Small-market franchises steal blueprints, theories, concepts, even team executives from the San Antonio Spurs, which pretty much explains what the Utah Jazz have been doing these past few seasons.
Right about the time Dennis Lindsey was hired as their general manager, the Jazz locked the doors of the NBA’s version of the Mom & Pop Shop and reopened as a pro basketball boutique. They went for the combo package: two for the price of one.
The plan was to preserve the team’s history, retain the small town charm, continue registering all those babies named after John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan for the ever-expanding Junior Jazz programs.