Jazz fans sound off on team's woes

Coming off a promising 2003-2004 season and an off-season full of free agent signings, I was expecting great things (or at least a middle seed in the playoffs) from this team. As the season has progressed, I have noticed that the Jazz have lost the toughness that they have always been known for. Sure, Boozer and Okur are great additions to the team and most teams would like to have them, but they lack that killer instinct that Karl Malone had and the will to win like John Stockton had. I feel that I am an optimist when it comes to the team I've grown up cheering for, at least until the Charlotte Bobcats fiasco the other night. Now I'm no longer an optimist for success in the playoffs, rather an optimist for an extremely high lottery pick in the upcoming draft. I don't see anything left to fight for, other than having the most ping pong balls in the lottery. The Jazz need to address the toughness that Jerry always talks about. They need a "go to" guy who can put them over the top at the end of the 4th quarter.

Chad Rawlings

Salt Lake City, Utah

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Team is lacking self-confidence

I have been a Jazz fan for years. It has been such a great ride. I will have the night John nailed the three pointer to beat Houston and send them to the finals, forever imbedded in my head. Knowing that the finals team wouldn't be together forever, I was so excited at the way the team held its own last year. Being picked to finish dead last in the league by almost every poll last year, I could not have been prouder of them all. Especially Jerry Sloan, what a fabulous job he and his coaching staff have done. I have been thrilled with the moves made last summer to acquire Boozer and Okur along with what I felt were great draft picks. Aside from the injuries that have plagued the team so far this season, I can't help but feel like the team is lacking confidence in themselves. I thought after the victories against the Suns and the Spurs they would feel like the great team they are. I thought they would be bursting at the seams and then again . . . something seemed to crush the life out of them. I thought the negativity of Carlos not playing may have let a cancer into the locker room. I feel that some serious teamwork and confidence in building each other up could help them out of this slump they are in. We have great talent! It would be a shame to give up now. The thought of just putting in the time and hoping for a lottery pick next year is premature and pathetic. I have too much respect for this team and the Jazz brass to let that happen. The season is far from over, pull the team together and play like the great players you are. I'll be watching you as will so many others. Know there is a 37--year-old lady screaming at her TV every night in Boise, Idaho, cheering you on and I'll never give up. Go, Jazz!

Jennifer Petersen

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Team is just plain lazy

What is wrong with this team is lack of intensity, work ethic, unwilling to play as a team and laziness. The issue at the point will take time to be solved. Boozer is a disappointment. Okur is inconsistent. They must play 48 minutes together. Coach Sloan is not the problem. The players on the floor are the problem. This season is history. They need to try to get an actual center that clog up the middle for next year.

Thankes for the venting.