Any of the teams still playing have that same kind of chance, that same bravado, Harpring said. "Everyone's got a shot. You don't know how matchups are going to be, you don't know who's going to get hot at the right time. There's so many variables. It's just great to be in this position — and while you're here, you might as well win."

Harpring said the coaches and veterans have tried to impress on the youngsters that these runs don't come along all the time. "Yeah, they won't get it," he said, remembering being in the playoffs in his rookie year. "It was fun. I didn't get the importance of the playoffs was until later in my career when you all of a sudden don't make it," he said.

Second-year point guard Deron Williams seems aware of what the Jazz have in their sights and how to get it.

"We wanted to make it to the playoffs and then make a run in the playoffs," he said, adding Utah played with some consistency through the first two series. "We're happy with that, but we feel like we've got to get better. You've got to improve in the playoffs."

Kirilenko was on two John Stockton-Karl Malone teams that were beaten out in the first playoff series, in 2002 (with Jarron Collins) and 2003 (with Collins and Harpring). This is Utah's first playoff season since then, so he knows this is kind of special.

"I don't think anybody expect of us to be in conference finals, but I thought we able to do it. I didn't think we'd be there like right now, but I thought we are able to do that.

"You know, I never won a championship. I want to win," said Utah's favorite Russian, adding one of those charming phrases only Kirilenko can come up with: "It's tough to do. Nobody says it's going to be cheese on the plate."

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E-mail: lham@desnews.com