Jazz hoping to beat one L.A. team News Golden State Warriors

If a "Beat L.A." chant erupts in EnergySolutions Arena tonight, it might not be because Jazz fans are getting in the mood for a very possible first-round match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers. The spectators might just be hoping to help the Jazz beat the other L.A. ? the Los Angeles Clippers. Heaven only knows Utah needs all the help it can get.

Considering the Jazz's recent struggles against sub-.500 teams at home ? and the team's late-season skid overall ? even beating the Clippers suddenly doesn't sound as easy of a feat for Utah to accomplish as you'd imagine it should. While trying to come to grips with a stunning 118-108 loss to Golden State on Saturday ? their latest inexplicable loss to a supposedly inferior NBA team at the supposedly intimidating ESA ? Jazz players admitted their shortcomings yet claimed to still have hope for regaining some last-second momentum prior to the playoffs. "We're not giving up on the season," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "We've still got two ballgames to win, and hopefully we can do that." Losers of six of their past seven games, the Jazz finish off this rough regular season with games against the two L.A. teams. After hosting the Clippers tonight, Utah travels to take on its potential first-round foe, the Lakers, on Tuesday at the Staples Center. "We'll see how we fight back," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "We all know what we have to do, I think," added Jazz swingman Kyle Korver. "You know, it's just all about doing it. It's just playing hard and playing together, and that's the whole key. "And," he continued, "we just haven't done it lately." Oddly enough, not even against the Timberwolves or Warriors. Thanks to their puzzling late-season slump, the Jazz's hopes of facing anybody but the loaded Lakers in the first round now fall somewhere between Andrei Kirilenko's body size and Morris Almond's recent NBA playing time. With their most recent inexplicable loss to the undermanned Warriors and New Orleans' win over Dallas on Sunday, slim and none about aptly describe the likelihood of Utah facing a team that doesn't have Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on its roster. The Jazz (47-33) could still move up a spot or even two. To catch New Orleans, Utah would need to win out and the Hornets would need lose at Houston and San Antonio. Catching Dallas would require at least one more Utah victory (not a guarantee) and for Dallas to lose either against Minnesota on Monday or Houston on Wednesday, maybe both. Regardless of how the seeding shakes out, Williams says the Jazz's postseason plight is "not the end of the world." That'll come as good news for Utah fans and for those who don't quite have all their food storage yet, too. "We are still in the playoffs," Williams said, "and things can happen." In order for those things to be positive, power forward Carlos Boozer claims Jazz players have to give their best effort ? and no time like the current ? as they try to recapture some momentum. "We've got to dig deep inside each other, get the best out of each other and get ready for the playoffs. We'll find it," Boozer said. "We've got to look ourselves in the mirror and see if we're giving our best effort ? and we will." That, of course, is what Sloan demands from his against-the-ropes players, too ? even, he recently stressed, if they have to duke it out earlier than they would've preferred to against the defending Western Conference champions. "I can't do anything about it," the Hall-of-Fame coach said. "We're going to play whoever's there." To further cement that point, Sloan insists he's never backed away from a challenge, adding that he'd rather face a team with all of its weapons than one that's missing its key players. That way, he says, there will be "no excuses." Rather, he prefers his best going against the opponent's best, and may the best team advance. In other words, you won't hear him predicting a four-game sweep if the Jazz face L.A. in the conference quarterfinals. "Whoever we have to play in the first round ? if it's the Lakers ? then go play them, and lay it out there," Sloan said. "And you never know what can happen. Strange things happen." For instance, the Warriors can dress just seven mostly unknown players and beat one of the best home teams on said squad's own court. Sloan also points to what the Warriors accomplished in 2007 ? before Utah beat them in the second round ? as proof. "I know that a couple years ago Dallas had a great record, and the eighth team went in there and beat them," Sloan said, referring to then-No. 8 Golden State. "That's what makes this game so interesting. You never know the outcome of it until it's all over," Sloan added. "And if you have any pride in yourself, and you have any pride in your organization as a player, then you'll rise to the occasion, be as good as you can be." Beating L.A. ? the Clippers, for now ? would be a good place to start rising, if you ask the Jazz or their fans. Contributing: Tim Buckley E-mail: jody@desnews.com