SALT LAKE CITY -- What's up with Carlos Boozer?
These days, that seems to be the question on the lips of every Utah Jazz fan, and, truth be told, even a few of his teammates.
The Jazz power forward has averaged 23.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and an even four assists over his last five games. Additionally, he has knocked down 58 percent of his field goal attempts and a whopping 83 percent of his free throws during that span.
And the Jazz themselves? Well, they're 4-1 in their last five games.
"He's been playing great lately," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "You can see he's back to where he was a couple of years ago when he was an All-Star."
On Thursday, Boozer turned in his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 28 points and pulling down eight assists - plus five assists and three blocked shots - to help the Jazz knock off the Chicago Bulls in a nationally-televised game.
The timing seemed rather ironic considering how the 28-year-old was rumored to be heading to Chicago in an offseason trade.
Boozer downplayed that storyline after the game, but others didn't.
Williams said he thinks Boozer's play of late is validating the Jazz's decision to hold on to him, rather than trade him during the offseason.
"I think so," Williams said. "He's playing his (rear end) off right now."
That wasn't the case early on in the season, after spending part of his summer trying to get himself traded to Chicago or Miami.
He reported to training camp, met with coach Jerry Sloan and ironed out any differences. However, he still had to face his teammates, fans and the local media.
Those distractions may have led to a sub-par start in which he averaged 15.6 points and 10 rebounds over his first five games.
Numbers like those aren't terrible, but they're not what Boozer, the Jazz or their fans had in mind before the season began. And especially not for the $12.65 million Boozer is scheduled to make this season.
"Early on, I think I got a little too excited, I think I was (pressing too much)," he said. "But you get like that some times. Sometimes it messes with your game a little bit."
Boozer said he is playing with more confidence now. That confidence, he added, is the key to his recent success.
After Thursday's game, Sloan said he has always had confidence in Boozer.
"Carlos has been great all along," he said. "I always had a good relationship with him.
"When he came back he was fine. He said, 'I'll do the best I can for you.' I think he's played some of his best basketball after we got through with the start of the season."
Before Friday morning's practice, Boozer said he is focusing on making a return to the All-Star game.
"One hundred percent," he said. "I feel like I'm an All-Star when I'm playing at the level I play when I'm healthy. That's one of my goals, to get back to the elite level."
Boozer was quick to point out he thinks individual goals like that can be good for the team in general.
"That helps our team, to have goals like that," he said. "When you have guys that have goals and they set out to achieve them, it only brings the level of your team up."
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