Bench presses the Jazz forward

SALT LAKE CITY — In the end the Jazz didn't the blow the Bucks out of the water, but great performances off the bench allowed the Jazz to cruise in the end.

The Jazz looked shaky against the Kings on Monday and early on it looked like the Bucks might be able to capitalize. In the end the Jazz took control with the second unit to grab a 100-86 victory.

The Jazz started out slow, as they often do, and the Buckks lead by as many as 12 in the first quarter. When Enes Kanter checked in for the Jazz they were down 11, they were up four when he checked out.

All of the team's turnaround might not be a direct result of Kanter. Alec Burks, Derrick Favors and DeMarre Carroll were making big plays and Paul Millsap was playing the small forward with them to create a mismatch. However, Kanter was the player that made the big splash for the night.

Kanter ended the night with 17 points on only nine shots taken. Add to that nine rebounds, five blocks and two assists and he might have had his best game as a pro. His 17 points was one off of his career high. This game probably came at his best time, because he had been struggling.

"It's part of the NBA, it's 82 games," said coach Tyrone Corbin. "You travel different nights you get different schemes. Some nights the shots aren't going to fall as you want them, but as long as he's taking good shots and working hard, which he's continued to do. He's showing a lot of growth in some areas on the defensive end, on the offensive execution passing the ball. He's just going to continue to get better because he works really hard."

Over the previous two weeks Kanter was averaging 4.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and only 11 minutes. He would have a good rebounding game and played good defense, but he just wasn't showing the flashes that Jazz fans had seen.

Whatever he did to snap out of it, it worked and this might not be near his ceiling in terms of what he can do.

"I see even better than that," said Al Jefferson, who has helped Kanter out and takes pride in seeing his work pay off. "I see him as a real big time center in this league in far as scoring, rebounding and playing defense. We are asking a lot from him now at 20."

Jefferson said that Kanter is still learning and is being thrown into the fire more than he was at his age. What might amaze some is how many Jazz players didn't think what Katner did was that amazing. Not putting him down, but thinking that this is what he does in practice so it isn't necessarily that far fetched.

Kanter sometimes gets lost with the rest of the bench because anyone can play big on any given night. Over the past week the story has been Burks playing point guard. The Jazz are +40 when Burks is on the court over the past three wins. His numbers anywhere else don't pop off the sheet, but his game is starting to round into shape.

"I'm not into those stats," Favors said. "He's just doing a good job at penetrating. He's penetrating and kick outs, just playing an uptempo game."

Burks isn't a perfect point guard. He isn't a great ball handler and can be erratic when shooting, but he plays aggressive and attacks. When he does that it can open up the floor for the rest of the team, even if he doesn't get credit on the stat sheet for any of it.

But, Burks doesn't seem to be letting any extra attention go to his head. Any interview with him and he will talk about being aggressive, working hard and getting better. After last night he was asked what else he is going to do.

"Just keep getting better," Burks said. "Never stop working, if I stop working then I'll never get better."

With Gordon Hayward and Earl Watson injured Kanter, Burks, Carroll and Favors now round out the bench unit. They are playing against the other team's second unit, but have given Corbin and the Jazz time in every different phase.

The bench is keeping the Jazz alive. And last night gave them the push they needed to beat the Bucks.

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