"I think it should be more encouraging than disappointed because we could be a lot worse off the way we've played on the road," Carlos Boozer said. "Thank God we are a very good home team."

Then again, the Jazz never thought they still would be trying to figure out how to win on the road 41 games into this season. Not after advancing to the Western Conference finals and winning twice on the road in the playoffs, including Game 7 at Houston in the first round.

They also never expected to fall out of playoff position in the Western Conference standings. The hope for the Jazz (23-18) is simply that their worst basketball is behind them and they can make up ground in the second half of the season.

"If we can win like we do at home on the road," Boozer said, "we'll catch up real fast and get where we want to be."

At the same time, the Jazz find themselves in a position where an injury to one of their stars could dash their playoff hopes altogether. Even if they do make the playoffs, the Jazz have to wonder if they will have an even remotely favorable draw.

The Jazz opened training camp consumed by the story of Andrei Kirilenko's desire to leave Utah. Kirilenko's frustration has since faded and the Russian forward is having a solid if not spectacular season, averaging 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Instead, the story of the Jazz's season has been their inability to win on the road. They are 17-3 at EnergySolutions Arena - more home victories than any team except Boston and San Antonio - but are a meager 6-15 on the road.

Hard to believe the Jazz opened their season with a resounding road victory over Golden State. They have lost 11 of their past 12 road games and officially left coach Jerry Sloan out of answers after Thursday's loss at Denver.

"Somewhere there has to be a passion to play this game on the road," Sloan said. "If it's a job for you, why do it? Get a job where you can get off at 5 and you're at home the rest of the evening and you can prop your feet up and you don't have to work.

"I know it's corny, but it's really been kind of disheartening to see us play on the road the way we have."

Deron Williams admits the Jazz have been a different defensive team home and away.

"We don't have the same energy," Williams said. "I think we play a little tense, I don't know, a little laid back, when we should be playing the other way around. We should be trying to be the aggressor, especially as much as we've struggled."

It's also easy to forget that the Jazz are one of the NBA's youngest and least experienced teams, in spite of last season's playoff run, and only got younger with the December trade that brought Kyle Korver from Philadelphia for Gordan Giricek and a first-round draft pick.

As a rookie, Boozer played for a Cleveland team that went 14-27 at home and 3-38 on the road.

"Every young team is really good at home and really bad on the road," Boozer said. "Unfortunately for us, we're acting like a young team on the road. We need to start growing up on the road so we can start winning some games and get in the playoffs."

Sloan has bemoaned the loss of veteran guard Derek Fisher, who was released from his contract last summer, and has questioned the concentration and preparedness of his players on the road. The Jazz's next chance to win on the road comes Monday against the same Los Angeles Clippers they beat Friday.

"It's been a tough first half of the season, but a lot of people don't know this is a young team and you've got to go through bumps," guard Jason Hart said. "It's a process and the longer they stay together, it'll get better."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Story lines:

Here's to your health

The Jazz have no cushion in case they suffer a major injury in the second half of the season. If that happens, their playoff hopes will be in peril. So far, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer have missed just one game combined.

Long-range plan

The Jazz ranked last in the NBA in made three-pointers a game when they acquired Kyle Korver from Philadelphia. If they can improve from beyond the arc, watch out considering the Jazz are averaging 105.1 points without a long-range threat.

Harpring's knee

Will Matt Harpring be forced to play limited minutes all season? Harpring has been restricted to about 16 to 18 minutes a game returning from knee surgery.

Pressure will rise

How will the Jazz handle the pressure of a playoff run? They cruised into the playoffs last season as Northwest Division champions, but will be hard-pressed just to get to 50 wins this season.

Sophomore put to test

A starter in his second year, Ronnie Brewer could hit the wall in the second half. He's already played nearly twice as many minutes as he did as a rookie. The Jazz are counting on Brewer to bring maximum effort nightly, especially on defense.