SALT LAKE CITY – He wasn’t even asked specifically about it, but it was the first thing Gordon Hayward talked about after practice Monday.
Turnovers.
“We can’t turn the ball over,’’ he said. "It’s probably been echoed by everybody.''
Well, not everybody, but it’s especially been on Hayward’s mind since he’s had 16 turnovers in the last three games including seven against Denver and six against the Lakers last week.
It’s not like the Jazz are horrible in turnovers as they rank 22nd in the league with 14.3 turnovers per game. But it’s been a real problem over the past three games during which the Jazz committed at least 20 turnovers in each one.
Turnovers probably cost the Jazz a win against the Lakers Wednesday night when they turned the ball over 20 times, causing coach Quin Snyder to blame his team for a “lack of toughness” and “being weak-minded.''
“It just can’t be that easy to give the ball up,’’ Snyder said.
However, the next two games were just as bad as the Jazz had 20 turnovers Friday against Denver and 22 Satuday night against Milwaukee. Fortunately for the Jazz, the miscues didn’t result in losses as they won both games.
The Jazz are well-aware of their problem handling the ball and know they need to improve.
“Everybody has to do a better job of just taking care of the ball, making better passes and overall just taking care of the ball,'' said Derrick Favors.
“We’ve got to clean up that area and take care of the ball and keep playing defense the way we have been,’’ added Trey Burke.
HOOD PROGRESSING: Except for a brief setback Saturday night when he went scoreless against Milwaukee, rookie Rodney Hood has been playing well since coming off his foot injury following the All-Star break.
Hood started off with a five-minute-per-half quota in his first two games back, but has worked up to 20 minutes per game in his last three games. Against the Lakers and the Nuggets last week he scored 25 points in the two games, going an impressive 6 of 7 from 3-point range.
“More than anything we just want to get him in competitive situations,’’ said Snyder. “He makes shots. Any time you have a guy coming in whose shots give you a boost and he adds that and the ability to space the floor. He’s also capable of getting to the rim. I’m confident in him.’’
JAZZ NOTES: Rudy Gobert ranks third in the NBA in blocked shots at 2.33 per game, behind Anthony Davis and Serge Ibaka. However since Jan. 1, Gobert has averaged a league-best 3.1 blocks per game . . . The Jazz are 17-16 since starting the season 6-19 . . . Favors ranks ninth in the NBA in field-goal percentage at 54.1 percent . . . Hayward's 2.8 turnovers per game rank him 18th in the league for most turnovers . . . Utah’s next home game will be March 10 against the New York Knicks, followed by home games against Houston Thursday and Detroit Saturday.