From Deseret News archives:

Hard-luck Jazz still believe they can win series

Published: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 12:47 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
As much as they were kicking themselves for what they let get away, the Jazz seemed anxious after Monday night's Game 5 loss in Houston to get on already with their first-round NBA playoff series against the Rockets.

"We're still confident," starting point guard Deron Williams said after Utah fell behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven showdown. "We're definitely still confident we can win the series."

"If we lose we're done," starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko added. "There is no bigger motivation ... So, let's go home, take care of business and get back (to Houston, for an if-necessary Game 7 that would be played Saturday night).

Unfortunately for the Jazz, however, Game 6 is not until Thursday night at EnergySolutions Arena. That's left plenty of time to ponder what might have been in a 96-92 loss that saw the Jazz fail to score on the final three possessions.

"We just have to let it go," starting center Mehmet Okur said, "and hopefully we learned something from the last few minutes."

The biggest lesson might have been one in opportunity wasted.

Not that that's a new one for the Jazz, starting shooting guard Derek Fisher suggested.

Story continues below
"Yeah," Fisher said when asked if the Jazz thought they should have left Houston with a win, "but I think we felt that way the first game, the second game — and now the fifth game. So, it's not something we haven't felt before."

And that, both members of Utah's opening backcourt agreed, is all the more reason for the Jazz to go into Thursday's game acting as if Monday's visit to Houston was not their last of the postseason.

"We don't have a choice," Fisher said. "That's all we can do right now — give ourselves an opportunity to extend the series, then see what happens."

Williams concurred, though in doing revealed that perhaps that aforementioned confidence is on shakier ground than he initially was willing to admit.

"We just have to go home," he said, "win this one, (and) try to get our confidence back."

ACCORDING TO ELIAS: According to Elias Sports Bureau, Game 5 marked the first time since 1996 — when Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson did it for Phoenix, against San Antonio — that teammates each produced same-game playoff double-doubles of 20 and 15.

Houston star Tracy McGrady had 26 points and 16 assists, while Rockets center Yao Ming had 21 points and 15 boards.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

I laughed at the names that were given to the snakes, such clever names. I...

Harpring's NBA career is over

I used you to really hope you were always kidding with your political posts....

RE: Anon @ 5:47 There is a BIG difference between freedom of and freedom...

Schanze shuts down 'Awesome Computers'

The only ones that are disturbed are the liberal media that hates guns so bad...

Matt it has been awesome to have you here as a player and role model. I hope...

I'm a USU grad, and saw a great shirt about US not you! "DEE GLEN SMITH...

Hey look, Jazz Cop and CL are agreeing with each other on back-to-back...

Hey, the papers are going bankrupt because of their inability to adjust their...

Harpring's NBA career is over

Matt, you will be truly missed. Thanks for showing us what playing with real...

2A All-State teams

Good job to all the ladies this season. Hard work and determination has it's...

Advertisements