I think we’re beginning to have an identity. It doesn’t mean we’re a good team yet. We’re getting better. I think we’re starting to find out who we are and how we need to play to be a good team. – Jazz coach Quin Snyder

SALT LAKE CITY — One word was floating around the Utah Jazz locker room at the Barclays Center on Sunday night after the team’s 95-88 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

It’s a word — and a concept — that’s been missing from the Jazz for years.

It’s also crucial for the Jazz to grasp it, live it and build on it.

That word: Identity.

“I think we’re beginning to have an identity,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “It doesn’t mean we’re a good team yet. We’re getting better. I think we’re starting to find out who we are and how we need to play to be a good team.”

It’s no secret the Jazz began elevating their defense earlier this calendar year, and even more since the trade deadline when offensively gifted/defensive liability Enes Kanter was sent to Oklahoma City and 7-foot-1 behemoth Rudy Gobert took over the starting center duties.

The Jazz have gone 7-2, including 3-1 on their recent road trip, since that Kanter-requested trade was made.

In that stretch, Utah ranks as the top team in defensive efficiency, holding opponents to 89.7 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. Utah is also second in net rating in that span, outscoring foes by 9.9 points per 100 possessions, despite some offensive struggles.

This from a team that was among the worst defenses in the NBA just a few months ago.

“We’re getting better. We’re getting more confident,” Gobert said. “I think we’re building an identity. It feels good.”

There’s no surprise what the identity is, either.

“Defensive. Defensive pride. I think it’s (being) unselfish and helping each other defensively and protecting the paint,” Gobert said when asked to expound on the team’s identity.

“If you want to win, we know that we’re going to play defense. That’s very important.”

Gordon Hayward, the team’s leader and top scorer, agrees with that assessment of his team, which has only given up more than 88 points once in the past 10 games (the 100-97 home loss to the Lakers).

“That’s what we’re striving for. That’s our goal, to make sure we really lock down on that end of the floor,” Hayward said. “I think it really fits who we are as a team, as far as some of our skills. We have a lot of length, some athleticism, so we can really be disruptive on that end of the floor.”

The Jazz have one of the lengthiest starting fives, beginning with 6-6 point guard Dante Exum, whose defensive game is far ahead of his offense in his rookie season. Utah also often has a height advantage with 6-8 shooting guard Joe Ingles, 6-8 small forward Hayward, 6-10 power forward Derrick Favors and the Stifle Tower, who has a standing reach of 9 feet 7 inches.

That, Hayward explained, has allowed the Jazz to switch more often, which, as he described it, can “cause havoc.” When Utah’s defense is playing its best, creating turnovers and transition opportunities, it allows the Jazz to run and attack the basket before opponents can set their defense.

“As far as that identity, I think we’ve done a good job so far after the All-Star break,” Hayward said. “We kind of renewed our focus, and hopefully we can keep that up.”

Now that they’re back from their Eastern journey, which included wins at Memphis, Philadelphia and Brooklyn along with a heartbreaking last-second loss at Boston, the Jazz are about to host their longest homestand of the season.

Utah will take on the Knicks Tuesday night at EnergySolutions Arena, followed by home matchups against Houston (Thursday), Detroit (Saturday), Charlotte (Monday) and Washington (next Wednesday).

Overall, the Jazz have 20 games remaining to add to their win total of 26, which is already more than the team won all of last season.

Snyder called it “fitting” that the Jazz get a long home stretch following their final long road trek of the season.

“Hopefully,” he added, “we can just keep playing better.”

Although the playoffs won’t happen for Utah this postseason, barring a miraculous run and collapse by multiple teams ahead of them, the Jazz want to use the following 20 games to spring into next season on the right note.

“No doubt. We definitely can. We’ve lost some close ones that have been pretty valuable as far as experience is concerned,” Hayward said.

“Hopefully we can take advantage of this little stretch we have and try to just win each and every game, really just play our best each and every game, and compete. And as long as we get better, I think it does carry over.”

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