Utah Jazz: Rock bottom — Only way is up after losing to weak Warriors

Published: Sunday, April 12, 2009 12:30 a.m. MDT
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For a team already in disarray, things only got worse Saturday.

The Jazz fell 118-108 to an injury-riddled Golden State team which had just seven healthy players available, marking Utah's third straight loss and sixth in seven outings.

After they enjoyed a 15-game home win streak that lasted more than two months, the 47-33 Jazz now have dropped consecutive games at EnergySolutions Arena — just the third time this season they've done that.

"Well, I'm disappointed in the way we've been playing," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

"It's kind of like 'everybody for himself.' Everybody trying to get shots, everybody's trying to do their own thing rather than try to play the game where you have a chance to win."

Asked for the cause behind such selfish play, Sloan deemed it "pretty obvious."

"They'd rather score than play defense," he said.

The loss also ended a six-game losing streak in Utah for the Warriors, who've won just three of their last 28 vs. the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

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"It's tough," said power forward Carlos Boozer, whose 25-point, 12-rebound night was wasted. "Obviously we want to win every game we play in, so it's the worst thing to lose the game — especially when you're going into the playoffs."

"This is bad. It's a bad loss," added point guard Deron Williams, who had a team-high 26 points and game-high 14 rebounds for his 11th double-double in the Jazz's last 12 games. "The last couple weeks, I just don't know what's going on right now. We're just limping into the playoffs. It's like we're content on just being there and being an eighth seed."

Utah, which trailed by as many as 18 points early in the fourth quarter, remains eighth in the NBA's Western Conference with just two games to go in its regular season. The Jazz play Monday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, and Tuesday on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adding injury to insult Saturday, Williams exited in the final minute with a mildly strained left oblique (abdominal) muscle that at this point the team says will have him out "day-to-day."

All of which left veteran forward Matt Harpring searching for a glint of hope in what appears to be a rather ominous cloud hovering over a club that more and more appears headed for what could be a quick-exit first-round postseason series with the West-leading Lakers.

"That's as close to rock bottom as you can get, especially at home," Harpring said.

"So, maybe if we hit rock bottom, you can't go lower, now we can go higher," he added. "We'll see what happens the next two games."

Recent comments

At least I can get some satisfaction seeing Phil Jackson's face when...

STEVE-O | April 13, 2009 at 5:28 p.m.

I agree with you. I know we will get robbed by refs, we all know it....

todd to suckers | April 13, 2009 at 5:18 p.m.

If all you "experts" know what is wrong with the team, then you...

Suckers | April 13, 2009 at 4:50 p.m.

Image

Andrei Kirilenko (right) battles for a loose ball with the Warriors' Kelenna Azubuike in the Utah's shocking loss Saturday.

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