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MINNEAPOLIS — The month of January has been the toughest of the 2021-22 NBA season for the Utah Jazz and issues simply bought a bit of harder.
On Sunday, the workforce introduced Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and Danuel Home, with the workforce on 10-day contract, each entered the league’s well being and security protocol after returning optimistic COVID-19 exams.
Assistant coach Alex Jensen will step in as performing head coach in Snyder’s absence.
“I’m fortunate that we now have the gamers that we do, so it’s my job simply to not screw it up,” Jensen mentioned forward of the Jazz’s Sunday evening matchup towards the Minnesota Timberwolves. “It’s been a tough patch however I believe we’ve truly realized fairly a bit.”
The information of Snyder and Home being out for the Jazz shouldn't be solely unlucky as a result of nobody desires to have or unfold COVID-19, however appears to return simply because the Jazz had been beginning to have some good moments.
After the Jazz’s Friday loss in Memphis to the Grizzlies, even if it was the Jazz’s fourth consecutive loss and tenth within the final 12 video games, Snyder had been feeling like issues had been trending upward for the Jazz — that even with out Rudy Gobert (left calf pressure) and Donovan Mitchell within the lineup (concussion) the workforce had been competing at a excessive degree and studying some new issues.
That’s to not say that issues will cease with Jensen on the helm, but it surely’s one other disruption the workforce must cope with.
Possibly extra disappointing is that Home, who had been taking part in substantial minutes for the Jazz, solely has restricted time with the workforce. He first signed a hardship 10-day contract with the Jazz after Joe Ingles entered the well being and security protocols earlier this month. Following the conclusion of that deal, he has signed consecutive customary 10-day offers with the workforce, presently in his second.
Per NBA guidelines, a participant can't play on greater than two 10-day contracts with a single workforce. If the Jazz need to proceed with Home on the roster, they must signal him to the roster for the remainder of the season. Home’s present 10-day deal expires on Feb. 8.
“It’s onerous as a result of particularly with having guys out, you get the minutes and we’d have the ability to see him a bit of bit extra,” Jensen mentioned of Home, as he looked for a silver lining. “Hopefully this may all profit us someday going ahead to the top of the 12 months.”
Jensen intimated that the Jazz have felt like at each flip this month you begin to see issues flip in an excellent course, however then they get knocked proper again down whether or not due to damage or COVID-19 or the schedule or every other variety of points.
The Jazz return house after Sunday’s sport for a six-game house stand.