When the Utah Jazz selected Rodney Hood with the 23rd pick in last June’s NBA Draft, many felt that Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey had made the best value selection of the draft. The 6-foot-8 guard-forward from Duke was a proven scorer and shooter, as well as an excellent pick-and-roll player. With first-year Jazz coach Quin Snyder looking to install a new offense based on pace, shooting and screen-roll action, it seemed like Hood could be an excellent piece for Snyder’s new attack. Unfortunately, a foot injury has derailed Hood’s involvement with the team and hurt Utah’s wing depth.
Hood had already missed the last several games when, earlier this week, the team announced that his plantar fasciitis would force him out indefinitely. Word is that Hood will be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks, but in the mean time, Utah’s already-thin bench has been dealt a crippling blow.
Joe Ingles has done an admirable job in stepping his game up, providing the team with what Snyder has deemed “invaluable unselfishness.” Also helping keep the boat above water has been Dante Exum, who continues to grow with each passing day. Trevor Booker and Rudy Gobert have provided some key performances off the bench as well, but on the whole, the Jazz’s second unit has struggled.
The team has had difficulty rebounding and scoring with Gobert on the floor. Booker and Ingles have been over-matched at times defensively, in addition to their occasional shooting struggles. For Exum’s part, he has looked impressive at times, but doesn’t appear physically ready to shoulder more than the 18-20 minutes he’s been getting per game.
What it all adds up to is a bench that desperately needs more and Hood could help alleviate some of the pressure. He had yet to really light it up in the regular season, but his stroke during the summer league and in preseason play suggests he could be that piece to the offensive pie that many predicted he would be after the draft. That is something the Jazz bench desperately needs.
Tonight, the Jazz go head to head with the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena — an unenviable task for any team regardless of who comprises their bench. For the Jazz in particular, on a night in which the team will have to score a whole lot of points to escape with the win, one can’t help but wonder what would happen if coach Snyder had Hood in his lineup. Until he ultimately returns, it will probably be a question that Jazz fans ask themselves time and time again.
Ryan Aston covers the Utah Jazz for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @MrMaryKateOlsen or add him to your network on Google.
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