PIECE OF CAKE: Then there is Jazz point guard Deron Williams, who plays on despite an assortment of injuries, including a sprained sacroiliac joint (where the base of the spine meets the back of the pelvis), a sore left elbow and a left calf that got kicked on Saturday.

Williams logged 46 minutes Saturday, but Sloan didn't think that was any big deal.

"He's 22 years old. That should be a piece of cake," the Jazz coach said. "I would feel bad for a guy who's 30, 35 trying to play 40 minutes. We had some of those guys here who had to play 40 minutes a night in the playoffs. That didn't seem to make any difference."

HE SAID IT: Recent NBA retiree and new TNT commentator Chris Webber: "This is in Utah's hands. It's their series to lose. They are one of the best-coached teams. They are like a well-oiled machine. Houston plays well and we praise them for being resilient, but Utah gets too many easy baskets."

COACHING CAROUSEL: The Chicago Tribune on Monday called Jazz assistant coach and former DePaul University star Tyrone Corbin "an intriguing possibility" to fill the Chicago Bulls head coaching vacancy, but reported that "nobody would confirm" Corbin is on general manager John Paxson's list of candidates.

Ex-Jazz point guard Mark Jackson, reportedly the lead candidate to become the next coach of the New York Knicks, is also a candidate in Chicago.

Corbin interviewed last year for the then-head coaching vacancy in Seattle, but didn't get the job.

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com