Finally, this team needs a leader. If a leader who happens to play point guard is to be had, all the better. A winner whose personality will reflect on the rest of the team (OK, Steve Nash is the perfect example, but there is nothing that can be done now). So many games we have just handed over this year. So many. Because we thought with Bell/Harpring leading and/or no matter how inadequate our points were we would hang on to a big lead only to see it evaporate. Having had John Stockton for so many years can spoil a team, but half a Stocton would have been plenty in many instances.

This year, the draft is so so. No Lebron, not even close. A good young point drafted, with an experienced tutor with leadership qualities to be signed or traded for, is probably the first step. An athletic big man with acceptable limited offensive skills but a major defensive presence would be the second. And after that hope that everybody stays healthy, Okur and Boozer get used to each other and also to Sloan. A healthy AK, a maturing Okur and the Boozer of Cleveland is a very good starting point for any team.

Thank you.

Brian Clark

Salt Lake City

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Utah should seek early lottery pick

I think that as late as it is, the Jazz should just play out the year and try for an early pick in the lottery. I also believe the Jazz will be a better team possibly next year with more experience playing together.

Charles M. Edwards

American Fork

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Jazz need an overhaul

I have been following the Utah Jazz since its very inception, while I lived in Utah, then for 15 years in Washington, D.C., and now for seven years in Florida. What I see this year, compared to last year, is very disappointing.

One remedy that I can think of is to go back to the very same players that we had last year. Then we would be in a lot better shape than we are now. But considering that is not a logical possibility, I think that the only way that the Utah Jazz can find a remedy is to find the problem and then prescribe the right medicine to fix it.

There are only two possibilities to determine what the problem is: Either the problem is the players or — in spite of a group of players that on paper make up a team at least 100 percent better than last year — we have to look for the problem in the coaching staff.

I don't think that the players forgot how to play basketball in just a few months and, on the other hand, either they don't know how to follow the coach's directions or the coach is not a good teacher.

What are we talking about? A teacher, a leader, an inspiring director who can teach, lead and direct? Do we have that in the Jazz organization? I don't know, because I am not that familiar with the organization, but I know that we have a group of players that should be at least a little bit better than last year's team.

Now then, my question is do those players worth millions and millions of dollars have a teacher, a leader and an inspiring director?