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On the eve of the start of training camp, Quin Snyder is doing everything in his power to make sure he's gotten it all right.

The first-year Jazz coach and his staff have analyzed a youthful roster through hundreds of hours of film. They've planned the weeks ahead, almost down to the minute. Snyder has even awakened himself in the middle of the night, so crammed is his mind with ideas.

A new day is here for Snyder, his team, Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey and the entire Jazz organization. It starts on Monday afternoon at the Zions Bank Basketball Center.

This team finally belongs to Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and the rest of the core five, including Trey Burke, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter. There's excitement and intrigue with rookie additions Dante Exum and Rodney Hood. There will be no established veterans around to steal valuable minutes.

This season — in many ways — will dictate the direction of the Jazz for years to come.

"It's a little bit of a new beginning," Snyder said. "It's a bit of continuance as well. Every team is its own unique entity, and as the season begins, there's really nothing that prepares you except for the actual experience. I'm new to our guys, and they are new to me. But the foundation and tradition of the Jazz organization makes this a challenge and provides us an opportunity to build."

Like last season, not much will be expected of the Jazz. This is a team that most think will lose — and lose with frequency. Preseason prognostications are beginning to trickle out. On Friday, an ESPN pundit picked Utah to finish dead last in the Western Conference, even behind fellow rebuilders like the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Still, the Jazz will be under a bit of pressure to improve upon the 25 wins they were able to squeeze out of the 2013-2014 campaign. Lindsey and the entire Jazz organization knew last season would be difficult, and it was. But fans will want to see a step forward this time around, no matter how small.

Unlike recent seasons, there is a sense that this team will be fun to watch. Newly re-signed Gordon Hayward gained 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason. Derrick Favors has established himself as a leader. There is a thought that Burks could take a leap forward in Snyder's pick-and-roll offense. And center Rudy Gobert has the look of a defensive anchor, thanks to standout performances in summer league and the FIBA World Cup.

"Everyone's excited to prove themselves, and we're just chomping at the bit to get it all started," Hayward said. "We're definitely going to be a little inexperienced. At the same time, we have youth, but we have a lot of athleticism on our side as well. With the way coach wants to play, we think we're going to be able to surprise some people. We're definitely going to be competitive. This is going to be a year of growth and learning. But at the same time, we're definitely not going to be laying down for people."

This season will be pivotal in many ways. Lindsey will have to make decisions on Burks and Kanter, who are both slated to be restricted free agents next summer. And 2014-15 will surely be a season of evaluation for second-year point guard Trey Burke, who will receive the bulk of the floor leader minutes, but will do so with Exum's shadow looming as the No. 5 pick and a potential franchise guy down the road.

The Jazz have many floating parts behind the core five, such as Gobert, Hood and players like free agent addition Trevor Booker, a power forward. There is a chance that the roster will need to be tweaked in order to add more shooting to space the floor the way Snyder truly wants.

"There's a little bit of unknown heading into the season," Lindsey said. "We're excited to see the same players, but with added maturity. We're excited that Trey has been much different; he's taking on a leadership role. Gordon has added to his body to handle the load. We've all been able to see Rudy's growth. Derrick has plugged himself into the community. When you wrap up all of that hard work, there's a tangible excitement around the team. There are a lot of subplots, and a lot of intrigue."

It all translates into a different way of basketball for the Utah Jazz. Fans are more apt to see a Jazz team scoring 100 or 110 points in a given game, instead of 90 or 95. The 3-point shots at EnergySolutions Arena will be free-flowing and plentiful. A Utah team that has traditionally plays little transition basketball will get out on the break and run the floor.

Will all of this translate to wins? Probably not immediately, not with a team this young and callow. But the fans have been clamoring for the youth movement in full, and this is the first season where it will be on display. —

Jazz camp profile

Who's back • Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Enes Kanter, Alec Burks, Rudy Gobert, Jeremy Evans

Key losses • Richard Jefferson, Marvin Williams, Dionte Garrett

Key additions • Dante Exum, Rodney Hood, Steve Novak, Trevor Booker, Carrick Felix

Key training camp battles • With the starting five pretty much set in stone, the Jazz have to figure out a second unit. Booker and Novak will compete for power forward minutes behind Kanter. The Jazz also have five or six players competing for the last open roster spot. —

Jazz key dates

Monday • Media day

Tuesday • First day of camp

Oct. 7 • Preseason opener

Oct. 29 • Regular season opener vs. Houston