After panelists asked a series of questions, they wrote down on a card -- No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 3 -- who they thought the real deal was, attempting to differentiate between who was telling the truth and who was slinging the bull.

At the end, the signature line was uttered by the show host, Bud Collyer or Garry Moore or Bert Convy or Joe Garagiola: Will the real [John Doe] please stand up?

The three bobbed up and down for a few seconds, giving the audience a number of head fakes, and then the actual person stood.

That's the question of the hour for Jerry Sloan, who's old enough to remember the original show, and his players, who aren't: Will the real Utah Jazz please stand up?

Is it team No. 1, a group that tried real hard, playing with energy on the road against the Nuggets, but lacking touch and execution, ultimately losing by 10 points? Is it No. 2, the team that showed -- or didn't show -- up against the Minnesota Timberwolves the other night at EnergySolutions Arena, falling flat on its face against one of the NBA's worst outfits? Is it team No. 3, the one that came out precise and determined, smoking the Hornets in New Orleans on Sunday night?

Not sure whether Kitty Carlisle, Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, or Nipsey Russell, all regular panelists at one time or another, could get this one right.

Kitty: Contestant No. 2, you allowed the T-wolves to shoot 53 percent in your own building, including 11 of 26 from behind the arc, all while you shot 48 percent. How? Why?

No. 2: We are fundamentally flawed on defense. Exactly why Kevin O'Connor didn't make a move for interior defensive help before the trade deadline is beyond us. If a team takes the ball hard to the basket, in addition to hitting from the perimeter, we're toast.

Peggy: Contestant No. 1, against the Nugs, in an important Northwest Division showdown, three of your best offensive players combined to hit 10 of 45 shots from the field. How do you explain that?

No. 1: Boozer doesn't have his game back yet. Jerry is starting to wonder if he ever will. A lot of us think Millsap should be starting in his place. Okur was busy rebounding. Kirilenko was still lost, pouting about playing only 24 minutes. And we all made Chris Andersen look like Bill Russell, allowing him to block eight shots. Dude's a freak who scares the bejeebers out of us.

Bill: No. 3, you went up on the Hornets 41-19 in the first quarter. How'd you do that?

No. 3: We finally made a strong move right from jump, something we rarely do away from home, especially against playoff teams in the West. But we lived up to our potential in this one. Brewer was unstoppable early on, showing his athleticism and how effective he can be when he actually drains his outside shot, which might be the ugliest stroke in the league, but when it's going, look out. Kirilenko found himself, giving us the lift he can provide. And Deron, who told us all to get our derrieres in gear, was rock solid, showing us the way.

Nipsey: So ... how will the season end? No. 1?

No. 1: With us as the seventh seed in the West, we lose to the Nuggets in the first round.

Nipsey: No. 2?

No. 2: Eighth seed, eliminated by the Lakers in five.

Nipsey: No. 3?

No. 3: Seeding won't matter. Beat whomever in the first two rounds, then lose to the Lakers in the conference finals. With Ginobili out, the Lake Show is the only team in the West we can't beat.

Bud or Garry or Bert or Joe: Mark your ballots, panel, and everyone playing along at home. OK, will the real Utah Jazz please stand up?

Dramatic pause ... drum roll ... dramatic pause, again.

Bud or Garry or Bert or Joe: I repeat, will the real Utah Jazz please stand up?

Crickets chirping ...

Skidding and rolling, whichever it is, into Dallas on Wednesday night, all three contestants, the genuine article and the two posers, are bobbing and head faking, still.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Monson and Graham Show" weekdays from 2-6 p.m. on 1280 AM The Zone. He can be reached at gmonson@sltrib.com