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New Orleans • In the hours before the Utah Jazz played the New Orleans Pelicans, Jazz coach Quin Snyder was aked if his team had "arrived," and he pointed out that three weeks ago, he was asked why his team couldn't win close games.
Such is life in the NBA, and a reason the Jazz weren't taking current success too seriously. Yes, the Jazz have been happy to be playing well, but that's where it stops.
"Last night, we win an overtime game [Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks] and we've arrived, that's funny," Snyder said. "I don't think we feel that way at all. To me, it's not a pivotal moment, it's a process. I think we have some teams that are finding themselves, and I'm lucky to coach that group of guys."
Utah players before Wednesday's loss agreed with Snyder. Many of them remember the criticism that comes with losing.
Others remember that the Jazz schedule takes a tough turn after the break, with games against Washington, Boston and Portland waiting for them.
"None of us [let] the success get to our heads," Jazz forward Derrick Favors said. "We haven't won anything. We haven't done anything yet, if you look at it. We still have to go out and play every night. We have to play well, and we have to stay level. We still have a lot of work to do."
Back-to-back again
Wednesday's game against the Pelicans brought back some bad memories for the Jazz. It marked the second time this season Utah has played a back-to-back on the road after going to overtime on the first night. It happened in December, and the Jazz were beaten 118-81 by the San Antonio Spurs the following night, by far their worst loss of the season.
"We just have to go out with a mindset of going out there to still play with the way we've been playing," Favors said. "We have to play well defensively, and we have to figure out how to play with energy."
Briefly
The Pelicans played without Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon. Both are out with injury. … Former Pelicans head coach and current Oklahoma City assistant Monty Williams lost his wife Ingrid on Wednesday. Only 44, she passed away due to injuries sustained in a car crash on Tuesday.
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