I think that Jerry should go to a shorter lineup. When a player in that lineup does not perform ( such as lack of defense ) he should be moved to the bench regardless of who the player is.

Ben Losee

Ft. Lewis, Wash.

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Work toward next year

They are many!

1. I don't think they can turn this season around. I don't think the players' roles are clearly defined or they (the players) have not bought into their roles yet.

2. Everyone who was eligible was fairly compensated during this off-season.

3. Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer have proved that they are worth their contracts. They have good numbers, but they need to take their play to the next level. They both have to be on the court at the same time and complementing each other.

4. The Jazz need to look at their team structure. The quality of their players really drop off after Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, Boozer and Okur. They still don't have the 1 and 2 positions solved.

5. This team doesn't have a defensive mentality. Raja Bell and Andrei can't do it alone.

6. Except for a couple of picks, the Jazz have never been successful in the draft. Most teams aren't. They need to target their needs and use their resources to get the players they need.

7. Needs: 1s and 2s, and quality backups at the 3s, 4s, and 5s

8. Starting team 1 and 2?, Kirilenko (3), Boozer (4) and Okur (5). Now construct a system for these players to succeed.

Dennis Peterson

West Jordan

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Leadership, toughness needed

I think there are two things that are at the root of the Jazz problems. First is that coach Jerry Sloan has the team ready to start the games, but when the game gets tight and the Jazz are slipping he just sits on the bench and never calls time-outs to calm the young team down or tell them what they are doing wrong. If you watch any other team in the league, when there is an 8 or 10 point swing the coach calls time-out and the team many times turns the game back around. With John Stockton and Karl Malone he could get away with that, but this team is too young and needs more leadership from the bench at times. The second thing is Carlos Boozer and Memet Okur need to take some toughness lessons from Jarron Collins on defense (on offense they shows plenty of toughness). They're big enough to put a body on someone going to the basket instead of jumping backward and fouling anyway, many times giving up an easy 3 point play. I do think the Jazz will be OK in the long run though and enjoy watching them.

Neil Thacker

Bixby, Okla.

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