Streaking Jazz hope nobody's noticing

SACRAMENTO — Now that it's reached double-digits, some with the Jazz will readily acknowledge the reality.

Their winning streak — longest currently in the NBA at 10 games, and longest in franchise history since they won 11 in a row in April 1999 — is the real deal.

Sure, it started with two victories over the current Pacific Division cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Clippers — winners of just 15 games this season.

Yes, it continued with their opponent tonight, a sub-.500 Sacramento Kings club.

Okay, it also includes a win over the Atlanta Division cellar-dwelling New York Knicks — winners of just 14 so far themselves.

True, Houston did not have ill All-Star Yao Ming. And San Antonio was playing with point guard Tony Parker for the last time before he was shut down due to injury. And Washington's absentees included not only usual All-Star Gilbert Arenas, but also-injured All-Star Caron Butler. And, it cannot be denied, Utah caught Southwest Division cellar-dweller Memphis, winner of a whopping 13, in its first game after trading franchise corner Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But after beating 33-win New Orleans on Monday to start the week and 29-win Denver in overtime on Wednesday night, forward Matt Harpring — for one — quickly comes to the defense of it all.

"Is the streak legit? Yeah," Harpring said. "I mean, what have we won? Ten in a row. Wow. I mean, anytime you win 10 in a row I don't care who you play — that's tough."

If others want to believe it's not, or many around the NBA fail to take note of just what the 32-18 Jazz have been doing lately, so be it, Harpring suggested.

"We don't care about that," he said. "I hope no one takes notice. Sneak up on everyone."

It's hard not to see, though, that in winning 14 of their last 15 overall the Jazz are a vastly improved team from the one that struggled through December.

In fact, just from the time the Jazz last lost — Jan. 17, at Denver — to now, coach Jerry Sloan has sensed tremendous growth in the club.

"We weren't as good a basketball team then. We didn't understand what we were trying to do," he said. "We (wanted then) to run a track meet too much — because we could get away with it at home."

Beyond harnessing themselves, Sloan sees several other things the Jazz have been doing particularly well during their current streak.

Shooting.

Passing too.

"Hopefully we'll get better with it, as you play against certain-type teams and how they try to play against you," the Jazz coach said. "But we've adjusted to that a little better. We've kind of come together a little bit more."