He uses regulars like Williams for no more than two quarters early on, and saves the Jazz's last two preseason games for getting a long look at what is likely to be his actual starting lineup and regular rotation.

He dangles playing time, hoping that hustle in exhibition games will prompt the same when it's the real deal.

And he uses the preseason to toughen his team for the rigors to come, playing five of their seven exhibition games this year out-of-state — including a stretch with four in a row on the road that begins today against the Trail Blazers.

"It always matters because there's a lot of things that we have to try to get better at," said Sloan, whose now 1-1 Jazz have had a losing record in the preseason only once (in 2005) since 1991.

"Each game may be used for a different thing," O'Connor added, "but the bottom line especially is we're trying to win the game."

That's because winning can be contagious.

So even if Williams watches from the bench at the end, and subs finish like they did in last Thursday's loss to Phoenix, there really is something at stake.

Even Boozer concedes as much.

"It matters," he said, "because we want to sharpen our tools up before we have to use them for real."

Jazz at Trail Blazers

Jazz (1-1) at Portland (2-1)
4 p.m. (MST)
Rose Garden, Portland
Radio: KFNZ 1320-AM
TV: None

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com