Jim Burton

Hobbled Jazz host Lakers for third meeting

Last updated Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:59pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- It was inevitable.

Given this season's compressed schedule and the limited time for training camp, it was only a matter of time before the Utah Jazz -- and every other team in the NBA for that matter -- would see a rash of injuries.

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(Jim Urquhart/The Associated Press)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Mo Williams (25) and Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris, right, scramble for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, in Salt Lake City.

Clippers get revenge on Jazz with help from Paul

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 11:42pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- Last time they met, it wasn't even close.

This time, it was closer -- much, much closer.

The Los Angeles Clippers are a greater threat with All-Star point guard Chris Paul on the floor and they proved it Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

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Millsap excelling against Murderers' Row of power forwards

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 8:13pm

Nobody takes a night off in the NBA's Western Conference.

Nope, there are no easy days.

And given the confines of this season's compressed 66-game schedule, the idea of playing against Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge one night, Minnesota's Kevin Love the next and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki after that, well, it's a power forward's worst nightmare.

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(JIM URQUHART/The Associated Press) Utah Jazz forward C.J. Miles drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum for a shot attempt during the first half Monday at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Fourth-quarter rally lifts Jazz over Blazers

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Monday, January 30, 2012 - 11:34pm

SALT LAKE CITY --Coming off his best game of the season, second-year Jazzman Gordon Hayward just wanted to keep things going in the right direction. Unfortunately for him, Monday's game with the Portland Trail Blazers started out messier than a cattle stampede through a chili cook-off.

The second year wingman went 0-for-8 in the first half and Utah's offense seemed to bog down at least every other trip down the floor. But just when it looked bleakest, the Jazz made a decisive fourth-quarter rally to earn a heart-thumping 93-89 victory at EnergySolutions Arena.

Hayward, whose shot was blocked from behind three times in the first half, went 3-for-4 after halftime, hit two 3-pointers and scored a dozen points to help the comeback effort.

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Watson sparks Jazz victory with gritty play in the fourth quarter

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Monday, January 30, 2012 - 10:33pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- It was an Earl Watson kind of quarter.

The scrappy backup point guard played a huge role in helping the Jazz earn a come-from-behind win Monday night, beating Portland 93-89 thanks to a critical run in the fourth quarter.

With Watson, the team's emotional leader, setting the tone, Utah outscored the Trail Blazers 13-0 during a 5:28 stretch of the quarter.

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Hayward's recent aggressive play keeping Jazz afloat

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Sunday, January 29, 2012 - 8:53pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- Without Gordon Hayward's aggressive behavior, the Utah Jazz might just be riding a three-game losing streak.

But thanks to it, they're 7-2 at home this season and eager to test themselves against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at EnergySolutions Arena.

Hayward, Utah's top draft pick in 2010, scored a season-high 21 points on Saturday as the Jazz edged the Sacramento Kings to end a troublesome two-game losing streak.

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(NICHOLAS DRANEY/Standard-Examiner) Utah forward Gordon Hayward goes to the rim against Sacramento’s Jimmer Fredette.

Jazz dethrone Jimmer, Kings

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 10:56pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- Coming off a blowout loss the night before, the Jazz really didn't need any drama Saturday when they played host to former BYU star Jimmer Fredette and his scrappy, speedy teammates from Sacramento.

But that's exactly what they got.

In a tightly-contested fight, Utah came away with a 96-93 victory thanks in part to an intentional foul call with 4.2 seconds remaining.

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(The Associated Press) Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer Fredette talks to the media before the first half against the Utah Jazz on Saturday in Salt Lake City.

It's pointless to imagine the Jazz with Jimmer, so here goes ...

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 7:21pm

What you're about to read isn't fair.

It's not fair to Jimmer Fredette; it's not fair to his team, the Sacramento Kings. It's not fair to the Utah Jazz or their rookies, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks, either.

But with that caveat, let's just go ahead and state the obvious: Sacramento doesn't feel like a great situation for Jimmer and, gosh darn it, he'd be a perfect fit with the Jazz.

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Despite Wednesday's struggles, Jazz welcome the zone

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 8:13pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- In the NBA, where many of the world's best athletes ply their craft, zone defenses are sometimes viewed as a gimmicky way to stop the other team.

To some observers -- not to mention coaches and players -- they're seen as an admission of weakness.

"That says that their defense is lacking if they drop into a zone, that they can't stop you man-to-man," Utah Jazz guard Raja Bell said. "It's a stopgap."

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(Steve C. Wilson/The Associated Press)
Toronto Raptors forward Gary Forbes, right, makes a pass as Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris, left, guards during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

Doink! Jazz falter in 2OT loss to Raptors

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 11:24pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- If ever the young-and-still-growing Utah Jazz had a game in the bag, it was Wednesday night against the struggling Toronto Raptors, who had a paltry 3-12 record at EnergySolutions Arena.

Or at least that's the way it appeared before the facade came down.

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Not in Jazz's lineup, Jefferson had to take a 'bathroom break'

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 10:56pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz center Al Jefferson was apparently hiding a sore right ankle Wednesday morning when he told a group of reporters he left shootaround early to take a bathroom break.

By the time the game rolled around, team officials announced Jefferson would miss the game with an inflamed right ankle. He also missed a game with the Philadelphia 76ers with the same injury earlier in the season.

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Sad to see JoePa go, but his tarnished legacy is deserved

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 2:43pm

Rest in peace, Joe Paterno. You will indeed be missed.

However ...

When I heard the beloved former Penn State coach died Sunday, I felt a great deal of sadness, not just for the man affectionately known as JoePa and his family, but also for the man's legacy.

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(STEVE GRIFFIN/The Associated Press)
Utah Jazz’s Jamaal Tinsley dribbles past L.A. Clippers’ Courtney Fortson in Salt Lake City earlier this month.

Tinsley using second chance to mentor Evans

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 5:35pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- One is in his 10th season in the NBA, the other is in his second.

One is a 6-foot-9 forward who can jump out of the gym, the other is a 6-3 point guard who's best skill is dribbling.

One is from Brooklyn, N.Y.; the other is from Crossett, Ark.

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(Colin E Braley/The Associated Press) Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris, center, squeezes through the defense of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (left) and center Darko Milicic on Saturday.

Jazz bounce back with win over T-Wolves

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 10:53pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- By sharing the ball on one end of the floor and stopping it on the other, the Jazz on Saturday bounced back with their 10th win of the season.

Shaking off Thursday's distasteful loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Utah rebounded with a 108-98 victory over Minnesota at EnergySolutions Arena.

"When we're sharing the ball and moving our bodies as we were tonight, we're a pretty effective team," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said.

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Harris not bothered by trade rumors

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 10:35pm

SALT LAKE CITY -- The rumor mill is churning over Jazz point guard Devin Harris, who returned to the the team after missed Friday's practice with a stomach bug.

Coming off a rough game against the Dallas Mavericks last Thursday, Harris' name appeared in a tweet from ESPN's Mark Stein, who wrote in part, "... I'm told Jazz will keep shopping him."

"(I'm) used to it, been there, done that," Harris said before Saturday's game with Minnesota. "(I) don't really control it, don't really think about it. I've just got to go out and focus on what I have to do tonight."

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