This is the first Downbeat pre-amble that I can think of. If not, I don't do this very often. I almost didn't write a DB today because I couldn't put two logical thoughts together. But the streak must go on. I'm serious though when I say that until a trade and/or personnel change is made, I can't get behind this team.
Call me a fair-weather fan if you want, but I don't think so. I think it's all about expectations. No true Jazz fan jumped off the bandwagon when Stockton and Malone left. We knew we were in store for some lean days. We were all pleasantly surprised when the 2004 TEAM almost made the playoffs when they weren't suppose to win 10 games.
Nobody had championship aspirations with the current team but we did expect them to compete for a high to middle-of-the-pack finish in the west.
The Boozer situation has been a problem for almost a year now and yet nothing has been done about it. The Jazz were hoping and praying he wouldn't opt back in, but he did. At that point, there should have been a trade done within the week. He at least had some value then, he has none now. Once again, the Jazz had an opportunity to be proactive and get something done, but they waited to see what was going to happen.
The FO had to have been aware of the bad chemistry in the locker room. Either they did and did nothing about it or they were ignorant to the whole situation. And if the latter is the case, then there should be some housecleaning going on at the ESA.
So for the DB today, I give to you my order of blame for the current mess we have.
Front office. See above. Something should have been done a long time ago. This isn't the first time either.
Carlos Boozer. Should have kept your mouth shut so that the Jazz could have traded you. Everyone would be happy. I don't see how he thought going on the radio to promote his camps give a Boozer-infomercial was going to help.
Jerry Sloan. Sorry Jerry, at least some of this rests on your shoulders. From the lack of timeouts to player rotations, you've lost me. I understand you might not be a great motivator, but thinking that the millions the players make should be motivation enough is a poor excuse for not trying to rally your troops.
The Team. While Jerry should be putting the right players on the floor, when you're on the floor, it's up to you to execute. For some reason, you haven't been able to do that for a full game.
David Stern. No reason, just because.