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SALT LAKE CITY - The Jazz are now just over a third of the way through the season, with 24 out of 66 games down.
Normally a look at a mid-season review, or maybe quarter look backs would be in more fashion, but this season is cut pretty neatly into three chunks.
The first third is the Jazz's home stretch. They had 15 home games and seven road games. The next stretch is flipped with eight home games and 14 road matches, that will include their one and only back-to-back-to-back. The final is balanced with 10 home and 12 road games.
| ||||
| Date | vs | Score | ||
| 2/7/12 | @IND | L 99-104 | ||
| 2/6/12 | @NY | L 88-99 | ||
| 2/4/12 | LAL | W 96-87 | ||
| 2/2/12 | @GS | L 101-119 | ||
| 2/1/12 | LAC | L 105-107 | ||
| 1/30/12 | POR | W 93-89 | ||
| 1/28/12 | SAC | W 96-93 | ||
| 1/27/12 | @DAL | L 101-116 | ||
| 1/25/12 | TOR | L 106-111 (OT) | ||
| 1/21/12 | MIN | W 108-98 | ||
| 1/19/12 | DAL | L 91-94 | ||
| 1/17/12 | LAC | W 108-79 | ||
| 1/15/12 | @DEN | W 106-96 | ||
| 1/14/12 | NJ | W 107-94 | ||
| 1/11/12 | LAL | L 87-90 (OT) | ||
| 1/10/12 | CLE | W 113-105 | ||
| 1/7/12 | @GS | W 88-87 | ||
| 1/6/12 | MEM | W 94-85 | ||
| 1/3/12 | MIL | W 85-73 | ||
| 1/2/12 | NO | W 94-90 | ||
So, what did the first piece of the season show? It didn't get off to a good start, as the Jazz got blown out by the Lakers in L.A. But Utah was able to bounce back, and even beat the Lakers back in the friendly confines of Energy Solutions Arena Feb. 2.
The Jazz are squarely in the playoff race at 13-11, which has them eighth in the West. They have played 14 games against teams that would be in the playoffs if the season started today, with a record of 6-8 in those games. Last year after the same percent of the season the Jazz were 18-9.
"I think we're coming along," said Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin. "I think we've learned our lessons and we're trying to improve in those areas. And we're building in those areas."
When players were asked about how the season was going they all had different answers, but each of them started by looking at the standings.
"We let a lot of those games go," said C.J. Miles. "We let the first Laker game go, we let the Clipper game go, Dallas game we had. We win two of those three we feel great about the season, with the Toronto game we win three of the four we are sitting at the top of the West."
Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap lead the Jazz in four of the five big statistical categories. Jefferson leads the team in points and block per game, while Millsap leads the team in rebounds and steals per game. Both players said that the season was going good overall, but specifically said the season was just going.
"Ultimately I think we are in a good place," said Raja Bell. "We are a young team, I don't think anybody thought we would be first or second in the West realistically.
The Jazz have seven players averaging over eight points per game. Millsap, Jefferson and the two young big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors all have over five rebounds per game. Corbin talked about how important it is for every one of the floor to produce.
"Everybody competes for time on the floor," Corbin said. "You compete to make yourself better, but also to make us better as a team."
In the next stretch they will only play nine playoff teams as present standings dictate. The last stretch has 14 such games. What do the Jazz have to do to stay in the playoff race?
"Make sure we understand who we are, where we are and how we play," Corbin said. The Jazz are 2-7 on the road, so 14 road games could bury the team if they can't level their home and road play.
"Become a better 3-point shooting team," Miles said pointing out specifically the need to stretch the defense with the outside shot. The Jazz are currently last in the league in 3-point percentage shooting 29.3 percent.
"Need to get better defensively," Hayward said. "That's our calling card, we always want to be on top of our game."
"Being unselfish and ball movement," Bell said. "Play hard defensively with a commitment to do what we need. And be tough." The Jazz are 3-6 when they have fewer assists than their opponents.
"Play with that edge every night," Harris said.
This is essentially the same team that ended last season going 8-14. What are Jazz players and coach pleased with so far?
"The young guys, the way they grew so quickly," Miles said.
"We got 13 guys that can come in to play and contribute quality minutes," Hayward said.
"Our defense," Bell said. "We were horrific last year defensively. We're a pretty solid defensive team, that's pretty cool."
"Everybody on the same page," Jefferson said. "If I had to choose it would be the whole team."
