Jazz 112, Sonics 93
You have to wonder how many players finish with a triple-double when they come into a game averaging 2.8 assists. Or how many fail to commit a single turnover on their way to a triple-double. Carlos Boozer was that player for the Jazz on Wednesday.
Boozer made two great passes midway through the third quarter that let everybody know he had a shot at the milestone against the Sonics. He hit Ronnie Brewer inside for a layup and whipped a pass to Mehmet Okur for a baseline jumper.
There was some extra perspective from Boozer after the game that I couldn't cram into a 600-word story. Starting with Boozer's exchange with Kyle Korver: "He just said it means I'm a selfish player," Boozer said, jokingly.
The Sonics turned to a zone defense much of the game and Boozer had little trouble getting open and getting the ball in the high post. As soon as Seattle collapsed around him, Boozer tried to find his teammates for baskets.
"I could see the whole floor," Boozer said, "so I could see Memo on the right, A.K. on the left, Ronnie Brewer, D-Will. The old adage is two people on you, that means somebody's open."
Asked Boozer if he gave Price some grief for not taking a shot in the final minute that could have been his 10th assist. Instead, Price looked inside to Andrei Kirilenko. "I was like, 'Yo, shoot the ball, baby,"' Boozer said. "He said A.K. was so open he had to pass to him."
Price brought up Boozer's three big games (23, 22, 22 points) heading into the All-Star break, capped by the triple-double. "He's an All-Star," Price said. "You know what I mean? He's an All-Star."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was asked about Boozer's focus with the All-Star Game waiting around the corner.
"I was impressed with the way he played," Sloan said. "I haven't seen him in that situation" - - Boozer was injured before the All-Star Game last season - - "but I thought he was really focused on trying to do the right thing all night long.
"He played strong, didn't try to force too many things and let the game come to him. I thought he had a really good solid, game."
* * *
Ronnie Price again gave the Jazz a good spark off the bench in the second half (the Jazz broke open the game with an 18-7 push with Price in the game) and Deron Williams was perhaps his biggest cheerleader.
When the Sonics called timeout two minutes into the fourth quarter, Williams was the first player off the bench to slap hands with Price and the others as they came off the floor. Sloan noticed the same thing; there's a quote in Thursday's paper.
* * *
Have to wonder if Wednesday wasn't a preview to come of Sloan's rotation. Jason Hart didn't play at all while Jarron Collins and C.J. Miles only got in for the last 50 seconds of the blowout. Wouldn't be shocked to see Sloan go nine deep for a while.
* * *
There was some talk even from Deron Williams' own teammates about how tough it's going to be for him to get All-Star recognition as a guard in the Western Conference if and when Jason Kidd arrives in Dallas.
Williams is now facing competition from Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Kidd, Allen Iverson, Brandon Roy, Baron Davis and Tony Parker.
Assuming Kidd will be added to the West team in New Orleans, Williams has an even smaller chance of being selected as an injury replacement. Bryant did aggravate his pinkie injury in the L.A. Lakers' victory over Minnesota.
* * *
Sloan clearly dreaded the get-away game before the All-Star break, saying once it was over: "It's always scary. This time of year you don't know what you're going to get."
* * *
The Jazz and Sonics went nearly seven minutes without a foul called in the first half. Seattle wasn't whistled for a foul the entire first quarter, not until the 11:21 mark of the second quarter when Nick Collison was called for a loose-ball foul on a rebound.
* * *
Sloan revealed after Wednesday's game that Andrei Kirilenko was bothered by a toe injury. Kirilenko had eight points on 2-for-6 shooting against Seattle.
* * *
The Sonics drew just 10,618 for the game, the smallest crowd the Jazz have seen this season. Their previous low was 11,006 for a November game at Philadelphia. Just goes to show the state of the Sonics in the midst of a relocation fight.
Wally Szczerbiak definitely didn't help his stock before next Thursday's trade deadline, finishing with five points but shooting 2-for-8 and committing three turnovers in 16 minutes.
* * *
The life of a beat writer: I'm flying back to Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, going out for a Valentine's Day dinner with the wife, then heading back to the airport for a 12:40 a.m. red-eye to Atlanta, connecting to New Orleans for the All-Star Game.
--Ross Siler
Boozer made two great passes midway through the third quarter that let everybody know he had a shot at the milestone against the Sonics. He hit Ronnie Brewer inside for a layup and whipped a pass to Mehmet Okur for a baseline jumper.
There was some extra perspective from Boozer after the game that I couldn't cram into a 600-word story. Starting with Boozer's exchange with Kyle Korver: "He just said it means I'm a selfish player," Boozer said, jokingly.
The Sonics turned to a zone defense much of the game and Boozer had little trouble getting open and getting the ball in the high post. As soon as Seattle collapsed around him, Boozer tried to find his teammates for baskets.
"I could see the whole floor," Boozer said, "so I could see Memo on the right, A.K. on the left, Ronnie Brewer, D-Will. The old adage is two people on you, that means somebody's open."
Asked Boozer if he gave Price some grief for not taking a shot in the final minute that could have been his 10th assist. Instead, Price looked inside to Andrei Kirilenko. "I was like, 'Yo, shoot the ball, baby,"' Boozer said. "He said A.K. was so open he had to pass to him."
Price brought up Boozer's three big games (23, 22, 22 points) heading into the All-Star break, capped by the triple-double. "He's an All-Star," Price said. "You know what I mean? He's an All-Star."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was asked about Boozer's focus with the All-Star Game waiting around the corner.
"I was impressed with the way he played," Sloan said. "I haven't seen him in that situation" - - Boozer was injured before the All-Star Game last season - - "but I thought he was really focused on trying to do the right thing all night long.
"He played strong, didn't try to force too many things and let the game come to him. I thought he had a really good solid, game."
* * *
Ronnie Price again gave the Jazz a good spark off the bench in the second half (the Jazz broke open the game with an 18-7 push with Price in the game) and Deron Williams was perhaps his biggest cheerleader.
When the Sonics called timeout two minutes into the fourth quarter, Williams was the first player off the bench to slap hands with Price and the others as they came off the floor. Sloan noticed the same thing; there's a quote in Thursday's paper.
* * *
Have to wonder if Wednesday wasn't a preview to come of Sloan's rotation. Jason Hart didn't play at all while Jarron Collins and C.J. Miles only got in for the last 50 seconds of the blowout. Wouldn't be shocked to see Sloan go nine deep for a while.
* * *
There was some talk even from Deron Williams' own teammates about how tough it's going to be for him to get All-Star recognition as a guard in the Western Conference if and when Jason Kidd arrives in Dallas.
Williams is now facing competition from Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Kidd, Allen Iverson, Brandon Roy, Baron Davis and Tony Parker.
Assuming Kidd will be added to the West team in New Orleans, Williams has an even smaller chance of being selected as an injury replacement. Bryant did aggravate his pinkie injury in the L.A. Lakers' victory over Minnesota.
* * *
Sloan clearly dreaded the get-away game before the All-Star break, saying once it was over: "It's always scary. This time of year you don't know what you're going to get."
* * *
The Jazz and Sonics went nearly seven minutes without a foul called in the first half. Seattle wasn't whistled for a foul the entire first quarter, not until the 11:21 mark of the second quarter when Nick Collison was called for a loose-ball foul on a rebound.
* * *
Sloan revealed after Wednesday's game that Andrei Kirilenko was bothered by a toe injury. Kirilenko had eight points on 2-for-6 shooting against Seattle.
* * *
The Sonics drew just 10,618 for the game, the smallest crowd the Jazz have seen this season. Their previous low was 11,006 for a November game at Philadelphia. Just goes to show the state of the Sonics in the midst of a relocation fight.
Wally Szczerbiak definitely didn't help his stock before next Thursday's trade deadline, finishing with five points but shooting 2-for-8 and committing three turnovers in 16 minutes.
* * *
The life of a beat writer: I'm flying back to Salt Lake City on Thursday morning, going out for a Valentine's Day dinner with the wife, then heading back to the airport for a 12:40 a.m. red-eye to Atlanta, connecting to New Orleans for the All-Star Game.
--Ross Siler
2:05 AM
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