Utah Jazz notebook: Team searching for energy in homestand

SALT LAKE CITY —Not even the start of a three-game homestand at EnergySolutions Arena could solve the Jazz's weekend energy issues.

Because Utah, coach Jerry Sloan suggested after watching film of Saturday's debacle, simply lacked vigor in a 10-point loss to Denver.

"It looked like we were trying to get through it, instead of trying to compete through it," Sloan said. "There's a big difference."

Sloan cited a rigorous schedule of late, with Saturday marking the Jazz's first home game following 7-of-8 on the road.

"There was not a lot of life in our players," he said "So I would have to say, in all fairness to them, we've been on the road for a good period of time, and maybe their energy is off.

"That's what I'm relying on, rather that saying 'Well, I don't think they don't care.' You know, that sort of thing."

Like Saturday, though, point guard Deron Williams wasn't buying the schedule explanation Sunday.

Or citing the holidays.

"You can't blame it on New Year's," he said, "because I don't think anybody did anything."

Williams did concede, though, that travel takes a toll.

"Some people don't understand," he said.

"It is tiring, it is draining, to be on the road for that long and travel to cities, get in at 2, 3 in the morning, not be able to go to sleep until 4, 5 in the morning, and you have to get up that next day and perform.

"But it's still our job," Williams added.

"We're not the only team that's having to do those things."

WISE WORDS: Williams had advice Sunday for the likes of swingman C.J. Miles, who sat in Saturday's first half after apparent poor shot selection.

"I just try to tell them you can't worry about getting pulled out of the game," Williams said. "You know, I've been there. My rookie year, some games I'd start, the next game I wouldn't play, the next game I'd play 30 (minutes), the next game I'd play two, didn't know why.

"Coach (Sloan) is not the type of guy who's going to come and talk to you and tell you anything, really. You've just got to kind of figure it for yourself. So I just tell them, if you feel like they're good shots, keep shooting them. You know, what can you do?"