SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz coach Jerry Sloan met with his coaches and team general manager Kevin O'Connor long after Wednesday's game ended, an unusual move for the veteran coach who usually speaks to the media minutes after each game ends.
When he finally did come out of the coach's offices, he would only say the Jazz's braintrust "just had some things we had to discuss."
Sloan then added, "We'll talk to y'all later about that."
At that, Sloan asked that questions involve the game itself. "If you don't mind," he added.
The meeting took approximately 35 minutes.
When asked what was said in the player's postgame meeting with Sloan, forward Andrei Kirilenko said, "Well, just (a) tough loss. We have to be ready for the next game. We have three more games before the All-Star break, so let's finish it strong and go get some rest and come back for the second part of the season."
It is noteworthy that when he left, Kirilenko emerged from the coach's office and not the regular team locker room.
Kirilenko was the first of the players to leave, which is not unusual.
Sloan said the the team is not actively trying to make a trade, but that O'Connor is always willing to listen to offers.
"I don't think there's any great need for panic," he said. "Kevin is always evaluating what we can do or what someone wants to do with another team. That's part of the business. Every day, that's part of his job."
O'Connor was not available for interviews after the game. The Jazz canceled a scheduled workout today.
GAME 54 Bulls 91, Jazz 86
* BEST PLAY: Deron Williams grabs a loose ball on the Chicago end, races down the floor against a 4-on-1 defense. He acts like he's going to hold up and wait for the rest of his teammates, then drives and finally whips the ball to Raja Bell who drains a 3-pointer.
* BEST LINE: Bulls guard Derek Rose finished with 29 points on 11-for-26 shooting. He also had seven assists and a steal against only one turnover.
* KEY STAT: The Jazz shot just 52.4 percent from the free throw line (11-for-21).
* SIDELINE MOMENT: Before tipoff, Boozer makes his way to the Jazz bench and hugs each member of the coaching staff.
* HISTORY LESSON: On today's date in 1998, Jazz Hall of Famer Karl Malone passed former teammate Adrian Dantley for fifth place on the NBA's all-time made free throws list. The Mailman, whose retired number hangs in the ESA rafters with Dantley's, hit free throw No. 6,834 that night.
* INJURY REPORT: Mehmet Okur (back) remains out of commission for the Jazz. On Wednesday afternoon the Jazz announced Okur would be out a minimum of three weeks while rehabbing lower-back inflammation. The team also went without center Francisco Elson (knee). ... Center Joakim Noah missed his 27th consecutive game with following December thumb surgery.
* UP NEXT: The Jazz will play host to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, then have three days off before meeting the Suns again in Phoenix.
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