The Jazz schedule is what it is: tough
Well, that down-to-the-wire nail-biter against the Timberwolves about ends the so-called “easy portion” of the Jazz’s second-half schedule. At least for the foreseeable future.
Up next: Tonight’s one-game road trip to Houston (where the Jazz will likely hit their hotel beds at about 3 a.m. local time).
Then it gets really ugly with a home game vs. King LeBron and the Cavaliers on Saturday … then a game at Northwest Division-leading Denver … then a game at home vs. the Spurs, followed by a game at home by a team that just walloped the Jazz (those powerful OKC Thunder) … then a game at Portland to finish off the month.
Yikes.
That is my word.
Here’s what Mehmet Okur had to say about that formidable upcoming slate.
“It’s a tough schedule, but it is what it is,” he said. “Almost every game is a must-win the rest of the year.”
Let me repeat: Yikes. That is what it is.
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The Jazz do have a three-hour flight ahead of them tonight (Tuesday) to Houston for Wednesday’s game. But at least they don’t have algebra or chemistry homework to worry about. That’s how Sloan sees it.
“That’s fine. That’s part of the game. I understand that,” he told reporters when asked about a seemingly difficult task of playing in Houston a night after playing at home.
“First of all I told them they don’t have to go to school. I would think that’d be pretty nice. You don’t even have to go to school. You just ride the bus, get off and go play basketball.”
He did leave out that part about singing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round,” but let’s not get too technical here.
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There was quite the bit of confusion for the Jazz – and the officials apparently – right after Minnesota cut Utah’s lead to one with 4:20 remaining.
Deron Williams dribbled the ball up the court and Sloan tried to get a timeout called. Instead Williams was called for an offensive foul as he dribbled behind his back and collided with an also-moving Kevin Ollie.
The Jazz thought a timeout had been called.
The officiating crew didn’t.
The Jazz then made certain the refs saw them call a timeout and Sloan spent part of the time chewing out one official for calling the foul instead of a timeout.
“I guess he didn’t see it. He said I didn’t see it. I was looking at Deron trying to get the timeout,” Sloan said. “Maybe I didn’t give it to him or he didn’t see it. So if he doesn’t see it, that’s my mistake.”
Sloan wasn’t too worried about getting a technical foul – which he seemed to be on the verge of receiving – like others might be.
“I don’t worry about that, can’t worry about that,” he said. “If you were going to coach that way, for me it would be awfully difficult because I’m an instinctive person.”
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President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremonies aren’t the only things being recorded on Williams’ DVR.
Though he told reporters today he’s not watching much TV lately, he also said he’s got to “catch up” on “Prison Break,” “24″ and “Lost.”
He’s most thrilled about “Lost” beginning again tonight.
“New season’s about to start,” he said. “I’m excited about that.”
Quite frankly, so am I. We’ll both be in Houston, however, for the Jazz-Rockets game, so here’s hoping my wife hasn’t gobbled up all of our DVR’s memory with “Desperate Housewives” and “CSI” episodes.
Know what would be really trippy? What if Williams scores 42 points, dishes out 23 assists, hits 15 of 16 shots, and has 4 steals? Yep, that’d be quite the night for the Jazz’s No. 8.