This morning, the Jazz find themselves in the same predicament the Rockets faced a year ago, when Houston let a two-game lead slip away in the first round. Like last year, momentum has slowly moved to the team that started down 2-0.

Rafer Alston's return in Game 3 boosted Houston, which nearly stunned the Jazz in Game 4, then went home and thumped Utah in a confidence-boosting, we're-in-charge-now Game 5 victory.

If only Deron Williams' last shot hadn't been blocked in Game 3 . . .

If only Tracy McGrady hadn't found his rhythm after such a slow start . . .

If only the Jazz had matched Houston's urgency in Game 5 . . .

Instead of preparing for the Lakers in the second round, the Jazz are fielding questions about pressure, control in the series and just how big tonight's game is for them.

"We need to win, I don't know how you say it," said forward Andrei Kirilenko, probably searching for the right English or Russian word to describe the importance of tonight's contest. "We can't allow Houston to get their confidence. We let them win by 20 points and that got their confidence back a bit."

If Houston goes on to win the series, the Game 3 loss clearly will be the one to haunt the Jazz in the offseason.

If only . . .

"You can't look back," Kyle Korver said. "We had some things go our way that they probably think, 'Man, we should have had that game,' but that is the way it works in the playoffs. We're still in good position with the home game. If we don't win that one, we still have another shot."

A long series can drain a team physically as well as mentally, something coach Jerry Sloan was aware of Tuesday when he emptied the bench for the final minutes in Houston when the outcome became apparent. But it also can sharpen a team, as last season's seven-game stand against the Rockets did for the Jazz. The emotions carried over against Golden State in a 4-1 rout.

The playoffs are all about making the best out of the current situation, forward Matt Harpring said.

"The playoffs are just like the regular season, sometimes you have a bad game one night but you have to forget it happened and get your attitude back up and your spirits back up," Harpring said. "Otherwise you are just going to drown yourself in sorrow and you can't do that."

lwodraska@sltrib.com