PK BLOG

Not to overstate the situation, which will seem incongruent with the following statement, but the Jazz must beat Phoenix on Thursday.

The ramifications go beyond a single game. If the Jazz lose, it will erase all the confidence gained from last month’s seven-game road winning streak.

From Jan. 20, beginning in San Antonio, through Feb. 21, ending in Portland, the Jazz didn’t lose a road game. The streak included back-to-back games, three games in four nights, and rallying from a 25-point deficit in the second half.

During that time, the Jazz seemed invincible. No matter the situation or opponent, save the impossible task of beating the Lakers in Los Angeles, Jazz nation believed.

Cracks in the foundation began to form in, of all places, Sacramento. Kings for a night, without starting forward Jason Thompson, lowly Sacramento surprised the Jazz.

More doubt seeped in this week, when the dregs of the NBA, otherwise known as the Los Angeles Clippers, beat up on the Jazz for 43 of the 48 minutes. Worse yet, All-Star Deron Williams, considered by many the game’s best point guard, succumbed to the pressure and missed two free throws that could have tied the game with 16 seconds left.

What took a month to build is close to unraveling in four days. Here’s where the game against the Suns comes in.

Beating Phoenix would go a long way to restoring the team’s confidence. Another loss further strengthens the belief, which is held by many listeners of the DJ and PK show, that the Jazz aren’t a good road team.

But a win could show the two most recent road losses were things that happen over the course of 82 games. The thinking would be that Williams, who played poorly in both losses, simply had bad games, like any star does.

All it takes is success in the Valley of the Sun.

Unlike the Clippers and Kings, Phoenix is an excellent team, capable of thrashing Denver and ending Oklahoma City’s nine-game winning streak all in the same week. The Suns are a direct competitor, trailing the Jazz by a game in the powerful Western Conference.

One game creates an entirely different outlook, particularly as the Jazz prepare to begin a four-game road trip next week. Assuming nothing, the Jazz could head to the Midwest on a two-game winning streak if they beat Phoenix and follow it up with a home win over the Clippers on Saturday.

Despite a recent upswing, Suns ought to be ripe for a bad game. They will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, also enduring four games in five nights.

The point is, with 37-year-old Grant Hill and 36-year-old Steve Nash, this should be a tired team. The Jazz, with a bunch of young bucks, have the benefit of two days off.

In other words, no excuses.

Besides the immediate need to regain confidence for next week’s trip, the Jazz have to keep pace. An ill-timed slump could plunge the Jazz, as well as any team besides the Lakers, into opening the first round on the road.

Only a few days ago, the Jazz had visions of winning the Northwest Division, taking with it the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. At that point, a Kobe Bryant sprained ankle or shooting slump could potentially thrust the Jazz into the NBA Finals.

But reality finds the Jazz scrapping with Denver, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and San Antonio. For all of these teams, the time has arrived.

For the Jazz, the clock starts Thursday.