Utah Jazz notebook: Homecourt lets Jazz down Friday
Just when it appeared there was no place like home in the conference semifinals, the NBA playoffs took a unexpected statistical turn Friday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Utah Jazz, owners of the league's best record at home, lost to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their series and were eliminated. The 108-105 setback marked just the second loss in 23 games by a home team in this year's second round — the highest winning percentage since 1964 when teams went 10-0.
How and why home teams have been so successful in the semifinals is a bit of a mystery to those involved. Perhaps it's a closely guarded secret.
"When I retire I'll tell you," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan joked after Friday morning's shootaround.
Utah center Mehmet Okur also failed to come up with an explanation.
"I have no idea. I don't know," he said. "I guess everybody plays good at home. I don't know. I have no idea."
After being forced to a Game 7 against San Antonio, New Orleans coach Byron Scott said if he could figure out what's going on with the "home-court stuff" he would "bottle it and sell it" to all the teams in the league.
AT HOME: The Jazz are now 9-2 in home playoff games against the Lakers. Before this series, the teams also met in 1988, 1997 and 1998. L.A.'s only other postseason win in Utah was a 113-100 decision on May 15, 1988. The Jazz bounced back from the loss to prevail in the next eight playoff meetings in Salt Lake City ... Utah has now been eliminated from the playoffs at home nine times. Previous ousters came in 1986 (Dallas), 1987 (Golden State), 1990 (Phoenix), 1992 (Portland), 1995 (Houston), 1998 (Chicago), 2001 (Dallas) and 2002 (Sacramento) ... This is the first time the Jazz have ever been eliminated from the conference semifinals at home. They were 5-0 before Friday's loss.
HEAD COACH CANDIDATES: Sloan isn't surprised that longtime assistant Phil Johnson and other members of the Jazz staff are being mentioned in coaching searches in Phoenix and Chicago.
Sloan has repeatedly said that he has three assistants (Johnson, Tyrone Corbin and Scott Layden) who could all be head coaches.
"I would never stand in any of their way," said Sloan.,
Before Game 6, Johnson said he didn't really have much to say about his impending interview with the Suns. He confirmed that Phoenix did ask the Jazz for permission to speak with him. The talks, however, have yet to commence.
Same goes for Corbin and the Bulls, who asked the Jazz for permission to interview him once Utah's playoff run was complete. Corbin is reportedly on a long list of candidates for the Phoenix job as well. Part-time Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek is also in the mix.
Recent comments
I was attending the game and was absolutely disgusted by the way...
couldn't agree more | May 17, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.
For those few Jazz fans throwing stuff and using profanity at games...
unruly jazz fans | May 17, 2008 at 11:57 a.m.
I hate the Lakers and it killed me to see the Jazz lose. It was...
Jazz fan in Laker land | May 17, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
