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 ?
Jazz players should be encouraging reddit posts as its probably the most fun most Jazz fans get during the game.
I personally think it’s fair game to talk about and critique how players perform on the court on these sorts of forums, I mean that’s what they are designed for after all. If a player seeks out posts and comments on reddit, they would be aware of what that may come across and the positives and negatives of that. Pro athletes that make the elite level are often their own harshest critics so comments made here aren’t something they are un aware of or know that they need to improve, it’s not like people are attacking their character or their quality as a human. I agree though that if people are seeking out players and social media and tagging them or privately messaging them to criticise them then that is poor form. In general though what a fanbase says on reddit will have very little if any bearing on how the franchise is viewed by players in the league.
Sometimes it is hard to remember the athletes are real people, but I will say that fans have the right to discuss the team’s performance and I try to not make it personal.
I think there’s a level of criticism that is totally fine to levy on a professional athlete. That’s what they sign up for by playing a game for millions of dollars, it’s a more than fair tradeoff. I agree that there’s a line at which it becomes too much or too critical, but frankly I haven’t seen many people go past it (in regard to THT criticism).
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 ?
The thing is though that every fanbase in sports is like this, and frankly on average we’re probably less toxic to the players than most. If THT comes away from this thinking Jazz fans are awful compared to the average, IMO that’s on him. People want him to make better decisions and make more shots–I don’t think that’s an unfair thing to be upset about
This is so corny, my god. They are professional athletes, it comes with the territory. It’s not like we’re @ing them on social media or DM’ing them. Of course some players and staff read stuff on social media and some avoid it. This isn’t breaking news.
THT & Sexton are playing bad and keep making the same mistakes, fans are going to criticize their play. This happens with every fanbase.
Our fanbase absolutely pales in comparison to big market teams in the amount of criticism they get. You should go look at Philly fans after they start losing as a prime example.
Our fanbase may criticize players, but it doesn’t prevent us from cheering for them when they are playing. We have some of the most passionate & educated fans in the league and that is known. It’s okay to let out criticism of poor play, it’s okay to rant on here, there is a line and we aren’t crossing it.
Well here’s the thing… Three years ago, the Jazz were whipping the ball around the court with alacrity and driving defenses nuts. They always got the open shot. They cut to the basket at the right times. They played a unselfish brand of team-oriented basketball that was fun to watch.
Their defense wasn’t exactly lockdown outstanding, but it was good enough to at least keep the other team’s offensive production below our own.
We are not seeing that this year and it’s disappointing. We have good talent, but there is no teamwork. Offensive rotations and getting those extra passes is just not happening. Our defense is atrocious. When Chicago and Indy score that many points, well you’re gonna lose. We’ve acutally only won one game thus far, because the Memphis game was vs. their scrubs.
It’s just painful and I hope they get it together soon.
I think their play has warranted criticism. The team has been abysmal this season.
If a player has $57 M and 3 years left on his contract, and he plays bad in the 2nd unit, I’m ok to say that he’s not good and we should trade him.