Utah Jazz notes: In Houston, Price counting on friendly fans

Getting to go home to Houston and play, "That was probably my second thought. But my first thought was like, well, we don't have homecourt advantage, so we've got to get ready to play these first two games on the road against a team that is scary."

OKUR OK: Jazz center Mehmet Okur will not be suspended for his Flagrant 1 foul Wednesday night against San Antonio's Fabricio Oberto. An NBA spokesman said by e-mail Thursday that the foul will remain a Flagrant 1, and no further league action will be taken.

In the third quarter, Oberto beat Okur to a long rebound in the corner, and, from behind, Okur hit Oberto in the face with a roundhouse-kind of swipe as Oberto dribbled the ball. Oberto fell to the floor clutching his face.

"I didn't do it on purpose," said Okur, who as of midday Thursday had not been called by the league. "He had a good position on the rebound, and I was out of balance. He was in front of me. Accidentally I hit his face." Okur added, "I was going to hit the ball, but I was kind of out of balance, so I didn't see the ball. I accidentally hit his face. I don't even see him, his face right down there. I was going to hit the ball and make my teammates get the ball. I didn't do anything on purpose."

PRICE TAG: Price logged a total of nine playoff minutes over four games as a rookie with the Sacramento Kings two years ago. But he has a high opinion of this Jazz team in the 2008 playoffs.

"I think we're more of a championship-caliber team than any other team in the West," Price said, "because we just have a full roster, everyone's healthy, and I think the Rockets not having Yao Ming is a big situation for them that they have to deal with. Yao is a go-to guy that they go to down toward the end of the game. Without Yao, their post presence is not as strong."

Price, who played collegiately at Utah Valley, has enjoyed his first season with Utah. "This whole season has been new to me because I went from one style of a team (Sacramento) to another style, and I'll tell you what, I'll pick this style any day of the week.

"I love playing for this team, I love playing for this coaching staff and this organization. This road through this regular season has been fun, and I wouldn't change it for anything," said Price. "I'm just looking forward to the playoffs now and seeing the playoff atmosphere and the way guys handle themselves in the playoffs."

---

E-mail: lham@desnews.com