I try not to associate this year's Utah Jazz team with the cohesive unit from the Stockton/Malone era.  But thanks to head coach Jerry Sloan, such comparisons are inevitable.

When John Stockton and Karl Malone left Utah, it would have probably been a great opportunity for their longest tenured coach to take a walk too.  But Jerry Sloan wasn't done.  His passion for the game was burning stronger than ever...and perhaps he felt there was something left to prove.

In all those glory years when then Jazz were so close to the top of the NBA mountain...was it because of the dynamic duo of Stockton and Malone, or did Sloan's leadership and coaching ability have something to do with it?

In my opinion...it was all of the above.

Blast From The Past

After a few years of assisting Frank Layden, Sloan was given the Utah coaching gig in December of 1988.  It was immediately clear that he was a perfect fit for the Jazz, as they became one of the NBA's most consistent teams.  Built around the one-two punch of John Stockton and Karl Malone, a new brand of basketball was born in Salt Lake City.

Those Jazz teams of the 90's were known for flawless execution, and a gritty style of play.  The pick-and-roll offense became a staple of Sloan's strategy, just as it is today.  And even though other teams usually had a superior collection of talent...Utah became a member of the NBA's elite.

Follow the Leader

There is no specific formula for success in basketball.  The legendary Chicago Bulls found success with a triangle offense, and were led by the great Michael Jordan...a shooting guard.  Other NBA Champions like the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs made it happen with superior post play.  But there is one common ingredient for all these championship teams - leadership.

You might think of Jerry Sloan as being a little bit "old school".  He's 65 years old, has a hot temper...and earns his share of technical foul calls from arguing with the officials.  Sloan is often blunt as a spoon...rarely sugar-coating his words when speaking about his players, or anything else.

But the other side to his coaching style suggests that he is a modern day leader as well.  Sloan's players have always respected him.  They believe in him.  They can count on him handling conflict professionally.  Rather than stealing the spotlight, he constantly gives due credit to his players.

Some may have questioned his logic for sticking around for a painful rebuilding process, but after this season...none of those doubts carry any merit.  The Western Conference is stronger than it has been in years...and despite a late-season skid, the Jazz are still competitive.  In fact, his performance in molding a young group of unknowns could earn him a much-deserved Coach of the Year award.

The Missing Link

This year's Utah team isn't exactly like the one from 10 years ago...but it isn't totally dissimilar either.  The new Jerry Sloan recipe doesn't quite taste the same, but there are some familiar ingredients.

The Catalyst - In just his second year, Deron Williams has become the bandleader for the Jazz.  Utah has desperately needed a steady point guard since the departure of John Stockton, who knew how to direct a team as good as anyone.  Consider that Utah passed on drafting another talented point guard, Chris Paul, in order to land Williams with the 3rd overall pick in 2005.  But apparently, Larry Miller and the Jazz front office knew what they were doing.  Both point guards are already paying dividends for their respective franchises, but Deron fits Sloan's style of play.  He can add a little bit of scoring, a lot of assists, and makes everyone around him better.  Williams isn't the flashy scorer that Chris Paul is, but he gets the job done in more ways than one.  If Utah hopes to improve over the next few seasons, Deron will need to become the kind of catalyst that John Stockton once was.

The Mailman - Of course, there can only be one true "Mailman"...but Carlos Boozer has emerged as a top-tier post presence for Utah.  Karl Malone once filled that role, and now it's up to Boozer.  In today's game, the workhorse power forward is a dying breed.  But that's exactly what this squad needs, a thoroughbred.  Boozer is an absolute monster on the boards, averaging close to 12 rebounds per game this season.  He also has some serious scoring ability (21 PPG), even though he isn't the unstoppable go-to-guy that Karl Malone was.  But credit Boozer for adapting to a star role with Utah, a part he probably wouldn't get a chance to play with many other teams.

The Stopper - It might be a stretch to compare the two, but Andrei Kirilenko is the team's best defender...much like Bryon Russell used to be.  Offensively, "AK47" has been somewhat disappointing this year...but his versatile defensive play is a necessity for the Jazz.  He's big enough to match-up against forwards...and is also quick enough to defend shooting guards.  Kirilenko's shot-blocking ability makes him difficult to beat, and he is usually assigned to the opposition's leading scorer.  His future in Utah may be uncertain, but for now...they need his defensive skills to make any sort of run in the playoffs.

The End of an Era?

There has been speculation that this could be Jerry Sloan's final season of coaching.  At 65 years young, he has been contemplating retirement for quite a while.  Even though I would hate to see him leave, the good news is that long-time assistant Phil Johnson would likely be the heir apparent.  If anyone knows the Sloan style of basketball, it would be Johnson.  He has been an assistant in Utah ever since Sloan took over as the head coach.

I hope that Sloan will stick around another couple of years to watch this team develop.  But if he doesn't...let me just say that I appreciate all the years of hard work he put in for this franchise.  And even though it may be time for Jerry to go soon...this will always be his team.

Is it the end of an era?  Hardly.  It's only the beginning...