DENVER -- Jerry Sloan is the juggler. Minutes are his razor-sharp knives, with more to toss than he has hands to catch.
That's right, it's that time of year.The Jazz beat Phoenix to clinch the Midwest Division title on Sunday night, locking themselves into the No. 2 seed for the opening round of the NBA's Western Conference playoffs.
What follows is the hard part: Determining the best way to approach the final two games of the regular season and waiting to learn whom their first-round opponent will be.
Second thing first.
The Jazz will open the postseason against the winner of tonight's game between Seattle and Sacramento, the survivor of which, regardless of what happens in their respective regular season-ending games, takes the No. 7 seed and avoids a first-round meeting with the NBA-leading Los Angeles Lakers.
The Jazz coach -- big shock here -- suggests he could care less whether it's the Sonics or the Kings.
"Our thing is to just stay focused on what we've got to try to do, whomever it is, and whenever we're ready to start it up, we have to be ready to go," Sloan said. "It's not going to be a picnic with either one of them."
In a sincere but somewhat self-deprecating sort of way, Sloan figures both clubs will really want to win tonight.
"I think they'd (both) like to play us over the Lakers -- either one," he said. "They both have a little incentive to win that game, because of the fact they would have a chance to play us. That's what they're playing for."
What the Jazz are playing for is another matter, prompting the question of whether or not Sloan will spare some of his veterans some minutes -- i.e., rest them -- both tonight at Denver and in their season finale at home on Wednesday night against Sacramento.
Not much is at stake, save for pride, momentum and -- looking long-, long-range -- homecourt advantage should the Jazz meet Eastern Conference-leading Indiana in the NBA Finals.
(The Pacers, with one game to go in their regular season, have one more win than Utah; because Indiana won both games this season with the Jazz, Utah would have to win its last two and hope for Indiana to lose its finale, against Atlanta on Wednesday, in order to claim that homecourt advantage).
Pride, perhaps, is the matter than means the most to Sloan.
"I still think we have a responsibility to try to play as well as we can, (and) try to put guys out there as much as possible, where we're not screwing up the . . . integrity of the game," he said. "That, I think, is really important to us."
Also vital, however, is the health and energy level of the aging Jazz as they prepare for yet another run at their first NBA title. The Jazz, led by 35-and-over vets, played five games in seven nights from April 4-10, took two nights off, then began to close the regular season with a stretch of four games in five nights.
They lost Saturday at San Antonio but ended the division race by beating the Suns. That done, Sloan now may cut back the minutes of forward Karl Malone and guard John Stockton -- though he does plan to play both these last two games.
Guard Jeff Hornacek is another matter. He has already missed five games this season due to flaring and overexertion of his surgically repaired left knee, and tonight is a perfect night to rest the joint some more. The retiring Hornacek may also see reduced minutes Wednesday, though he is likely to play at least some against the Kings since that will be his final regular-season game in the Delta Center.
"I don't know just how all of it will transpire, because when you get in a game, different circumstances (present themselves)," Sloan said. "But hopefully we can get some of these other guys a chance to play some minutes.
"I don't know about Jeff," Sloan added. "We still have to talk some more about his situation. . . . Personally, I would doubt right now that he would play, especially (tonight). But we'll have to just wait and see."
Postseason is high priority, but unfortunately you can't fast-forward straight to it.
"I'd like for them to have energy for the start of the playoffs," Sloan said. "And you're open to criticism in that situation -- if someone (plays in a relatively meaningless game, then gets hurt). You never know what's good and which is right to do, but you try to do what you think is best and not worry about it."
It's been a juggling act like that, actually, for some time now as Sloan has tried to figure out the perfect formula for both practicing and playing games.
Since the NBA's mid-February break for the All-Star Game, he has cut down on practice time and tried to put himself in rather unfamiliar shoes -- those of vets who have played as long as Stockton (16 seasons), Malone (15), Hornacek (14) and Olden Polynice and Armen Gilliam (13 each). He has even tried to understand when the vets don't play with as much verve as they otherwise might, which isn't easy for anyone to do.
"I think it's even a little bit harder situation for fans than they've ever been in. I mean, how many have ever seen guys play at 15, 17 years? It doesn't happen very often, so who's to know just exactly how they are?" said Sloan, who played 11 NBA seasons himself. "When they were young, yeah, we had a better feel for it. But I've never experienced it -- playing at that stage. Those are some of the things, I think, you hit and miss on some."
The result, perhaps, is a few late-season losses (Utah has dropped three of its last five) you grudgingly experience, then put behind: "You kind of wallow through it, to some extent," Sloan said. "You don't like to, but you have to accept some of that."
Sloan, though, rests well knowing it pains his vets to lose as much as it hurts him -- maybe even more so.
"Some guys would be satisfied losing 50, 60 games. That's the sad part of this business sometimes. It's acceptable to some people," he said. "But we've been fortunate. We have guys who don't accept losing.
"You have to have some people who don't accept losing. If you don't, you'll just go right down the line and lose for the rest of your life -- until you get some of those people. On the other hand, you have to look at it from the standpoint of, 'Hey, these guys have played a lot of basketball. They've gone to the well a number of times.' "
And they will be asked to dip down just a few more times, too, before their careers are done. In the meantime, it's up to Sloan to determine how much water one needs to survive, how many minutes are too many.
It's a tough trick, especially when the knives are so sharp.
You can reach Tim Buckley by e-mail at tbuckley@desnews.com