So it's interesting to wonder what could have been, had Benoit's aim been true.

· · · · ·

Along with heartache came joy in the Jazz-Rockets series.

In fact, Houston furnished the most memorable moment in Jazz history. On May 29, 1997, in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, with the clock expiring, John Stockton launched a long jumper that sent the Jazz to the NBA Finals for the first time.

It is a moment still frozen in time, with Stockton, Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek leaping into one another's arms.

Even the young Miles is familiar with that scene. He was only 12 when it happened, but he says he's watched the replay numerous times.

"Games like that you try to catch on NBA-TV whenever you can," he said.

Stockton, Malone and Hornacek are now gone, replaced by a new generation of players. Still, a McGrady-Yao-Boozer-Williams matchup isn't half bad.

Maybe, as the young Miles hints, the 2007 Jazz can catch some of that old magic.

"We're excited," said Miles. "If we play the way we know we can, we're going to be fine."

If something big is going to happen, this would be a good time. And a good place.

After all, these teams have a history.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com