Utah Jazz Record First Win of 2011-12: What Have We Learned so Far?

The Utah Jazz won their first regular season game this season, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 102-99.

The Jazz—for the first time this season—showed a spark of life and competed throughout the game. They still made some mistakes, but they gave a collective effort which willed them to victory.

One notable player absent from the court was Al Jefferson, who was a late scratch due to an inflamed right ankle. In Jefferson's absence Derrick Favors started at center, with Paul Millsap starting at power forward and Enes Kanter coming off the bench.

The Jazz big men responded to increased minutes in Jefferson's absence. Favors played his best game of his young career, scoring 20 points while pulling down 11 rebounds. More importantly, he provided the Jazz with a defensive presence down low, which has not been seen in a Jazz uniform in years.

Kanter also played nicely off the bench. He did not do much in the box score scoring four points to go along with six rebounds, however he provided the Jazz with some physical play in his 15 minutes on the court.

The question I had while watching the game was whether or not Jefferson was expendable for the Jazz? I personally felt before the season even began Jefferson should be traded as he is such a liability defensively any offensive production is erased or even outdone with what he give up on defense.

At this point in the season the Jazz are not likely to trade Jefferson, but he may be a hot topic when the trade deadline approaches. For now I think the Jazz should keep him and play him as Kanter continues to adjust to the NBA and Favors learns to play without fouling.

This will give the Jazz four able bodied big men the first half of the season, which will be important in the games Favors picks up quick unnecessary fouls and Kanter shows his lack of experience. By the time the trade deadline comes around, the young bigs will have much more experience and, let's face it, the Jazz have looked like anything but a playoff contender thus far in the season.

They can then dangle Jefferson to a contender and see what they can get in return. If a team bites and offers a good deal, take it. If not, simply wait until the offseason and work a deal.

As far as the Jazz as a team this season, I see them struggling throughout the season. Playing on the road has been an Achilles heel of the Jazz for several years, but after watching the first two games on the road I believe it will be even tougher for the Jazz to win away from Salt Lake.

The reason simply being their youth and inexperience. It is difficult to go into another team's arena and win and even more difficult with youth. I do not see every game being as brutal as the first two games as they played fairly solid teams (although a Lakers team playing their third game in three days with Kobe Bryant playing injured and no Andrew Bynum still should have been a game the Jazz should have at least competed in and I believe should have won).

At home is where you are going to see the Jazz at their best. Feeding off the energy of the crowd will keep this young team focused and in most games. I do not see the Jazz winning a ton of games this season, but it should be exciting nonetheless.

They are loaded with young talent and watching them grow and develop into what could and should be a contender in a few years should be enough to keep most Jazz fans interested.