The Utah Jazz unveiled their new starting lineup Tuesday night at the Delta Center, and for awhile it looked like the answer to all their problems. You know, a change is as good as a rest. But by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it was back to the same: tightening up on key shots, allowing the opponents inside for layups, white knuckles and tight lips all around.
No, the Jazz are a long way from being out of their slump. "I don't think you ever say that until you've won 10 games in a row," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.The Jazz did get a modest start, holding off Minnesota for a 116-107 victory. But nobody was mentioning the word "dynasty" anywhere within earshot. "We're really still not pleased with the way we're playing," said forward Tyrone Corbin. "We're not playing the way we're capable of for 48 minutes."
Which is disconcerting news indeed for the Jazz if they look down the road. Saturday night in Houston they meet the Rockets, who are leading the Midwest Division and are currently on an 11-game win streak. "It's time to test us and see how tough we really are," said Sloan.
Undoubtedly, this weekend's game will go far toward showing the Jazz if they can plan on being a contender any longer. After complaining for nearly two weeks about being mentally tired, they now have three days off to rest up for the big matchup against the Rockets. Coach Jerry Sloan even gave his team a nearly unprecedented two days off this week - Wednesday and Thursday - in hopes of getting them back into a basketball frame of mind. "It's a rest mentally more than anything," said Corbin.
Certainly the Jazz need time to straighten out their heads. Prior to Tuesday's win they had lost seven of eight since the All-Star break and were 2-8 in the previous 10. In hopes of shaking them out of their lethargy, Sloan juggled his lineup for the game against the 'Wolves, inserting Jay Humphries for Jeff Malone and David Benoit for Tyrone Corbin for the opening tip.
"Sometimes everybody gets comfortable in certain positions," said Sloan, adding that "I don't think this was bad for us." But how long he plans to stick with the new lineup was uncertain. "This isn't in concrete," he said.
One thing that appears to be set in concrete is the Jazz's problems holding a lead. They overcame a brief Minnesota lead in the first quarter to lead by 10. Jeff Malone, in his new role as a reserve, came on with 6:23 left in the period to score on three of his first four shots. By halftime it was obvious the lineup change didn't affect Malone's shooting touch - he made seven of his first 10 shots and had 16 points at the break.
"It's hard to keep a good man down," he smiled.
And though Malone's 20-foot baseline shot with 4:07 remaining in the first half put the Jazz lead at 20 points, Minnesota was already plotting its comeback. The 'Wolves closed the lead to 14 before the break, but still trailed by 17 at the end of the third period.
"We had a big lead and we got relaxed," said Malone. "And when you are struggling like we are, you can't afford to relax against anyone."
Then came the inevitable slide. Leading 103-85, the Jazz suddenly went into their old funk. Minnesota's Chuck Person landed a 3-pointer, Michael Williams made a layup, Karl Malone missed a 13-footer and Mike Brown missed a spinning layup. Doug West's shot with 5:50 to go pulled the Timberwolves to a 103-92 deficit.
Minnesota went on another run, outscoring the Jazz 13-4, the last basket coming on a tipin with 1:21 to go that closed the Jazz lead to 109-105.
But Corbin, who was having a lamentable 2-for-8 night, went inside, scoring on a double-clutch shot and drawing a foul. The converted free throw put the Jazz ahead 114-107 with 39 seconds to go, securing the victory.
"It kind of got to the point where it looked like fun and games there for a little bit, and all of a sudden they jump right down our throats and we have to make a couple of plays in order to preserve a victory," said Sloan. "The thing that really showed up, we weren't able to defend."
Karl Malone's 27 points led the Jazz, while Jeff Malone finished with 24. Doug West's 23 was high for Minnesota.
And thus the Jazz staggered into their brief vacation, rallying slightly, but still weak in the pulse. It was the Jazz's first home win since Feb. 8 against Orlando. "It's been a long time," said Jeff Malone. "But as you can tell, we didn't play well."
GAME NOTES: Malone on coming off the bench: "You sit on the bench and you're team's struggling, you tend to feel they're trying to say I'm the reason. I don't know. I think I've been playing well but the team just hasn't been winning ballgames. But I can't control that, so I'll just try to stay confident and at the end of the season we can deal with that later." Corbin's 2-for-9 night put him at just 8-36 over the last five games . . . Karl Malone was 11-16, Jeff Malone 10-16 and John Stockton 5-for-7.