Nearly two decades after Karl Malone and John Stockton began their Sisyphean quest for an NBA championship, the duo is back to push the boulder up the hill another season. Utah Jazz teammates better help shoulder the load or else the Jazz might miss the playoffs for the first time since 1982-83.

The Jazz finished last season with their worst record (44-38) since 1986-87 and have posted declining winning percentages every season since 1996-97. Yet Jerry Sloan?s team nearly upset the top-seeded Sacramento Kings in the First Round of NBA Playoffs 2002 and a new, stable lineup should provide improved team chemistry.