2009 Utah Jazz Summer League - Day 1 Recap

July 7, 11:04 AMUtah Jazz ExaminerJeff Lockard

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Boston Celtic 87 Utah Jazz 56 (Box Score) (Recap)

If ever there is a time not to worry about the final score, it's during the Summer League. Monday night's match up looked like a mismatch on paper and it turned into one on the court. Boston's Summer League roster consists of eight players with NBA experience while James Augustine is Utah's most experienced NBA player.

The Jazz fell behind by 23 points at half time and eventually lost to the Boston Celtics by a score of 87-56. Bill Walker scored a game high 14 points for the Celtics, and Josh Duncan led the Jazz with 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the floor.

Prior to the game, Utah announced that last year's first round pick Kosta Koufos will not play in Orlando due to a hand injury. Koufos sustained a dislocation to his left ring finger while playing in an open game earlier this summer. The decision to hold Koufos out of Summer League action is purely precautionary. Koufos added weight (15-20 pounds) this off-season and all parties involved were interested to see how it would enhance his production this summer.

Although the Jazz lost by 31 points, the important thing to take away from this game is the play of Utah's first round pick Eric Maynor. Maynor was 4 of 9 from the floor and finished with nine points, four assists, four rebounds and no turnovers. He looked confident and performed well against current NBA player Gabe Pruitt.

Statistics and game results are not the benchmark during the summer. Rather, teams are watching and evaluating Individual performances to see if they can handle the competition level, both physically and mentally. Maynor passed in both categories.

Utah plays again today against a split squat consisting of players from the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets. The game can be seen for free at 3:00pm mountain time. Every Orlando Summer League game is available via webcast, but as a warning the broadcast is minimalist. The announcers are obnoxious, the picture quality is adequate, but there is no score update or live time graphic.

Game 2: Utah Jazz - Watch Game Live>>
 

Utah Jazz - Orlando Summer League Schedule