Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 20

San Antonio Express-News

"Over much of the past week, Richard Jefferson has heard enough about how hard the Spurs have been playing. He's heard enough about how well they have been competing, and how much progress they are making. After yet another narrow defeat - this one a 90-83 loss Thursday to a Utah team that hadn't won in San Antonio since "Friends" was the hottest show on TV - Jefferson was in no mood to talk about another close-but-no-cigar. "It's not about competing," Jefferson said. "It's about winning." The loss was the Spurs' third in a row, and the third in a row to come down to the wire. A night earlier, they lost in overtime in Dallas. Before that, it was a three-point loss at home to Oklahoma City. ..."

Kirilenko returns to bench, finisher role

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November 19

The Deseret News

"Rookie Wesley Matthews played a starting role for Utah on Wednesday night when the Jazz hosted the Toronto Raptors in EnergySolutions Arena. But veteran Andrei Kirilenko was a finisher in the Jazz's 104-91 victory. Kirilenko played the entire fourth quarter as Utah pulled away. Kirilenko, who started the first eight games of the season, is now back in the familiar role he played last year as the team's spark off the bench. He scored 20 points — three below his season high — with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in his reserve role. Even still, Kirilenko was given just faint praise by the Jazz coach afterward. Jerry Sloan wants Kirilenko to play more fundamentally sound on ..."

Okur misses game from flu-like symptoms

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November 19

The Deseret News

"The folks back home missed out on a chance to see one native son play against the other. Starting center Mehmet Okur missed Wednesday night's win over Toronto and, according to a Jazz spokesman, was not planning on traveling with the team to San Antonio for tonight's game against the Spurs. Okur is out due to "flu-like symptoms," according to the Jazz, but it wasn't immediately known if he has the actual flu and the Jazz did not say if the illness was suspected to be H1NI flu-related. Okur is the first Jazz player this season to miss a game because of flu-like symptoms. He did take part in Wednesday's morning shootaround, and afterward said the Utah-Toronto game was being televised live in ..."

Utah Jazz rookie guard continues to impress

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November 19

The Deseret News

"Following the Utah Jazz's 104-91 win over Toronto, Eric Maynor was welcomed into the locker room by a loud fan club. "E-May!" bellowed Carlos Boozer. "Yo, dog! I'm trying to give you some love." The love Boozer gave — in a glowing postgame comment — was well-deserved. Yet again. "He continues to impress me," added Jazz point guard Deron Williams. "He's playing great, composed. He's making plays. It takes a lot of pressure off a lot of people." Especially, lately, off of Williams. This was the third game in a row that the rookie point guard played poised and excelled while logging big-time minutes. The Virginia Commonwealth product played the final 14:59 of the game and teamed with Williams ..."

Players not too familiar with Utah's other pro team

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November 19

The Deseret News

"A few days had passed since Real Salt Lake earned a spot in the MLS Cup, but forgive the other professional athletes in town if the soccer club's upcoming championship showdown was fresh news to them. They're a bit more tuned in to another sport with a round ball. For one, point guard Deron Williams said his mind has been on other things — mostly basketball and a medical situation with his daughter. Rookie Wesley Matthews had no clue, either, even though the former all-division high school soccer player grew up a fan of the Chicago Fire — the team RSL beat in the Eastern Conference Finals last Saturday, of course. "That's cool. ... That's what's up," Matthews said, smiling, when informed ..."

D-Will serves up good will

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November 19

The Deseret News

"Point guard Deron Williams' Point of Hope foundation has donated 1,500 of the meals that will be served Monday at the Jazz-hosted We Care - We Share Thanksgiving dinner celebration for Salt Lake City's homeless and low-income population. Dinner will be held on the main concourse of EnergySolutions Arena from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday, with members of the Jazz-ownership Miller family, the Jazz front office staff, coaches' wives, players' wives and Williams himself scheduled to serve."

Utah Jazz start and finish strong

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November 19

The Deseret News

"They still aren't whole, and they certainly didn't put together a complete game Wednesday night. But the Jazz did start strong and finish a 104-91 win over Toronto in like fashion at EnergySolutions Arena, giving them a ninth consecutive win over the Raptors and sending them somewhere tonight where a victory hasn't come since Eric Maynor was 11, John Stockton ran the point and Karl Malone was still delivering. That's right: San Antonio, where Utah has lost 20 straight and not won since — if Coach Jerry Sloan is to be believed — Richard Nixon was president. "Forty years," point Deron Williams said Sloan told them the drought's lasted. "That's about right," Williams added. "If it's not 40, ..."

Rookie fuels Jazz

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November 19

Salt Lake Tribune

"Just when the jittery Utah Jazz looked perfectly capable of squandering another big lead, they got a needed dose of poised leadership from an unexpected source Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Rookie Eric Maynor scored 11 of his 15 points during a seven-minute stretch of the fourth quarter and the Jazz escaped with a 104-91 victory over Toronto. The Raptors narrowed an 18-point deficit to one with 11 minutes to play before Maynor, playing alongside Deron Williams in the backcourt, helped restore order. His 11 points highlighted a 19-5 explosion by the Jazz, who suddenly seem to have two point guards who are capable of altering the outcome of a game. Referring to Maynor and ..."

Utah recovers against Toronto

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November 19

Salt Lake Tribune

"As Kyrylo Fesenko stole the ball from Chris Bosh at halfcourt in the first quarter, turned into a one-man, 7-foot-1, 300-pound fast break and danced around Jose Calderon for a layup, the Jazz couldn't have appeared in for an easier night against the Toronto Raptors. The opposite, however, proved to be true Wednesday, even after the Jazz built an 18-point first-half lead. They held on for a 104-91 victory before 17,879 at EnergySolutions Arena, though not before Toronto closed within a point early in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Jazz improved to 5-6, beating the Raptors for a ninth consecutive time. The Jazz were left with only nine players again, as Mehmet Okur stayed home with ..."

Ginobili out, Parker doubtful for Jazz

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November 19

San Antonio Express-News

"The injury bug has bitten the Spurs again. Tony Parker is doubtful and Manu Ginobili is out for Thursday's home game against the Utah Jazz. Parker missed Wednesday night's 99-94 overtime loss at Dallas with a sprained left ankle that has been bothering him for more than a week. Ginobili, meanwhile, hobbled off the floor 7:28 into his first start of the season with a strained left groin. Ginobili is set to undergo further tests on the injury Thursday, and won't play against the Jazz. The injury is unrelated to the hamstring problem that kept him out of the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to Oklahoma City."

Korver hopes to return in two weeks

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November 18

Salt Lake Tribune

"Back from a weeklong training session at the Peak Performance Project in Santa Barbara, Calif., Kyle Korver said Wednesday he was encouraged about making his return after left-knee surgery in a matter of weeks. Asked how close he was, Korver answered: "A lot closer than I was a week ago, for sure. It's hard to really say. Just as I keep doing more stuff, see how it responds. But I definitely made a lot of progress in the last week." Korver added that he was hoping to return in "two weeks, tops" -- he didn't rule out the possibility of playing in November -- which would be ahead of schedule after he underwent arthroscopic surgery Oct. 28 to remove a bone spur from his knee. He played in ..."

Schedule turns favorable for the slow-starting Jazz

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November 18

Salt Lake Tribune

"It's probably too early in the marathonlike NBA season to suggest the Utah Jazz are approaching a succeed-or-succumb portion of their schedule. Then again ... Including Wednesday night's game against Toronto, the Jazz play 11 of their next 14 games at usually friendly EnergySolutions Arena. The upcoming 14 games are spread over the next 27 days, too. That creates considerable rest-and-recovery time for the Jazz, who have lost nine straight on the second night of back-to-back games, dating back to last season. Combined with Utah's disappointing 4-6 start, this stretch of games could have a huge impact on the Jazz's fortunes in the coming months. Do they join other teams near the top ..."

Stay in school? Look at Maynor, Mathews

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November 18

Salt Lake Tribune

"Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson has some advice for college players considering an early jump to the NBA. Don't do it. After watching rookies Eric Maynor and Wesley Mathews help carry the Jazz in games at Philadelphia and Cleveland last week, Johnson notes that both played four years of college basketball. "They are more ready than the normal rookie who comes into the league today," Johnson said. "So that's a vote, in my opinion, for staying in college." Maynor is 22 years old. Mathews just turned 23. "Those two kids have had experience, they're older and they played well," Johnson said. At Virginia Commonwealth, Maynor played 134 games, including 34 as a senior. He started 104 ..."

Team hoping inconsistent play was lost for good

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November 18

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams has a simple wish. All of the Jazz do, really. No offense to the team that started 3-5 and switched between looking like a contender and a lottery-bound team, but they'd rather not see that inconsistent squad ever again. "Hopefully," Williams said, "we got rid of that team." And they hope it stays lost somewhere between Boston and Philadelphia, where a refocused Jazz team re-emerged. The Jazz, now 4-6, would prefer to continue duplicating the efforts that resulted in a blowout win at Philadelphia, a solid showing in a close loss at Cleveland and some positive mojo after a 2-2 road trip. It certainly helps their cause to continue turning the season around that 11 of their ..."

Jazz say 2-2 trip a step in the right direction

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November 17

Salt Lake Tribune

"The Jazz returned to work Monday, practicing for the first time since going 2-2 on a weeklong journey through the Eastern Conference. All things considered, players and coaches deemed it a successful trip -- a step in the right direction after a lackluster 2-4 start that included home losses to Houston and Sacramento. Said assistant coach Phil Johnson : "If you would have said when we left on the trip that we'd split ... we would have probably taken it." The Jazz will have only one longer trip this season. Their annual pre-Christmas journey is a five-gamer. Last week, they beat New York and Philadelphia. They lost to Boston and Cleveland. Against the Knicks, Utah lost back-up point ..."

Rookies a bit more seasoned

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November 17

The Deseret News

"Longtime Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson was reading a game report last week when he noticed something about talk-of-the-town rookies Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor that popped off the page. It impressed him when reminded that they both played four years of college basketball. Not only did they matriculate — Maynor at Virginia Commonwealth, Matthews at Marquette — but they also matured. "That's interesting, because they've been well-coached in college," Johnson said at practice Monday while filling in for Jerry Sloan. "They had the experience of playing college, so they're more ready than the normal rookie that comes into the league today." Another interesting point about the two Jazz ..."

Rookies Maynor, Matthews step up

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November 16

Salt Lake Tribune

"As they walked off the court following Saturday's loss to Cleveland, Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews could be forgiven for feeling as if they'd officially arrived in the NBA, with LeBron James stopping each to offer encouragement. Matthews had met James before, having worked one of his camps while in college at Marquette. It was a first, though, for Maynor, the Virginia Commonwealth product who made an impression on the league MVP with his 24-point effort. "I told him first of all, he's in a great position," James said. "He's got a great coach, who's a great leader, and he's also backing up one of the best point guards that we have in our league in D-Will, so success is surrounding him. ..."

Young bigs stuck on bench

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November 16

The Deseret News

"Even with the Jazz down to a scant nine available healthy players for their last two games, young bigs Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko played sparingly in Friday night's win at Philadelphia and Saturday night's loss at Cleveland. Both appeared for fewer than two minutes of garbage-time against the 76ers, while Fesenko logged just four minutes against the Cavaliers and Koufos, despite having more than a dozen friends and family members in the stands from his nearby hometown of Canton, did not play at all. Finding time for one, let alone both, has proven problematic so far this season, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan readily admits. Regarding 22-year-old Fesenko, Sloan said, "I'd like to get him in ..."

Rookies had to grow up quickly

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November 16

The Deseret News

"In a weekend, two Jazz rookies grew up. Big-time. "They're more confident," forward Carlos Boozer said after a four-game Eastern road trip that ended with starting point guard Deron Williams back in Utah tending to an ill child, a win Friday at Philadelphia without him and a loss Saturday in Cleveland. "It's hard to take positive things out of a loss," Boozer added. "We feel like we should have won. But you can take a couple of things out: Eric Maynor and Wes(ley) Matthews stepped in huge and played great these last two games." Maynor had a 13-point, 11-assist double-double in his first NBA start Friday, and Matthews scored a season-high 16 points in his, including 3-for-4 3-point ..."

Waiting on Williams

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November 15

Salt Lake Tribune

"Although the possibility of rejoining the Jazz for Saturday's game had been floated, Deron Williams opted to remain in Utah with his family to address the health concerns involving one of his young daughters. "We've always had the same philosophy as long as I've been in basketball," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "If a guy's not able to play, he's got a problem at home, take care of that problem." "He's got to do what he's got to do," Sloan added, "because most of the time your mind is so much on what's going on back there that you don't have a chance to really concentrate on basketball when you're trying to play." After returning home Friday, Williams was said to be doing well, though he ..."

Erie end as AK fires odd 3-pointer

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November 15

Salt Lake Tribune

"If they were going to end their Lake Erie losing streak, the Jazz couldn't have asked for a better opportunity Saturday night with Shaquille O'Neal a surprise inclusion on the inactive list and LeBron James a whisper through three quarters. After trailing by 16 points in the second quarter, 13 in the third and eight in the fourth, the Jazz battled back to take their first lead with 1:56 remaining, setting the stage for a monumental victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of their four-game trip. That opportunity, however, vanished almost as quickly as it appeared in a 107-103 loss, with Andrei Kirilenko launching and missing a 28-foot three-pointer off an inbounds play with 28.8 ..."

Winning NBA Coach of the Year award doesn't lead to job security

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November 15

The Deseret News

"Perhaps Jerry Sloan should be thankful he's never won the NBA Coach of the Year award. If he had, it seems likely that he wouldn't be coaching the Utah Jazz right now — at least judging by recent trends in the Association. Mike Brown, winner of last year's top coaching honor, is still with the Cleveland Cavaliers — but he shouldn't start feeling too comfortable. He may be looking for a new job in the not-too-distant future. It may seem counterintuitive, but it seems like winning coach of the year honors is the beginning of the end, the kiss of death — or whatever you want to call it. Byron Scott, the 2007-08 winner with the New Orleans Hornets, is the latest casualty. He was ..."

Same old story in Cleveland as team falls to Cavs

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November 15

The Deseret News

"If only they would have acted in the first quarter more like they did in the fourth, things might have been different. If only Carlos Boozer had tried to take a charge instead of committing a slapping foul, things might have been different. If only Andrei Kirilenko had driven instead of taking a trey try, things might have been very, very different. Instead, it was same ol', same ol' Saturday night, when the Jazz — minus starting point guard Deron Williams for a second straight game — lost 107-103 to LeBron James and the Shaquille O'Neal-less Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. "This one's hard to swallow," ex-Cav Boozer said, "because we fought our way back and had a chance to ..."

Utah Jazz hope D-Will returns soon

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November 15

The Deseret News

"Coach Jerry Sloan wasn't sure Saturday if starting point guard Deron Williams would re-join the team for practice Monday, but teammates are hoping he can. Williams left the team Friday because one of his two young daughters underwent a medical procedure and subsequent hospital testing, and he missed both Friday's win at Philadelphia and Saturday's loss at Cleveland. "We just embrace him ... and hope the best for him, hope he's getting some good news out there," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "Whatever he needs, we'll obviously be there to support him and help him any way we can." What the Jazz really hope is that all will be fine with Williams' child and he can return when Utah plays ..."

Cavs struggle but manage to keep cool to beat Jazz

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November 15

Akron Beacon Journal

"The Cavaliers gave another sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena the impression that there was little for them to worry about then made them watch a 16-point lead get whittled away to a one-point deficit. Still, the Cavs maintained their cool and beat the Utah Jazz 107-103 for their fourth consecutive victory. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the floor with the Jazz outshooting the Cavs 53 percent to 51 percent. LeBron James scored the Cavs' final seven points to lead the Cavs to the win. He and Mo Williams led the Cavs with 21 points each. Jazz forward Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 25 points. But on a night when James barely cracked 20 points, a balanced effort took over. ..."

Jazz rookies shine in first NBA starts

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November 14

Salt Lake Tribune

"The way they played Friday in Deron Williams' absence, Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews might be allowed to lose the pink "We love to sparkle" backpacks they've had to carry around this season as part of their rookie initiation. In fact, Maynor and Matthews had no trouble sparkling as they made the first starts of their NBA careers together against the Sixers, the first time the Jazz had started a pair of rookies since Williams and Andre Owens nearly four years ago. "I just wanted to win," Matthews said. "We knew everybody had to pick it up with Deron being gone and we all were hitting on the same cylinders and you see the result." "That's a great mark of our character, man," Carlos ..."

Utah gets physical, rolls over Sixers

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November 14

Wilmington News Journal

"It was over so quickly that the 76ers didn't know what hit them.

That's not entirely true. They knew it was the Utah Jazz because the Jazz kept hitting them and hitting them. Much to the chagrin of Sixers coach Eddie Jordan, the Sixers didn't respond in their 112-90 loss Friday. That was reflected in the mood of the half-filled arena as the fans were either chanting the first part of Carlos Boozer's last name or expressing their displeasure over the Sixers' performance. Either way, Boozer ran over them like a truck, with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He was one of seven Jazz players to score in double figures. Utah outrebounded the Sixers (4-5) by 11. "It was ..."

VCU's Maynor gets first start for Jazz

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November 14

Wilmington News Journal

"Eric Maynor tormented the University of Delaware men's basketball team throughout his college career at Virginia Commonwealth.

UD fans are well aware of his ability. Maynor had 28 and 30 points in VCU's two games against the Hens last season. On Friday night, 76ers fans got a chance to see it as Maynor, a rookie with the Utah Jazz, made his first career start. Maynor got the chance because starting point guard Deron Williams left the team to deal with a personal issue, and his backup, Ronnie Price, is out with a sprained toe. That left Maynor, who came into the game averaging 2.3 points and 0.8 assists in 5.2 minutes per game, as the starting point guard. ..."

Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers

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November 14

The Deseret News

"From behind closed doors, screams and shouts were heard. And when they opened shortly after the Jazz's 112-90 win Friday night over the Philadelphia 76ers, it sounded like a frat party inside the visiting locker room at Wachovia Center here. Understandably so, too, as 4-5 Utah — without starting point guard Deron Williams, who returned to Salt Lake City earlier Friday to be with an ailing daughter — won despite starting two rookies and going most of the way with just seven players. "We just had a lot of fun tonight," forward Carlos Boozer said. Did they ever. All five starters scored in double figures — topped by Boozer and his 24-point, 12-rebound double-double — and so did Andrei ..."

D-Will departs team to be with daughter

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November 14

The Deseret News

"It was only after they boarded a bus headed for morning shootaround Friday that the Jazz learned starting point guard Deron Williams had returned to Utah. By night's end, a 112-90 win at Philadelphia in the bag with rookie point Eric Maynor starting, everyone with the Jazz knew why Williams was gone. Yet they still weren't sure when he'd be back, or if he'd make it to Cleveland in time for tonight's game there. According to a statement from Williams, released shortly after Friday's game: "I would like to thank (Jazz owner) Mrs. (Gail) Miller, Greg Miller and Coach (Jerry) Sloan for allowing me to return to Utah to be with my wife and children. "(Thursday), one of my daughters underwent a ..."

D-Will abruptly leaves team

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November 14

Salt Lake Tribune

"The screaming and shouting only grew louder from inside the Jazz's locker room Friday as coach Jerry Sloan talked to reporters in a hallway outside, the cries of celebration rarely heard in the NBA after a regular-season victory in November. Only minutes later, though, reality intruded on the Jazz's inspirational night. Following their 112-90 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers, Deron Williams announced that he returned to Utah in the middle of the Jazz's road trip due to health concerns involving one of his daughters. Williams said in a statement that his daughter underwent a procedure in the hospital Thursday to "address some health concerns." He left the team early Friday morning but ..."

Jazz bang out victory over Sixers

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November 14

Camden Courier-Post

"It was over so quickly that the 76ers didn't know what hit them. That's not entirely true. They knew it was the Utah Jazz because the Jazz kept hitting them and hitting them. Much to the chagrin of Sixers coach Eddie Jordan, the Sixers didn't respond in their 112-90 loss Friday. That was reflected in the mood of the half-filled arena as the fans were either chanting the first part of Carlos Boozer's last name or expressing their displeasure over the Sixers' performance. Either way, Boozer ran over them like a truck, with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He was one of seven Jazz players to score in double figures. Utah outrebounded the Sixers (4-5) by 11. "It was obvious, and it has been obvious, ..."

Sixers fall to Jazz, 112-90

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November 14

Philadelphia Inquirer

"You had to think that no matter how large the Utah Jazz lead grew tonight, it would shrink again. It had to: Utah was without all-everything point guard Deron Williams, entered the Wachovia Center with a losing record, and started an all-rookie backcourt. But it never shrank. It expanded. It went from a bucket or two - no big deal, plenty of time - to a dozen buckets. Tonight, the 76ers were badly beaten by Utah, 112-90. The lead was 26 points during the fourth quarter; it dropped to 14 for one possession in the fourth before bruising forward Carlos Boozer, who finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, hit back-to-back buckets for Utah. The Sixers slipped to 4-5; the Jazz improved to 4-5. ..."

Sixers overwhelmed by the Jazz

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November 14

Philadelphia Daily News

"THEIR CAPTAIN, All-Star point guard Deron Williams, had left the team earlier in the day for what was described as personal reasons. In his place was point guard Eric Maynor, the 10th overall pick in this year's draft. It was Maynor's first start, necessitated by the sprained left big toe of backup point guard Ronnie Price. Maynor's running mate in the backcourt last night was fellow rookie Wesley Matthews, who went undrafted out of Marquette. The Utah Jazz was hurt, shorthanded and in disarray as it limped into Philadelphia following a blowout loss in Boston on Wednesday night. And the Jazz knocked the Sixers out of the Wachovia Center with physical authority on both ends of the floor in ..."

Team not putting in effort on defense

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November 13

The Deseret News

"The Jazz's defense in Wednesday night's 105-86 loss at Boston was as bad as it looked, coach Jerry Sloan suggested Thursday. "We had one of our worst ratings on our defensive stuff as we've had all year," said Sloan, whose Jazz are yielding 102.8 points per game this season. And it's not because they didn't know what to do. "I think they have a pretty good idea," the Jazz coach said. "It's just taking the effort to get it done. Its not like we've changed a lot of stuff." Deron Williams concurred. "Especially with all the emphasis on defense, talk about defense, we haven't put much of an effort up," Williams said. "We have principles," the Jazz point guard added Thursday. "Everybody knows ..."

Is selfishness to blame for woes?

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November 13

The Deseret News

"Over a late-night meal on Wednesday night in Boston, after they were blown away 105-86 by the 8-1 Celtics and had lost for the third time in their last five games, Deron Williams was talking with a teammate. The root of the Jazz's woes was the topic of discussion, and the subject was as sore as when the dentist must dig deep into a canal. "A lot of it's a little bit of selfishness," Williams said Thursday. "When we build leads, we start looking for our own shot and worrying about scoring instead of getting stops. "We went to dinner last night, and a couple of us were talking. "We looked at Boston, and, you know, Paul Pierce has 10 points (actually 13 by game's end Wednesday), K.G. (Kevin ..."

Williams to miss game for family medical issue

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November 13

Salt Lake Tribune

"Deron Williams left the Jazz on Friday morning and returned to Utah to deal with a medical situation within his family. Williams would prefer to keep the matter private for now but may make a public announcement later. Although Williams has voiced frustration in recent days with the Jazz's 3-5 start, the situation is far from a disgruntled star leaving his team. Williams has a private plane at his disposal and could rejoin the team for Saturday's game at Cleveland. The Jazz have excused Williams and said he would miss tonight's game against Philadelphia. Down to just nine players, the Jazz will give rookies Eric Maynor and Wesley Matthews their first NBA starts, coach Jerry Sloan said ..."

Williams leaves team for personal reasons, won't play tonight

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November 13

The Deseret News

"Jazz starting point guard Deron Williams has left the team for undisclosed personal reasons and will not play in tonight's game here against the 76ers. Williams traveled with the team from Boston on Thursday but left Philadelphia late Thursday night and was not at the team shoot around this morning. With backup point guard Ronnie Price out due to a sprained left big toe, rookie Eric Maynor will get his first NBA start tonight. The team did not disclose details regarding Williams' departure, and it's unknown if he will be available for Saturday night's game at Cleveland."

'Soft' Jazz no match for Celts

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November 13

The Deseret News

"Title of the sermon at pregame chapel service here Wednesday night was "From Major Mess to Masterpiece." A sign in the visiting locker room at TD Banknorth Garden said, "All are welcome." If they thought they might not need to hear it before falling 105-86 to the Boston Celtics, perhaps some with the 3-5 Jazz might have had second thoughts afterward. Because Wednesday they looked like a team photo of chaos and confusion. "Right now, we're soft," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "There's no way around it. "We're not playing tough at all. "You know, they were quicker to loose balls, they got on the floor, they did the things that you have to have, have to do, to win." Boston, which ..."

Are the Jazz becoming a bad joke?

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November 13

Salt Lake Tribune

columnist Gordon Monson

"Maybe it was one of those laugh-or-cry situations, and perhaps it was no big deal, really, but with two minutes left in the Jazz's humiliating loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night, Andrei Kirilenko sat on the bench, busting out a big grin, yucking it up. What was going on out on the court wasn't particularly humorous, the Jazz down 20-plus, unless you were a Celtics fan laughing straight in the faces of the hapless visitors who were to competition that night what a baloney sandwich is to fine cuisine. Turns out, the Jazz are much worse than what we thought they were. We thought they were exactly what they were last season, a marginal playoff qualifier that won 48 games. It was a ..."

Utah Jazz: Melting down?

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November 13

Salt Lake Tribune

"The sample size is admittedly small -- just eight games into an 82-game marathon that won't end until April 14 -- but the early returns haven't been encouraging for the Jazz, now 3-5 after opening 6-2, 6-2 and 7-1 the past three seasons. "It's definitely concerning," Deron Williams said before practice Thursday at Suffolk University in Boston, the morning after a 105-86 loss to the Celtics in which the Jazz never led and trailed by 22 points after three quarters. "These losses we've had have been bad. This early in the season, it's not good for us because in my previous four years we've started off with pretty good records, if not great records, and then fizzled as the season went on. ..."

Koufos waiting for opportunity

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November 13

Salt Lake Tribune

"A year ago, Kosta Koufos made the first start of his NBA career in this city against the 76ers, pressed into action with Mehmet Okur attending to his ailing father in Turkey, Jarron Collins out with an injured elbow and Kyrylo Fesenko dealing with visa issues. A 19-year-old rookie at the time, Koufos was one of the youngest players to start in Jazz history. He finished with six points and five rebounds in 21 minutes, but has found playing time scarce in the 12 months since. Koufos came into Wednesday's loss to Boston having played just 17 minutes all season, even after the Jazz exercised a $1.3 million option to keep Koufos for the 2010-11 season. He totaled six points and four rebounds ..."

Chiropractor helps injury, but PG is frustrated by losing.

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November 12

Salt Lake Tribune

"Deron Williams' day started on the sidelines at the Jazz's pregame shootaround, included a two-hour session with a local chiropractor and ended with a missile shot fired from his Twitter account. "We got to change something bc [because] what we doing ain't working right now!" Williams wrote. "Don't know what but something?????" If there was any positive from the Jazz's 19-point loss to the Celtics, it came with Williams emerging from the game unscathed. He decided to play only an hour before game time, after declaring in the morning that his strained back had worsened. "I felt pretty good, once I got in there and got loosened up," said Williams, who came out for just 2:53 in the first ..."

Boston gets no fight vs. Utah

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November 12

Salt Lake Tribune

"Only 11 months ago, the Jazz came to TD Garden and lost to a Boston Celtics team that was 23-2 at the time, riding a 15-game winning streak and appearing destined to hang an 18th championship banner at season's end. With the return to health of Kevin Garnett and the arrival of Rasheed Wallace, this season's Celtics might be even stronger, but the Jazz nevertheless looked about as stiff as Deron Williams' back in a punchless 105-86 loss Wednesday night. The gap between the teams seemed about as wide as Cape Cod Bay afterward, with Williams describing the Jazz as "soft" and coach Jerry Sloan admitting, "We're trying to find ourselves a little bit right now." "We really didn't give them ..."

Williams plays despite back and calf injuries

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November 12

The Deseret News

"On Wednesday morning, Deron Williams indicated he probably wouldn't play. On Wednesday night, he did. "I felt pretty good," said Williams, who logged 33 minutes in a loss at Boston despite missing practice Tuesday and shootaround Wednesday because of a strained back that got worse overnight. The Jazz's starting point guard also has a bruised left calf. "You know, once I got in there it (the back) loosened up," he added. "When I sit, it stiffens up. But it felt pretty good compared to where it was this morning." Williams was so sore Tuesday night he slept on the floor in the room at the Jazz's luxury hotel here, but he visited with Celtics-recommended chiropractor Tim Morgan for about two ..."

Celtics hit all the right notes, blow out Jazz

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November 12

Boston Globe

"If there were two numbers that the Celtics focused on when they looked at the box score after losing at home to Phoenix last Friday, they were opponents' field goal percentage and opponents' scoring. The Suns shot 50 percent and scored 110 points, and every digit was more annoying to the Celtics than the next. "It's noticeable,'' said Paul Pierce. "You look up and a team scores 100 points or a team shoots over 50 percent on the Boston Celtics. That's not the type of team we are. We're a defensive team. We don't give up a lot of points. We don't allow a high field goal percentage. You definitely notice it.''"

Celtics tune out Jazz

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November 12

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers insisted earlier this week that the 3-pointers were OK, that deep jumpers were fine as long as his team didn't break the offense while wandering off downtown. But Rivers was also distressed by fewer trips to the line and an endangered species known as the Celtic layup. His team responded with a powerful hybrid last night. The Celtics came out of their three-day break with a 105-86 win over Utah that included 52 points in the paint, 16-for-18 shooting from the line, and still enough room for the deep stuff. The Jazz, quarterbacked by the dinged Deron Williams, who was also battling back spasms, was simply hit from too many directions. The Celtics limited them to 46.8 percent ..."

Deron Williams unlikely to play against Boston

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November 11

Salt Lake Tribune

"The Jazz are preparing to be without Deron Williams for tonight's game against the Boston Celtics after Williams sat out the team's pregame shootaround Wednesday morning and said his strained back had gotten worse. The Jazz already have ruled out Ronnie Price with the sprained left big toe he suffered in Monday's victory over New York. Without Williams or Price, the Jazz would be down to just one point guard in rookie Eric Maynor and nine total players. The Jazz end shootaround by dividing into big men and guards to shoot at opposite baskets. With Williams and Price both sitting along the baseline in warmups, the guards numbered just three in Maynor, Wesley Matthews and Ronnie Brewer. ..."

Where's 'Tag when Utah needs him?

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November 11

The Deseret News

"Time has a way of softening harsh memories. Just last week, I was thinking about the time I scored a basket for the wrong team. I actually laughed about it, which is strange, because it was so painful when it happened. Time has a way of softening harsh memories. Just last week, I was thinking about the time I scored a basket for the wrong team. I actually laughed about it, which is strange, because it was so painful when it happened. Similarly, I was watching the New York Knicks drive the lane and/or score inside repeatedly, Monday against the Jazz, and a thought occurred that I never expected: Bring back Greg Ostertag. It scared me so bad I wanted to put a cold cloth on my forehead and ..."

Millsap a surprise on All-Star ballot

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November 11

The Deseret News

"For the first time in his career, Jazz backup power forward Paul Millsap is listed on the NBA's All-Star Game ballot. For the first time since his 2001-02 rookie season, Jazz starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko — an All-Star in 2004 — is not. Millsap is joined by three teammates — two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer at forward, one-time All-Star Mehmet Okur at center and first-time hopeful Deron Williams at guard — on the ballot revealed by the league Tuesday. Omitted, though, is Kirilenko, who at $16,451,250 is tied with Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's 11th highest-paid player this season. The forward from Russia, however, ironically played one of his best games in quite ..."

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