrible fans will attract ?
Ya know, you’re not the only person to point out how much a player makes. Interesting perspective.
Critique is best when it’s for a purpose that builds a player/person. I’m not implying we cannot agonize and be disappointed in the play of the team, or even call out the poor record. My point is that fans are singling out players for criticism and not in a way that’s good. I’m guilty too. At the end of the day, it’s not helpful or necessary. That’s why the team hires managers, and coaches.
I’m hoping that the team turns it around and they learn what they need to learn in order to move forward. I hope the most maligned players force us to eat our words, and help get the team into the play in this season.
Funny how the biggest fans are also the most toxic when things aren’t going great. Personally, I’ll cheer for the Jazz every game and feel the sting of ugly losses but I’ll hold my tongue and my keyboard coaching skills in check because these young guys deserve a chance to succeed without the naysaying.
Go Jazz !