Winning on the road — a major downfall for the Jazz in 2007-08 — and not playing selfishly are also areas of emphasis. Finding playing time for a team considered deep in talent — especially in the guard and small-forward spots — will be among the challenges. The latter, Matt Harpring says, will be "tricky."

"I just think if we stay unselfish this year we'll be successful," said Harpring, who'll miss training camp to rehab from an ankle infection he suffered due to surgery complications. "We have talent. We have players that can play. If we just play together and pull for one another and not try to do it all by ourselves at one time, then we'll be fine."

That is just what the Jazz are counting on and why they believe their cohesiveness can trump the contract situation.

"It's definitely promising that we have everybody back and we have the same team intact. We're just ready to pick up where we left off," Williams said, referring to last year's Northwest Division championship team that made it to the Western Conference semifinals.

"It could be a blessing, could be a curse. You never know," Williams, who signed a hefty extension this summer, added about all the contract uncertainty. "You've just got to hope everybody is on board and is prepared to play their role and do what's right for the team."

---

E-mail: jody@desnews.com

tbuckley@desnews.com