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Game 26 Game Day Preview / Game Thread: Utah Jazz @ Memphis Grizzlies

Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies, Feb 12, 2012 7:30 PM MST


Tonight the Utah Jazz start off their amazing three games in three nights trip. Game 1 of the back-to-back-to-back is tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. Tomorrow night the Jazz tip off against the New Orleans Hornets in Louisiana. The night after that? Final road game facing off against those darlings, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The rest of the week doesn't seem so hard in comparison when the Washington Wizards roll into down for the Guess the Game Score game of the Week. Don't worry, I made a map.

Can you believe only ONE of these teams is in the Eastern Conference?

Anyway, let's not get too head of ourselves -- tonight is the Grizzlies for Game 2 of our 3 game season series against them. We beat them last time at home, when they were playing without All-Star Zach Randolph, and serviceable reserve Darrell Arthur. This time around -- yep, they are both still out. That's fine with me because spectacular forward Rudy Gay and follicular center Marc Gasol will be enough.

This season the Jazz have been pretty bad on the road, and I don't expect things to change during this road trip. Memphis has lost 7 of their last 11 games. We're not exactly on a hot streak either right now. Something has to give. Old man Corbin may even play Alec Burks tonight? Naaaah . . . .

Jazz vs Grizzlies coverage

Jazz vs Grizzlies preview

Straight Outta Vancouver

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Comments

Yes, I'm still having computer trouble. Fixing it as soon as I can, as best as I can.

Sorry for the interruption of service.

No problemo, man.

The great thing about SLC Dunk is that in addition to what is posted by you, Yucca, Moni and co., the stuff that the users generate in the comments section is almost always worth reading.

Should be a good one, need to get off the snide

National TV again though, that hasn’t been good for the Jazz this year

it is nat tv

but it wont have the big game feel that the others did. that should help

im getting

a “must win” feeling for this game

Sunday game is kind of weird.

Looking forward to it.

Memphis is the kind of team I hope the young jazzmen develop into

Pass first PG (?), Athletic defensive wings(Burks Hayward), and two beasts down low (Favors, Kanter).

I'd rather just trade some of our vets for Gasol and call it good.
If Burks and Evans get 3 straight DNPs on this b2b2b, I'mma be a little bummed.

Okay, a lot.

Excited to hear Boler and Harp complain about the 3 games in 3 nights all night long...

Not.

No ESPN commentary for you?
Nah... I'd rather listen to the local guys...

Stick with the routine I guess

Oh, they have in on both ROOT and ESPN?
Yeah...

The only time there is no local broadcast is a TNT game. All others have local feeds.

Nice. Wish I could get the pregame Jazz stuff instead of listening to Magic, etc.
Or a 30-point Eastern Conf. game

Yuck.

But it is in HD...

Yeah, Eddy Curry in HD is no bueno.

Devin.

Sigh…

Wife stealing TV for Grammies

Negotiating for commercial flipping rights

WTF

Mullin and Shulman wearing ‘Tams’ hats. Yeah, pull that shtuff off, now.

Jazz wearing their road whites tonight.
The Grizz' jerseys are weird.
The white socks are just odd...
They look like a High School JV team
w/ Black Shoes
Man it seems like every ESPN game

We get stuck with Chris Mullin

Hey, defensive rebound much?
It would be nice if we could remember

how to get defensive rebounds.

Im tired of watching the jazz lose
If Memphis keeps up this shooting pace (0-6)...

I like our chances.

G-Time got fouled, too
I *literally* cannot hear any crowd noise

because there is none.

G for THREE!
Heh.

His nickname can be “OG3”

Hey! We forced a 1st QTR timeout!!!!

When was the last time that happened?!?!?!

When we last played the Memphis Tams?
Dang!

Where has this Jazz team been this whole season??

Same team, giving up offensive rebounds...

Occasionally making shots, etc…

Drat.

Touche.

Nice second effort Jeff.
cool uniforms Memphis
Technical!!
Usual result, though.
When Harp says it could've gone either way

that means it should have gone against the Jazz.
100% of the time.

What is it about our team and the opposing coaches getting T'd up?
WTF are these Grizzly uniforms

Hideous

Did you see the "Muskies"

unis last night?

Those were the Twolves right

I thought they said, Huskies, what the hell is a muskie

They were the ABA version of the T-Wolves.

A quick google search tells me a muskie is some sort of large freshwater fish.

Yeah I just googled at the same time

Thats gotta be the lamest team name I have ever seen. I would love to see their mascot, A giant Pike fish

I'm just glad our mascot

isn’t a large, lopsided eighth note.

I thought it must refer to a muskox
Gord is firing!
Let'zz go Jazz!
k love how g-time is shooting and we are balancing the o a little
We look energized and motivated.

WTF??

The WTF

should be saved for the second half if your first statement still holds true

the whole game imo!
and paul with another steal
Al just went for Gasol's 'Al-fake'
Explain that...

and why the Jazz can’t defend the P&R and you’ll be on to something.

Hey, if we can get our guards making jumpers, I'll worry about the rest later.
this game is so much easier

when our guards are making their wide open jumpers

Hey guys, has anyone noticed these awful pee coloured jerseys yet?!
I like the novelty of it.
My eyes hurt

Please, leave these colors to the Packers, they do it right

I kinda like them

reminds me of the 94 duck jerseys

They look like the Might Ducks jersey from the first movie...

EMILIO!!!!!!!!!!!

one of the all time greats

knuckle puck!

Can't decide if I should get technical and say that Knuckle Puck was from MD 2?

Sorry.

i actually like

the yellow on green

Favors passing

is MUCH improved

the bench

has seriously blown it lately. great start negated

burks>howard

by a mile

The Grizz' white socks and shoes

look no worse than Hayward in black socks and shoes.

no worse=equally bad.

Favors with the lovely dime!
Locke mentioned that the Grizzlies scouting report listed two Jazz players as 'shot hogs'

I’m thinking CJ would be one (since that’s his role)…who would the other be?

Howard? Burks (not like he actually gets on the court)?

Are you sure he said "two"?
al?
how could I have forgotten!
Al?
Too slow :(
Is that a comment on your comment or Al?
Burn!

But I meant me

I've got a second computer tonight, not toggling windows

You have no chance at beating me to obvious thoughts tonight. lol

Ty better rotate the guys tonight
He's already started mixing our bigs instead of sticking with platoons

About time too

Devin!

Let’s go!

Wouldn't it be awesome

if Al had at least a 6-inch vertical?

Ditto for Kanter
I'm just glad you said "vertical"

and not something else.

LOL
I also knew that you would be the one to reply to my post hahahaha
I'm so predictable.

After the above comment, I was terrifed to scroll down
i think he's got at least a 12 inch

xp

Memphis has nobody that I'm excited to watch

I like some of their players, but it’s not like I’m wondering to myself, “What is Griffin gonna do tonight?” Or the same thing for Rubio, or Rose, or Granger or any number of exciting opponents.

This is basically a scrimmage tonight, and the JV unis don’t help.

I like Quincy Pondexter.
I'll keep an eye out.

I like Conley. Go Buckeyes! But he’s not exactly Kyrie Irving or John Wall.

I like Marc Gasol.

Not tonight, but usually.

I like him way more than Pau.
I knew I saw these unis before...

George Mason rules.

Hayward passes well in pick and roll situations

Favors is playing with flippers instead of hands tonight. After his first nice pass, he’s got a couple of fumbles.

Favors you gotta drive that defender backwards son

Bad shot selection

Kanter vs. Gasol in a cage match, who wins?
Underkanter of course

Hes gonna be a WWE wrestler remember

Almost no fouls this quarter on either team.

Me gusta.

We need to run a bizzaro early oop and get Earl an easy bucket.
Why not put Evans in for the last minute replacing Gord?
no pts in last ~3min

=p

Howard in the game for less than a minute.

Takes a questionable shot, sure time was running out, but still.

long enough to take an ill-advised shot
If I was KOC I'd trade/waive Josh Howard immediately for that dud shot to end the quarter

Could he have made that any more difficult? There was 5 seconds to swing it somewhere else…

ugh JHo. Ugh.

Totally on the same page as me.
What if Marc Gasol is to Pau Gasol

as Serena Williams is to Venus?

In other words, what if Marc ends up coming on stronger and stronger and ultimately has the more monster career of the two

and becomes a fashion mogul

The Williams sisters could beat up the Gasol brothers...

Absolutely no doubt in my mind.

What about the third Gasol brother?
Definitely evens out that Pau trade that looked so lop-sided at the time
butt ain't big enough

Kanter on the other hand…

Glad i made it before halftime
JV opens second quarter in a full-court trap

Only the shot clock reminded me that this is not a high school game.

Not a good possession to start the quarter.

I worry about the second unit in the half court. I really wish Hayward played more with them.

those memphis jerseys are ugly
They're very polarizing so far
Paulie got a call.

Amazing.

refs r betting on his ft attempts
The Jazz Screamer made the trip to Memphis

NOOOOOOOO

and he/she/it

is the only person making noise in the arena.

Gotta make that!
THAT'S where JHow needs to shoot from.
Grizz bench is pretty bad

Need to build this lead

ESPN just said we might see Burks!!!

Right.

lol

jokesters

yeah, a picture of him.
What's with our Suns-esque 3 second offense?

Haven’t seen a single half court play this quarter…

Burks doesnt average 11 mpg

Does he??

DNP's don't change your average

So maybe he does

Is that true?
Gotta be games played/minutes.
I........... did not know that.
So maybe these DNPs are just being used to boost his trade value.

“Look, 5.6 PPG in only 11 minutes!”

Didn't know that.

Good to know.

Probably since you don't include DNPs.
I was amazed by that stat also.
ENES!

Y uno!

There we go Kanter!!
Kanter looks tiny compared to his doppleganger in yellow
i always did like the word doppleganger
Is it just me or does national media (ie-ESPN) give the Jazz more respect now that they're a young 'rebuilding' team and not a D-Will led playoff contender?
It's a Pavlovian response to the phrase "lottery picks"
Yay, talking about Jeremy Lin

#yawn

i had to hear about this guy at work...please no more
we want Tinsley and Burks

Tinsley>Harris

Harris has been good tonight.
Not this week

But generally, yes.

that wasn't pretty, but i don't think that was a travel

kept his pivot

I wanna see Kanter take some long shots.

Youtube has him taking a bunch of long range bombs. He’s turkish and tall.

I want to see him go straight up and dunk.
I'll refer you to earlier comments about the size of his, uhh...

vertical.

Same here.. he can bring the ball down low all he wants.
Jeremy Lin was 8-24 last night.

Relax.

It's ESPN

What do you expect

Like our swarming D, but the end result sucked.
So here's the deal about Lin

How many other prospects never got a chance but could have been all-star caliber players?

Yeah Lin is both an amazing story and flat out fun to watch

and I also fear it will end once Carmelo comes back

Also, the Lin story ends as soon as Melo returns and they suck again.
Kanter made a smart play there

Ref was being mean

how can you travel without possession?
only if you're a Jazz rookie
Looking g0od f0r n0w
Why call the travel after he throws the ball off the mem. player?
This game is Flat out Turrible

Sorry national audience

What you said.

Yikes.

Glad Burks is in, but this lineup is kinda shrimpy.
Who is #10?

Is it DeMarre Carroll‎?

WOOO BURKS IN
I hope he makes the most of it on o and d
seen enough of Howard for now.
zero

ball movement

Seeing the highlights of Atlanta makes me not feel quite as bad about this game.
boring
Gord... you just keep on firing!
GET THAT SH*T OUTTA HERE

Millslapped.

Gasol shoots 'jumpers' like me.

Not a compliment.

fall away set shot?
Man I really wish Hayward would play like this every game
What is up with the screaming??
maybe someone brought a hungry baby to the game
smart baby..knows just to scream at FTs
find burks!
I'm completely okay if Burks gets very few shots, but gets some PT.
horrible pass
Kinda sad Hayward is probably our best PG
Bench sucking again.
griffin would've jumped high enough for that haha
CP3 would have led him
Screaming baby got Burks.
i like burks shoes
you'll see them walking to the bench right now
Sap is soo smooth
AL!

With Ala… ah, ne’er mind.

ooooooohhhhh
OUCH!

AND EFF YOU by GORD!

OG AND 1

Defense is playing great and scoring on turnovers

That was an 'Oh, Gee!'
No...

it was OH, EM, GEE?!?!

man that dunk scared me
Yeah that scared me worse than any horror film scene
Felt like I got the wind knocked out of me lol
Its nights like these I feel that Hayward will one day be an All star

sooner than later

He must think he's playing George Mason or Oregon or something.
he needs to realize that he is our best player already right now

and stop deferring and playing nice

Please.
Its pretty sweet that he's doing this against Rudy Gay

a guy alot of people thought deserving of an all star nod

that was extremely close

to andrew bogut 2.0

gordon NEVER Lays it up on those fastbreaks

thumbs up

he got blocked by tony allen a few minutes ago, I guess he learned his lesson.

fearless

I have said it before.

I love how Hayward is always getting out in transition. If there is a fast break, and he is on the floor, he is always involved.

that was etremely close to being

andrew bogut 2.0

nice defense harris....
The rule, as always on fast breaks

If you’re going to foul, foul hard enough that they can’t score

Or don't foul at all. Like that.
How many years will Rubio have to play to beat Stockton's assists and steals records?

If anybody can do it, it will be Rubio.

eleventy billion
Well, Stock played 20 years with minimal injuries

Even if he’s the exact same guy, assuming more average missed time due to injuries, at least 24

Rubio would be 46

pretty shot big al!
If it wasn't already clear, it's clear now

Al wil never pass out of the block

PASS THE BALL
after making his previous shot

he HAD to take on that triple team, he’s “feelin” it!!!

I wanna see a Gordo 3 to end the half
Just tuned in

How is it looking? Score wise I see we are up, but how are we?

Hayward and that is all
Booya

Sounds good. I love Hayward’s good games. Guys at work think we should trade him away. Says he isn’t worth the pick we used him for.

People at your work are crazy
People at my work also think

- Jefferson and Millsap is the future and we should trade away Favors.
- Favors is too raw to develop.
- We need to get rid of Watson
- Evans is just a stunt man and other players deserve his roster spot.
- D-Will will return at end of his contract

do you work at the jerk store?
Feels like it

Just put it this way, they sponsor the stadium.

THey're forgetting to overrate him because he's white
He's killing it on both ends of the court.

Sadly no one else on the team can hit the side of a barn.

Oh and as bad as the Jazz are shooting

Memphis is somehow shooting worse especially down low, which is weird considering they have “All Star” Marc Gasol

From box score

Looks like only solid bench scorer has been Kanter going 1/3 and starters are doing well. Except Raja but that is expected.

There was an Eric Brooks sighting.
W0w, this is g0od
Time for a samwich
Subway? Just for Hayward? Look at him!

Hayward plays well = Subway for lunch the next day

It’s a rule

I ran into some cash yesterday.

I think I’ll join yall.

Wish Subway sold Dew instead of Melo Yellow
Only 6pt lead?
We need a betting line of the night.

FYI, Memphis is/was a 6 1/2 point favorite tonight.

How many open threes we are going to let Memphis take in the second half?
The over/under is set at too many.
How many offensive rebounds they get?
Fewer than the first half.
That was a painful one.
life off, game on
There ya go, Paulie!
With the And-None
damn u rudy gay
Damnit, get a rebound!
Who will guard Gay?

Miles?

Sweet D by Harris
followed by sweet ball handling
OK

That village people “entertainment” at the break is freakin me out.

Was it the guy with the 4 village people attached to him?

They had that at halftime of the OKC game.

Yup... same dude.
Big guy oop!
Wowza!

Al to Sap!

hayward is trying but gay shots still go in lol
and when he's left alone.
Gay got hot

Not good at all

That pick and pop was too easy.
Jefferson

No, he didn’t walk at all.

Al hits the craziest looking shots sometimes...
...and takes some dumb ones.

Like that.

and when they go in

I’m like “Yes! But don’t do it again.”

Some nights Al is happy to pass out of the post, other nights he just keeps putting up bad shots

Is the Big Fella Basketball Bipolar?

Can't believe that some of our shots aren't falling...

In and out all night long

(pauses)

moni?

I thought they said something about not calling those...

If the offensive player initiates contact.

Harris again with the weak foul...Foul Hard man!
So.... Kendall Marshall anyone?
There we go...

Love hitting shots off the screen like that.

bell must be feeling young out there
Big Al not quittin on that
good hustle by Al

If he played defense and took smarter shots, he’d be the best player on the team!

Bring in the youngins!
I haven't looked at the stats...

But we must be getting killed on the boards

I just looked...

- 9 defensive
- 5 offensive

You passed the eye-test.
Looks like another <15 minute night for Favors/Kanter.

Ho hum.

To Al's credit he is playing much better tonight...

I don’t think either of the young bigs deserve more time than normal tonight

Favors looked awful, and Kanter was only slightly better.

I wasn’t really saying they deserved it, I just like seeing them play.
And Kanter run.

Is Ty staying with the hot hand?!

GASP!

buffalo lope FTW
Ho hum = Boooooooooooooooo
Nice pick by Earl to free 'Sap for the jam!
then forces a 24 sec violation!

Contributing even w/o scoring!!!!!

Nice defisive stand

it’s like they actually heard Ty at the break

Hayward shoots that offbalance mid-range J so well.
So yeah, Hayward is our best player

White guys thrive on the Jazz!

Ben Handlogten FTW
Just barely tuned back in

Hayward’s still got it going on.

AWWWWWWWW YEAHHHHHHHH

earl watson was like

“oh no you don’t gasol!!!”
flyinnnng leapppp

i probably would have made that same too Millsap
I know it won't happen but...

I wish we would see Burks on the floor to start the 4th Q, not Howard.

How come we never fire a Millsap 3 at the close of a quarter?

I guarantee he’d get left open the majority of the time…

And yet we let Jason Hart do it all the time.
And no offense to Earl, but Earl too.
saving it for the end of the game?
no, bc Ty always has Millsap inbounding the ball in those situations.
this is true

and annoying

CJ had Kanter there for a missed layup...
Quiet night for CJ...

hope he comes alive in Q4

Cj heard them talkin
Doe!
More like Doh!

on that foul

Kanter seems to have new moves every game

He’s the kind of player that must love to learn. Great potential for the future.

Favors slam!
Thats how you pass the ball in the paint CJ!
CJ coming alive
SUB OF THE GAME: Jeremy Pargo

Keeping the Jazz in this one

Wow. How'd you make that, doe?
I hope Favors comes back next year and is an inch taller and 20 pounds of muscle stronger.

And just rapes souls of all those who try and stop him.
Dreaming is fun.

Oh, and Kanter shoots and makes a three!

one of these days he will shoot the 3!!
Favors...so beastly
beast is the word

When he has confidence, he is unstoppable

Love the communication there with Favors/Earl.
FAVORS BEAST MODE
Flop.
Gotta disagree...

On the Griffin-scale, that was a 1.

I may be a bit biased.
Oh, I'm very biased. I just saw the replay.
So did I.

I know it was the correct call. I’m just totally irrational when it comes to the Jazz. :D

aka, a Jazz fan.

I’m right there with ya, lol.

Easy to get the ref to call a flop when he isn't even looking at the play...

Bennie Adams

a bit

but Favors hit him pretty good

If Al comes in and ruins this free flowing offense

I’m going to pop the vein in my head

now that's how you prevent the basket
Missed both FT's also
Earl don't do no p***y fouls
panty fouls?
No wonder you suck at Hanging With Friends.
I think that's the correct answer in Utah?
I think panty foul is worse than the alternative in Utah.

That’s like third base.

All I can see is the score from our last game of Words w/ Friends...

sorry ’bout it.

All I can see is...

SHUT UP!

party fouls?? lol
See Harris thats how you foul? none that holding your hands up mess
Please leave Earl on the floor
Maybe we shouldn't bring Evans in..

I’d hate for Memphis to learn how to ’oop.

Evans wrote the book...

Everybody ’oops

I've heard of the book to which you allude.

Haven’t read it though. Have you?

He illustrated it as well.
Man!!!!!

Shift Boss Earl

ALLEY OOOOOOOOOP
Shizzzzzzzzzzzz
Start Jamaal.

Earl with second team.

That’s it.

I would not be opposed to this
Gordo!!!
adendum

please guard Gay

Oh my Gord!
I like it.
Sounds like my gramma.

RIP

Why is Howard on the floor during clutch time?

You’re killing me Ty

haha kanter caught picking his nose on camera
As much as I love Millsap.

I feel like you should stay with Favors.

GORD! You mother freaking beast!

Have a night!

GORDOOOOOOOOOO!!
Did Hayward hit up the Olive Garden in Memphis before the game?
Harris to check in at next dead ball.

Here’s hoping to no more whistles.

LEAVE EARL IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
this is a happy game
Sap time.

I hope..

With the assist!
Foul??

That’s a jump!

Crap harris is in
OG3

And uh-oh, I don’t like this Al, Sap, and Devin combo to close.

Al with the dime to a ding x 3!

YEAH BABY

DING, DING, FRICKIN DING!
Bell is on today
AWWWWWW YEAHHHHHHHH
Nice extra pass by Al to set up Raja on that triple
Wow, the Jazz are pretty awesome when the guards get points!
With the way our bigs play down low, getting points from outside could make this team GREAT
I'd take 'pretty darn good' even.
so when did we become a 3 point shooting team?
Gotta admit, I like the Blake Griffin Kia commercials.
hahaha the hairdressing one is the best

Blake’s pretty good at making that serious face

Grande AL!
does Joey Crawford actually like Al?

Usually he’s a Jazz killer!

Jazz are real good in Crawford games (4-1)...
wow, I didn't know. Times have changed!
follow @bjcseven for all your nerdy ref details
Yeah when I first started tracking that I was surprised
Oh yeah

Weezy time

Yes! I like steals.
And-1's are ok too.
This might be our best defensive effort of the year...

bigs are hustling underneath and forcing TO’s

Hayward's D on Gay was pretty good.
His O was even better
this second half has been like

much needed therapy

I don't think I could've dealt with another blowout loss
I love aggressive Hayward.

Love love love love love.

so this is what hayward is like

when he plays without fear. good d on gay too

Johnny. Freaking. Drama me.
This x 100
Or just 16 in the playoffs.

Sometime in my life. Please.

I was just about to type

“cue BC7” but you beat me to it.

Hahaha...

Needed to dust it off, but it is shining tonight!

Thank you Johnny Drama. Thank you Gordon Hayward. Thank you Jeremy Pargo.
And we stay above .500!
Boooo, get to 100!
Great road win!
Victory!

Finally!

Great night

Jazz wins on road. GS wins. And just in time for The Walking Dead here in the West Coast. Night, all!

I'm totally on the GS and the other teams around them watch.
I don't believe it.

We’re on the front page of ESPN. That doesn’t happen, even when they televise our game.

http://espn.go.com/

almost halfway through the season

and i still have no idea how good we really are. close losses to good teams and a few solid w’s. amd some blowouts

I guess that's a lot better than the expectations a lotta people have for us.
Fringe playoff team sounds about right

Better than what I expected

Checking my preseason schedule,

I had us at 12-14 by this point.

So

After the past 5-8 games, is Hayward officially our best player?

I'll go best guard. Al's been pretty good, too.

But if he keeps this up, yay all of us.

He's been great on both ends of the floor this month
That's what's dazzling me

He’s playing well on O. But man, his D. He fights and pesters his guy every single time down the court. I loved how often Gay was trying to get in his spot, but Hayward just wouldn’t do it.

^ Hayward wouldn’t let Gay do it.

Totally agree...

He’s been using his length on D, and more than anything else he is putting in the effort on that side of the floor. Our bigs did that tonight as well.

I think he has the opportunity to really frustrate his opponent

because he looks so unassuming, but plays so physical on D. You know that’s got to just really piss opponents off.

And they do look pissed off, most of the time.
Hayward IS our best player

He might be the only legit all star type player on this team for many years! Yea im going out on a limb here, and being homerish, but his defense is verry underrated, and when he gets his shot going on offense he can be a 20 point 5 assists guy in this league.

Right now

His per 36 minute stats are: 13 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, a steal, and a block.

If you count since the Dallas game (when he really started playing with confidence), it goes up to 16.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 steals, 1 block. 51% FG, 21% 3’s, 82% FT.

I hope we can keep him.

My worst fear is that he goes to LA or Chicago. Ughh.

And those Memphis jerseys were some of the most horrific things I've ever seen

Looked like a church ball team on the road.

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