But Sloan took note after watching the Milwaukee Bucks play in Denver on Tuesday, then hold shootaround Wednesday morning before playing the Jazz. In Sloan's opinion, the Bucks looked no worse for wear from the experience.

"Those things are kind of sticking in my mind," Sloan said. "I don't know if these guys are preparing themselves right or what, but we've got to take a look at a couple of things that we're going to have to do if we can't get somebody to play a little bit harder on the road."

Sloan did not hold a shootaround before Saturday's game against Memphis. He was dismayed, however, watching as the Jazz gave up 119 points to a Spurs team missing Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and dropped to 3-5 on the road.

"We've got to be more focused on playing Basketball," Sloan said. "I know guys have got things going on and interests and stuff, but we've just got to get better effort out of them.

"Our defensive effort was nonexistent. The way guys got over screens and stuff was really embarrassing if you go back and look at it on film."

Inside view

Even though he was cut in the preseason, Gabe Muoneke's weeks with the Jazz clearly made a positive impression. Muoneke has written about the experience (under the post "Obama in 2008, Sloan in 2012") in his blog on HoopsHype.com.

After going through training camp with four teams, Muoneke wrote of the Jazz: "That was the first NBA team I've been on in which every player was [in my view] earning his check."

Deron Williams was the Jazz's best defender, Carlos Boozer was their hardest worker and Mehmet Okur was the most professional player, setting the tone by coming early to lift weights before every practice.

He saved his highest praise for Sloan, asking how he keeps winning while other teams in the NBA with great players lose. "He doesn't change no matter what firestorm is going on around him and still manages to be human," Muoneke wrote.

rsiler@sltrib.com