Jazz vs Trail Blazers Recap: Utah is playing without an identity

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty ImagesPrior to Wednesday’s night game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy made his expectations for the team clear.

“The only two things that I care about are: play hard and pass,” Hardy said. “We’re at a point now where if you’re not willing to do both of those things, you cannot play for the Utah Jazz.”

Against the Blazers, the Jazz didn’t do much of either.

Let’s start with the “play hard” piece of Hardy’s desired identity. The Jazz lost 105-121 to a Portland team who entered the night 3-11 and were starting their third-string center with both DeAndre Ayton and Robert Williams out to injury. By nearly every metric, the Blazers are one…