<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's getting really ugly. Not only did infuriated owner Larry Miller complain that his Jazz "suck" in the wake of the inexplicably lifeless 126-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday that probably cost them home-court advantage in the playoffs, but the tension in the locker room reached an unusually visible level. After coach Jerry Sloan uncharacteristically opened the locker room to the news media almost immediately after the game - presumably to deny players the usual time to compose themselves before answering questions about why they played so poorly with so much on the line - the annoyed players quickly asked reporters to leave for a few more minutes. But when Sloan saw reporters filing back outside, he returned to the locker room and made it clear that it was indeed open. By the time reporters returned, many of the players had retired to the off-limits training room. Most of those who remained were brief and repetitive. "They beat us from the jump to the finish," forward Carlos Boozer said. "We just got our butts whipped. They just kicked our butts from jump to finish. End of story. Game's over now." The season might be, too. </div> <div align="center">Source: Salt Lake Tribune</div>
They lost one game against a very good team. The Rockets have had a tough time with Phoenix for years, so we could easily lose our next game against them. So, all Utah has to do with is win against Portland, and they still have a chance to reclaim home court advantage by winning at home in the final game of the season. The season is far from over for you guys.
I didn't watch the game but it must've been ugly. But I agree with durvasa that it was just one game against a great team that still has an incentive to play very well. So I wouldn't say the Jazz suck based on that game. But our recent play is probably what influenced Miller to say that. We've played like sh!t in our last 15-20 games.
The Jazz have being playing poorly for a while now, but comments that just make matters worse. Despite being headed into the playoffs for the first time since the Stockton and Malone days, Utah's confidence has to be down at the moment with the losses piling up. It would also have to be getting increasingly frustrating for them, as they're trying to win every single game they play and know they're good enough to win, but just can't. Then they're presented with this. Larry Miller wants the Jazz to win, and as a result of his comments some players may now be thinking about their future on the team, when the playoffs are all that really should matter right now.
