Game 59: Portland Trail Blazers (32-26) @ Utah Jazz (30-28)

[Crunch 99]

The game was a big disappointment. The Blazer players came out of the gate with playoff intensity, dialed in and focused in, whereas the Jazz players looked casual and like they were running plays in practice. Mo Harkless set a tone for the Blazers with four steals in Q1, including one steal that resulted in a clear path foul.

Oddly, even our announcers brought a decidedly casual feel to the game as well, for example rambling on and on with Darrel Griffith for many minutes without a single comment on the game. I like Griffith, but I had to turn the sound off on the TV, feeling like I was watching what should have been a playoff intensity game with people who had no interest in the game.

Hopefully this game is a wake up call to the Jazz players that they need to buckle down and get back to business.

[Inigo Montoya]

New poster here and been a Jazz fan for a long time. Not too upset the streak’s been broken - it was kind of coming but was a great run and lots of fun. Still confident they can sneak the playoffs

Welcome aboard. And I agree, we were bound to lose at some point. We do have a much more favorable schedule than any other team that contends for the playoff from this point on though, so there will be plenty of opportunities to make up for it, including one more game against the Blazers.

[vryadli]

Just watched the first half again. That Portland team was bringing it and they played like it was a playoff game. I didn’t see laziness from our team, there were several careless moments, but they played hard. What they did not do was execute better than their opponent.

There were a bunch of times I saw players not quite playing defense. They decided to commit just late enough to whatever assignment they had. That criticism is earned.

I'd even say that it was very logical place to slip... hopefully it will be wake up call...

What is more frustrating is as all rivals do NOT slip even once in last 5 or 6 games.

[Stern Fixer]

I expected us to lose last night. Portland had the motivation after that blowout they suffered at home on the 11th against the Jazz. We embarrassed them and they were out to embarrass us. Moreover, Rubio made his return last night (out for three games and two weeks) and as usual (with NBA players) looked rusty because of it. It's true we played hard, but sports is more about flow and rhythm than just sheer effort. They had the resolve, we had too many questions and doubts going in which probably had something to do with our twenty turnovers and numerous missed opportunities. Tonight should be the real test of whether we actually have any traction in this precipitous climb back into the playoff picture where nobody seems to be losing any ground.

[ForeverRDjazz]

Jazz looked sloppy with way to many stupid turnovers. Then you add not able to hit the side of the barn. I'm surprised we was even that close to be honest. I don't think i'v seen a game this year were the whole team was off. I'm thinking i'd like to see little more Jonas and less Jae.

[Sarni]

You actually came across a Portland team that wanted to defend and was fully concentrated on the night. I think this team, on their day, can beat pretty much everybody in the league, our downfall is the lack of quality outside of Dame/CJ and Nurkic (when in form, when off he's pretty bad).

It got frustrating for you pretty quick so from there on it was hard to see how you could come back. Still, the run you are on has been tremendous and I think more likely than not you will be in the playoffs.

In the meantime we look good for homecourt advantage which would be pretty huge. I think with the right mindset we might get 3rd seed.