"Everybody feeling OK around here?

Anybody feeling OK?

Anyone?

Uh ... no.

Given the sorry circumstances, who could?

The day after a disappointing double-digit loss in Game 1 of the Jazz-Nuggets playoff series, an even darker storm cloud blew in and hovered over Jazz practice, and no amount of manly talk, no amount of forced optimism, no amount of bull slinging could clear it away.

News of Mehmet Okur's ruptured Achilles' tendon had arrived an hour or two earlier, and while most had guessed the wound was not good, the dour confirmation -- surgery and a long rehabilitation would be required -- was tough to absorb with any kind of sunshiny countenance.

Instead, the Jazz had trouble written all over their faces.

They were flat-out down, searching for ways to buck themselves back up. Trying, though, wasn't doing. The more they talked, the more the Jazz seemed like the first team in NBA history to be eliminated in a best-of-seven playoff series in just one game.

"Things happen," said Deron Williams, looking away. "We just can't give up."

"When somebody gets hurt, it's kind of a sick feeling," said Jerry Sloan. "It's a part of basketball. ... What are you supposed to do ... feel sorry for yourself?"

Well ... yeah.

One by one the Jazz players were asked about the injury, and one by one they answered that it was difficult to take, a damn shame, really."