Utah Jazz simply need to grind out wins

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz's last two victories weren't blowouts some fans might have hoped for considering the caliber of their competition.

But you won't hear any complaints from the team about grinding out a pair of victories over sub-.500 squads.

And that's not just because memories of that six-game losing streak are still fresh.

It's because the team has been without the only guy who's likely to be named to the All-Star reserve team this Thursday: Deron Williams.

"When you're missing superstars in this league, you're not blowing people out usually," Jazz guard Raja Bell said. "You're going to have to find a way to win that game.

"You're going to have a sticktuitiveness, if you will, and just grind that game out, do the things that you're supposed to do, try to execute and then hope that at the end of the game you've done enough to get a win."

Playing with extra energy certainly helps.

With D-Will out with a wrist injury, that was the difference between wins over 10-win Minnesota and 20-win Charlotte and Sunday's ugly loss to the Warriors.

"I thought (our effort) was much better than what I saw at Golden State when we played over there," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "It was like day and night."

Sloan can handle his team making mistakes. It's when he perceives that they aren't trying that drives him batty.

"If you play hard, you have a chance," he said. "And if you don't play hard, you don't deserve a chance and you usually don't get one.

"I was pleased with that (Monday), being shorthanded I thought we played pretty well."

PAINFUL FUN:Paul Millsap has had injuries to his ankle, hip, thumb and pinkie this season, and those are only the ailments that have officially been listed on the Jazz's injury report.

The tough power forward, who's listed as day-to-day because of his injured left little finger, chuckled when asked to describe every body part that hurts.

"I don't think we have time for that, but it's all in the fun of basketball," a smiling Millsap said. "Things like that's going to happen, little nick-knacks. But that's what you prepare before the season for, and I think I'm ready for that."

Despite those nicks, knacks and dings, Millsap has only missed one game this season because of an injury.

Millsap laughed again when asked if he really meant injuries are a fun part of basketball.