This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Alec Burks stepped out of the shower, got dressed and enjoyed a good-natured joke with Enes Kanter along the way.
Trey Burke, Jeremy Evans and Derrick Favors each found time to smile and chat with their teammates, following a 93-84 Utah Jazz loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday night.
It seems simple, but this group of players have decided to keep it positive in the lockerroom.
"We know we have to keep fighting and stay together," Burke said.
In the past — and even this season —there are teams that imploded because of internal strife. Losing is often the thing that sets it off.
This is where the Jazz come in. They've dropped 11 of their last 12 games. They've been down, and they've been frustrated with the lack of success. The season is rapidly slipping away as Utah heads into New Orleans with a 6-18 record.
But they are showing maturity through it all. Even as the losses pile up, it's clear that this team is playing hard for Quin Snyder. They have improved defensively over the last three games, and they feel that getting better will pay off at some point.
"We just have to shore some things up," Burks said. "We have to figure out a way to be consistent every night. That's the main thing we have to do. But we aren't going to let the losing get to us. We have good chemistry."
The Jazz during many games can be seen giving each other encouragement on the floor. When Kanter missed a short jumper against the Wizards in the first half on Sunday, Burke immediately came over and told him it was a good shot. When Evans ran the floor for a lay-in and a foul, his teammates all ran over to congratulate him.
Utah's players realize that winning in this league requires learning and consistency. They also believe that once they get it, success will come.
— Tony Jones