SALT LAKE CITY – A makeshift band, created to be a bandage for Joe Ingles after a collision with MarShon Brooks in Memphis on November 12, 2018, left Ingles with a laceration over his left eye, it has become a piece of the Utah Utah tradition. .
The recent sightings of Ingles wearing a headband in practice cause Jazz fans to wonder if ‘Headband Joe’ has returned to stay.
Wearing a headband during media availability on Sunday, Ingles said he had started wearing it as a joke during individual training in Salt Lake City, before the team left for Florida. He said the chances of wearing him in a meaningful game are slim, but he left the door open to superstition to influence his decision.
Joe Ingles said he wore the SLC headband on a day of filming and Dennis Lindsey was making fun of himself, so he obviously continued to wear it. Having said that he has little chance of wearing it during a real game, he noticed that if he plays great during a scrimmage wearing it, he will wear it to go on. https://t.co/LTG4BNEc5j
– Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) July 19, 2020
“One day in the facility I wore was fun because Mike had his and Mike and I were shooting the same day,” said Ingles. “Dennis Lindsey was standing in his thing that overlooks the practice facility and started yelling at me about how ugly it was, so I was so good, I will continue to wear it if Dennis hates it so much. The chance that you play with it is very small. But, if I play in a scrimmage and play a good game, I can promise you that it will be here to stay. “
The sash, though a fun topic, wasn’t the only thing Ingles discussed with reporters on Sunday.
On Friday, the NBA told teams that seeding games played at Walt Disney World do not count towards the end of year awards like Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Voting for all year-end honors will be completed before the NBA season resumes on July 30th.
It seems that the general consensus in NBA circles and by experts is that Giannis Antetokounmpo will win MVP for the second consecutive year and that he and Anthony Davis are the best contenders for DPOY.
When asked if Ingles believed Rudy Gobert deserved a third consecutive DPOY honor, there seemed to be no doubt in his mind.
“I hope so, I think he’s obviously been at that top level in recent years,” said Ingles of his teammate. “I think he’s the best defender in the league? Absolutely.”
While the eight seeding games don’t count towards the NBA prizes, they’re incredibly valuable for positioning in the playoffs and for players continuing to rise for the postseason that will begin on August 17th.
Before the seeding games, however, each team will play three exhibition games or scrimmages. These, Ingles said, will be incredibly valuable in assessing where the Jazz are in their readiness and if what they worked on while in Orlando will work against the competition.
“Just going out and playing, getting game time, examining the new things we put in, coming up on the same page with the old things and how we were already playing,” Ingles said of areas the team will focus on in scrimmages. “We played a lot here within the practice facility, but it’s always different when you play against your team, against the guys you play with every day. It will be nice to play someone different. “
Jazz will play the Phoenix Suns on July 23, the Miami Heat on July 25 and the Brooklyn Nets on July 27. Each scrimmage will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
The exhibition games will be the first taste of basketball for fans, but also valuable for the team that has not played a competitive game since the league closed on 11 March.
“You will find out what works and what doesn’t,” said Ingles. “Obviously there was talk of Bojan (Bogdanovic), who discovered several ways we can play without him. It is the best way to understand what works. “
It could also be an opportunity for Ingles to test the band’s powers, and if Jazz fans get their wish, he’ll wear it during a scrimmage, sound good and have no choice but to bring ‘Headband Joe’ back for good.
