The AK-47 injury is the biggest reason for the slide. Next would be lack of intensity and effort. Lastly the youth and inexperience (Phoenix has proven you can still win with a lot of youth).

The fix? Coach Sloan needs to put the best five offensive players in the starting line-up (AK-3, Boozer-4, Memo-5, Giri-2, Bell-1 . . . yes . . . Bell) and let them run the floor hard, score points, have fun, and try to keep up with other teams. The Jazz "kids" have shown us they can't play defense yet, so let them salvage some "Fan Enjoyment" by scoring and having fun!

Use the lottery pick to draft a Stockton clone point guard that will run Jerry's proven system better, and start over next year. I can't wait!

Take two aspirin, and call me in the morning.

"Dr." Mark Barrett

Spokane, Wash.

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Can't salvage this season

I don't think there is any way to salvage this season. They should just hope for the best in the draft. But knowing this team's luck, they won't fare well in the draft lottery either. Boozer and Okur have played well, but not really worth the millions they are being paid.

As far the the point guard situation is concerned, I feel they have over estimated the worth of Lopez. They expected him to be the next Stockton ( never going to happen) He is a good little guard, but is never going to rise to the level they had hoped. Cut him loose. Why didn't they go after Dan Dickau? He has played under Stockton's wing at Gonzaga practices for a few years. He learned from the best. He would have made a better fit for the Jazz than Lopez. I will always be a Jazz fan, but these sure are not the good old days!

Sharon Miner

Clifton Park, N.Y.

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Jazz have lost toughness