Utah Jazz using a 'just keep playing' mentality

Resulting road bumps are plentiful.

Rather than grow accustomed to the tendencies of a limited number teammates in a tight rotation, for instance, Jazz players don't know whom they'll be playing alongside from one night to the next.

"So," Brewer said, "you've got to learn quick."

Roles change, too.

Coming to realization of that fact also is responsible for helping turn the Jazz from a club that lost four of its six games before Christmas to one that has won six of its eight since.

"It's difficult," Brewer said, "because some games — like, for me — you might be super-involved, 10 to 15 shots, have a really good game. Then, the next game, you might not be really as much involved, and have like four shots.

"One game you have to be super-aggressive to keep us in the game; another game, you just back off the gas pedal, and you just defend and pass the ball and play in the system. So, it's a little different. But, I mean, you get used to it."

You have no other choice.

"You know," coach Jerry Sloan said, "you have to kind of play with whoever's here."

Besides, Sloan added, "I've just never bought into the idea that if somebody's out you can't still try to win the game ... Hopefully the players expect it. And I think, for the most part, they've done a pretty good job of expecting to try to go out and win."

He'd have it no other way.

"If you're going to cry about that," Sloan said, "then that's pretty weak."

To the contrary, simple acceptance of circumstance seems to have made the Jazz stronger.

"It would be nice for injuries and things to go away," Williams said. "But once we get Boozer back, hopefully in a month, and get everybody healthy, we'll be ready to roll."

"In the end, he added, "it will work out."

Brewer couldn't help but agree, and still seemed to be knocking on wood when he suggested as much.

"Hopefully I can continue to be healthy, and we can get everybody back," he said, "because it's going to be exciting to get everybody playing and being on the same page."

Jazz starting lineup is a revolving door

Jerry Sloan has used 13 different starting lineups in the Jazz's 38 games this season, but only these two have opened more than two games together:

Starting five Record Winning pct. Ronnie Price, Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur 6-1 .857 Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur 10-6 .625

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