Utah Jazz: Sloan not too concerned with couple of days off

ATLANTA — With a loss Wednesday night to Atlanta in the books, the Jazz turn now to the Florida portion of their current five-game Eastern road swing.

With two idle days before Saturday's game at Miami, coach Jerry Sloan can only hope one rather long business trip does not morph into vacation.

"That shouldn't make any difference — where we go, or what we do," said Sloan, whose Jazz finish their road run Sunday night at Orlando.

"I'm not worried about that," he added. "I mean, if those things are more important — having time to goof around, and not be concerned about their job — then that says a lot about them."

The Jazz had an optional weight-lifting session scheduled for this morning, followed by a flight today from Atlanta to Miami and a practice Friday afternoon in Miami.

Beyond that, they're on their own.

"I can't worry about it. I can't follow 'em around," Sloan said. "I hope we have enough good character that they'll make good decisions that represent them and their families well. That's all we ask."

Besides, Sloan added, "I've had guys lay out in the sun and play their (rear ends) off. ... It all depends on what you do on the floor."

BOOZER'S SHAPE: Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer, playing his eighth game following arthroscopic knee surgery and his second after missing Sunday's at Toronto with a sprained ankle, had 13 points, eight rebounds and shot 6-of-11 from the field in 32 minutes Wednesday.

Conditioning, however, remains a concern for Sloan.

"We're trying to work to get Boozer back in shape, to where he can compete a little bit better," Sloan said before Wednesday's game.

"We've got to try to get Boozer in better shape, and get him to where he can help us more."

NITPICK: Boozer was tagged with a key offensive foul late in Wednesday's game.

After setting one screen, he turned to set another on Atlanta guard Mike Bibby.

Bibby fell to the floor, the call was made, the Hawks maintained their four-point cushion at the time and Boozer pled his case to reporters and anyone else interested by showing how he thought he was standing straight and in place.

"In a game like that, I don't think you call that foul," Boozer said afterward. "I think he (Bibby) flopped. But Eddie (referee Eddie F. Ruch) saw it a different way.

"I think he (Rush) saw the end of it," Boozer added, "and didn't see the whole play."

STREAKBUSTER: The Hawks were quite satisfied with their win Wednesday, and it was partly because of the opponent.

"Utah, I think is one of the best teams in the West, and in our league," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "They're 10 deep, they play hard every night in terms of getting after you defensively and they execute their offense. They don't have a lot of flaws."

"We were able to come in and match their intensity," Atlanta's Josh Smith added. "They're a very physical team, and we matched their physicality. We didn't back down."

Atlanta, which has won three straight, also broke Charlotte's six-game win streak Monday.

HE SAID IT: Sloan, on Jazz starting center Mehmet Okur's slow start and two quick fouls: "We can't wait for you to warm up."

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com