The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings: Keys to righting the ship

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Sacramento Kings Guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and Sacramento Kings Guard Buddy Hield (24) look on during an NBA game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 06, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Sacramento Kings Guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and Sacramento Kings Guard Buddy Hield (24) look on during an NBA game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 06, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 15: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a foul during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 15, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Indiana Pacers won 109-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 15: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a foul during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 15, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Indiana Pacers won 109-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Keep heads up

When a team is going through a poor stretch, the worst thing that can happen is for confidence to dwindle, effort to subside and team chemistry to implode. We got an unfortunate little preview of that on Monday against the Indiana Pacers where it just seemed like nothing could go right for the home-team Jazz.

It’s certainly easier said than done to overcome the substantial mental block that the Jazz are undoubtedly facing right now, but if they are to earn a much-needed confidence building win over the Sacramento Kings, the first step they’ll have to take is to get out of their own heads and be positive coming into the game.

Yes, it’d be easy for them to get down on themselves collectively for their recent struggles, but the Jazz will be much better served keeping their heads up, staying calm and collected, and going into Sacramento with the mindset of executing their game plan and simply taking care of business against an inferior team.

If they can approach the game with that extra bit of swagger and confidence, pushing to one side their recent woes, it should very well carry over to their performance on the court and help them come away with the victory.

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