SALT LAKE CITY — Three thoughts on the Jazz's 121-95 loss to the Golden State Warriors from KSL.com's Utah Jazz beat writer, Andy Larsen.

1. Warriors blitz Jazz in first and fourth quarters

Just as they did all series long, the Warriors got out to a big early lead. A 10-3 start turned to 21-7 turned to 28-10 turned to 39-17 really quickly. What went wrong? Well, nearly everything: shots weren't going down, the Jazz were turning over the ball and not getting back in transition.

When they did get back, they fouled the Warriors and sent them to the line for easy points. And when they played good defense, the Warriors' shot makers made tough shots.

"I think that guys really came out focused. Everybody was on a string starting these games out," the Warriors' Draymond Green said. "I think the most important thing, though, is that we imposed our will on the game. We had the game at our pace.

So that was responsible for a 22-point lead after the first quarter, which should have been game over. But because they're the resilient Jazz, and this is the comeback-friendly NBA, they fought back into the game, cutting the deficit to just five points in the third quarter.

"It would have been easy for that game to just run away really quick," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "For us to keep it throughout the course of the game within striking range until the end, I think is indicative of the way that these guys have approached the year."

And then the Warriors stepped on the gas again. Just like in the first quarter, they mostly took advantage of Jazz mistakes: a bad turnover turns into an alley-oop on one end. When they weren't turning over the ball, the Jazz didn't have enough shooters on the floor to make the Warriors pay for playing extremely aggressively on defense.

2. Dante Exum shows flashes

His final line isn't very impressive at all: he finished with 15 points on 5-14 shooting (35 percent), adding two assists, three rebounds, and a steal in 31 minutes of play. But Dante Exum keyed the Jazz run that got them back into the game in the second quarter, turning a 24-point Jazz deficit into just eight points at halftime.

For example, this dunk takes advantage of some lackadaisical Warriors defense, but it still shows the best of Exum: first-step explosion and getting to the rim.

Dante Exum blows by Klay Thompson to throw it down with two hands! pic.twitter.com/sLa3qNHV2o — NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) May 9, 2017

I'll also say that his defense was largely very good, too. He stayed out of foul trouble, and used his length in ways that the other Jazz point guards aren't capable of. He's still a little bit slow around screens, which necessitates switches, but he did a nice job.

He did enough to convince Snyder to start him for the second half, which was definitely the right decision: if anything, to prevent the fanbase from rioting. But Exum's second half performance was a little bit of a bust: 1-8 shooting, four points, and a team-low -18. He missed a few 3-point shots, and then stopped shooting once the Warriors gave him space. He also struggled to finish around the rim.

(I promise I write about the good Dante Exum stuff too, but you guys have already screencapped it, and he also missed this layup) pic.twitter.com/Pg52YGGpcR — Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) May 9, 2017

See how he chooses to go with his right hand here, making the angle much harder and forcing the miss? That's one problem with Exum's game, his left hand finishing, that he'll need to improve over the summer.

Still, there were flashes. And hopefully he can use those flashes as a foundation to build from in the biggest offseason in his career.

3. The fans say goodbye

It was a blowout loss, but Jazz fans still showed their appreciation for the home team and the season they had in 2016-17.

By any rational standard, this season was a success: 51 wins, making the playoffs for the first time, and making it to the second round against a favored Clippers team before losing to the best team in the world. And so the fans clapped and cheered for that.

But clearly, the major focal point for fans was Gordon Hayward. The team's All-Star and easily their best player throughout the playoffs has the option to become a free agent this offseason, and barring an All-NBA nod, will even if he plans on staying with the Jazz.

These chants, which popped up twice after Hayward subbed out in the fourth, were impressive:

Gordon Hayward can you feel the love? Fans want you in SLC. #jazzpic.twitter.com/9Jt5dbfsZA — Brittany Copeland (@brittanydiehl) May 9, 2017

And Hayward gave his thanks to the crowd as he left the arena bowl for the last time this season.

👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/EViTElsl6w — Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 9, 2017

Finally, Hayward [told us what he thought](https://twitter.com/DefPenHoops/status/861799791017291776) about the reaction from the fans in his post-game press conference:

"That was really cool. I've done a lot of growing up here in Salt Lake City, and for them to stick with me and stick with us through the downs that we've had, it means a lot," Hayward said. "I have nothing but love for this community, and that was pretty special."

Some people think the show of support from the fans, the chanting, the billboards, doesn't matter and won't impact his free agency decision. I disagree. There's nothing like a player staying with his first team, and even if he goes somewhere else, this fanbase will know and care more about him than any other location he could end up in. For Hayward's long-term legacy, I think that matters.

But either way, he had an objectively fantastic season this year for the Jazz. And now we wait for the most important Utah free-agent decision of this millennium.

Just as the fans thanked Hayward, I want to thank Jazz fans and KSL.com fans for reading the Triple Team and the rest of my Jazz coverage this year. In the end, 99 Triple Teams were written, all due to the high level of demand that you all have for Jazz coverage. Without your passion, interest, and dedication to the team, none of this would be possible, and I wouldn't have one of the coolest jobs in the universe. I can't thank you enough for it all.

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