Utah facing defensive dilemma

The Jazz seem to think they know what went wrong in Monday's Game 5 loss.

It didn't happen in a Game 3 win, didn't happen in a Game 4 victory — and, they can only hope, won't happen again in tonight's Game 6.

The difference?

It's as rudimentary as 3-4-5-6.

"We didn't let (Tracy McGrady) get to the basket as much," forward Matt Harpring said, "and Game 5 we did."

McGrady made the most of what the Jazz allowed Monday, not only scoring 26 points but also dishing 16 assists to help the likes of role players Shane Battier (15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range), Rafer Alston (14 points), Juwan Howard (12 points on 6-of-6 field shooting) and Luther Head (eight points, including two critical fourth-quarter treys).

"He was able to get in the lane, find guys out on the perimeter," Jazz coach said Jerry Sloan said. "He'd penetrate and then kick the ball back out.

"They had the perfect setup for themselves. They were in there comfort zone right off the bat ... and it was off of (McGrady's) penetration."

So what do the Jazz do to get back to closing off the paint?

Add in the presence of 7-foot-6 Houston center Yao Ming, who has scored at least 20 points in five games since postseason play got under way, and therein rests the dilemma Utah has faced throughout its first-round, best-of-seven NBA playoff series with the up 3-2 Rockets.

"It's tough," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said Wednesday. "You've got to help on T-Mac and Yao. You've got to give guys that are guarding them help because that's the only way we have a chance to beat them — and hope (other) guys are off."

When Houston's complementary players are on, Williams added, "You just have to close out on them, get out to the shooters, try to rotate a little bit harder."

The key to it all, though, may be when weak-side Jazz defenders offer their help on Houston's two All-Stars.

"If you go so early, before (Yao's) made his move, he can just turn around and pass out of it, and it's hard to recover when you do that. McGrady as well," Williams said. "Neither one of those guys are selfish guys."

Though 6-11 Jazz center Mehmet Okur has played the best defense of his NBA career in the series, guarding Yao has proved particularly problematic.

"Memo's in there trying to guard the guy, which is a disadvantage," Sloan said. "And if he walks right over you, what are you going to do?