by Dana Greene
I'm lost. Who is this team that plays NBA basketball in Utah? Is it the team that started the season 12-1, and just two weeks ago was 24 games over .500? Or are we looking at a first round playoff sweep waiting to happen? I have no clue. This team frustrates and bewilders me and everybody that follows them. Some nights, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer look like the second coming of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Other nights the Jazz look like they'd get drilled by the Utes. So is there time to return to the glory days of the 2006-2007 season, or will it all become a distant memory in a couple of weeks? No idea. None.
I'd like to think Jerry Sloan can motivate his team to actually play some defense, and not let John Salmons and Travis Outlaw play like perennial all-stars. I'd also like to think a 22-point leads in the 4th quarter at home would translate into Hafa time. It would also be nice if borderline playoff teams wouldn't turn their games with the Jazz into the McDonald's All-American dunk contests. I just don't know if any of these things are going to happen, though.
Either the Jazz are bored and don't think playing for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs is actually that important, or they are dead tired and just coasting towards the post-season. I realize Kirilenko isn't even playing, and Williams is playing hurt. And they've had trouble defending shooting guards all season long. But what has happened to Mr. Money Man, Mehmet Okur? Why is Carlos Boozer not able to put this team on his back? Why can't Derek Fisher hit a clutch shot to save his life? These are the puzzles that need to be solved.
No team wants to go into the playoffs on a big losing skid, but the Jazz aren't just losing...they're getting embarrassed. Losing to the Mavericks and Spurs is one thing, but the Blazers, Kings, Sonics and Warriors? All in a row? Yikes. Yes, the Jazz still have the talent and the ability to get as far as the Western Conference Finals. But I'm just hoping they can win another game before the playoffs start.
