Utah Jazz

By Ryan Lester Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers 25 MIN, 21 PTS, 8-12 FG, 5-6 FT, 10 REB, 1 TO Elton Brand returned after a missing three games with a huge effort. Get him back in your lineup. C.J. Watson, Golden State Warriors 35 MIN, 18 PTS, 7-10 FG, 2-3 FT, 2 3PM, 4 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 2 TO

By Denton Ramsey The Bleacher Report NBA Power Rankings are done by averaging individual feature columnist's tallies. Weekly contributors are: Denton Ramsey (Houston Rockets), Keith Schlosser (NY Knicks), Curtis Finchum (Oklahoma City), Brandon Ribak (Orlando Magic), Bryan Toporek (Philadelph...

By Beyond the Arc Basketball Worst Case: Larry Sanders or Stanley Robinson. Actually, if there was a way that they could sign either of these players now, I think they would. Both are energizer type players who are effective in providing hustle plays on defense and picking up scraps on offense. Sanders has the best chanc...

By Taylor Smith How rare is this picture of Kobe Bryant donning Laker purple? 1. Los Angeles Lakers (13-3, Last Week: 5) The Lakers' six-game win streak hasn't come against great competition: Detroit, Chicago, Oklahoma City, New York, Golden State, and New Jersey. 3. Phoenix Suns (14-3, Last Week: 3)

By John Lorge In 1999 the Utah Jazz ties the San Antonio Spurs for the Midwest Division when Karl Malone won the MVP in the lockout-shortened season.  The Jazz also happened to tie the Spurs for the best record in the NBA that year. Houston went on to win the Division in 1994, they didn't win the Western Confe...

By Sean Bafaro The Knicks have gotten off to a very poor start as they are currently sitting at a rudimentary 2-9 record. To make matters worse, the Utah Jazz are sitting with New York’s unprotected 1st round draft pick this season which means that there is no light at the end of tunnel for this franchise, at...

By Ryan Lester Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers 42 minutes, 19 points, 8-17 FG, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 6 blocks, 1 turnover Steve Blake, Portland Trail Blazers 35 minutes, 17 points, 5-10 FG, 4-4 FT, 3 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers

By Robert Kleeman So, San Antonio defended at a championship level in Dallas and still failed to capture its first road victory? After several weeks of sampling, it's clear the team boasts the parts to be as good as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

By Mark Welling While the Jazz will be playing at home, the competition for the Jazz will increase.  During the homestand the Jazz will face: Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Portland, San Antonio, Orlando, and the Lakers.  All teams who are playoff caliber, and all teams the Jazz need to beat at home in order si...

By Robert Kleeman The Houston Rockets roared past the Los Angeles Lakers 101-91 Sunday night at Staples Center. How did the Rockets win the rebounding battle 60-38 against the Lakers but lose it 57-36 against the Kings? Tuesday’s foe, Phoenix, comes to mind.

By Brandon Ribak 2. Phoenix Suns 3. Boston Celtics 4. Los Angeles Lakers 5. Portland Trail Blazers 7. Denver Nuggets 8. Cleveland Cavaliers 9. Dallas Mavericks 16. Sacramento Kings 17. San Antonio Spurs 21. Philadelphia 76ers 22. Los Angeles Clippers 23. Golden State Warriors 27. Memphis Grizzlies

By Mark Welling The play of rookies Eric Maynor and Wes Matthews (Mark's Main Man).Is it good for NBA players to be so chummy after games?Why/If the Jazz are playing better without Deron Williams?Was the four-game Eastern Conference road trip a success?Should the Jazz start shopping CJ Miles and Kyle K...

By John Lorge 3. Los Angeles Lakers (1) - Dropping the second of a back to back in Denver after dismantling Phoenix isn't enough to drop the Lakers, but losing at home to Houston is. 16. Oklahoma City Thunder (15) - Inconsistent play leads to big wins (Orlando & San Antonio) and big let downs (Sacramento...

By The Daily Hurt Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings explosive start to NBA life has made the Bucks relevant again and in first place in the Central division. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have quietly won six straight and the Boston Celtics dropped back-to-back games for the first time thi...

By Ryan Lester Eric Maynor, Utah Jazz: 41 minutes, 24 points, 9-16 FG, 6-7 FT, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, three turnovers. Another gem for Maynor. He certainly earned a spot in the rotation when Deron Williams returns. I typically don't cover players who are widely owned, but Brandon Jennin...

By Ryan Lester Portland Trail Blazers  (ATL, DET, GS, MIN) Denver Nuggets  (NJ, MIN, NY) Golden State Warriors  (CLE, BOS, POR) Los Angeles Clippers  (MIN, IND, DET) Memphis Grizzlies  (SAC, PHX, POR) Philadelphia 76ers (CHA, MEM, CLE) San Antonio Spurs  (DAL, UTA, WAS)

By Adam Lindemer The 6-foot-1 point guard from Compton, Calif., did that without recording a single point in the first quarter too. He had a chance to break Michael Redd's team-high of 57 points (that came in a loss to the Utah Jazz), but he would settle for 55 and, more importantly, the win.

By Ryan Lester Eric Maynor, Utah Jazz : 36 minutes, 13 points, 6-14 FG, one three-pointer, four rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, two turnovers Maynor also saw a bump because of Williams’ absence. If Williams goes down with an injury, it’s nice to know Maynor can step up his game, but his value is low.

By Mark Welling What is wrong with the Utah Jazz?Is Deron Williams playing within the Jazz system?Does Jerry Sloan's three point defensive strategy still work in the current NBA?Explain why the Jazz continue to blow leads late.Carlos Boozer and David Locke make it tough to cheer for the Jazz this seas...

By Keith Schlosser 1.      Los Angeles Lakers The defending champs are on fire to start the season. With Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol currently nursing injuries, we see no reason for the team to keep rolling when those two return. 2.      Boston Celtics The 2008 champs are all finally healthy. The very balanced squ...

By Taylor Smith 3. Los Angeles Lakers (6-1, Last Week: 2) 6. Dallas Mavericks (4-2, Last Week: 6) 12. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3, Last Week: 7) 13. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3, Last Week: 10) 25. Los Angeles Clippers (3-5, Last Week: 26) 26. Golden State Warriors (2-4, Last Week: 27)

By Robert Kleeman While the Celtics stole the Cleveland Cavaliers’ home opener and the Lakers won back-to-back overtime games in Oklahoma City and Houston without Pau Gasol, it would appear the San Antonio Spurs have yet to leave the city’s international airport.

By John Lorge 10. Houston Rockets (13) - Taking the Lakers to OT is very impressive, Houston is the junkyard dog of the NBA and nobody is excited to face them. 16. Utah Jazz (14) - Sure they beat the Spurs but they lost to Dallas and now Sacramento, have fun on your road trip.

By Blake Mehigan The former Syracuse recruit showed great promise in the 2008 NBA summer league, posting 40 points in his summer league debut at the age of 19. The Kings had acquired Greene, Bobby Jackson and the Rockets’ 2009 first-round draft pick from Houston in an offseason trade for Ron Artest.

By Ryan Lester Utah Jazz Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, and Andrei Kirilenko are all nice plays this week. Los Angeles Lakers Go ahead and use Kobe, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom. The rest should be in the free agent pool.

By Gary Lloyd 17. Philadelphia 76ers took UCLA G Jrue Holiday: Still a very young player, but I think he’ll be Philly’s starting point guard for a long time to come. 22. Portland Trail Blazers took Spanish F Victor Claver: Bet Portland wishes it would have selected DeJuan Blair now.

By Robert Kleeman With all the talk about the Western Conference's final two playoff spots centered on the L.A. Clippers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Jazz and Hornets have shoved their way into the dubious discussion. As is Boozer.

By Brandon Ribak Utah Jazz - (1-3, .250 PCT) 4th in Northwest Division After retaining Boozer from being dealt this offseason, the Jazz entered the year with high hopes and a well-assembled roster. Portland Trail Blazers - (2-3, .400 PCT) 3rd in Northwest Division

By Alex McVeigh The Mavericks were shooting 32 percent, while the Jazz were shooting 58 percent. Deron Williams was shooting the ball, and Marion left his feet with Williams' pump fake. Williams made the smart move, tried to initiate the contact, and get a shot off with Marion in the air.

By Denton Ramsey This evening’s matchup between Los Angeles and Houston, which is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., will mark the first time the Lakers and Rockets have met this year and pits the teams in a rematch of last year’s fight through Game Seven of the Western Conference playoffs.

By Christopher Kamrani So far, the Jazz have given up 105.5 points in four games against the Nuggets, Clippers, Rockets and Mavericks. Two of them coming on the EnergySolutions Arena hardwood.  When Eric Maynor over Brevin Knight is your most-impressive offseason move—especially in the Western Conference—yo...

By Mark Welling The Jazz organization has tried to sell the league and Jazz fans on the idea that Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap can co-exist on the same team.  The production for both Boozer and Millsap is way down compared to last year. The status quo will not be good enough to compete in the Western Conferen...

By Robert Kleeman The San Antonio Spurs bested the Jazz en route to a 2007 title. Yes, the lowly Golden State Warriors won in Utah last year, but that was an anomaly. Kyle Lowry and Brooks will not win every point guard duel with Deron Williams. What the Rockets did right :

By Christopher Mango All Western-Conference First Team F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio G - Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers G - Chris Paul, New Orleans All Western-Conference Second Team G - Deron Williams, Utah All Western-Conference Third Team F - David West, New Orleans G - Tony Parker, San Antonio

By John Lorge 1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Boston Celtics   4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Denver Nuggets   7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. Dallas Mavericks   9. Utah Jazz 18. Los Angeles Clippers   19. Philadelphia 76ers   23. Golden State Warriors   24. Memphis Grizzlies   29. Sacramento Kings

By Magnus Johnson Western Conference 13. Golden State Warriors - The Warriors just haven't been the same without Baron Davis, and they won't even be able to compete for a trip to the playoffs this year. Playoffs 4. Nuggets over 5. Trail Blazers, 4-3 - Denver denies Portland their ticket to NO. 1E. Boston Celtics

By John Lorge Drew Gooden, F, Dallas Mavericks - Very good rebounder, he can help the Mavs go big or small. Hasheem Thabeet, C, Memphis Grizzlies - Doesn't do it all but should finish top 10 in blocked shots. Lou Williams, G, Philadelphia 76ers - Combo guard will start at point giving him a chance at a career...

By Mike B. He was just one of a handful of star-studded centers to play in the '90s. The others include Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo. Other superstars to play in the decade include Charles Barkley, Utah Jazz teammates Karl Malone and John Sto...

By Mark Welling Bryon Russell, Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, and Paul Millsap are a few examples of players who worked hard and were given a chance.  Sloan allowed these players to showcase their talents. The pairing of Jerry Sloan and Utah Jazz has been very successful for both sides.  The only thing bo...

By Mark Welling Carlos Boozer's media day comments, and his place on the Utah Jazz.Speculate about the Jazz rotation to start the season.Will the Jazz trade Boozer this season?What will help improve Andrei Kirilenko's game this season?What we would like to see from the Jazz in the first ten games of the ye...

By Mark Welling John Stockton is about to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. One of the greatest point guards ever will join David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, and Michael Jordan in what could be the best hall of fame class ever. Steve Nash(PPG 15.5 APG 11.5 SPG 1.0 FG% .502 3PT% .431)

By Taylor Smith The Lakers also swept the season series from the Rockets, winning all four regular season meetings between the teams. All signs are pointing to the Lakers easily moving on to face either Denver or Dallas in the Western Conference Finals. 1. Force Los Angeles to double Yao Ming

By Tim Cary Jazz start Williams, Brewer, Okur, Boozer, and Kirilenko. For Lakers :KB, Fisher, Ariza, Odom, Gasol. Announcers: Marv & Reggie. Meet Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz center. Translation: that's a team with a good point guard. Which do we have more of, Lakers fans or Jazz fans?

By Akshay Madhavan Utah Jazz They were an early season dark horse to go very far in the playoffs, but they haven't been able to replicate last season's performance in the regular season and doing so in the playoffs (where they took the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in Round 2) will be even harder. Dallas Maver...

By Carter . Jazz Key Players: Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko 4) Portland Trail Blazers (54-28) vs. (5) Houston Rockets (53-29) 1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Portland Trail Blazers 2) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks

By Joseph Fernandez Try this one on for size: Bulls vs. Celtics, first round.  How jam-packed is the Western Conference? The Jazz matchup incredibly well with the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will be facing a slew of different defenders in Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Milsap, Matt Harpring and Ronnie Brewer.

By Pete Treperinas LA Lakers (1) vs. Utah Jazz (8) In the end, Kobe Bryant will play like the reigning MVP that he is, and will move the Lakers into the semis.  Portland Trail Blazers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5) Denver Nuggets (2) vs. New Orleans Hornets (7) San Antonio Spurs (3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (6)

By Marcel Mansour No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons - Cavs In 4 No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Chicago Bulls - Celtics In 5 Western Conference: No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Utah Jazz - Lakers in 5 3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Dallas Mavericks - Spurs In 6

By John Lorge No Lakers, no Cavs.  No Celtics, no Hornets.  What's an NBA fan to do? Atlanta Hawks 105, at Chicago Bulls 102 Indiana Pacers 81, at San Antonio Spurs 99 Sacramento Kings 99, at Denver Nuggets 118 Minnesota Timberwolves 107, at Utah Jazz 112

By Joe Willett Among the big names, Mike Bibby (Atlanta Hawks), Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Allen Iverson (Detroit Pistons), Rasheed Wallace (Detroit Pistons), Ron Artest (Houston Rockets), Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks), and Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz).

By J. Michael Morris This is just fine with Jerry. He would probably force a trade within one season of picking up an Allen Iverson or Dennis Rodman, both of whom were considered in trade deals at one time. He prefers to coach underdogs with something to prove to themselves and the rest of the world every night. Guys...

By Kyle Flanagan It has been seven seasons since a Jazz team finished a season with a road record above the .500 mark. And with all the comparisons of the current Jazz squad to the Jazz squads of the Karl Malone and John Stockton era, there is one thing that keeps the Mailman’s team at a different level than the Ca...

By Michael Whittenberg LARRY BIRD, Boston Celtics (1979-91): DAN MAJERLE, Phoenix Suns/Cleveland Cavaliers/Miami Heat (1988-2002): DELL CURRY, Utah Jazz/Cleveland Cavaliers/Charlotte Hornets/Milwaukee Bucks/Toronto Raptors (1986-2002):

By Ben Parker The Utah Jazz are one of the most improving teams over the last few years. They lose John Stockton and Karl Malone, and within a few years, they have Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer to replace them, with a deep bench, and a 7 foot Turk named Mehmet Okur who can shoot the rock from 3-point range. T...