"We know we can beat this team," Boozer said. "It's seems like ages ago ... but we've definitely watched some tapes of us winning and hitting shots and making good defensive plays. All those things mean a great deal confidencewise."

And if the Jazz have anything right now, it's a heap full of confidence.

"Why not?" Kirilenko said when asked if Utah can overcome the mental block of winning in San Antonio. "Right now ... we can beat anybody.

"In the beginning of the season, I said we have a very talented team (but) we can beat anybody (or) we can lose to anybody. Very inconsistent, you know," he added. "(But) I think for the playoffs we gained that consistency, and right now we feel like we can really beat anybody."

Even the Spurs.

Even in San Antonio.

"I think we know we can go in and win," forward Matt Harpring said.

"You kind of look at the regular season a little bit," he added, "but both teams are playing a little bit differently now. I think both teams are playing better. So, I think it's gonna be a new open book."

Or at least one that perhaps can be rewritten.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, for one, has pen in hand as Utah attempts to draft its first invitation to the NBA Finals since Stockton, Malone and Hornacek got them there for a second straight time in 1998.

"Yeah, but all that stuff's out the window as far as I'm concerned," he said when asked about his club's record in San Antonio. "I realize that that's been a tough place to play. (But) I think their talent makes it difficult to play 'em there. I don't think the arena has anything to do with it.

"Their talent of players has been terrific. Duncan has been at the top for a long time, and they have great support with the players they have. They have three All-Star performers out there (in Duncan, point guard Tony Parker and swingman Manu Ginobili).

"So," Sloan added, "it's something we're just gonna have to try to deal with — regardless of where we play them."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com