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PDF versionSALT LAKE CITY -- Injuries and a distinct lack of defense put them off on a wrong foot. But since starting the season 1-3, the Utah Jazz have been on a slow-but-steady rise.
They hit a significant benchmark on Thursday when they beat the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Not only did the Jazz win there for the first time ever - counting three playoff losses, they had been 0-16 at that arena -- they ended a 10-year, 20-game drought in the Alamo City.
The win left them feeling confident and hopeful, but perhaps just as important, it left them with a record of 6-6 on the season.
The last time Utah was at .500? The second game of the year, after the Jazz knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers at EnergySolutions Arena.
Now riding a modest little two-game winning streak -- their first of the season -- the Jazz are in position to add momentum when they face the Detroit Pistons tonight at ESA.
Utah has taken nine of its last 10 meetings with the Pistons, including eight in a row.
"We're just playing better defensively, playing unselfish," point guard Deron Williams said Thursday, explaining why the Jazz have won four of their last six games.
"We really don't care who scores or who gets the glory, which is what a good team should do."
Those things may have contributed to some chemistry issues during the first six games of the season. However, now that rookies Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews have been added to the regular rotation, there is a different feel to the Jazz.
Over the past six games, Utah's defense has improved. A week ago opponents were scoring, on average, better than 101 points per game.
Counting Thursday's 90-83 win, opponents are now averaging 99.4 points per contest.
Another reason to the Jazz's recent improvement has been the play of Williams, their team captain.
The 25-year-old point guard left the team during last week's extended road trip and returned to Salt Lake in order to be with his family as it dealt with a medial crisis.
One of his daughters had gone in for a series of tests and a medical procedure relating to an undisclosed illness.
Williams issued a statement last week, stating his thanks to the team for allowing him to take the brief leave of absence and noting that he felt he needed to be with his family for a few days.
In two games since returning to the court, Williams has averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 assists and has shot better than 51 percent from the field.
"It felt good (to get back to basketball)," he said recently. "I don't like missing games, but I had a matter I needed to take care of. Now I can hopefully focus more on basketball."
Williams indicated his daughter's medial situation has improved.
"It's a lot better than we thought," he said. "We're still running some tests and seeing where things are going."
