Moving forward — Jazz look at the past in order to learn for the future

Carlos Boozer thinks the Utah Jazz can learn a thing or two from the San Antonio Spurs.

"They're a team that we can mimic to some degree — if we have the same attention to detail that they have," Boozer said as the Jazz emptied their lockers at EnergySolutions Arena, a day after being eliminated by the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. "I'm looking forward to see what we do in the future."

At least one change is expected, and it has everything to do with postgame comments Boozer and Deron Williams made about unnamed teammates making vacation plans instead of focusing on the series.

"We want to make sure that we have the same attention to detail from every guy on the team," Boozer explained. "Me and D-Will felt like we didn't have that from everybody."

The initial remarks, which followed Wednesday's 109-84 setback in San Antonio, didn't sit particularly well with Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

"I think those things should be kept in the locker room," Sloan said. "But they're young players, and I'm sure they were frustrated. We were all frustrated a little bit, and sometimes you say those things."

It's a learning process for some guys, he added.

Williams didn't elaborate on the matter Thursday. Same goes for speculated but unnamed targets of the criticism — Gordan Giricek, Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur.

Giricek said he was unaware of the remarks and declined comment.

"Everybody has different opinions," Kirilenko said.

Okur told reporters he did his best in the series, concentrating on defense and doing his job. When asked if he was looking forward to a vacation, the all-star center said: "It's in the past right now."

During his weekly radio appearance on 1280AM, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller said Sloan addressed the topic in his remarks to the team before exit interviews. Maintaining good chemistry is an obvious concern after Utah's successful season.

"Everybody wants to see us in the final next year," Okur said. "If we stay healthy, I think we can do this. No doubt about it."

Boozer also has faith in his current teammates and their ability to help Utah reach the next level.

"I like to think our group of guys can do it. I'm very confident in my teammates. I love each and every one of them," he said. "I think we have the talent. I think we just need to press the button a little bit on some of them to get them a little going and what have you."