Reader comments
Jazz skid now to 5

Stat of the game... Jazz 17 - 27 from the charity stripe...

Maybe we ought to start calling it the misery stripe.

Such a winnable game - but the Jazz get sunk by not sinking free throws.

One more foul shot made...
One more rebound...
One more steal...
One more 3 pointer...

And the Jazz win the game.
Small changes ... different outcome.

Now if we could only get the team to buy into Jerry's 100% effort philosophy.

Since Jimmy is sure eveyone else will whine about the negative, Jimmy will focus on the positive.

How about that Paul Milsap in the starting lineup, huh? 20 pts 13 boards, including 6 offensive, not to mention his 2 blks and 2 stls. Now granted he had too many TO's and he could improve his free throw shooting, but does anyone still disagree that this guy and his defensive effort should not be in the starting lineup?

With Milsap in the lineup our bench scoring struggled to eek out 7 points, but when Memo comes back he surely could beef that up with about 15 ppg.

...As far as the late game struggles go, Memo was the guy hitting those shots for us last year, but he hasn't been as clutch this year. Why? Jimmy doesn't know, but Jimmy thinks it is partly to do with his lack of touches during the game and inability to get into a rythym.

That was a very good game, anyone who thinks that Jerry is to blame has some serious personal issues to say the least.

If the Jazz had rotated just a little bit harder, brought the ball to the hoop just one or two more times, and excuted on just one or two more plays they would have walked away with a win. The same goes for almost all of their past five losses. Anyone who thinks that Jerry does NOT coach rotating hard into the paint, playing tough, and executing knows well, nothing.

This loosing streak is exactly why cranky Sloan was not happy during those wins earlier in the season. The Jazz are going to be very lucky if they're a .500 ball club by the end of this month. They're still a team with good young talent and have a decent future. Last night's game was fun to watch, and I guess that'll have to be enough. How the Jazz ended up with this tough of a schedule with this many games on the road against top teir opponents back to back is an NBA scheduling mystery.
AK seems to have found a habit of dazzling us early in the season and fading into inconsistent flashes. Okur plays defense like a 50 year old church baller and probably needs to sit out a couple more weeks and let Millsap develop.
Boozer and Williams are great on offense, but seriously lacking in defense. Do they want to be good, or great? The answer to that will be their attitude toward improving.
Overall, I'm not surprised one bit by the near .500 record. Last year, they overachieved, this year's more of a reality check. Loosing Fisher was a bigger deal than most claim.

Sloan did ok, except in the start of 4th quarter when he played Price to much. Giricek would be a better option, because Price looked very timid out there - passed open jumpers and commited a offensive foul.
I do not know how you all think but to me when both Boozer and Williams where sitting on the bench Jazz offence and especially defence looked pretty good. They came back and Suns went on the game winning run...
Again without Memo in starting lineup even with Boozer coastiong as always on defence Jazz limited Suns to only 103 points which is pretty good. Not surprisingly without both of them Jazz looked so good vs Lakers. I think we should trade one of them for shoot blocking center - Dalembert? Chandler? Camby?

To beat a good team on the road, you've got to make your free throws. Other than that, I thought the Jazz played pretty well.

Never thought I would witness Deron Williams blow a win by missing two freethrows!! Could've done it with those two, but it totally blew the wind out of the Jazz sails!! Pretty good all around game for the Jazz, but they need to play some freakin defense!! Their team defense is pathetic right now!! Oh, and Deron needs to stop getting so many turnovers!!

Fun game last night but representative of the gap between being a good team and a great team. Great teams win the close ones, good teams almost win them. I'm banking on the Jazz stepping it up to the next level once the hunger pains set in. That kind of passion can only come from within.

I agree with Jimmy. My complaint is that professional basketball players should make free throws!!!! That was the difference after a fine effort.

Utah D was much much better. Look at long picture people! I liked how positive Slon was despite the L. It means he is teaching these kids.

I was wrong the other day in stating Boozer had his shot blocked more than anyone since Brian Grant. How about Millsap being sent packing 4 times. Go up strong young man!!! Get the foul!! Then make your freebies.

Sloan plays the reserves too much sometims. Giricek needs to be traded, worthless to the Jazz...turnover prone with traveling calls, he would be much better if he cathes and shoot instead of dribbling the ball and turning it over....

Collins needs to go too... cant shoot, cant play D, and cant dunk....

Memo is terrible...cant post, cant play D, and cant shoot....trade him for a defensive big man...while he still has a lil value...

Sloan needs to activate Almond and sit Giricek...Let Price back up Williams instead of HArt...HArt can not shoot or get the JAzz into the offense...Let Brewer play more, he's the only guy that hustles besides Kirlinkeo...

Once these changes are made the Jazz will be a great team....If not the Jazz are a 500 team....

The Jazz will never be an elite team until, in the words of Charles Barkley, defense becomes a part of their DNA, not just lip service. Apparently with Carlos Boozer, it is just lip service. That guy plays defense for about the first five seconds of the possession, and then he makes no effort to stay with his man. Consequently, everyone else has to defend his man, which leaves someone open on the perimeter and plenty of open 3-point attempts. Our terrible perimeter defense is a result of apathetic defense in the interior by Boozer.

I was watching the game last night, and even Jeff Hornacek said, "Carlos, get down there," after his man had rolled to the hoop and Boozer stayed on the perimeter guarding nobody. If it's fatigue, maybe Sloan should play Milsap more so Boozer is not so winded down the stretch. If it's desire, then Boozer needs to stop talking about playing defense and be content with being the leading scorer and rebounder on a mediocre team.

What is it that stops a talented youthful wanna be champion team from buying into Jerry's 100% effort philosophy?

Poor Free Throw shooting and turnovers doomed the Jazz again. 63% Free throw shooting is pathetic. These guys are being paid millions of dollars and should be able to make a totally open shot from 15 feet away.

Jason Hart is one of the worst shooters in Jazz history. He heaves up shots that look like they never have a chance. Most thump off the front of the rim or crash off the backboard. Awful.

But aside from those negatives, they almost won the game. They just need to improve a few things and they should be back on track.

Overall, however, I think they are weaker than last year's team. They have some serious tweaking to do if they want to be competitive.

Boozer can't guard my grandmother. Can't pass (or won't) pass out of the post once he gets the ball. No one knows how to rotate and switch on defense. You can drive a semi down the lane. The spacing on offense is too tight. Other than Milsap and Williams, no one on this team has any heart. Sure, this team has always given up the 3 point shot, but the scary thing is that this team must lead the league in giving up 3 point plays the old fashion way. Every deficiency noted is pounded into the heads of the players by Sloan- but they aren't getting it. Sometimes players just tune their coach out, which is happening here.

we need a new coach. One that knows how to win games down the stretch. His substitutions are a joke, and we will never see a championship with him as coach!!!

Can't wait for RSL season to start. Better than watching a frustrating Jazz team lose 5 in a row. At least my team is only in its 3rd year, and now we'll have a stadium.

I'll go out on a limb and predict two things. Ist the new RSL stadium will turn into a white elephant that community leaders should be held accounable for and Fesenko & Almond will be starters for the Jazz in two years. GUARANTEE on both.