The Jazz will polish them off in SLC.

When the Jazz made it to the finals they had games where they were clobbered. Just one game. They wont have rust and hopefully kolby gets beat can't stand him.

Yes, Kyle, the shine has worn off. And by the way, where's your buddy All-Star buddy Carlos? It's time to earn those multi-million dollar salaries, boys.

If T-Mac has never one a playoff game...how come last years series went 7, and we are sitting at 3-2 now. BTW, no need to panic, the series will end in 6 just like all the "experts" originally predicted. The Jazz seem to come out strong after having their butts handed to them...especially at home.

wonder why sloan is so set like a old coach in his ways why he won't try almond to see how he is shooting this season. poor rookies when they come here.

also kobe is the biggest jerk in the league, like last lakers game when the a.. was taunting the fans. that should spark the jazz if we get there.

If the Jazz lose this series it will be a FAILURE of a season and I would think that LHM would have to make some changes. Friday we'll know if the Jazz have the sack to beat a worse team than they beat last year. If the Jazz lose this series they really need to figure out how to get rid of the pansies who don't have the mental strength to play like men when it counts. Nothing like getting beat by a 50 year old center, two "don't know any better" rookies, the most over-rated "superstar" in the league, and a bunch of nobodies.

Where has the "killer instinct" gone?

Where are the Jazz we all know and love? The ones that can put teams away like Houston put us away last night?

I think Sloan should try and put CJ in the rotation, You don't leave talent like CJ out of the game. I hope this isnt backlash from him not playing in the RMR this year,like he needed it. I also think that we should package Harpring and Korver this offseason for a defensive center because I don't think they will do any good for us in the post season.

Its funny to see everyone all crazy about a bad game on the road, but I think Adleman knew what he was doing when he threatend with that tape crap. He wanted the Jazz to worry if they were doing anything wrong. Im sure every NBA player already has that fear with the refs. Its in the bag in SLC. Then G-Mac or what ever his name is (for D-Will). Can cry that the Jazz always stole his playoff dreams. I cant wait for the next round, Im really sick of Houston crying about everything when they lose. This next game Youre going to see all of the Jazz just blow your minds.

re: fossil

Your brain must be petrified!! Ideas like first-time-starting a rookie during a must-win situation would show two things: lack of confidence in your current players, and desperation. That is why you are not an NBA coach.

Almond would be minced meat against a team like Houston. Korver, who is a proven NBA sharpshooter, can't hardly get a shot off against Houston--Almond would also be abused defensively.

KK is basically a decoy--Houston defends the three very well. The problem is that the pansie named Boozer has forgotten what position he plays, POWER forward. Someone ought to tell him it is not "fade- away-forward" or "avoid-contact-forward". Finally, late in the game he jumped into the chest of the shot blocker and SURPRISE he did not get blocked and he scored!!! 5 games to figure it out though.

It was not likely to win there last night, I mean really, win 3 games on their homecourt?? Which means, we must win Friday or we are done.

Hopefully the shooting woes turn around at home, we have had two poor shooting games in a row. Lots of our shots rattled down and then literally popped back out.

Houston is good though.

Dear Fossil,

The only sane person in America supporting the idea that Sloan should try Almond is Almond's Mother.

How about for halftime entertainment Scola, Ginoboli, and Collins engage in an R. C. Willey sponsored Flop-off?

The Jazz had won their last three playoff games in Houston, I didn't think they would make it four. The Jazz had better close out the series in game six, they will lose if it goes to game seven. Houston will not lose game seven at home vs. Utah two years in a row. They will not allow it to happen.

Even if the Jazz advance, they would be toast vs. the Lakers. Kobe appears to be on a mission, he would score at will against the Jazz and I don't see any possibility the Jazz would have a chance in that series.

Jazz better start making plans for summer vacation. If Houston doesn't send em home the Lakers will.

BOO too McGrady.. how can he even shoot straight with those crazy eyes?

Friday is Andre Kirilenko's chance to prove he wants to be traded. If he is a now show and takes more than two three pointers in Friday's game, here's what will happen: Jazz lose a heart-breaker in Game 6 and go back and get squashed by a physically hurt team that has more heart in game 7 of the first round. If the Jazz end up losing this series, and AK47 fails to play the way he is capable in games 6 and 7, Larry Miller will finally realize that he is the cancer on this team....

Now, with that said, I hope and pray that AK WILL show up and be the difference in game 6. If he does step up his play, then the Jazz will win and move on to play the Lakers. (Probably lose that series in 7 games). Problem is...AK wants out, and if he plays well and helps the team advance to round 2, he will create just enough belief that they probably will not trade him in the off-season... Mark my words.

The grass is NOT greener on the other side AK! Play your role and win! Go Jazz!

first of all...regardless of the NBA sponsored ads that feature the game (and players as well as whatever products they endorse) as LARGER than life figures, it is just a game...

a game i throughly enjoy, but still..just a game

the Jazz are a very good team, but are just getting outworked by Luis, Landry and the very quick backcourt..but should the Jazz return to their power style game (Boozer) and when the paint is clogged, swing to outside shooters, the Jazz will dominate..

it is so easy to jump on whatever recently happened and count our team out..but i wont..given this season's success, i feel the Jazz will win big on Friday..

You are right about boozer playing soft, but don't forget, sloan calls most of the plays and Boozer is playing the high post and rarely on the block. Again, boozer has not played well, but AK is barely a 12th man in the league. AK has no heart or desire and very little actual skill. It is probably too late, but I think we would be better off with Miles, even though I am aware of his limitations.

A large part of our problem on offense is that houston is guarding 4 guys with 5, battier is no where near AK, which is smart. I can't figure out why sloan cannot play brewer and korver at the same time at least in spots. Its like sloan decided 3 months ago that he will NOT play them together under any circumstances. Korver needs to be open to hit 3s and brewer is a good off the the dribble passer. sloan needs to bring his his "A" just as much as boozer.

You said in your article that Tracy Mcgrady has never won a playoff game. I think you meant a playoff series. Any way I think the Jazz will be ready on Friday and win the game

What happens to the Jazz in games like this? For example, they had the same kind of game two weeks ago in San Antonio. Their losses to Denver and New Orleans this season were the same. It must be some mental thing. They play soft and when, as a result, the opponents have a large scoring run, the Jazz just crawl in their little mental hole. They usually snap out of it, but it's really exasperating.

If the Jazz are entirely dependent on home wins, they are not a serious play off team. The real Jazz have been measured and found wanting.

RE: to RE:motox

The problem does not rely on AK its on Boozer. The Jazz spread the floor around the perimeter so that Boozer can work inside but Boozer has taken on the roll of shooting guard because:
1. He is scared of contact.
2. He never recognizes a double team.
3. Always settles for the jump shot first instead of

inside game.
Those three things alone make the Jazz a perimeter team. When he starts settling for jump shots then you have five guys standing on the perimeter which leaves you with no rebounder's and obviously no inside game what so ever. Jerry's offense is made to go through the PF and it is meant to go inside out not to perimeter boozer and jump shot. Boozer is the difference here. Ak's game is more based on if the other players get going then it gives him more freedom to shoot and to play weak side defense. Boozers game is the key to Jazz success and he has not played one good game yet in this series. At least AK has.

Jazz faithful have more than plenty to worry about ABOUT Friday's game. More than anything else the Jazz-Houston series shows that neither the Jazz nor the Rockets will be in the NBA finals. It's been a fun, interesting, frustrating and exhilarating Jazz year. But there's always next year. GO JAZZ!

Bringing the Truth.

I love all the finger pointing. Let's not forget that Williams has only reached double digit assists in 2 games (1 & 3) and Memo hasn't exactly been shooting the lights out.

AK gets two plays run for him, if he's lucky. Boozer had 5 offensive boards and he is doing what Sloan has drawn up. Play the high post and shoot the 15 footer.

Let's put the blame where it belongs. Sloan.

Also, I'll back Fossil up. Why not try Fess or Almond if you are getting blown out by 20? At least play CJ a few minutes!

You can wear a guy like McGrady down by making him DEFEND, not just by pushing him around.

But that would require strategy and coaching.

Fire/Retire Sloan

If at the beginning of the series a fortune teller told Jazz fans that Utah would be up 3-2 over Houston on April 30, there would have been celebrations far into the night. As it turned out, the idiots who call themselves Jazz fans are losing their minds, trying to describe how poorly Utah played, how their coach is old and out of touch, how Houston should have been swept, how Utah can't possibly win now, and other inane lunacy. I say, wait until Friday. If the officials let Utah play tough defense, Houston will have a problem. In the Jazz arena it's highly unlikely that the referees will allow Houston to manhandle the Jazz while calling things tightly on Utah, as happened in Game 5. So relax. There's a good chance the best team will win out in the end. Remember, most series could go either way on the basis of one or two baskets per game. So a lot of it is luck and not because one team is vastly superior or better coached. I believe Utah is better and has a deeper bench and a better coach. Time will tell.

Quit being frantic lemmings and act like actual fans! A loss counts as one loss, no matter the score, and we only have 2 losses to their 3. I remember that most people, including myself, before the series began guessed Jazz in 6. Its looking like thats what will happen, so keep things positive.

Hey Doug, Tracy has won lots of playoff games, he just hasn't won a series. You need to proof read and edit before publishing.

Bummer, thought we had a championship caliber team for awhile! But as the regular season unfolded it was apparent that we lacked the mental toughness that it takes to be champions. Why would you rollover for the SPURS like the Jazz did in the last game of the season, come on take the challenge head on and show them who you are, but instead we lose by thirty and place more doubt in our own minds and tell the Spurs and the rest of the League that we are soft. When I think back to the real good tough championship teams they always stomped on your throat when given a chance, but no we get opportunities to show what were made of and we choke, we stop hitting free throws, we go from shooting somewhere around 47% from the field to a laughable 32% come on. Sure the Rockets are a good defensive team but after all aren't we supposed to be a great offensive team, Oh I guess that was during the regular season when we were playing the Nuggets at home!

First of all - yes, Boozer stank it up big time. Yes, Kyle Korver had big problems hitting the three. And yes, the Rockets came out strong and played great. However, did anybody even see the game the refs were playing out there? They pretty much handed the game to the Rockets. The tech on Boozer? He complains to the ref about the no-call, and he gets a tech for it. Just a few minutes later, Kirilenko gets called for a loose-ball foul by going up for a rebound that Brewer missed? Meanwhile the Rockets are killing the Jazz on the other end, and there's no whistle. I don't mind that the Rockets were physical, just that the refs need to call it both ways. If we can't be physical, they can't be physical. Refs just need to put the whistle down and let the players play.

While I don't disagree with some of your points Sloan Hater, it is a FACT that the Jazz will not let go of Jerry Sloan unless it is on his terms and his decision. I have personally heard Larry H. Miller say this numerous times in interviews. As much as Sloan may frustrate you (and me at times), you might as well accept the fact that he isn't going anywhere until he says so. Not sure what else to tell you.

Boozer get on the floor and show you aren't afraid of contact when the loose ball is yours. You're wearing us out with your pretend to play defense attitude. Especially when you get on TV and tell the commentator " we played good defense". Four of you played good defense, and you stood and watched. Give me Milsap and bring Boozer off the bench until he gets hungry again.

GO JAZZ! (they will win by 9, fyi)

Everyone needs to settle down. I was just as disappointed w/ the effort as everyone else, but hatin' on Sloan and AK is way out of line. After game 1 everybody was signing AK's praises and now you are bashing the guy!! C-MON! And as for Sloan, he is the BOMB!! So bag on the Jazz's effort and the bench who didn't bring a spark into the game when the starters came out flat, but shut-up about Sloan and AK you stinkin' fair-weather fans!! By the way, Jazz have a legit chance to beat Kobe and the rest of losers from LA, so stay positive and get ready to watch a great Semi-Final series w/ the Fakers!! GO JAZZ!!!

Go Houston! I've had enough of Larry Miller, the Jazz and Doug Robinson.

re: Idaho Fan

We know you are really Chris.

No I won't leave Sloan alone until he retires.

You can keep gasping and crying, but Britney... err Sloan will be fair game till he wins a championship.

Fire/Retire Sloan