(2) Play calling. Sloan runs his motion and screen offense and in the first three quarters that's fine but, when you get to the fourth quarter, the defense of the other teams picks up and the offense stops working. When was the last time you saw Sloan call a play for Kirilenko to penetrate into the key and either dish the ball or get fouled or score. Sloan never does.

(3) Spanking the team in public. Every chance he gets. Sloan goes to the press after every game and cries about something. I have read maybe once or twice in the last two years where Sloan has admitted making a mistake. Cool down be positive and work with these young men and you would see a great team.

John Richardson

Dallas, Ore.

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Team hasn't gelled

I believe that this is a very young team that has yet to gel. They have the talent to make the playoffs and possibly challenge for the title someday. However, I believe it is unrealistic to expect that type of result this season. I think they will have another decent win streak or two before the end of the season; they will do well (top 5) in the lottery and that they will be a better, more mature team in seasons to come. As fans, we need to continue to support them and to be patient as they learn to play together. After witnessing their victories over the Suns and the Spurs this season, I believe that there are good things to come from this group. Go Jazz!

Mike Brousseau

Orem, Utah

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Internal woes hurting Jazz

Perhaps they brought in the inappropriate personnel: Memo is not a true center, cannot play defense and only once in a while can hustle for the rebound, still great free-throw shooter under pressure. Boozer is a good offensive player and a swift rebounder with less than Jazz's kind of defensive abilities . . . yet his game doesn't make the other players improve their game, and for the kind of money Utah is paying Boozer that should have been a must. Just remembering how way above the rest of the teams in the league the Jazz went in their offers to these two players might shed light in the kind of expectations the Jazz had on these two players.