Lower-bowl experience - Jazz d. Suns

Since 1995, I've been to about 12 Utah Jazz games, and they have never lost a game that I have attended. They even won both games I attended during their 26-56 season. My record is still intact, but last night for the first time I was able to sit in the lower bowl.

My sister got tickets through her work, and we went to courtside before the game as the Jazz were shooting. CJ Miles is 6'6" but when you see him in person, you realize how tall 6'6" really is. Then you see how thick the 6'7" Paul Millsap is.

And then you see just how huge the 7'1" Shaquille O'Neal really is. There were times it was Millsap's job to guard Shaq, and Shaq just dwarfs him. Reminded me of the NBA commercial of Shaq in front of Tony Parker, and the caption reads "Where fe fi fo fum happens." First time I've seen Shaq play live in about a decade.

So we sat in Row 21 behind the Phoenix bench. For my first Jazz game ever, I didn't feel the need to squint.

First quarter, CJ Miles was on fire, and good thing. The Jazz had 17 points and 13 were from CJ. Everything he threw up went in. Meanwhile Jarron Collins did what he does. Take a charge. Each game where he gets time, he draws an offensive foul. Otherwise he missed two shots from the same spot, and was then yanked for Kosta Koufos, who is getting a surprising amount of playing time. Doesn't bode well for Kyrylo Fesenko's future with this team.

Second quarter Andrei Kirilenko and Brevin Knight helped wake the Jazz up. They got some steals and made some shots that made the crowd stand up.

The most memorable moments for me came in the fourth quarter. Millsap on Shaq, Shaq spins for a dunk, and li'l Millsap blocks him. The crowd roars. Less than two minutes later, AK47 swats a Shaq shot out of bounds. Suns inbound it, get to Shaq, and AK blocks him AGAIN.

The Jazz won 109-97. I have Boozer on my fantasy team, so I was doubly pleased with him.

The Jazz are now 5-0 at home, and 2-4 on the road. Normally I'd be frustrated, but they've been injury-ridden. Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur didn't play, and AK's missed some games.

To Larry H. Miller, once more, the Jazz have never lost a game I've attended. I think I need some free season tickets.

Jazz 1-4 road trip

It's hard to win on the road when 3 of your 4 best players aren't yet playing. So now they're 6-4.

Jazz 5-1

The Jazz lost their first game of the season during the third quarter against the Knicks. Carlos Boozer was whistled for two quick fouls, adding up to his fourth with still 11 minutes to go in the third. It went downhill from there. Without Deron Williams there, Ronnie Price did what he could, but if he doesn't improve I can see him not playing at all when D-Will returns, with the backup point guard minutes going to Brevin Knight, who's been more solid.

Jazz go 4-0 w/o Deron Williams

True, they've played the Clippers twice, but they also beat the Nuggets and Blazers, and all without Deron Williams. Last night against the Blazers, Brevin Knight proved to be a steadier hand at point than Ronnie Price. The stats don't necessarily reflect that, but watching the game, the team in general looked more calm in the fourth with Knight. Carlos Boozer made some crazy shots, Paul Millsap played inspired D, and Andrei Kirilenko is a Sixth Man candidate.

Where the Jazz suffer right now is perimeter defense and their own perimeter shooting. That will improve a bit when D-Will comes back, but perimeter D was a weakness of theirs last year too.

Only three other teams remain undefeated. Lakers, Pistons, Hawks. Lakers have played the Clippers twice too. The Hawks beat the Hornets on the road. Now that's impressive.

Iverson-Billups trade

I think this trade helps Denver more than it helps Detroit. Denver now has the steady-handed veteran point guard it's craved ever since the morning after they traded away Andre Miller. George Karl has his Gary Payton.