The mistakes just don't seem to make Jerry Sloan bolt out of his seat the way they used to, back when the games meant more. Mostly he sits with the look of a man about to be audited. The 16-point deficit in the first quarter, the shot clock violation, errant pass and silly foul as the half ended. Holding the opponent to just 13 points in the second quarter yet scoring only 11 of their own.

All part of what has been going on this year for the Jazz.

Tuesday night's 95-86 loss to San Antonio answered two questions. First, that the Jazz really aren't going to the playoffs, and second, they're a few states away from playing with the good teams.

"We were so confused at the start of the ball game, and made some terrible mistakes defensively and couldn't get into our offense," said coach Jerry Sloan. "We decided to play a soft game early and we had a difficult time."

But what about that much-promoted new lineup?

You mean the one that has gone 5-6 since being introduced?

Ah, yes. The all-important lineup change. Why didn't the Jazz think of that before? Or would it have made much difference? This year it has been one obstacle after another: injuries, chemistry, accusations leveled by the owner, the high price of gas, illegal immigration, whatever.

Any excuse has seemed to work.

Who says a different lineup, implemented earlier, would have changed their season?

Unless, of course, the different lineup included Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.

Beyond that, it wasn't until February that Carlos Boozer was around to fit into the lineup anyway.

It's possible this group of Jazz players won't ever make the playoffs, no matter how Sloan rearranges the deck chairs on the Titanic. One of the most over-used phrases in sports today is, "It is what it is." Or to quote Popeye the Sailor Man: "I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam."

The Jazz are a team that spent all year turning their game on and off like a light switch. And it never really worked.

Which brings us to Tuesday night's game against the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs— a team that doesn't play favorites. It goes after everyone. Check it out: 12 three-pointers, seven in the first half.

"You see what championship basketball is all about," said Sloan.

Not that the Jazz didn't stage a comeback. They cut a 24-point lead to six in the second half.