[外電]BKN Jazz Nets Preview

[MaiStockton (STOCKTON)]

The Utah Jazz are off to a 4-0 start for the second time in three seasons.
They hope for a much better ending this time around.

Utah looks to keep its perfect record intact as it opens a three-game road
trip with a matchup against the well-rested New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

The Jazz have been one of the league's surprises despite a difficult early
schedule that included games against Phoenix, Houston and Detroit.

A victory Wednesday would give the Jazz their first 5-0 record since
2000-01, when Karl Malone and John Stockton led the team to a 53-29 finish.

Utah also opened the 2004-05 season with four straight wins, but versatile
forward Andrei Kirilenko sustained a knee injury and the Jazz lost 24 of
their next 31 games en route to a 26-56 record.

While injuries can never be predicted, this Jazz team appears to have far
more depth than the 2004-05 squad. Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur
comprise a very formidable frontcourt, while second-year pro Deron Williams
and veteran Derek Fisher provide excellent guard play.

Utah is averaging 106.0 points after posting 91.7 in its first four games of
2005-06.

``I don't think we're relying on one or two guys carrying us,'' Fisher said.
``Literally every guy that's playing for us is giving us something.''

Utah's perfect run continued on Monday with a 103-101 victory over the Pistons. Okur scored eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter against his former
team and blocked Richard Hamilton's potential game-tying layup in the final
second.

Boozer had another strong performance with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while
Williams had 14 points and seven assists.

``Great win. Great win,'' Boozer said. ``We're doing a better job this year
of finishing games in the fourth.''

Boozer has been the biggest catalyst during Utah's start, averaging 20.5 points and a league-leading 14.0 rebounds per game. Boozer, who has double-doubles in
each contest this season, was named Western Conference player of the week on
Monday.

The Nets (1-1) haven't played since a 91-85 loss at Miami on Friday.

Vince Carter followed his 25-point season-opening performance against Toronto
with 27 against the Heat, but Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd combined for 20
points on 6-of-22 shooting from the field in the loss.

``Whenever you get it, it's good,'' Jefferson said of the layoff. ``Because now you're a little more refreshed, you have a little more energy (after) training
camp. You can find a way to make it good.''

That extra rest should be beneficial since Wednesday's contest begins a
stretch of seven games in 11 days for New Jersey.

The Nets had won four straight against the Jazz before an 89-78 road loss on
Jan. 23. Utah has lost three in a row at New Jersey. Kidd, who had a
triple-double in his last meeting with Utah, is averaging 15.9 points, 9.0
 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 35 games against the Jazz.

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※ 編輯: MaiStockton     來自: 220.139.77.10        (11/08 14:47)
※ 編輯: MaiStockton     來自: 220.139.77.10        (11/08 14:48)
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