SALT LAKE CITY — Since adding general manager Dennis Lindsey to the front office, Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O’Connor hasn’t had a lot of interaction with the local media.
But he spoke Wednesday morning after the team’s shootaround. Among other topics, O’Connor — formerly Utah’s general manager — addressed the team’s need to extend coach Tyrone Corbin’s contract, which it did Tuesday.
“I think it was very important,” he said.
O’Connor said he felt Corbin began proving himself at the end of the 2010-11 season, after he took over for Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan, who resigned midway through the season.
“Sometimes character’s revealed when you’re going through a tough time,” O’Connor added.
Asked if the small-market Jazz feel its important to maintain a level of consistency with the head coach’s job, O’Connor hedged a bit.
“Well, I think you have to win,” he said. “You could be consistently a good guy and not win and I don’t think you’d be here (for long). But what we feel like is, if you get somebody that you really like, that wants to be here and you want here, I think it’s important you express that.”
GAME 1
Jazz 113, Mavs 94
• BEST LINE: Mo Williams scored 21 points and added six assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots for the Jazz.
• KEY STAT: After allowing 63 points in the first half, the Jazz hold Dallas to just 22.7 percent shooting (5-for-22) and outscore the Mavs 37-13 in the third quarter.
• SIDELINE MOMENT: Obviously mindful of the NBA’s new “90-second rule,” referee Olandis Poole came to the Jazz bench to hurry players out to the court shortly after introductions. The rule says players have just 90 seconds between the end of introductions and tipoff, otherwise it’s a delay-of-game penalty. MILESTONE: Paul Millsap earned the 91st double-double of his career, finishing with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
• INJURY REPORT: The Jazz didn’t have point guard Earl Watson (right knee). … The Mavericks went without Nowitzki (right knee surgery) and Chris Kaman (right calf strain). … Enes Kanter received a cut on his chin in the first half and was sent to the locker room for three stitches.
• ETC.: Former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was in the crowd for Wednesday’s game. … Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sat behind Dallas’ bench. … Mavs rookie forward Jae Crowder is the son of former Jazzman Corey Crowder, who played in Utah during the 1991-92 season and was a teammate of Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. … The Mavericks hit three straight 3-pointers to end the first half and went into the locker room leading 63-55. … Mo Williams earned the Jazz’s first technical foul of the regular season, picking it up at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter. … The Jazz are now 23-16 all time in home openers. … The Jazz put all five starters in double figures. … Point guard Darren Collison led the Mavericks with 17 points and seven assists.
• UP NEXT: The Jazz hit the road for games at New Orleans (Friday), San Antonio (Saturday) and Memphis (Monday).
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