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SAN ANTONIO - What change should be made on a 10-point run, or even 14 - what about 20? That question was answered in game by the Jazz with a resounding, "let them play".
Game 2 of the first-round series against the Spurs was supposed to show improvement for the Jazz from their 15- point loss in Game 1. Just like in the first game, the Jazz cut it close in the second quarter, but the Spurs ran off 20 straight points on their way to a 114-83 blowout as the series now travels to Utah.
The Jazz need to fix something to get back into the series. However, they need to keep on doing what they have done to make it this far.
"At this point of the season you can kill yourself making changes just for making changes," said head coach Tyrone Corbin. "You have to make sure they are the things that give the guys the best chance to compete. We looked at changing some things up and we'll make a decision whether that's the best thing for us right now."
Two calls that have received scrutiny from fans are the playing of Josh Howard and the lack of time for Derrick Favors. Howard recently got healthy and reclaimed his starting spot. Favors is producing in limited minutes. The Spurs 20-point run came on the heels of Favors departure along with Howard, and the other starters slowly trickling back into the game.
"It could have happened while I was still in the game," Favors said. "It just so happened that it happened when I got out. It's just basketball."
The Jazz made the playoffs on the strength of their big- lineup. Where they play Devin Harris, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap, Favors and Al Jefferson. This lineup could help ease Jazz fans pain. It would be more of a reward for the play of Favors, who had nine points and nine rebounds in the loss, than an indictment on Howard.
"Derrick should play more," Corbin said. "And I got to find a way to get him more minutes on the floor. With the big lineup whether that's the answer or him at the four playing smaller. We got to give ourselves a chance to win, and we need everybody to play better and with him on the floor we are better."
Derrick should play more. And I got to find a way to get him more minutes on the floor... We need everybody to play better and with him on the floor we are better.
–Tyrone Corbin
No Jazz player has talked negatively about the starting lineup, the chemistry of this team is still strong according to anyone on the team that is asked, but something needs to change and mixing it up early could be a key.
"I like our starting five," Jefferson said, who had 10 points and 4 rebounds. "I just think the couple times we did our big lineup we maybe should have done it a little earlier, but things just get going so fast."
Corbin won't make any knee-jerk reactions to his lineups. There may be more time for Favors, less for wing players or maybe big men, but the coach knows that every player needs to step up.
"You can always go back and look at the film and critique what you do," Corbin said. "We do that. They went on a 22- 2 run to finish the half. I don't think one guy may or may not have made a difference, in that we all have to play better."
