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SALT LAKE CITY -- Now that was Jazz Basketball.
On Monday, the team bounced back from one of their worst losses in recent memory to Golden State on Saturday and defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 106-85. Ending a three game losing streak with a 21 point victory at home is nice but it's the way they did it that was encouraging.
Defense was much improved. They held the Clippers to just 43 percent shooting while deflections led to 10 steals.
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Jazz end skid with win over Clippers
Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-85 Monday night to keep alive their slim hopes of climbing out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.Offensively, they executed with patience. Instead of settling for quick outside jumpers they made extra passes that led to layups and dunks.
They got back to the basics of Jazz Basketball, something that was missing while they lost 6 of their last 7 games. Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan had blamed their recent troubles on poor defense and selfishness.
"I'm disappointed in the way we've been playing," said Sloan after Saturday's embarrassing loss. "It's kind of like everybody for himself. Everybody's trying to get shots. Everybody's trying to do their own thing, rather than try to play the game the way you have a chance to win."
After the win over the Clippers, Sloan was singing a different tune.
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Harpring guides Jazz to big first half
The last time forward Matt Harpring started a game was all the way back in the 2006-2007 season. Monday, he took full advantage of the opportunity in his start against the Los Angeles Clippers in place of injured guard C.J. Miles."It was more of a team-basketball game, not like we've had, where guys just took shots from kind of a selfish standpoint,"
They returned to the basics just in time to avoid losing three straight home games for the first time since the 2005-06 season, the last season they missed the playoffs.
More important, they kept hope alive that they can climb out of the 8th spot in the Western Conference Standings and avoid a first round matchup with the Lakers.
But executing and defending against the Clippers is one thing. Getting back to the basics against Kobe and the Lakers will be another. Tuesday's road trip to the Staples Center should show us whether the Jazz have truly put their recent struggles behind them.
