Jazz show fight, but still search for consistency

Jazz center Francisco Elson said that Utah’s coaches had an important message for their team during halftime Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Utah was down by 18 and the Jazz were again getting killed on the boards. Moreover, Utah was getting pushed and bullied around by the Clippers — highlighted by rookie forward Blake Griffin’s 12 first-half rebounds — at EnergySolutions Arena, the Jazz’s home court.

So Utah’s coaches distinctly pointed out what many packed inside a sold-out ESA were already thinking, Elson said.

“Basically, the [coaches] told us that we were playing like sissies out there,” said Elson, who did not register a point but played 12 emotional minutes during Utah’s 109-107 double overtime victory over Los Angeles.

The proud, tough-minded veteran center agreed.