Harpring's been flying under radar this year

LOS ANGELES — Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams have been blimps on the radar, and Mehmet Okur much more than a blip.

Matt Harpring?

He's flying under it these days, which is just fine with the veteran forward who is quietly enjoying a typically productive season.

The 30-year-old Harpring is doing so while coming exclusively off the bench, which in years past would have eaten at his pride and made the man some affectionately call "Grumpy" that much grouchier.

Not now, though.

Not with the Jazz off to a 16-5 start, and on a path to get Harpring back to postseason play for — on a personal level — the first time in what would be four years.

"It doesn't really bother me anymore," the Georgia Tech product said of his lower-profile role. "It just doesn't. It's something I'm not worried about.

"I guess I'm at the point in my career where I care more about us winning," added Harpring, who went to the playoffs just three times in his first eight NBA seasons. "If (coach) Jerry (Sloan) thinks it's our best chance of us winning, then I'm cool with (coming off the bench). I'm fine with that."

Besides, the Jazz's backup small forward behind Andrei Kirilenko is quick to point out, "I still play the fourth quarter. That's the big part of the game."

Depending on matchups, the foul situation and flow of play, Harpring — who is averaging 11.0 points through 21 games, and has scored in double digits 14 times as the Jazz head into tonight's visit with the Los Angeles Clippers — indeed is among a selection of possible closers for Sloan that rarely numbers more than seven.

Boozer and Williams, of course, are getting an overwhelming majority of attention this season. The contributions from Okur, who led the Jazz in scoring last season, are not overlooked. Neither are those from Kirilenko, Derek Fisher or even rookie Paul Millsap.

Yet Harpring is practically taken for granted as he churns along doing all the same gritty, hustle-happy things that helped him earn another of his nicknames, "Little Jerry."

That's a nod to often playing as hard as his current coach did back in the day, going to floor to scoop up a loose ball or cutting to the basket with a vengeance no matter how many forearms and elbows fill the obstacle course.