From Deseret News archives:
Win streak was bolstered by defense down the stretch
During the final 12 regulation minutes in their six previous outings, the Jazz won final-quarter play each time. On five of those occasions, their margin was in double-digits including a 22-point advantage in last Wednesday's 21-point comeback at Sacramento.
The key to it all?
"It's defense in the right times," forward Matt Harpring said. "The fourth quarter, especially down in crunchtime, is when you've got to have it.
"The fourth quarter is a different game," Harpring added. "The first three-and-a-half quarters are a certain type of game, and then you've got to have extra juice, extra stamina, for the stretch. ... (Coach) Jerry (Sloan) says all the time, 'Anyone can play the first three quarters."'
Closing the deal, Sloan suggested, is what matters most.
"To really be good," he said, "you can't make mistakes when you get in tough parts of (games)."
"The more you're with the same team, same guys, you're gonna become better and better as time goes on," Boozer added. "And that's what's happening."
BLAMING THE REFS: According to the Los Angeles Times, Lakers coach Phil Jackson "found fault with referees Leroy Richardson, Derrick Stafford and Derek Richardson a day after the Lakers' 114-108 loss (Friday) in Salt Lake City."
"It was one of those nights in Utah that you know you're going to get," Jackson, addressing the issue of physical play, told the Times. "The league throws out some referee corps that you're dubious about to start with and, you know, the game ends up to be like that.
"Jerry (Sloan) plays into that well," Jackson added. "He gets a technical and gets them intimidated and things get a little bit rough."
Getting a free pass in Jackson's blame game: Young Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who had just four points in 14 minutes against Utah.
"The big key with Drew is they wouldn't let him play," Jackson told the Times on Saturday. "They called a walk on him that wasn't a walk. He was fumbling the ball around, and they were smacking him around. It was just a roughhouse game."
The Jazz and Lakers meet again Thursday in Los Angeles, a game that will be televised nationally by TNT.
HILL BACK: Orlando's veteran star guard, Grant Hill, is scheduled to start tonight against the Jazz after missing the Magic's game against Atlanta last Saturday so he could attend his grandmother's funeral.
According to Florida Today newspaper, Vivian McDonald, 88, died last week in New Orleans following a lengthy battle with cancer.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
Comments
- 'Motherhood' is totally obnoxious 7:16 p.m.
- Gordon, Wallace lead Pistons 6:51 p.m.
- Lopez wants to get party started 6:47 p.m.
- Garden tips and events 6:47 p.m.
- Plant fall-fruiting trees and shrubs 6:47 p.m.
- Keep your toes toasty with heating 6:47 p.m.
- Soap under sheet for leg syndrome 6:47 p.m.
- Sacrifices of soldiers not forgotten 6:47 p.m.
- Let kids find biggest saver 6:47 p.m.
- Sharing bathroom not appropriate 6:47 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
214 - House passes health care bill
190 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
148 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
122 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
99
Here are a few leftovers from Beckerman from the "5 questions" interview.
It's almost tip time at the Spectrum as Utah State prepares to take on...
Why would we want to forget the history of Utah football prior to 2003? Utah...
I agree with anonymous 4:49 FCS! FCS! FCS now! Let's go where we are...
From the looks of the structure of the transmission it appears to be rather...
Most the people who constantly bash Moore have never seen his films. Once...
Wx you guys are an amazing team. Great sports manship and hard hitting, You...
"The paper money we use is worthless and nothing better than monopoly money."...
"Business is booming for companies like Tom's Shoes, which donates a pair of...
There was absolutely nothing in the article or the comments that said...
of doing anything about healthcare now or in the future. Their plan, offered...
I thought the only #1 seeds to ever lose in the first round were Seattle in...



You can be the first to comment on this story.