Clippers are latest to pile on the Jazz

LOS ANGELES — Round and round they go.

Where they stop, not even Jerry Sloan knows — at least not until the Jazz trio of Keith McLeod, Raul Lopez and Carlos Arroyo answers more questions.

Toward that end, one of the NBA's most unsteady point-guard stables took another spin Wednesday — this one, for the second time in as many games, with McLeod starting, Lopez backing him up and ex-starter Arroyo following both.

Sloan is searching, and a late-starting game against the Los Angeles Clippers afforded the Jazz coach one more opportunity to discover who deserves the bulk of minutes at a position that was once a portrait of stability.

So while the 11-18 Jazz were falling 101-90 to the Clippers — their sixth loss in seven games — McLeod, Lopez and Arroyo were busy trying to prove their worth in a backcourt spot that was never a blemish when John Stockton was around.

"This is a thing this franchise has never faced before," Sloan said of the uncertainty, much of it prompted by a rash of injuries among the points.

McLeod's groin. Lopez's knee. Arroyo's ankle.

Legitimate woes with each resulted in injured-list stints for all three. But they're all healthy now, so veteran Howard Eisley was stashed on the list Monday, allowing the younger trio to battle for playing time.

For McLeod, it means another look to show what happened earlier this season was no fluke — and that benching him while he was still healthy may have been a mistake.

For Lopez, it means an opportunity show not playing him more is a mistake.

For Arroyo, it means proving his new four-year, $16 million contract is no mistake.

And for Jazz fans, make no mistake, it may mean having to exercise patience while watching games like Wednesday's.

"I don't think Kevin (O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president for basketball operations) is going to panic, and I'm not going to panic over it," Sloan said. "But fans panic. I've always known that. That doesn't frighten me. I'm not intimidated by that. But it's a part of the business."

McLeod's work in Wednesday's first half was cut short by foul trouble — two in his first four minutes.

That doesn't make the job easier for Sloan, who is giving McLeod a second long look not just because he helped the Jazz get off to a 5-1 start, but more so how he went about it.