Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Team pulls a road no show

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Utah Jazz: Team pulls a road no show

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Anyone Suprised? | 10:34 p.m. April 8, 2009

We all knew it was going to be a long night when Howard lay crumpled on the other side of the court in the first quarter and the Jazz can't even get a shot off on the other end. Are you kidding me? 5v4 and you can't even get a shot off?

This may be an understatement but this team needs changes. It's sad to this level of talent go wasted. Something is not right with them.

todd from santa ana | 10:36 p.m. April 8, 2009

i will start and leave the rest to all of you. This was the worse margin of loss this season. The players tonight quit on the organization, each other and all of you. If there is one person who will defend this and overlook that person has issues...Anyone says it is "just one game"-spare me. These players "quit" This includes Millsap, and Knight. No one can be that bad even accidentally. Now you likely have the Lakers, be proud guys...Okur makes Boozer defense look like All world. How many times you let Dampier get the best of you. Barea, you all laughed at me last time about how "he was nothing" Dwil and others helped make him "look like all world" Jason had any shot he wanted, Dirk did not need to be great, then again he became that way also. The players "quit" because they have no confidence-hmmmm wonder if that is "focus and preparation" where does that start? Fill in the blank I will not spell out...

Jerry says, | 10:45 p.m. April 8, 2009

"I just don't know what is goin on!!!!!" What did he say in the locker room???? Jerry has lost control and the respect of this team with the exception of one or two of the starters and you know who they are folks. These boys have lead in their pants and Boozer carries the most. It is all over for him...He is damaged goods. Maybe Greg is just painfully watching and waiting for the season to close rather than try to salvage something that is not salvagable at seasons end. This team has a broken spirit. We must have a total redo including the coaching staff.

Comments continue below

Jazz Incapable of Stopping the 3 | 10:46 p.m. April 8, 2009

Jerry's defensive schemes and these players are incapable of defending against the 3-point shot. It's that simple. Team after team kills us from behind the 3-point line. It's time to re-evaluate every aspect of this team --- ESPECIALLY whether to keep Sloan. His schemes are not geared to stop today's 3-point oriented teams.

These guys are so slow to rotate to the ball it's not even funny. Combine that with the flat-footedness that they exhibit on D with a lack of heart and you have a 30-point loss in the home stretch of the season. This is unacceptable!

DWill's lukewarm comments after the game are also disappointing. Come on Williams, time to go off on these slackers!

YES, SPEAK UP D WILL | 10:56 p.m. April 8, 2009

You are the team leader and we know you love and respect your team mates but someone must speak up about the total lack of interest shown tonight and on many other occasions this season. Why should you have to carry the game by youtrself. You will damage your career and the Jazz if you don't call the slackers into account. How do you feel about Memo and Boozer letting you down time after time and refusing to denfend????? You have got to speak up...the fans believe in you and need you to hear the truth as you see it.

Michael McKay | 10:57 p.m. April 8, 2009

I'm not sure where the blame here lies for how the team has played over the last ten days, but I don't blame Sloan, or D-Will. These guys are extremely competitive, and want to win badly. I've seen a definite progression in the developement of both Brewer, and Millsap each year they have been in the league. The problem on this team is squarely on the defensive end (even in the recent string of losses the Jazz have scored over 100 points in every game...so offense really isn't the issue). They don't have a defensive presence of any kind in the middle, and teams can get on top of the basket with ease. I honestly don't believe that this is a problem the Jazz can correct with their current personnel (unless Fesenko ends up maturing, and becomes a shot blocking presence). This is still a team, however, that despite all the injuries suffered this season, is still going to win close to 50 games.

FIRE SLOAN!!! | 11:01 p.m. April 8, 2009

Get ride of Sloan. These players have given up.

I Agree, Fire Sloan | 11:08 p.m. April 8, 2009

The buck starts and stops with the head coach. It's clear to everyone watching that these guys (Boozer, Okur)have quit on Sloan.

FIRE SLOAN and REBUILD.

Okur and Boozer All About $$$$ | 11:11 p.m. April 8, 2009

Boozer and Memo don't even pretend to play D.

Terry came off a screen with Korver guarding him and Okur stood by as he drove to the hoop, instead of jumping out to help his teammate. Korver was beside himself. Okur and Boozer are about the dollar, not about winning. Pathetic!!

ONLY 6 GAMES LEFT. . . | 11:19 p.m. April 8, 2009

Well Jazz, hold in there because you only have 6 games left and you can go on vacation. You will finish the regular season 2--2. and 0--4 in the playoffs. So sorry, better luck next year.

Fedor | 11:25 p.m. April 8, 2009

Maybe now you will all listen to Fedor....as I have said, this team will be first round loss to Lakers in 5 games. This team has no heart. Millsap is already thinking about next year. D-Will hates Boozer. Booz is trying to deal with his personal issues and his defense is even worse than usual. Okur has checked out. This team is awful. I have never....NOT EVER questioned Sloan until tonight. I think he has lost this team. Good luck Utah Jazz....lucky for Fedor it's Football season at the Rio Tinto!!!!

Frustrated | 11:33 p.m. April 8, 2009

Why Fire Sloan? Sloan didn't tell the Jazz to go get a bunch of guys that can't defend. Something has to be done. The sad thing is my expectations are so low now it really doesn't make me mad when they lose. I turned the game off at half time. I like Miles but we need a defender first scorer 2nd. We will never win a Championship with Boozer and Okur

Why is anyone shocked? | 11:55 p.m. April 8, 2009

I don't understand why Jazz fans are continually disappointed with the team. The fans need to wake up and realize that this is not a good basketball team - this is an average team that appears better than they are because they enjoy a great home court advantage.

Jazz fans & BYU fans experience the same phenomenon year in and year out. They get tricked into thinking their team is good because they beat everyone at home. When you're playing at high altitude in front of a passionate fan base, of course you're going to beat a lot of teams at home. But as soon as the team goes on the road and faces someone decent, you find out their true talent level.

NEWS FLASH: THE TEAM IS AVERAGE. Just about every team in the NBA has three stars that are just as good if not better than Boozer, Williams, and Okur. The sooner you realize this the sooner you'll stop being disappointed with a mediocre team.

Get A Clue, Frustrated | 12:15 a.m. April 9, 2009

Why Fire Sloan, you ask?

Kevin O'Conner doesn't take a dump without Jerry's permission. Sloan approves every personnel the decision make. That's why it's time to fire Sloan!!!

Boozer for MVP | 12:18 a.m. April 9, 2009

the jazz organization needs to make a push for Boozer for Mvp and try to trick other teams in the league into wanting him in the off season so he will opt out of utah. I have to agree with the others of you who have noticed that there is something not right with this team and it seems it started when boozer returned, but something going on behind the scenes. AK use to always play with a smile and passion and i do not know when the last time i seen him have a smile on his face and look like he is having fun playing the game. and finaly brevin knight what the ----? the only thing i blame sloan for is still playing this guy, i have seen church league guys who put him to shame. what a waste of a roster spot we always give ground when he is in the game, you can bet on a 5-10 point turn around when he enters the game. i would keep five guys from the current roster and revamp the rest of the team. give me williams, brewer, millsap, ak, and korver and take the rest.

From Hall to Unemployed | 12:21 a.m. April 9, 2009

Congratulations Jerry on the Hall of Fame election!

Now, hang it up!

This is not a Jerry Sloan team! These guys aren't scared of Jerry.

I miss the days when Jerry would go off on the slackers. Now he mumbles, "I don't know what's going on in there (the locker room)."

That's pretty clear, Jerry, and that's the problem. You don't know what's going on. That's why it's time for you to hang it up!!!!!

I agree, time for Sloan to Go | 12:23 a.m. April 9, 2009

I can't believe I'm saying this, but after watching the Jazz over the past two weeks, it's time to fire Sloan.

Sloan's Gone Soft | 12:30 a.m. April 9, 2009

Sloan no longer commands the respect of slackers like Loozer and Memo. He must go, along with these two.

Step Up WIlliams! | 12:31 a.m. April 9, 2009

Weak excuses, Williams. You're the leader of this team. Time to call out Boozer and Okur for the sack of lard that they are.

drebyu | 12:44 a.m. April 9, 2009

An embarrassment to us fans who, in all reality, are paying their salaries. Getting blown out night in and night out is a sure sign of giving up. Well, I give up, too. Good luck filling the arena in the Playoffs. You've quit on your fans, Jazz, so why shouldn't we quit on you?

RE: Shocked | 12:48 a.m. April 9, 2009

I will tell you why us Jazz fans get kind of disappointed.

THEY ARE CAPABLE OF WINNING AGAINST THESE TEAMS!
The Jazz are a great basketball team when they play together. They just need to learn how to play on the road when they don't have the support of the crowd. If this team was just average, they would not have beat the Lakers or Celtics or Hornets or any of the decent teams this year. They had a tough schedule to end the year with all these road games as well. Another things that doesn't help is the injuries at the beginning of the year. They would be up in the rankings with Denver and the Spurs if they would have been healthy all season long.

The Jazz are a great team, but need to learn a few more things, just like anything.

And to those who want Jerry Sloan out,
HE IS THE SECOND BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THIS TEAM (next to Larry H. Miller).

Josh W | 1:01 a.m. April 9, 2009

I hate to admit it but losing Derek Fisher hurt. He provided that locker room and on floor confidence that a veteran provides. The Jazz have nothing close to this. Deron is leading this team. Maybe behind closed doors he does rip into players not giving effort but like a pro doesn't need to rip them in the media. As for Sloan he cannot control effort or heart. Their system works because we see it at home and on the raod when the players give high effort the Jazz win 9 out of 10 times. This is on the players and changes will need to be made. This team is capable of changing their effort and beating the Lakers though.

Anonymous | 1:23 a.m. April 9, 2009

I'm done with the Jazz this year. You can call me a fairweather fan if you want. But I can't cheer for a team that doesn't even try when things get tough (D Will aside). Seriously, I'd rather support a team that doesn't even make the playoffs but plays hard -- than some team just phoning it in. From here on out, I'll be rooting for the Lakers to take it all because they're the best team out West. And I'll be rooting for whoever plays the Rockets because their fanbase blows.

Disappointed | 1:27 a.m. April 9, 2009

Something is not right. How can a team look so good one night (NOR), have two days off, then play like they don't care? Are they putting in enough effort to just makethe playoffs to say they did then quit? A lot can be told bylooking at the bench. Dallas players were up and cheering. The Utah bench looked bored. Something is going on behind the scenes. One would think that the players and coaching staff would be ashamed at the effort they are putting in while getting paid so much. What happened to taking pride in ones work? Jazz fans should boycott one of the nationally televised games. Why should they show up when their team doesn't?

We suck | 1:38 a.m. April 9, 2009

Boy Dampier looked like an All Star today thanks 2 Okurs D.
Time for Sloan to retire and bring in Horni.
Also let's get rid of Booz and Okur. Time 2 rebuild with DWill

todd "we want snagglepuss" | 3:04 a.m. April 9, 2009

Please for me "snags" I crave to hear from you. Maybe bring your buddy Huckleberry Hound as well, we need advise...to "DISAPPOINTED" hee hee did I Not talk about a boycott last week. "sloanaholics" ATTENTION: We have yet "another" legion of doom follower (LOD)not RE: "shocked"-you are kidding right? Past is past. Tom Lasorda was great also at one time. The 5 players that guy would keep, agree completely. I am led to believe and I cannot elaborate, but do not worry about Boozer because there seems to be a feeling among some the jazz will not even offer him a contract. I could tell before the game, by the enthusiasm Dallas had it was over. Look at photo of Boozer "wowwww" "what resistance"......that scared Dirky hee hee..Cant fire 12 players can you...Greg make "jer" a good payoff or office job after season to appease the "sloanaholics".

Lastly, did you all hear what I did? 3 times tonight-3 twice other players not him, Boozer yelled into the mic "his favorite" "and 1". When Ron Brewer got fouled in 4th qtr and missed on drive to hole, heard it "again" Boozy!

Anonymous | 4:54 a.m. April 9, 2009

No heart! Do not waste your time watching these guys. They take nights off and so should we. I will be back next season when they are. One and done in the playoffs this year... My hopes are Bozzer will be gone by then....

Same 'ol line | 4:59 a.m. April 9, 2009

Anybody tired of hearing Jazz players say after the game, "I guess they wanted it more than we did"? It's hard to be a fan when that is their attitude. However, as long as people keep paying admission to fill the stadiums, professional athletes will not clue in to the fact that we pay to see them "want to win", not just to see them show up.

FRED | 5:25 a.m. April 9, 2009

It is hard to believe how bad the Jazz defense is.
Those of you that know what hedging a pick is kids learn this in youth leagues.There is no accountability on this team at all. It has to come from the coach he is the one that should play the players according to minutes deserved,Not on the amount of money they make.The only good thing that came from the game is that the announcers called it how it was saying the JAZZ have to fix the problem at haltime OF NOT DEFENDING THE PICK AND ROLL.When that didnt happen they said is unbelievable and unacceptable to play the kind of defense the JAZZ are playing.AT LEAST WE DIDNT HAVE TO LISEN TO BOONE AND BOLDERJACK SUGAR COAT EVERYTHING...
Maybe Coach Sloan needs to let Willaims call his overpaid teammates That are getting playing time on the carpet.Whats going on now is not working.
Coach hold the players accountable if they dont like it they can leave.let the bench have a chance. GOOD LUCK JAZZ

BIG 3 | 5:42 a.m. April 9, 2009

What a Joke! No heart and no mental toughness. Why does D-Will WALK the ball up the court when they don't execute a half court set very well? They did well in N.O. because they pushed the ball and played through transition. 130 points? Are you kidding me? Nice Defense guys...way to disrespect Sloan's HOF day.

J in Iowa | 6:04 a.m. April 9, 2009

I don't get much of a chance to watch the Jazz unless they appear on ESPN or TNT but having watched the 2 or 3 games that have been on over the last couple of weeks I don't know how the Jazz have won as many games as they have. I don't like to criticize but THEY LOOK TERRIBLE!!!! Terrible on offense and especially terrible on defense. Unless they can correct the ship soon they will play the Lakers, loose in four and then this mess will carry on over into next year.

Maybe without LHM requiring accountability they don't listen to Jerry anymore. Who knows the reason but it is clear if they don't get things corrected soon it will be a short postseason and a long off season.

John Wicks | 6:11 a.m. April 9, 2009

As I told you 2 months ago there is dissention in the locker room.I'm tired of watching Boozer and Herman Munster(okur) play with no heart. A.K. shows no interest. And once in awhile someone on the bench should show a little interest. Remember M.L. Carr waving a towel as well as Larry Bird. This group does not have it and I hope Greg does something about it over the summer. First of all he could start by firing KOC. No more season tickets for me.

txexile | 6:16 a.m. April 9, 2009

We should rebuild, but we keep making the playoffs! Are the jazz brass willing to go a few seasons with empty seats while they stock up on young guys, keeping the good ones and losing the others? I am thinking of Portland, Oklahoma city, etc. We will never get top talent through free agency. No one wants to go to Salt Lake so we overpay for chumps. Would Cleveland have gotten LeBron through free agency, Miami gotten DWade, San Anton gotten Duncan? We need a few years of good draft picks.

No D-will | 6:24 a.m. April 9, 2009

No Will to play D/No D-Will. When your best player is not busting his butt on D, how can he preach D to the other malcontents?

Re:From Hall to Unemployed | 6:25 a.m. April 9, 2009

You are just now getting it ! this 2-3 zone, pick an roll guy couldn't win a championship with two hall of famers on the court at the same time. It has always been the same story in Utah, just sell tickets. These fans will still pay to watch even if you do not win. The only # the jazz org. care about is 19,911.

Andrei | 6:48 a.m. April 9, 2009

Every time Andrei tries to handle the ball, dribble, or drive he loses the ball or turns it over, Brevan Knight makes asinine passes and the rest of the team has turned into spectators. Maybe we could put incentives into Okur and Boozers contracts that when they tank it on the road, they dont get paid!
very Embarrassing Loss-- especially when you look at what Portland did to San Antone on the early game.

Hugh G. Hater | 6:52 a.m. April 9, 2009

Sad to see our stars disappear.

Why is Brevin Knight still playing? Didn't he get more turnovers than points?

Nothing will change in the offseason apart from perhaps Boozer leaving. Why?
As we know, management doesn't like change and they'll have good excuses like:
"We are still a young team".
"We had some tough injuries".
"We unfortunately met up with the lakers in the first round".

Expect more of the same next season.

re: Why is anyone shocked? | 6:52 a.m. April 9, 2009

I agree that williams' comments after losses such as these seem to lack emotion, but your statement that there are teams with 2 or 3 players that equal the talent of Boozer, Okur and Williams is only partly true. d-Will is in the top 5 at his position so labeling him as average is stupid.
If Deron was all about himself, he'd have 30 pts and 10 dimes a night, but he tries to follow a system and spread the wealth. it's hard to soar like an eagle when you play with a bunch of turkeys..no pun intended

I'M DONE!!! DONE!!! | 6:53 a.m. April 9, 2009

What a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE night!!!!
We did NOT come to play basketball....
We did NOT play DEFENSE...
We did NOT have any HEART....
We did NOT have a sense of URGENCY....
We did NOT care if we even played 1/2 way to our to potential....
Let's save the embarrasement and just take the summer OFF NOW!!!!!
I will NOT renew my season tickets for next year unless there are some MAJOR changes....
Let's go back to the team that play BEFORE Lozzer came back. They were the Jazz I know and love...
Jerry has LOST the respect of the players and unless there are some MAJOR changes, he has lost the respect of the fans...
HAVE A LONG.....LONG.....LONG.....SUMMER
SEE YA!!!!!!

Soft Fouls are the Problem | 7:09 a.m. April 9, 2009

At home, the Jazz get calls, and don't get whistled for as many fouls. But on the road they are trying not to foul so they have soft fouls. This is the problem. Example: 16 fouls. If all were "hard" fouls, they would convert about 4 of the baskets. then make about 75 percent of the foul shots equaling 29 points. But with "soft" fouls, they will convert 13 of the 16 baskets, equaling 39 points. A 10 point difference. This coupled with getting fewer calls on the road, will cause the Jazz to lose over half the time, and nearly all the time against teams with winning records.

re: txexile | 7:13 a.m. April 9, 2009

Good point.

Just entertainment. . . | 7:25 a.m. April 9, 2009

Jazz basketball is just entertainment, nothing more, nothing less, and at this point it's not very entertaining to watch. Take me out to the ballpark.

Anonymous | 7:29 a.m. April 9, 2009

sometimes things have to get worse before they get better...and this is absolutely the worst!!!!!

until williams plays like a leader on the road he is no leader...

how did this group win... what was it... 11 in a row or something like that in february?!?!?!??!?!?!

they play like they are numb..going thru the motions...the silence in the players heads is deafening as you know what each is thinking...very weird...they better not promote Johnson when sloan retires..

"My chemistry experiment failed" | 7:37 a.m. April 9, 2009

Thoughts from the grave of Larry H. Miller.

"I used to could" | 7:41 a.m. April 9, 2009

Thoughts from Millsap.

"Where's my passport?" | 7:42 a.m. April 9, 2009

Thoughts about summer from A.K.

Miles | 7:42 a.m. April 9, 2009

Interesting how CJ is the reason the Jazz start out slow. Wake up people CJ didn't even play last night. Do not try telling me that Korver can play defense. All night long he got blown by off the dribble and the Mavs did whatever they wanted to him on offense. AK can't even make an easy layup. If the Jazz are better with CJ on the bench, explain that one to me all you CJ haters..........Time to wake up and admit that the Jazz are not that good without him in the lineup. That was the worst showing of defense I have ever seen by an NBA team. Phoenix looks all world on defense compared to the Jazz last night. Let's hope CJ is back before we play again.

"This is team basketball?" | 7:43 a.m. April 9, 2009

Thoughts from Brewer.

Anonymous | 7:45 a.m. April 9, 2009

Sloan doesn't know how to sit Boozer. Too afraid to do so.

Miles | 7:52 a.m. April 9, 2009

If only the Jazz had "True" fans and not "Fairweathered" ones. And fans who could see reality that Boozer is not the only problem with this team. You fans think that taking a charge once a game makes you a great defender. You think that making a wide open 3 pointer means that you should play 40 minutes a game. Talk about "Clueless"

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