Sunday, March 23, 2008

   The last thing I want to do is dive into that (very) gray area as far as what players do away from the game. If Deron Williams chooses to host a birthday party/rap concert on a game night, the only people who can question it are Larry Miller, Kevin O'Connor and Jerry Sloan.

    Here was Sloan's answer to a question on a subject after the Jazz's 115-101 victory over Seattle:

    "I don't follow them around where they go," Sloan said. "That's a part of this business. They've got lives to live like everybody else. I don't follow them. I hope they recognize what's important to them, being able to play well. That's all I can ask."

    We were a little confused as to whether Sloan realized the party was Saturday instead of Friday.

    "I don't know what kind of party it was," Sloan said. "That's just in my opinion looking for something to have as an excuse in case they don't win."

    More Sloan: "What do we do if they go out with their family and spend a little extra time? Maybe they have a couple of drinks or whatever and then come and play the next day. Some guys have a routine that maybe they include a drink or two.

    "I can't follow them around night in and night out. All I expect them to do is try to play and have respect for what we're trying to do here. That's all I've ever done.

    "It's like watching guys get ready to play. Some guys might be yawning in the locker room before the game. So what do think? What's that mean?

    "That's anxiety. Those things you have to pick up on or try to deal with. I don't try to make that one of my priorities. All I expect them to do is play well and I think everybody knows what they can do and what they can't do."

    Sloan was asked if he ever changed admission to one of his birthday parties. You could buy a ticket for $25 to Williams' party for C.J. Miles and Ronnie Brewer, with rapper Lil' Jon as the featured act.

    "I don't know who would want to be involved in one of my birthday parties," said Sloan, who turns 66 on Friday. "They're pretty boring."

    * * *

    The Jazz a half of uncharacteristic sloppiness to win against the Sonics. They actually heard boos in the first quarter as Damien Wilkins ran out for a dunk after Ronnie Price missed a jumper against Seattle's zone defense.

    Price threw a pass that skipped off Matt Harpring's hands out of bounds. Kyle Korver missed a rare free throw to start the second quarter, one of six missed free throws for the Jazz in the first half.

    Mehmet Okur wound up saving a ball straight to Johan Petro for a layup. Harpring blew a layup and Carlos Boozer missed a follow-up after grabbing the rebound after an Andrei Kirilenko missed free throw.

    The Jazz shot 37.3 percent in the first half and trailed 61-52 at halftime. In the last 1:08, you had Kevin Durant dunking off a between-the-legs pass from Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour attacking for a three-point play and sending Deron Williams to the bench with his third foul.

    * * *

    In case you were wondering what happened to the fan who heaved a full cup of beer onto the court in the final minute of Thursday's loss to the Lakers, the Jazz report that he was arrested, charged with several misdemeanors and is banned from the arena.

    --Ross Siler