The Jazz think Houston small forward Shane Battier — who earlier this week finished third in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting behind winner Kevin Garnett and runner-up Marcus Camby — may be trying to intercept their offensive calls.

Such was the indication before the Jazz worked out Wednesday in advance of tonight's first-round playoff series Game 3 between Utah and the Rockets.

It's a somewhat common practice, however, for players to call out other teams' calls when they do pick them up.

And even if Battier does get them, Jazz point guard Deron Williams suggested, it's really no big deal.

"Of course everybody knows what we're doing," he said. "Coach (Jerry Sloan) has been calling the same plays since 1927."

Battier suggested almost as much earlier in the week, saying, "There are no surprises with Utah. You get a tape from Coach Sloan's second year in the league, and they run the same exact stuff, they'll do the same exact thing."

For the record, Sloan's second season in the NBA — as a player — was 1966-67.

Said the 66-year-old Sloan of Williams' age comment: "He knows I'm pretty old."

ALSTON MAY NOT SKIP GAME 3: For the first time since pulling his right hamstring more than a week ago, usual Rockets starting point guard Rafter Alston went through a full practice Wednesday.

Alston didn't play in Games 1 or 2, but he hopes to go tonight.

If he is ready to return, Alston is expected to be reinserted in Houston's starting lineup — with backup Bobby Jackson, who has shot 10-of-32 from the field in the first two games, back to the bench.

Should Alston indeed play, it presents some different dynamics with which the Jazz must deal.

"He has an ability to get shots early for them in their offense," Sloan said, "because he can shoot the ball out on the floor."

"Very good point guard," forward Carlos Boozer added. "Pushes it really well, does a good job of getting everybody involved. Good penetrator, good shooter."

THE AMERICAN JUDGE SAYS: Much was made of Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko's arm-flailing flop in Game 2, one which resulted in a critical last-minute foul being called on Houston's Luis Scola.

For perspective on Kirilenko's much-embellished reaction to Scola's contact, opinion was sought Wednesday from Jazz flopmaster extraordinaire Jarron Collins.

"I'm gonna go with 8— ... near 9," the Jazz's backup center said. "But I don't want it to hurt us long-term. Whenever he goes to the hole now, he gets fouled — I don't want him to not get a call because refs might see that as him trying to flop again.

"There was a foul. There was a grab," Collins added. "He (Kirilenko) needed to show that he was grabbed to the ref, and he was able to do that. He sold it as good as he could sell a foul."

Kirilenko, meanwhile, can't believe so much has been made of the play.

"I don't think it was only one key moment," the lanky Russian said. "(There) was, like, probably three, four moments at the end of the game."

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Contributing: Brad Rock

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com