By Johnathan Kendrick

Sometimes it’s just hard to talk about a Revue game. Jazz fans want to forget about last season. So what is the point of talking about the Jazz and Sonics game when everything about it reminds you of the previous season.

The Jazz with all the big names and exciting new players simply under preformed. There were turnovers, bad shots, pathetic free throw shooting, and everyone was out of position.

The Sonics on the other hand with out high expectations, played hard and executed perfectly and showed they really were a good team.

But you already get the basic gist of what happened, because you watched last season… right?

So is it dooms day? Are the Jazz now a tainted under achieving ball club? Are they doomed to struggle year after year? Be honest, a little part of you is worried right?

So let’s talk. Let’s talk about the signs – the good signs that is. The small things – the things that are so small they might not end up on TV or the Radio, but when it’s all said and done, just might mean everything. Not sure what I mean? Well then…let’s talk.

Where should we start? How about….What impact will Deron Williams have on the Jazz this next year? That’s a tough question and if you were to judge by numbers – the Jazz might as well bring back Howard Eisley. But numbers in a summer league can be debated, challenged, and proved to mean nothing. So how about this - Deron Williams always leads the team out of the locker room and onto the floor. Deron Williams passes early and often. Deron Williams is leaving everything he has on the floor on defense.

But you know what impresses me most? Before game two in warm up drills – yeah you heard me right – warm up drills. It was Deron Williams turn to get the rebound, and he was making his way in. The ball he is rebounding is still 10 feet away from the hoop and something lights up in Deron’s eyes. He changed his angle and soars toward the hoop just in time to catch the ball coming off the rim and dunk it home. You can teach an offense. You can work on a jump shot. But some things like leadership and instinct you either have or don’t have. He has them. He can get the rest.

Who can hate CJ Miles? Nobody. Even when he makes a bad pass and a turnover at a critical moment or leaves his man open for a crucial jumper… He will turn and look at you with a smirk that carries his mouth completely across his face from one ear to the other and slap his hands and shrug his shoulders telling you “I will get it right next time.” You can’t help but get in this guys corner.

Coming from a smaller high school in Texas, the NBA game is going to be coming at CJ Miles like a windshield at a fly. Keep in mind that other second round High Schoolers have developed into NBA All-Stars, but it takes a few years. The biggest thing that holds guys back is their attitude. This is what coach Tyrone Corbin had to say. “CJ is coming along very well, he is showing flashes of the kind of player he can be. He is a really young guy and so he has a lot to work on, but he is playing aggressive and trying to think about the game and get in the right spots. He has played good defense so far… He is very coachable. He is a good young guy that comes from a good family and a good coaching background.” With a little patience the Kid is going to be alright.

Robert Whaley has shown a remarkable touch for jump shooting the ball. Don’t mistake him for an All-Star at the 51st pick, but think about this. A few years ago another Jazz late round pick was told what he had to work on and now is on his third contract with the Jazz. Consider that Whaley already seems to have more to work with then Collins did at the time, and the Jazz just might have made a late pick work again.

Andre Owens is coming out of nowhere. Coming out of high school he signed to play at Indiana and to play for Bob Knight (even though Knight was let go that same summer). He transferred to Houston after one year because get this – He wanted to play in a more structured system. I think Jerry Sloan might have work for this kid yet. No to mention that thanks to a college growth spurt he is a 6’4” true point guard. If that hasn’t sold you – he has only been the most consistent player on the Jazz during the Revue. Not a bad profile. Not a bad player. Not a bad option.

Kris Humphries, Kris Humphries, how many ways can you show us how you shoot the ball. There was the dunk, the layup, the jump shot, the set shot 3 pointer, the hook shot in the paint, the fall away, and the bank. It seems Kris has been working on his offense this off-season. But not just his offense, Hump is playing some great in your face defense. He doesn’t have the total game yet – but he still has a few months left this summer.

It’s hard to say too much about Kirk Snyder yet because he has been playing with a bad back –and you can obviously see it in his shot. However if there was one thing Kirk needed to improve it was playing within the system. His numbers might not be flashy, but Kirk is moving with and without the ball and making things happen in the offense.

If you look close there are good signs coming out of the Revue. You just might have to look a little harder to see what’s happening. Of course if you have not been lucky enough to see what is going on. Don’t worry, sit back, we can talk