SALT LAKE CITY — As Mike Conley sprinted up the court during Wednesday’s practice, Jazz coach Quin Snyder paused. He forced his team to stop, and he pointed at his new point guard.
“What’s our first goal in transition?” he asked.
Conley wasn’t sure. There were 10 principles he was supposed to remember regarding transition play, and Wednesday marked just his second day of preseason practice. He took a guess anyway.
“No middle,” he answered, with an inflection closer to “no middle …?” than to “no middle!”
He guessed right.
“I’ve never seen a coach so detailed. He pays attention to every single little detail, and he makes it to where you understand it.” — Utah Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiay, on coach Quin Snyder
The interaction was one example Conley recalled when asked about his new coach’s most prominent quality.
“Details. Details. A lot of details,” Conley said. He’d been asked about his first impression of Snyder, and he wasn’t alone in that assessment. Guard Emmanuel Mudiay — another offseason addition — used the same term Monday.
“I’ve never seen a coach so detailed,” he said. “He pays attention to every single little detail, and he makes it to where you understand it.”
The understanding part has also been highlighted by some other new players, among them veteran center Ed Davis. He didn’t talk about details to describe Snyder; instead he highlighted Snyder’s willingness to make players understand his concepts, however long it takes.
“He’s a teacher for sure,” Davis said Tuesday. “It’s only been two hours, but I can say he’s a teacher. I appreciate that.”
Conley said Snyder often stops practice to quiz players about concepts. His inquiries can be directed at someone on the floor, or someone on the bench. Snyder always wants his players to be thinking, Conley explained, however small the issue.
“We stop a lot just to go over the smallest of things,” he added. “Which, in hindsight, are bigger issues we need to address. And nobody’s off the hook. Everyone is held accountable, from myself all the way down.”
Before arriving in Salt Lake City, Conley said his impression of Snyder was “one of the best in the business.” He respected the way the Jazz played, as well as what Snyder has built — three playoff appearances in the past three years, plus a commitment to disciplined defense — in his five seasons with the Jazz.
Mudiay heaped similar praise on Snyder when asked about him Monday, in addition to his overture for his new coach’s comprehensive basketball eye.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things, honestly,” he said, “and I’m not just saying that.”