Utah Jazz looking for some consistency

HOUSTON — The Utah Jazz might consider visiting Lucy Van Pelt's psychiatric stand for their next team field trip.

Jokingly, power forward Paul Millsap suggested something along those lines might be a good option for players on the 15-14 team that has been all over the place this season.

"Maybe," he said, "we all need counseling so we can all be on that same consistent basis."

Perhaps Charlie Brown's friend can help the team find consistency and work through issues that have had the team floundering and flourishing, surging and struggling, winning and losing.

At last check, the going rate was only five cents per person — as long as the doctor was in, of course.

For now, the Jazz are feeling better about themselves, having gotten some rest, a couple of practices and a blowout win over Washington. But that one-sided victory came after successive stinkers in New Orleans and Oklahoma City, which came after a seemingly big win at Memphis, which came after a demoralizing home loss to the Thunder, which ... well, you get the point.

The team, Millsap believes, needs to work on stabilizing itself.

"To be up and then go all the way down and then go back, it takes a toll on you mentally," Millsap said. "If we can find a groove, do things on a consistent basis, we'll be fine."

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin has some thoughts on how the team can save ownership 70 cents in Dr. Lucy fees while getting the franchise back on a consistent winning path, including tonight in Houston.

For one thing, Corbin wants to his players to think about why they were so good Friday night while building a 28-point lead against a Wizards team that had beaten Portland earlier in the week.

"That was because our defense was really good," Corbin said. "We executed well. We were aggressive."

Defensively, he continued, the Jazz picked up the pick-and-roll early and did a good job of channeling John Wall & Co. where Utah wanted them to go. Weakside rotations flowed well.

"As a result," he pointed out, "our offense picked up."

The Jazz were able to attack, get good position when not scoring in transition and keep Washington off-balance in its defense. Cuts were sharp. Utah played its preferred inside-out game. Points in the paint were abundant (70 points).

"It just fuels each other," Corbin said.