20 turnovers, Karl on the Jazz and Boozer defends Okur
SAN ANTONIO — The Jazz flew from Denver here to San Antonio on Monday, one restful night’s sleep after their ESPN-televised loss to the Nuggets that snapped a four-game Utah win streak.
They practiced this morning at Trinity University here, an NCAA Division III school with some of the most impressive athletic facilities as any of the small colleges that the Jazz tend to like to practice at when they’re on the road.
And they have an important game coming up Wednesday night against the Spurs, another ESPN-televised affair, this one in which a win would give Utah a rare season-series sweep over San Antonio.
Even with all that hanging overhead, however, the memory of 20 turnovers committed in Denver seemed to be fresh today on the mind of coach Jerry Sloan.
Part of the problem, Sloan suggested, was how the Nuggets were able to defend the Jazz when Utah didn’t have bona fide outside shooting threats on the Pepsi Center floor
“When we had guys on the floor that shot the ball out of the corners, they couldn’t pack it in as much as when we had a little better opportunity to get something going,” he said. “Those are things that seem simple, but you have to make shots. Otherwise, they don’t even guard you.”
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It wasn’t by coincidence, by the way, that the Nuggets scored 119 — highest point total by a Utah opponent this season — and ran like they did in Sunday’s win.
“I don’t think anyone wants to play Utah straight up, 5-on-5,” Denver coach George Karl said. “That is not the most advisable thing to do. They have been a machine, and years Sloan’s offense has been incredibly efficient.
“We knew we could turn them over,” Karl added, “which was a big reason we won (earlier this season) in Utah.”
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And finally, Jazz forward Carlos Boozer came to the defense today of starting center Mehmet Okur, the subject of Wednesday’s advance story in the newspaper prior to Utah playing the Spurs.
“I wouldn’t say his numbers are down like ‘he’s not playing.’ I think Memo’s playing great,” Boozer said. “You know, he has a tough job of guarding centers in the NBA and he has that same responsibility to come out and score points for us.
“He’s our best 3-point shooter and he plays the center position,” Boozer added, “so in my opinion I think he’s playing great. I think he’s gonna play even better. … I’ve been with him for six years, and I’m proud to be with him for six years.”
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