This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When the Jazz's playoff push realistically ended and the players trudged off the court Monday night, the stunt team used a sling shot to propel autographed mini basketballs toward the half-empty seats — rather than have the players toss them into the crowd in the team's recent tradition for the last home game of the season.
That's just as well. Rodney Hood and Gordon Hayward might have missed everybody.
After all the Jazz have gone through, while fighting to keep playing beyond this week, they could not overcome their own shooting troubles in a 101-92 loss to Dallas at Vivint Home Smart Arena.
Having missed his first eight 3-point attempts of the game before making a meaningless one, Hayward said, "I don't think you could have asked for any better looks, for a lot of us."
Or a better opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time in four years. Hayward converted enough drives to score 26 points, but Hood went 1-for-11 overall and the Jazz were 9 of 33 from 3-point range — explaining why they couldn't keep up with the veteran Mavericks, who clinched a playoff spot.
The Jazz simply did not respond to a big moment on their home court. "It's tough right now," Derrick Favors said. "We knew the importance of the game."
The way it all unfolded in the home finale served as a snapshot of the Jazz's season. The game included frustrating stretches, inspiring comebacks and, of course, an injury, as Rudy Gobert exited in the second quarter with a sprained ankle.
The playoff-killing sequence came late in the third period, when the Jazz were rallying and Hayward teed up a wide-open 3-point try from the left angle that could have given his team the lead. He missed, then ex-Jazzman Wesley Matthews hit a tough 3 over Hayward from the right corner. Just like that, the Mavs (42-39) were back in command.
And the Jazz (40-41) were basically done for the season. Unless they get another gift from Houston (which owns the tiebreaker), they will be eliminated from the playoff chase by the time they tip off Wednesday in Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant's last game.
Here's the thing: The Jazz were inside the playoff cut when they took the court Monday, and they lost their way out of the postseason picture. Remember that, when they rationalize about missing the playoffs, amid everything that went against them this season. They also could have secured a berth prior to Monday, with a stronger performance in this building.
The old Frank Layden math of a .500 team generally winning two-thirds of its home games and one-third of its road games is outdated, because of charter flights and other modern conveniences. Even so, with the Utah altitude and the energized in-arena environment, the Jazz should have been better than a .600 home team (24-16) going into Monday.
They proceeded to lose for the fourth time in five home games. This is way too soon for the arena to go dark for another offseason, with tulips and trees blossoming on the plaza.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder was mildly defensive about his players, pointing out how they gave themselves a playoff shot under tough circumstances this season. "They've played their tails off all year long," he said. "That shouldn't be overlooked."
Somehow, though, you just knew that former Jazz star Deron Williams would be the one to wreck the home team's playoff hopes. Booed whenever he touched the ball, Williams scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half when the Mavs needed some offense.
Jazz administrators Greg Miller and Randy Rigby congratulated Williams on the court after the game. The fans' grudge against him for feuding with legendary coach Jerry Sloan is understandable, but D-Will also is a living reminder that the Jazz now will have gone six years since he led them to their last victory in a playoff game.
Before the game, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle complimented the Jazz as "a constantly improving team that's learned how to win." Too bad that last part just did not prove true, in the biggest game of the season.
Twitter: @tribkurt —-
West playoff race
Team W L Pct. GB
7. Dallas 42 39 .519 —
8. Houston * 40 41 .494 2
9. Utah 40 41 .494 2
* Rockets hold tiebreaker over Jazz