No energy

HOUSTON — It was one of those nights.
One in which no one seemed to be able to get themselves going, not matter how much they may have wanted to do just that.
“You’ll experience those in your career,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.
The Jazz experienced it big-time Wednesday, and the cost was a loss at Houston that sent Utah tumbling from second place to fifth in the NBA’s tightly packed Western Conference standings.
Sloan seemed almost understanding of the situation, perhaps because he knew why — reasonable explanations, or not — the Jazz were so drained:
An emotional win Tuesday night at home over Oklahoma City that went to overtime, one in which his club gave it all had and needed every bit of that and more (thanks, Tony Brothers, the Jazz could say); and
A long flight from Salt Lake City to Houston, too, one in which bodies clocks were bound get a bit messed up when eyes didn’t shut until 5 a.m. or so.
Sloan really did seem to get it, even if he did suggest before Wednesday’s game that players these days at least have the convenience of charter air flights to enjoy that he did not.
So maybe it’s simply because when it comes to trying to drawing on strength that just isn’t there to be drawn, he’s been there on occasion, done that a time or two.
Even if it was way back in the day.
“Some guys put a lot of energy into it, and maybe don’t have any,” Sloan said. “I’ve played, and been in the game and I didn’t have any energy, and I wanted to have energy.
“If it’s not there, you can’t get it,” he added. “So I don’t have a problem with that.”

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