From swagger to Korver to cannoli in Boston
BOSTON – The difference between Utah losing at Boston this season and beating the eventual NBA-champion Celtics here last season?
Point guard Deron Williams may have stumbled onto the answer even before the Jazz took the floor at TD Banknorth Garden on Monday night
“We came here and believed,” Williams said before the game. “We thought we could beat this team. We felt we were one of the best teams in the NBA last year, and we had a swagger about ourselves.”
This year?
Not so much.
“We didn’t come out executing,” Williams, who scored 32 when Utah handed Boston a rare loss last season, said afterward. “We got a little selfish trying to outscore people, which we can do.
“We came out offensive-minded, and we got to get that out of our heads,” he added, sounding suspiciously like a certain coach named Jerry Sloan. “We’ve got to come out defensive-minded. We need to want to get stops instead of wanting to score. A lot of guys in this league can score, but not many can defend.”
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Before flying to New Jersey, the Jazz practiced today at Boston’s Emerson College – a small NCAA Division III program whose gym is neatly tucked in a high-rise basement, and a school where Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti coincidentally happened to play.
Emerson’s super friendly coach, Hank Smith, happens to be a huge Williams fan.
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Jazz reserve forward Matt Harpring needed three stitches to close a cut under his chin on Monday night, but was fine to practice today.
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Jazz backup shooting guard Kyle Korver logged just seven minutes and 42 seconds Monday, marking the second-lowest amount of playing time he’s had since being traded from Philadelphia to Utah nearly a month ago.
Korver was 0-for-2 from the field against the Celtics, with both of his misses coming from 3-point range.
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If ever in Boston to watch an NBA game – or any reason, for that matter – be sure to stop by Mike’s Pastry on Hanover Street, in Boston’s North End Italian neighborhood.
There you can find the best cannoli north of New York – and maybe even better, despite the rave dessert review from the Big Apples that was offered here after the Jazz’s visit with the Knicks earlier this season.
And, while messing with traditional cannoli filling is not always a good idea, be sure at this place to try the chocolate.
Simply outstanding.