OAKLAND, Calif. — Rodney Hood accompanied the Utah Jazz on this one-game road trip to Golden State, even though he won’t be playing again until at least some time in December.
On Friday morning before the team’s shootaround, Gordon Hayward took the opportunity to give a little pep talk to the rookie, who’s now missed seven straight games with right plantar fasciitis.
“Feet can be a really aggravating, annoying issue,” Hayward said. “I told him just try to get better now, get it out of the way and come back when you’re 100 percent ready. You don’t want that to just be lingering.”
On Thursday, the team announced that Hood will continue to rehab without playing for 2-3 weeks before being re-evaluated.
In the meantime, the 6-8 guard/forward will continue to receive treatment and participate in conditioning and restricted weight training exercises. He was shooting with coaching supervision after Friday’s team strategy session.
“I think he’s been positive. Obviously, he’s frustrated. He’s super down about it. I think anybody would be,” Hayward said. “Especially (his) rookie year, he wants to get out there and play. Hopefully, he’s taking it the right way.”
TRADING COMPLIMENTS: Both first-year coaches took time in their pregame interviews Friday night to speak highly of one another.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr recalled having played against Jazz coach Quin Snyder when the two were in college in the late 1980s. (Kerr’s Arizona squad got the best of Snyder’s Duke team, 91-85, in a nonconference holiday tournament matchup between the eventual Final Four squads on Dec. 30, 1987.)
“I’m a huge fan,” Kerr said of Snyder. “I think Quin’s doing a hell of a job with them (the Jazz).”
Snyder remembers how commanding of a presence Kerr had as a player.
“When we played, his leadership ability is something that really stood out,” Snyder said. “It’s not surprising that he’s taken this (coaching) challenge and is doing such a good job.”
YOUTH FACTOR: Snyder took exception to a reporter prefacing a question by referring to him having a “fairly young” roster. “Fairly young?” Snyder said, interrupting the question with a tongue-in-cheek remark.
Snyder went on to inform the reporter that the Jazz have an average age of 24 (23.9, according to NBA.com). That, by the way, is the third-youngest team in the NBA behind the Sixers (23.4) and the Bucks (23.7).
NO MORE SICK BAY: Hayward battled Carmelo Anthony and toughed through a road-trip-ending game in Toronto with flu-like symptoms. Finally, after a week the 24-year-old was back to full health Friday.
“I feel a lot better today, a lot more energy,” Hayward said. “My legs are definitely back.”
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