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Last season, when Gordon Hayward sat out a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to injury, Rodney Hood gave a glimpse of what he could be as the Utah Jazz's number one option.
Before an ESPN audience, Hood dazzled at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Using an array of 3-point shots, mid-range jumpers and drives to the hoop, Hood poured in 28 points against the eventual NBA champions.
Offering Hayward a temporary respite for one night and picking up his scoring slack for at least a month are different scenarios, of course. But with Utah's best player on the shelf due to a broken finger, Hood is the best candidate for the Jazz to step into Hayward's shoes.
"I think I have to be more aggressive, I think that's a bit obvious," Hood said. "But everyone has to do more on both ends. Scoring isn't going to be the problem — we have to play better defense and do the little things more. We do that, I think we'll be fine."
Jazz brass had hoped Hood, heading into his third season, would be poised to take a step forward in support of Hayward. He was seemingly being groomed for that last season, with Jazz head coach Quin Snyder putting the ball in his hands during clutch situations. The strategy paid off when Hood handed out the winning assist to Derrick Favors in a victory over the Houston Rockets late in the season.
With Hayward out, Hood becomes one of the prime options in the clutch. He becomes a prime candidate to lead the Jazz in scoring in Hayward's absence as well.
"We have a lot of guys who can step up. We just have to continue to get better and continue to get better. Hopefully for Gordon, it will be a speedy recovery."
Injury updates
Favors, who missed Utah's preseason win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, sat out of his second consecutive practice with a sore left knee on Saturday.
His absence is considered precautionary; he's done conditioning work during both practices, but hasn't competed in scrimmages and anything involving contact.
Snyder said there still isn't a timetable for Alec Burks' return. The shooting guard has been out since having knee surgery in June. Burks, if healthy, would be a candidate to garner starting minutes with Hayward out. He's yet to be cleared for contact.
"There's no way for us to predict day-by-day when he will return," Snyder said. "He's making progress and he's doing everything he can to get back. But he's not at the point where he can return, yet."
Hayward's rare air
Another point of emphasis as to how big the Hayward injury is: The forward is one of five players in the NBA who have recorded 4,000 points, 1,000 assists, 1,000 rebounds and 300 3-point field goals since the start of the 2013-2014 season.
The other four players are: Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Kyle Lowry.
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