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Utah Jazz: Thunder beat Jazz for 7th win

tired! | 9:13 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

I am a season ticket holder and I want to have faith in my team, but I am just tired of the same old same old. The jazz are great at home, and can't beat a mediocre catholic girl's school team on the road. In my biased opinion the Jazz struggles are 30% injuries and 70% lack of heart. They will probably make the playoffs only to be knocked out by the first tough team they face.

no duh | 9:19 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

This season is over....focus on developing the younger players and call it good. Price, Fez, Kosta, Miles, and Almond should start.

bob marley | 9:41 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

sad

Comments continue below

I wonder how | 9:49 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

the Jazz can look so good for a while at home and then just fall apart so often on the road. Not very professional. If I had such up-and-down performances in my job, I'd be canned and they'd find someone who could get the job done consistently. At some point, because this keeps happening regardless of who's playing, ya gotta think the coaching staff has some accountability.

Hall of Shame | 10:18 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

This is worse than humiliating. The Thunder stink. Tired of D-League basketball we kicked them out of Seattle and were happy to see them leave. This is embarrassing. Bring out the paper bags.

AK Fan | 10:38 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

WOW. I guess Jerry not doing his job. He did not even tried to stop bleeding in 3d quarter. so same story ...

Frank | 10:38 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

The Jazz are a mediocre team that has occasional flashes of brilliance. There's just not enough there to be much else. The will to bring it every minute of every game is what divides average teams like the Jazz from great teams like the Lakers.
I cheer for the Jazz but have gotten too aggravated with the sloppy turnovers, motionless defense, and clanked jumpers to watch more than a few minutes.

IDJazz | 11:08 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

RE:AK FAN

How does a coach stop the bleeding when the players don't care?
The announcers alluded to it as well as Harpring.
Harpring stated that you can not go down by 10 to 20 points in the first quarter and expect to get back in a game on the road.
If you read between the lines then first quarter means the starting five players. This is the way the Jazz have started games on the road last year and this year. Starting five looked like they were highly unmotivated and there is a trickle down affect to the bench when that happens.
If they start with energy then the rest will follow but you cant start out down 15 to 20 points and expect the bench to come in and recover the game for the starting five.
I say bench the starting five on the road the next couple of games. Whats the worst that happens that the bench actually show the starters how to start a game.

Jerry Sloan=mediocre team | 11:15 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Why Jazz fans expect some thing different is beyond understanding. Does anyone get the fact the Jazz will yield same results, regardless of the team composition? The mastermind behind the inconsistency is Jerry "blame-the-players-and not-me" Sloan.
The Jazz could have Jordan,Kobe,KG and Duncan... still lose on the road or when it counts the most.
Why people expect different result when the coaching methods have never changed.
What is more disturbing is the Jazz, regardless of who plays on it, constantly find a way of getting blown out by the NBA laughingstock teams on the road, after a modest success at home.
It is sad but championship is still miles and years out of Utah.

Sick | 11:16 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Very disappointing. Anyone want to buy my season tickets?

only 2 real sports in the state | 11:29 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Are utah football, and byu basketball. Jazz are mediocre. Along with byu football and utah basketball and real salt lake and the blaze.

Ironman | 11:46 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

I agree with those who commented that the problem first and foremost is with coaching. The tone is always set at the top. That begins with Sloan. He is so pathetic to watch during and after the games. He never calls timeouts when he should, and then he calls one the other day when they had a three on one breakaway!

He constantly instills ridicule publicly about his players. He is the same old same old predictable coaching style that discourages players who have much more potential. Just look at his body language, he never smiles and looks unhappy all the time. If I had a boss like that, I would under-perform as well! It is time to get someone who can inspire young talent to develop. The only reason the Jazz wins at home is because the fans motivate the players. Without the fans, all you have is coaching, and Sloan is no motivator!

What the? | 11:46 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Even with complete lack of heart the Jazz should beat the Thunder!

When D-Will was a rookie, I could justify the team's struggles on the road. But this is a team that has made it to the Conf. Finals! Their horrific performances on the road are simply inexcusable.

Perhaps the Jazz somehow cheat at home...maybe that is how they are so good in the ESA.

Sloan? | 11:56 p.m. Jan. 14, 2009

Over a thousand career wins...yeah, Sloan is the problem.

I would love to be proved wrong, but I doubt outing Sloan for his shadow-puppet Phil Johnson will solve anything.

Brian | 12:01 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

that was embarrassing!

What a waste of time | 12:10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

I'm amazed to see there are people with enough time and money to burn to watch (or pay to go to) and follow the NBA. I'll believe the bad news on the economy when we don't have enough money to burn on this useless tripe.

bounce back | 12:17 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

The jazz were flat, pretty sad considering they're trying to get a playoff spot, but, they're still a good team, and they'll bounce back. You'd hope they would've handled the thunder, oh well, when you're hot you're hot, when you're not, you lay an egg; if they played intense defense the thunder wouldn't have shot over 50 percent and outrebounded them by twenty; the balls weren't bouncing the jazz way, but, that's not the jazz fault, they got to do something else to make things turn their way; this game is typical of the laissez faire charachter that plagues the jazz. They should've won this game, no matter what; no millsap and booz, the jazz probably would've won with millsap because he wouldn't stand for that mess.

David | 12:26 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

To all you guys that say that it isn't Sloans fault that they can't win on the road, that it is the players who are not motivated enough or dont execute or whatever.. Isn't that what a coach is there for? Motivate and plan.

Jazzy Jazz | 12:31 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

I am no longer a Jazz fan this season. I have decided I don't care anymore. I'm upset I payed money to watch and support these guys against Detroit. What an embarrassment. I'm taking a break this year and will wait until next year to start up hope again. This loss is inexcusable and in a season that the Jazz do this is a season where they will NOT make it to the top. Sorry but that's the truth. They may end up doing well but sorry I cannot and will not believe that anything comes of it this year. Man this is rough....first my Cougars and then this! Ugh, I may just quit being a fan altogether. Maybe if I'm up to it good luck in 2010 Jazz!

Anonymous | 12:32 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

This was the most PATHETIC game i've seen them play all season, i am embarrased to call myself a jazz fan, their defense was ridiculous and their hustle was worse, on the other hand for all the AK fans: AK was the problem, his shooting percentage is fastly falling off a cliff, what a joke, what is he the last two games: two for what a HUNDRED? Ak has been nothing but a flop the last couple of games.

Hollywood | 12:34 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

What do you mean you can;t get down by 10 in the 1st quarter and not get back into it? The Jazz were back to within 2 at halftime.

Yes, put part of the blame on Sloan. He should have taken the players behind the woodshed in the 3rd and beaten the sh$$ out of them. Everyone was settling for jump shots. And even with crappy shooting, the Jazz still scored 93 points.

The problem with the Jazz is lack of defense. I say bench or trade anyone that is not going to play tough D. That probably means 50% of the team, but Utah ain't going nowhere with the current bunch of pansies.

It's Over | 12:41 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Why should we be spending our money in tough economic times to support these overpaid pansies? Seriously show some respect to us, your team....and yourselves and SHOW UP TO WORK!!! You've got the best job in the world so ACT LIKE YOU CARE!!! Take some responsibility like Tim Tebow did with Florida and apologize! There should NEVER be losses like this with the talent we have. What a joke. The Jazz have lost a fan. GO HORNETS!!!

rvalens2 | 2:45 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Yikes! I'm glad the UofU football team gave me something to really feel good about this year.

Whatever Whittingham put in the water worked miracles. I just wish he'd sneak it into the taps at the ESA.

Leonard | 5:48 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Hey! I still like the Jazz and love to follow them. I don't get to see them play very often. They are one of the best teams in the NBA! Go Jazz! And Sloan is one of the best coaches if not the best!

John Wicks | 6:33 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

The players lack of effort is a slap in the face to Coach Sloan. What were Memo and Brewer doing last nite? It's time to shake up the team with a major trade and get somebody here that wants to win and not just go through the motion. I would not even ask for my paycheck after last nite.

re what a waste of time | 7:29 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

If you don't care why are you reading and commenting about the jazz. So you must have time and money to waste. Thanks for the useless comments.

ljk | 7:34 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

I am a Wyoming resident who has been a huge Jazz fan since Frank was the coach, and every single year for over 20 years, it has always been "Wait until next year." Granted, remaining optimistic is the only way to be, but come on!!! There has got to be a point where "Wait till next year" becomes "get it done now". Something doesn't work you fix it, and I say the Jazz's horrific road record (with or without Boozer) needs fixed. Whether it be making a trade to bring in some veteran experience (look what Fisher did in his year) or heaven forbid, coaching changes. There have been better coaches than Sloan in every major sport who have been let go, and it isn't an insult to the ability of the coach or won't tarnish a legacy. It comes down to a need to change. It happens on every other team in professional sports and it needs to happen in Jazzland.

The Jazz... | 7:36 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

LAID AN EGG! There is no excuse to get pounded by a sorry team like Oklahoma. I am disgusted and question the Jazz mental toughness. They could not even beat Alta High School unless the game was played at ESA.

Elite Teams | 7:57 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

West-
Lakers
Spurs

Good teams but not contenders:
Jazz
Hornets
Suns
Rockets

East-
Celtics
Cavs

The Jazz lack mental toughness and defense. I love the Jazz but I know them all too well. Their defense is average at best and on the road they do not even look like the same team.

WHAT??? | 8:23 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

Outside of 3 good players, Durant, Westbrook and Green who does Oklahoma even have? They are a pathetically horrible team. Typical Jazz though. I actually told all my friends before the game the Jazz would drop this one. Guess I was right.

Attitudes | 8:32 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

These NBA primma-donnas don't care about anything other than the money. I say shorten these seasons to a minimum of 2 games against each team-home and away, cut salaries the same percentage, start play in November and get it ended by April. It's just another thing that is over sold and exposed. Cut the costs to the fans it's too much, because these spoiled rotten athletes take it for granted, along with owners and management. In other words it's too much of a good thing.

Kevin | 11:26 a.m. Jan. 15, 2009

I agree with "tired!" The Jazz lack heart. It does come back to coaching in some way, but the players have to show some desire to win. Championships are won by teams that find a way to win on the road.

It is disappointiing to see the weaklings of the league always experience their season highs and best success against the Jazz.

It is no wonder a player of any caliber does not want to play in Utah, and why Boozer is looking to move on.

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Associated Press

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, left, reacts following his dunk against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Wednesday.

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