November was bad month for Utah Jazz

The month from somewhere far, far south is behind them now.

Good thing, too.

Because going 10-7 in November — even with four back-to-back sets, and the brutal rash of injuries they've incurred — wasn't exactly what the Jazz had in mind after they opened the 2008-09 NBA season with a win over Denver back on Oct. 29.

The previous two Novembers, after all, they fared much better, going 13-4 in 2006-07 and 11-5 last season.

As a result, coach Jerry Sloan's club will be looking to make up some ground in what now becomes a most-critical December — a month, incidentally, in which they went a disastrous 5-11 in 2007-08.

"It's real important," point guard Deron Williams said of a 31-day stretch that includes just 15 games, four of which come in the next five nights; another four back-to-back sets, beginning with Tuesday night's visit to Sacramento; and a whopping nine appearances on the road, including a five-game pre-Christmas road trip.

"We got off to a better start last year. This year, we're struggling right now," Williams added. "Hopefully we can get everybody back healthy, and have a good month."

He is not alone in those sentiments.

"It's obviously been tough the last month or so, with everyone being hurt," backup shooting guard Kyle Korver, who himself is recently recovered with a re-sprained right wrist, said late last week. "But I think we're getting back to the point now where guys are getting healthy, we can start getting some rhythm back and show the kind of team we really can be."

"We're gonna be healthy in a couple weeks," said All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer, who may or not return this week from a strained left quadriceps tendon and bruised kneecap that's kept him out for six straight games. "Then we'll be at full strength, and everybody better watch out."

The return to good health started with the return of Williams, who has played three games since prematurely ending his first attempted comeback from a sprained ankle sustained in the preseason.

He's had 13 or more assists in each of those three outings, but clearly still is not his usual self.

"Deron's been out for a period of time, and he's got to get himself to a level that's he's got to play," Sloan said after New Jersey point guard Devin Harris scored 34 points Saturday in a Nets win that closed a 2-2 Jazz homestand. "He's not quite there, but he's playing, and we have to adjust to that as best we can."

That's not all Sloan is seeking for the Jazz, who were without not only Boozer against the Nets, but also reserve forward Matt Harpring (back), reserve point Brevin Knight (finger), reserve big man Jarron Collins (elbow) and — for Saturday's second half — sixth man Andrei Kirilenko (ankle).

(The Jazz had no medical updates Sunday.)

"For us to move forward we've got to be able to stop some people," Sloan said.

Williams, for one, readily concurs.

"We've had a tough year," he said.

But, the Jazz point added, "We're still right there. You win a couple in a row, and you can be right back toward the top. So, we've just to get in synch, and get better defensively. I think that's the main thing."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com

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