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2009-2010 Utah Jazz Preview

2008 Record: 48-34, 3rd in Western Conf. Northwest Division, lost in First Round
Head Coach: Jerry Sloan, 22nd season
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: None
1st Round Draft Picks: G Eric Maynor
2nd Round Draft Picks: C Goran Suton

2008-'09 Jazz Review:

A season that started with so much promise ended with a franchise thrown into a pit of uncertainty and anxiety. At the beginning of the year, the Utah Jazz appeared to have the horses needed to make a run at the Western Conference title, but as soon as Carlos Boozer got shelved with an extended injury early in the season, the Jazz lost the rhythm and confidence needed to make a push for the brass ring. When Boozer returned after the All-Star break, the Jazz won 12 games in a row, but just as suddenly lost their mojo in March and April, sliding back to eighth place in the West before getting drummed out of the first round in five games by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Jazz were done in not just by injuries (injuries that also limited the minutes of versatile forward Mehmet Okur), but by Boozer's mercurial play and a teamwide inability to defend consistently, particularly in the fourth quarter. Coach Jerry Sloan usually gets his players to hound opposing teams, but in the Spring of 2009, the Jazz's defensive rotations and instincts were simply not up to par. That must change if the franchise--which lost longtime owner Larry Miller last season--is to move forward in the future.

2009-'10 Jazz Preview:

Deron Williams at the point? Check. Paul Millsap resigned? Check. Mehmet Okur still in the fold? Check. Grunt guys like Ronnie Brewer, Matt Harpring, and Kyle Korver around to help out? Check. A Jerry Sloan-type guard with dependable ballhandling skills to back up Williams? Check--see draftee Eric Maynor take care of the rock.

All that's holding back the Jazz is Boozer. He's flirted with other teams, and the Jazz would like to find the right deal that would send the 27-year-old power forward on his way out of Salt Lake City. But unless or until the Jazz can find good value in exchange for their prized possession, Boozer will stay at Energy Solutions Arena. If only the Duke man would remain committed to JerryBall, the Jazz would be a contender in the West. Perhaps that could still happen, but without Boozer's complete and undivided loyalty, it's hard to think that big No. 5 will bring his A-game to the Wasatch Mountains for another season. The Jazz will play the blues and lament their fate if Carlos Boozer doesn't improve his attitude.

> Find a great selection of Utah Jazz merchandise and apparel online through probasketball-fans.com!

By Matthew Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer

> View the entire 2009-2010 NBA preview here at ProBasketball-fans.com

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