http://www.jazzground.com/news/sixers-jazz-in-serious-trouble-entering-playoffs.php Los Angeles Lakers 125, Utah Jazz 112 The Jazz looked like a dangerous team a month ago, winning 12 straight games and climbing the West standings. Carlos Boozer's return was supposed to make Utah a serious contender. Since that streak, however, the Jazz had gone 7-10 entering Tuesday's game and slipped to the No. 8 seed in the West. Their incentive in both teams' regular-season finale was to win and hope to avoid a first-round matchup with the Lakers. The Lakers' incentive? Send a message to the Jazz: You can't beat us in L.A. So Phil Jackson, even while using 11 players for at least 12 minutes, didn't rest his starters — Pau Gasol played 34 minutes, Andrew Bynum 30 and Kobe Bryant 26. Both sides battled hard and there was even a faint whiff of playoff atmosphere at Staples Center. In the third quarter, after Bynum banged into Jazz point guard Deron Williams several times, Williams delivered a crushing (and illegal) pick on Bynum the next time downcourt. Williams and Bryant both received technical fouls after woofing at each other. The outcome, meanwhile, was decided by Utah's Achilles' heel, its porous defense. The Jazz have been awful on that side of the court since Boozer has gotten heavy minutes — no coincidence there. Utah's frontcourt, while deep and talented, can't match the length of Bynum, Gasol and Lamar Odom, who combined for 58 points. Granted, Mehmet Okur missed the game with a hamstring strain and should be back for the playoffs, giving Utah another big body and outside shooter. But it's hard to imagine he'll make that much difference. Prediction: Lakers in five. * Anything that has the j*zz lookin awful is joyful and satisfying *Lets see them flop their way out of this one!
His piece on Jerry Sloan on that website is an interesting read. It paints the picture of an aging Sloan who's lost his touch, and might not have the energy to lead that team anymore. Even though Sloan might have the desire to win, he doesn't have the techniques and motivational tactics to reach some of the younger players on that team. Phil Jackson and Rick Adelman aren't too different from Sloan in that they're older coaches who have been around for a long time, but the difference is that they have adapted with the times, and have been able to find new ways to speak to the players. One of Sloan's greatest strengths as a player and as a coach has been his ability to bring his lunchpail everyday and get the job done, almost without emotion. But that might also be his biggest weakness. He's never been the type of coach to connect with his players on an emotional level, and I think nowadays, you have to almost be like a mentor to players, as well as their coach, and it's clear to me that the Jazz just don't have that relationship with Sloan. I also feel like the Jazz don't have the chemistry that other teams have with each other, and that could also be an underlying factor to their road woes. It's much easier to win on the road when you have guys who stick together, because you've got to have that us vs. world mentality in order to succeed in the NBA. This is the same reason why the Rockets have been much better in road games since McGrady went out, in my opinion. The chemistry of the team has gotten much better, and players are just much more closer on the court and off.
