Utah Jazz: Playoff-bound Jazz not thinking about foes

Even though the New Orleans Hornets' victory over the Golden State Warriors Sunday afternoon officially put the Utah Jazz into the 2008 NBA Playoffs, no one from the Jazz organization was actually rooting for the Hornets.

"I won't root for anybody. I'll root for the Jazz," said coach Jerry Sloan, who has spent the past couple of weeks trying to dispel thoughts that Utah was a lock to get into the playoffs in the ultra-tight Western Conference race.

Even Deron Williams, good friends with Hornet point guard Chris Paul, said he wasn't rooting for New Orleans Sunday. "No, because they're in the top spot, and we still want the top spot. They have a tough road ahead of them," he said, still hoping against hope that Utah (51-26 with five games left) can somehow surpass the Hornets (54-22 with six games left) for No. 1 in the West.

"It's up to us," Williams said about first qualifying for the playoffs (check) and then the Northwest Division title (next up) and, in his mind anyway, the overall conference title.

Even though the Jazz are now playoff-bound, they have to wait to hang what will be their second straight Northwest Division pennant. Seattle beat Denver on Sunday, meaning the division title may be decided prior to Saturday night when the Nuggets visit EnergySolutions Arena.

"That's never the end-goal," said Kyle Korver, who has been to the playoffs just once in his six-year career, in his second season.

"A division championship is nice, but when you have your goals set right, that's just one of the things that kind of fall in place with it. That's a cool thing. I didn't know that — (possible) back to back titles — but we're still going to go out there and try to win games, and when everything is done, if you've got a division title, it's great."

Of qualifying for the playoffs Sunday, Korver added, "But we don't want to just make the playoffs, we want to play for a seed."

Jazz veteran Matt Harpring also sees bigger fish in the sea.

"I kind of look at it, right now we have 51 wins. That's a good year by any stretch, but we have a chance to have 55, 56 wins with five games left. Let's make the most of this thing and push it to the playoffs," he said.

"You just take what you get in that," said Sloan about qualifying. He seems glad to still have more to play for.

"That's what basketball should be. I don't see any excitement (in) going to the game and knowing you don't have to win.