SALT LAKE CITY — Not only is it uncommon for the Utah Jazz to play on Sundays, in the eyes of some, it is downright sacrilegious.
Jazz games aren’t scheduled on Sundays because they traditionally don’t draw as many fans, because so many are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which celebrates Sunday as a day of rest.
However, the NBA’s playoff schedule dictated that the Jazz would play Denver on Sunday in Game 4 of their series.
“It’s definitely different,” Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said after the shootaround. “Because we usually either have practice or we’re usually watching football right now.”
Not all members of the Jazz family broke tradition, however. Owner Greg Miller carried on the tradition of his late father, Larry H. Miller, and watched the game from home. He sold his lower-bowl seats in an auction that benefited point guard Deron Williams’ Point of Hope Foundation.
“That’s a great gesture,” Williams said.
Sloan at work. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan at times appears to have just two modes: mad and not mad.
Still, a reporter asked Sloan if, despite the pressure and stress accompanying the series, he has fun on the bench.
“You should sit in that seat,” Sloan replied. “Everybody says, ‘Oh this is fun.’ Well, if you’ve got sweat running all over your body and all that stuff and you say, ‘This is fun . . .’ It’s a job, and it’s not an easy job.”
Jazz keeps focus on Denver. Despite the tied series between the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder having huge implications for either the Utah or Denver, the Jazz maintain it is not paying close attention.
The series winners will face off in the second round. Oklahoma City won two home games this week to steal back some of the defending champions’, well, thunder.
“We’ve got to take care of business just to get there,” Boozer said. “We can’t worry about who we’re going to play next. We might not get out of this round.”
