Utah Jazz: With adjusted rotation, second go-around against Blazers is much better

OVERALL: The Jazz showed major strides in their first home game of the 2011-12 season at EnergySolutions Arena, although analysis is somewhat jaded since it not typical for a team to lose to the same ballclub twice in a row. With the addition of Millsap, the Jazz truly can have a powerful front court, especially when you throw 6-foot-9 Evans in the mix. The jury is out whether veterans Watson and Tinsley can maintain consistent play behind Harris, or if they are truly past their prime. Kanter has certainly been the more impressive rookie than Burks, who will need to actually make shots if he expects to stay in the rotation. Burks should be out of the rotation if Corbin decides to clear up the small forward position by playing Miles more there with Bell. Burks — and every Jazzman, for that matter — may have just drawn an easier assignment in his first official regular-season game if Kobe Bryant can’t play due to his newly sustained injury to his right wrist. With 43 turnovers through two games, the Jazz must take care of the ball, though that issue may be ironed out over time. But how much time can the team take in a shortened season? Grade: B

Rhett Wilkinson is a journalism and speech communications major at Utah State University. He has previously been an intern for the Deseret News. He can be reached at rhett.wilkinson@yahoo.com or at Twitter: wilklogan