‘It’s about to get real’: Utah Jazz prepare for the post-All-Star break sprint to the finish

Jazz head coach Quin Snyder talks to guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during a break in play in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. The Jazz won in regulation 126-112 over the Grizzlies. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — This is the point in the NBA season when things start to get real.

The playoffs are eight weeks away, and as teams return from the All-Star break and prepare for the final stretch of the season, they know that everything is going to be intensified.

“You can definitely sense it,” Mike Conley said following the Utah Jazz’s practice Thursday afternoon. “This time of year, you know where the standings are, you kind of get a better glimpse of where guys are at, certain teams that don’t have winning records, teams that are pushing to contend, and you can tell there’s a sense of urgency.”

Every player and every coach knows that each moment counts. In this final 28 games of the season, teams throw their hardest punches. For the Jazz, the main focus from now through mid-April will be perfecting what they do best while cleaning up the things they know they can control.

“Making sure we’re running, spacing, making accurate passes where we have the chance to shoot or make the next play and then defending,” coach Quin Snyder said. “Containing the ball, being ready to fire over and help each other if someone gets beat and being connected.”

Add to that list limiting turnovers, making sure communication is clear and constant and continuing to share the ball on offensive possessions. The Jazz feel like if they do those things and do them consistently, they have a good chance at a deep push in the playoffs.

The key word there is “consistently.”

The Jazz know they have shown glimpses of what they can be and that they have had stretches where they’ve played at a high level, but it needs to be through 48 minutes, night-in and night-out.

“Everybody is thrilled with the record, but I think we understand there is another level this team can get to and there’s another level we have to get to if we’re going to make strides and steps toward our ultimate goal,” Conley said. “That’s why I keep reiterating the sense of urgency. ... It’s kind of a sprint to the finish now.”

The Jazz’s sprint begins with a five-game homestand — their longest of the season — and first up is a bout against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, the first game of a back-to-back set before the Houston Rockets come to Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Conley, whom the Jazz have been monitoring and managing with rest on back-to-backs throughout the season, will not play Friday. Since he played so well against the Rockets on Feb. 9 — scoring 20 points to go with six assists and five rebounds — and since the Houston squad has so many more weapons to throw at the Jazz, it’s a smart move to make him available for the Saturday contest.

Though Conley will miss Friday’s game, the Jazz know his value extends beyond what he brings on the court. As Royce O’Neale said Thursday, the experience Conley has with making a playoff push is valuable to the team, regardless of if he plays.

“He’s big,” O’Neale siad. “He’s missed games throughout the season, but in the games he’s been with us, he’s played well. He’s been a great leader. Even when he was out he was a great leader. Having a guy like that with a lot of experience, especially down the stretch ... Mike makes the game easier.”

Following the Jazz’s back-to-back set, they’ll see the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards at home before heading back out on the road. Despite the Suns and Wizards having identical losing records of 20-33, the Jazz know they aren’t going to be able to underestimate any team during the post-All-Star stretch.

“We have to be locked in. We don’t get any second chances now,” Conley said. “We’ve got to take care of business when we can. When you get to the All-Star break, you start realizing, ‘Alright, it’s about to get real. It’s time to put everything we have out there.’”

With just 3.5 games separating the second and fifth seeds in the Western Conference and the Jazz currently sitting in fourth, they’ll have their work cut out for them over the next eight weeks.

The hope is that the All-Star break gave them the respite needed to finish strong, with urgency and consistency.

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