Utah Jazz Notes

Had to laugh in the first quarter Thursday when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich watched his team give up consecutive baskets and called timeout with 4:19 left. That was barely a minute after a television timeout with 5:34 remaining.

In other words, Popovich was being the anti-Jerry Sloan from Tuesday’s loss in Dallas. It should be noted, though, that the Spurs were outscored 7-2 after Popovich’s timeout and 14-8 the remainder of the quarter.

Just something to think about the next time we have one of these Sloan timeout mini-controversies in the future.

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Not only did Carlos Boozer finish with 27 points and 14 rebounds, he started his Defensive Player of the Year campaign as well. Boozer had two steals, two blocks and twice tied up Tim Duncan for jump balls in the first half.

For whatever reason, Boozer seems to play well against Duncan. “Any time you play good defense against a great player like Tim Duncan, you build off that and you get confidence,” Boozer said.

It was a huge night for Boozer, who was greeted by boos after he was short on a jumper three minutes into the game. By the end of the night, Boozer’s announcement as the Workers Compensation Fund player of the game was met with strong cheers.

Walking back to the press room after the final horn, I spotted Boozer’s father talking with Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor’s wife. Just a reminder that for all the attention focused on Boozer, it’s worth remembering that he has a family like everybody else.

* * *

The Jazz managed to hold Tony Parker to just four points and an assist in the second half after Parker had a 13-point second quarter, aided by the seven free throws he shot.

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It’s looking more and more as if Kosta Koufos and Eric Maynor are out of the Jazz’s rotation. Neither played until the final two minutes of Thursday’s game. Koufos has logged more than three minutes in only of the Jazz’s first five games.

Kyrylo Fesenko and Wesley Matthews, meanwhile, are on the fringes. Some nights they play - - Matthews rose to the occasion in 25 minutes against San Antonio - - and other nights they don’t. This is an especially challenging role for Fesenko.

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The Utah Flash made my day - - and maybe even my season - - by selecting Augusta State center Garret Siler in the first round of the NBA Development League draft.

In fact, I’ve already thought about the possibility of the Jazz making a move before the February trade deadline, freeing up a roster spot and signing Siler to a 10-day contract. That way we’d have Silers both covering and playing for the Jazz.

The sight of a Siler nameplate in the locker room would be too good to be true. If that happens, I’m lobbying equipment manager Brian Zettler to put him in a locker next to Deron Williams'.

--Ross Siler