Utah Jazz's lack of energy was most disappointing

Sloan wonders if canceling shootaround was bad call

Published: Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 12:27 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
If you've ever watched a Utah Jazz game and wondered what in the heck Jerry Sloan was thinking, you're not the only one.

The Jazz coach occasionally asks himself the same thing.

Though he credited New Jersey for doing more than enough to win this one-sided affair — a surprisingly easy 105-88 win for the Nets at EnergySolutions Arena — Sloan was questioning at least one decision he made Saturday.

Sloan openly second-guessed his choice to not hold a shootaround on game day, something that usually takes place about eight or nine hours prior to tipoff at the arena.

Turns out, Sloan was surprised that his players — from effort and activity levels — seemed to take more than just Saturday morning off.

"I was disappointed in our energy level, because we were at home," Sloan said. "I gave them the morning off, probably made a mistake with that.

"I question myself every time I do something, and I did on that."

And that wasn't the only question Sloan had after the Jazz looked like two completely different teams in a 24-hour period.

Story continues below
"Where was our energy is the only thing I've got to ask. We're playing in our building. Our fans wanted to be behind us," Sloan said. "They were fighting to get back. We got back in the third quarter a little bit with a little bit of a run, but then we just seemed to fizzle out."

The two third quarters provide ample evidence that somebody might have accidentally flipped the energy switch off. Utah scored 44 points in that period in their blowout win over Sacramento on Friday and followed that with a paltry 16-point quarter after halftime in this lopsided loss.

The fizzling Sloan referred to happened after New Jersey took a timeout when the Jazz had trimmed their lead to 64-60 early in the quarter. The Nets fired back to take an 83-67 lead into the fourth.

Sloan was also disgusted that his team allowed New Jersey to shoot 52 percent and let Devin Harris (34 points) and Vince Carter (22 points) go off.

"We didn't come out with a lot of energy," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "They were really aggressive, when it should be the other way around. We're at home."

Williams wasn't quite sure how to take Sloan's post-game pondering about not having a shootaround.

"We never practice on back-to-backs. Ever," Williams said.

Then again, the Jazz haven't had a back-to-back at home in seven years, either, so the whole day was a bit odd.

Recent comments

The Jazz are getting boring to cheer for; too
many inconsistencies....

Getting Lame | Dec. 1, 2008 at 12:23 a.m.

Why should Jazz players exhibit extraordinary effort? The Jazz...

Haka | Nov. 30, 2008 at 11:13 p.m.

It is not that hard to guard someone. If our players put forth as...

Miles | Nov. 30, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

True. It's not terribly funny and if it has any effect on society, it won't...

Letters: Christian founders

What else would you expect to find in a book called "The Founders on Religion"?

5A: Davis runs over Hunter

Ok not to be rude here, but check the stats, Hinds isnt first in yards and...

t-hinds = best player in utah

Anonymous: Was that English? I though conservatives believed if you are in...

Attack meant to kill apostle

Wow! Glad the Lord kept you safe. Separate comment: That was a horrible...

5A: Bingham rolls to title game

I have never been to a Utah high school game before as I am not from the...

Sponsor for gay-rights bills found

It would behoove the above commenters to recall that religion, including our...

Vandals take advantage of young Utes

Only 8000 attendance? BYU had 16,000+ tonight. What is wrong with Ute fans?...

ian you are the 3A MVP If you win next week so just do it that would be nice....

Advertisements
Advertisement