Quite a season — Jazz endure one wild ride

With a soaring start, an abrupt crash-ending and plenty of twists, turns, dips and doodles in between, the Jazz's 2006-07 NBA season was a ride arguably more wild than most sane-minded rollercoaster engineers could ever dream of designing.

By the time all was said and done nearly eight months after the opening of October training camp, and the team's first trip to the Western Conference Finals since 1998 was ended in five games by the San Antonio Spurs, there was a bit of internal bickering, a long list of memories to savor and a general sense that finishing seven victories shy of the franchise's first NBA title offers jacked expectations for the future.

"I hope next year," veteran forward Matt Harpring said, "we can come back with more dedication than this year."

That in mind, here's a look at the some of the highs and lows during a season that can be recalled — to this point — as the Jazz's best since stars John Stockton and Karl Malone chose 2003 as the year to put Utah in their personal rear-view mirrors:

1. WHAT AN OPENING

In a happenstance that would eventually come full circle, the Jazz on Nov. 1 opened at the not-even-close-to-being-sold-out Delta Center — the arena's longtime name would be changed to EnergySolutions Arena before the season was done — with a 107-97 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Foreshadowing what the coming months would hold, power forward Carlos Boozer — two injury-plagued seasons behind him — would lead with the way with a 24-point, 19-rebound double-double and second-season point guard Deron Williams would pitch in another 18 points and 10 assists.

Utah went on to win its road opener at Phoenix, rallying late and outscoring the Suns 31-21 in the final quarter.

Over the next three-plus weeks, the Jazz were arguably the hottest team the NBA had to offer.

Before sustaining their first back-to-back losses late in November, Utah had started a franchise-best 12-1 — the lone defeat in that stretch coming when they committed 17 turnovers in a Nov. 8 visit to New Jersey.

After falling to the Nets, the Jazz reeled off eight straight victories — their longest winning streak of the season.

In the final four games during that run, though, Utah had to overcome big deficits: Down by 16 in the fourth quarter against Phoenix, vs. Toronto after being down 16 for a second straight game, down by 21 in the second half before winning at Sacramento and down by as many as nine in a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers that included 13 ties and a whopping 19 lead changes.