Johnson much more comfortable as No. 2 News Dallas Mavericks

Phil Johnson played the part of bench boss during the Utah Jazz's loss Friday night in his second stint as the understudy head coach this season. Even before getting stunned by Minnesota, the 20-year Jazz assistant and former NBA coach of the year said he doesn't particularly enjoy taking the lead role in place of Jerry Sloan. "I'd just as soon have everybody here and play," Johnson said prior to tipoff. Johnson took the reins from Sloan for this game because the Jazz coach was with family in McLeansboro, Ill., for the funeral of his older brother.

Charles "Buck" Sloan, 80, passed away on Tuesday and will be buried during services today in the Sloans' Illinois hometown. Sloan will rejoin the team in New Orleans for Sunday night's game, which will come as a relief to his faithful sidekick, who has extra duties in his boss' absence. One of those chores, he deadpanned, is particularly painful. "I basically do two jobs," Johnson said, "and it's a switch for me because I have to deal with the media, which I don't have to do before. That's the best part of my other job." Especially after unexpected losses. Johnson was the courtside chief in the Jazz's second game this season ? a 101-79 blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 1, 2008 ? because Sloan was under the weather. The Jazz fell to 9-7 in Sloan's absence. Johnson doesn't intend on speaking with Sloan until he meets up with the team in New Orleans for Sunday's game. "It's an early game," Johnson said, "so hopefully he'll be able to get there OK." IDENTITY CRISIS?: TNT NBA analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith said they aren't sure the Jazz are who they think they are. Smith called Utah a "marked team" after the Jazz's 114-104 loss at Denver on Thursday. However, neither former player believes Utah fully comprehends that. "They don't realize that people understand that they have an opportunity to win the Western Conference," Smith said. "So when they walk into that building they are no longer that team that sneaks up on you, so people get ready for you." Barkley agreed. "They don't understand that they are one of the elite teams," he said. "Everybody gets excited to play you, especially on the road. They are going to have to come out with more intensity and play better defense ? they have to develop a mean streak." MORE SIR CHARLES: Barkley also divulged his secret to the Jazz's potential success. (Hint: They both wore Team USA jerseys last summer.) "There's got to be toughness, (that is) what they are missing. Their two best players are Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, but Deron Williams and Boozer, they have not become that team," Barkley said. "It was Michael (Jordan's) Bulls, (Larry) Bird's Celtics, Magic (Johnson's) Lakers ? Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, 'He's our guy, we follow Timmy,' the Celtics follow Kevin Garnett." In Barkley's opinion, the Jazz won't really get into a groove until their leaders start leading and the rest start following. "Deron Williams and (Carlos) Boozer are both terrific players but they haven't put their imprint (on the team)," Barkley said. "LeBron James has elevated his game this year. LeBron is going to make them play, they have taken his personality. "As good as I thought the Utah Jazz are, I'm losing faith in them," he added. "I thought they were the only team who really had a legit chance to beat the Lakers, but they have not taken their coach (Sloan's) personality." GOING GREEN: Jazz players wore T-shirts made of recycled cotton ? which displayed a symbol made of a blend of the Recycle Earth and NBA logos ? over their warm-ups to help bring attention to the league's Green Week. E-mail: jody@desnews.com Sloan's previous misses The Jazz fell to 9-7 in games missed by coach Jerry Sloan. The results of how they've fared in his absence: Date Reason Result Site 4/17/93 league suspension Jazz 110, Phoenix 101 home 3/5/99 knee surgery Jazz 106, Dallas 95 home 3/7/99 knee surgery Lakers 97, Jazz 89 home 1/29/03 league suspension Jazz 95, Blazers 71 home 1/31/03 league suspension Jazz 102, Warriors 94 home 2/1/03 league suspension Lakers 99, Jazz 87 L.A. 2/3/03 league suspension Mavericks 92, Jazz 90 home 2/5/03 league suspension Jazz 105, Grizzlies 84 home 2/11/03 league suspension Jazz 103, Rockets 101 Houston 2/12/03 league suspension Rockets 106, Jazz 76 home 1/5/04 personal reasons Jazz 108, Mavericks 94 home 1/9/04 personal reasons Nuggets 106, Jazz 96 Denver 3/12/04 personal reasons Jazz 99, Suns 90 Phoenix 1/29/07 stomach flu Nets 116, Jazz 115 New Jersey 11/1/08 illness Jazz 101, Clippers 79 home 4/3/09 brother's funeral T-Wolves 103, Jazz 102 home