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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz came out Saturday night looking great in the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies, with their bench putting up almost as many points as their starters to pull Utah ahead by ten. The Jazz hadn't lost a home game to the Grizzlies since 2007 and played like they were going to get another easy home win.
"We got out on the break early in the first half, and tried to get some easy baskets,"said Marvin Williams." I think we did a good job of that."
Coach Tyrone Corbin was impressed with his team after Friday night's loss to the Phoenix Suns.
"The energy level, in the first half, we showed it," Corbin said. "We showed how effective we could play with energy."
Utah outscored Memphis in the first half 54-44. But the energy they had slowed way down in the second half. The Jazz came back after the break and shot only 15% in the third quarter, scoring just 10 points. Utah hasn't scored that few points in a quarter since scoring six points in the fourth against the Lakers on Dec. 9, 2009.
It wasn't a great third quarter on our part. Bottom line, it just seemed like they wanted the game more than we did.
–Marvin Williams
"It wasn't a great third quarter on our part," said Williams. "Bottom line, it just seemed like they wanted the game more than we did."
What was the difference between the two halves? The answer is Al Jefferson. The Grizzlies double-teamed Jefferson effectively for most of the second half and that in turn stopped Jefferson from being able to run plays for his team.
"They put Zach on me, and they had a guy sitting in my lap the whole time," Jefferson said. "We just got to do a better job of moving. I've got to do a better job of passing the ball quicker. They're a good defensive team. They had a good game plan."
Jefferson is the first to admit that he made some mistakes and that the Grizzlies were the better team.
"They outworked us," Jefferson said. "No excuses, we have got to be better than that. This has to motivate us. It looked like we got too comfortable at home."
The Grizzlies came into the arena Saturday night on a three-game losing streak and proved they wanted the win more than Utah. They outscored the Jazz 28-10 in the third quarter, and the Jazz had no answer in the fourth.
Utah credits Memphis' defense as a big reason why they were able to pull ahead.
"They're great defensive players," said Randy Foye. "It's tough to play against them because they're tough and really a physical defensive-minded team."
Coach Corbin says that missed shots and rushed plays were another reason Utah fell behind in the second half.
We got to go out on the road now and be mean and try to get the next three out of four or all four [road games].
–Al Jefferson
"We didn't attack the basket. We didn't have the same energy that we had in the first half," Corbin said.
Corbin also says they need to figure out what the problem is in time for their upcoming four road games and be ready to play. His players agree they need to be more aggressive to get some road wins.
"We got to go out on the road now and be mean," Jefferson said, "and try to get the next three out of four or all four."
Corbin agrees his team needs to win these next four road games and show that they know how to fix their mistakes.
"We've talked about it, we've gotten better at it, and now, the last two games, we haven't shown it," Corbin said. "We better be ready to play, because it not, it could be a long trip for us."
The Jazz begin their four-game road trip on Tuesday in New York against the Brooklyn Nets.
