It was five games ago that coach Jerry Sloan issued his ultimatum - play or practice - and lo and behold, the Jazz haven't lost since.
Amazing how effective threats can be, even with highly paid, professional players.The reason it was effective is that the players knew Sloan would do it, that he'd make them practice every day until they started playing defense again. Since then, every Jazz opponent has shot less than 50 percent from the field.
Of course, one might ask why Sloan didn't crack down earlier, especially since he saw this coming. Way back during the Jazz's December-January win streak, the coach said this team would hit a lull, and would be measured by how it responded to that lull.
"I saw it, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it when it happened," he said. "It had to ride its course a little bit."
If he had started issuing ultimata after one loss, or even two or three, the players might have felt he was overreacting. But with six losses in 10 games sticking in their craws, including eminently winnable games against Phoenix and Dallas, suddenly what he had to say made sense.
Sloan said it's natural for players, after hearing coaches spout the same things all season, to eventually start tuning them out.
"But everybody, you give them enough rope, they'll hang themselves," the coach said. "There comes a time, somebody's going to have to listen."
SIMPLE MOTIVATION: Doesn't it seem a little odd that the Jazz have won two straight games by coming from behind after Sloan has been ejected?
Assistant coach Phil Johnson is a fine coach, and probably would make a capable head man, but I doubt (no offense, Phil) that he's the reason for the Jazz's post-Sloan resurgences.
Here's my theory: When the Jazz see Sloan leave, and he's usually somewhat angry and frustrated at that point, they know - perhaps only subconsciously - that if they don't show up in the locker room with a win to present the coach, it's going to be like a trip to the woodshed.
Now that's motivation.
SEEING-EYE DAWG: Antoine Carr says he's gotten used to the protective - and stylish - shades he's been wearing since his eye was scratched in that game against the Clippers last month, but the stats might indicate otherwise.
Before that game, Carr was shooting 54.5 percent from the field, scoring 9.7 points per game, and grabbing one rebound every six minutes.
In the nine games he's played since the injury, Carr has shot 46.3 percent, scored 7.1 ppg, and grabbed a rebound every 6.8 minutes.
Not a huge difference, perhaps, but noticeable.
SAME-OLD STOCKTON: Asked about his becoming the Jazz's all-time leader in games played, John Stockton predictably said, "I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it."
Prodded further, Stockton said, "It's nice, I guess. I've been fortunate to stay with one franchise, particularly this one. It's been a big-time win situation for me."
20,000, A SCORING ODDYSSEY: Tom Chambers' relentless pursuit of the 20,000-point mark has been slowed somewhat lately.
Over his last eight games, Chambers has totaled 21 points, an average of 2.6 per game. His season average has dropped to 5.6.
Extend that over the Jazz's remaining 23 games and Chambers will score 456 points this season, and he needs 479 to reach 20,000.
HOT & NOT: Blue Edwards is hot, shooting 63 percent (29 of 46) over the Jazz's last eight games. During current five-game win streak, Karl Malone has shot 62.5 percent (60 of 96), Stockton 55.3 (26 of 47). Adam Keefe is shooting 62.2 percent for the season, but because of the close proximity to the basket of most of his shots, his teammates joke that he's only making 62 percent of layups.
Chambers has made 8 of his last 27 shots (29.6 percent). Rookie Jamie Watson has attempted one shot in two weeks.