Rare start pays off as 'nail' man delivers

Jazz guard Kirk Snyder slipped off his shower clogs to reveal toenails that have been painted black.

It wasn't his idea, but he's warming to it.

His 15-year-old sister, who was in Salt Lake City a few days ago, did the nail job and told him it would be good luck. And who's to argue?

Snyder had 13 points in Tuesday's loss to Charlotte, his first game off the "injured" list and first with black toenails.

"I was pleased the other night," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said about his rookie.

"That's why I gave him a chance to start tonight, and hopefully he can go with that."

Snyder started Saturday night in place of veteran Gordan Giricek, who didn't get off the bench until late in the 108-92 Jazz victory over the New Orleans Hornets in the Delta Center.

Snyder and his lucky, painted-black toenails had 11 points, including 2-for-3 on 3-point shots. He made Utah's first basket of the game, a 3-pointer, and followed up with a 22-footer, a free throw and a layup for the first eight Jazz points of the game Saturday.

While he wasn't completely pleased with his game, the 22-year-old from Upland, Calif., out of the University of Nevada, would welcome another start Monday night when the Jazz play host to the New York Knicks.

"I was pleased for the most part," Sloan said about Snyder's Saturday game, though the coach had some issues with Snyder's defense at times and with what he perceived as fatigue caused by Snyder's excitement at getting his third career start.

"I'm just going to change guys around periodically and give different guys a chance to play," Sloan said. "Some of the young guys haven't had an opportunity to play in situations I think are helpful for them and where they can improve their game."

"Hopefully that means I'll get a chance," Snyder said about a possible second straight start. "I'll stay there right there and work hard and (try to) deserve it."

Snyder said there isn't much difference in starting or coming off the bench, but, "I think it's better for me because I get to get into the flow of the game, and I know how fast the game is going right off the bat. That makes it a little bit easier to adjust, but that's as far as it goes."

"He got real tired," Sloan observed, blaming the excitement of starting. "His energy level went away real quick."