If you can explain the ABC series Lost to me, then you might be able to explain the Jazz at home and the Jazz away from home.  They’re kind of like the Losties on and off the island.  Some of the theories for Lost as why things are so different on the island involve time travel, a parallel universe, and the supernatural.

Whenever the Jazz leave the Wasatch Mountains, they rip through a space-time continuum into a universe where they suck.  Maybe someone should check that the Jazz aren’t flying out on Oceanic 815.  But in the shadows of Mount Olympus, the Jazz are nearly unstoppable.

That was certainly the case again as the Jazz destroyed the Wizards, 129-87.  This one was never in doubt.  That was in large part due to the team record 15 three pointers and CJ Miles.

The Jazz let it rain threes down on the Wiz.  The Jazz went 15-26 from downtown with Miles making 4 of those.  Memo and Korver had 3 apiece, Deron and Price had 2, and Almond made his first of the year.

The star of the night, much to UtesFan89’s delight, was none other than CJ Miles.  CJ got the start with Brewer and AK out.  And he made the most of it tonight.  My biggest criticism of Miles has been that when he gets the chance to play, he hasn’t been very consistent.  Of course UtesFan89 will tell you that’s because he doesn’t get enough PT.  That may be true.  But with a game like tonight’s, he may finally get more consistent PT.  He finished with a career high 29 points on 12-17 shooting as well as 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Price also got only his second career start.  And I have to say that I like the Price/Williams backcourt.  It has a certain dynamic to it that presents matchup problems for the opposing team.  Either one can penetrate and create.  And when Deron comes out, you have Price that’s still in that can run the show.  He finished with 10 &4.

You would think though that having Price and Deron in at the same time would take away from Deron’s assists.  Not so.  Overlooked tonight, if that’s possible, was Deron’s 16 assists.  He had 13 at the half.  It was only because of the blowout that we didn’t get to see him go for a career high.  He also had three steals with one coming at the end of the first half when he nailed a three and then swiped the ball after the inbound pass and nearly drained another three at the buzzer.

Other stats…  Boozer had 19 & 2 (yes, two rebounds), Memo had 16, Korver scored 15, and Harp added 13.  Hornacek stated that when both Korver and Harp score double-figures, the Jazz are 13-0.  That tells me that the bench adds a lot to the success of the Jazz.

Up next is the revenge game against the Wolves tomorrow.  This game was kind of a revenge game.  You know that they wanted to come out and make a statement.  Let’s just hope that they do the same to the Wolves and to the Spurs on Friday.

In other games of relevance, the Mavs beat the Clips to stay in the playoffs.  And Denver blew a 22-point lead to the Suns and end up getting beat by 15.  The downside is that a Suns’ loss would have put the Jazz just a half game back of them.  But on the plus side, Denver drops 3 1/2 games back of the Jazz and are now out of the playoffs.  As much as I love it when Denver loses, I’d much rather make up ground for home-court advantage.  And both teams turn around and play each other again Tuesday night @ Denver.  So once again, it’s a win-win for the Jazz.  There’s no way I can root for the Nuggets, but if they do win, that’s okay.  But if a loss gets us closer to clinching, that’s okay too.

Other blogs,

• Biased Fan
• My Utah Jazz
• Ross Siler
• Bullets Forever

So Danielle was kind enough to lend these pictures to BBJ for your entertainment. She was out stalking waiting for the players to arrive before Saturday’s game against the Sonics. She was kind enough to let me post them here. I’ll let her have the post…

So. On Saturday, my dad told us that we were going up to the SLC for Easter. The crew left, and Jac and I shortly followed. We got up to SLC around 4:30, and I told Jac we should cruise over to the Delta Center (yes, I know it is now the ESA) and see if anything was going on before the game. Sure enough, there were a few people standing over by the entrance to where the players drive in. So Jac and I parked and went over and asked them if any of the players had come. Carlos Boozer had come through just a minute before, but the security guard said that the others should be coming really soon. So, I was like, ok this could be good. But I didn’t want to look like a crazy stalker or anything. So sure enough, the players start rolling through one by one.

Ronnie Price was nice and stopped to sign a card for this little boy. Interesting enough, he still had Sacramento Kings license plate surrounds.

Memo thought he was too cool for school. Whatever, I have the same car!

No wonder Jerry loves Harpring so much. A good old truck driving boy. No glitz or glamour.

CJ is really young! Like, younger than me! He stopped and was nice to sign for this kid.

And then my dreams came true! I got to meet KK!!! He was sooo cute. Even cuter in person than I thought he’d be. From what I remember I wished him a happy Bday and good luck at the game. He said ‘Thank you’. And then Jac said, “This is my older sister, Danielle, and she is absolutely in love with you”. Great. He smiled politely and said “Nice to meet you, Danielle”. I’m sure I replied with something! Of course, Saturday morning I was up and running around studying and running errands, so I totally didn’t even put any make-up on. Hence not actually taking a picture with my love. But, I did get a signed card, thanks to the kid that was there. All in all, it was a very luxury experience. I totally didn’t want to invade any of their personal space, but the security guard assured me that people did this all of the time. So, I felt a little better about it.

Unfortunately, my favorite pic got erased off of the camera. It was Jarron Collins (the ‘wonderful’ Jazz back-up Center) getting DROPPED OFF by his wife in an old-school Escalade with the darkest tinted windows. Jarron, know one is that desperate for a picture of you. But, way to help out the environment by consolidating trips.

Jac was in charge of the recording. This isn’t very long, but it is luxury.

Also, the D. Will was throwing a bday bash for a few players with Lil’ Jon (YEEEAHHH!!) but, since none of my girl friends are 21 I couldn’t go. Mainly because, given the track record of some of the players, it wouldn’t exactly be the best decision to go by myself.

Also, we saw Donyell Marshall (a Sonics player) [editor: and former Jazz palyer] in the lobby at the Grand. I wanted to say something witty like ‘Good luck tonight’ but I didn’t want to be annoying.

I was spent after live-blogging the Bulls game.  I couldn’t come up with anything interesting to say about the game.  They let the Bulls hang around too long, but nothing the Bulls did made me think that they had something to pull it out.  Boozer was back to form, Deron was Deron, and we won.  Have there been any more uninteresting games?  We lost to the Kings, we played the Bulls without any of their big three, and we play the Sonics after a three-day break.  For some reason none of them have mattered to me because things don’t get serious it seems until after the All-star break now.  This Sonics game coming up to me is like my last period of high school before summer break.  You just want to get it out of the way.

The only thing that interested me in the Bulls game was the play of Ronnie Price.  He struggled early this season, but he never really got a chance to run the offense in a game.  According to Sloan, he hustles and plays well in practice.  But Jerry had gone with Hart a while ago.  So now that Price has had the opportunity to show what he can do, he’s grabbed the #2 job right out of Hart’s hands.  Even Hart said he hasn’t played well and at Price deserves it.  Let’s hope to see Price on the floor in Seattle.

Anyway, I had to get something up and not take my own mid-season vacation like the NBA does.  Did the rest of the Jazz players though ask Deron and Boozer if it was okay to make vacation plans this early?

Why do reporters make stuff up?  There’s no way in Hades that the Jazz trade AK for Wallace.  Big Ben and his contract are a millstone around the neck of the Bulls.  He’s seven years older than AK.  He is having a career-low in blocks.  He would be one of the worst players to play for Sloan.  How long before he would be in the doghouse?  Then we’d have all that money sitting on the bench.  Besides the fact that AK can actually, you know, play offense.  The list goes on and on.  The Jazz would only have one thing to gain and that’s one less year on his contract.  I don’t think even Isiah would do this one if he were Jazz GM.  I can’t believe people get paid for writing this type of thing.  And remember, I don’t get paid ;).  Luhmy has a pretty good response to this.  But would we even have a spot for Hinrich?  It drives me crazy to see stuff like this.  Was this guy paid by the Bulls to float this? 

And my last rambling of the day is about the traitors Pace Mannion and Thurl Bailey.  Before the Bulls game, the pre-game had an interview with Byron Russell on Jordan’s shot in the 1998 Finals.  First of all, great way to bring back pain to the Jazz fans 10 years later.  My wife told me to turn it off until they stopped showing Jordan’s shot.  The interviewer asked Russ if he thought it should have been called a push-off on Jordan.  He didn’t mix any words and basically said, “Hell yes!” 

So they kick it back to the KJZZ booth where DJ asks Pace and Thurl if a call should have been made.  And both of them said no.  “It’s not popular to say” said Thurl, but it was right.  But they make no other statements as to why there shouldn’t have been a call except that they should just let them play when the game is on the line.  BS.  He got the call because his name is MJ.  And former ref Mike Mathis agrees,

Remember when Jordan hit that winning shot? I’m going to give you exactly what the commentators said: ‘What a great move by Michael.’ Was that a great move or was that an offensive foul? There was no question it was a push-off. No buts about it. The only buts you can have is, ‘Well, it was Michael Jordan.’ That was a defining moment.

Here’s something else that I’ve never thought about the foul.  A lot of people will say that Russell’s momentum carried him and he would have been out of position anyway.  That may be true (it’s arguable).  But I think the biggest advantage for Jordan was that he was able to stop himself and his own momentum by pushing off on Russ.  It put him in a rhythm that he otherwise may not have had.  Either way you look at it, Russ and the Jazz got hosed.  And saying contrary (unless you’re a Bulls fan of course) is traitorous.

And finally, some links to tide you over until tomorrow’s game.

• Getting his hopes up
• The best PF of all-time? - Duncan gets the nod of course.  What were his numbers against the Mailman though?  It seems like when he went up against the best, he didn’t have his best games.  Of course, Malone usually played Robinson.
• The coccyx is still out - I don’t think we see Ronnie play in Seattle either.  No reason to irritate it when we’ve had CJ and Price playing well.
• The KK effect
• KK on your mind
• Carlos moving up a bit in the MVP blogger vote - I would have Deron above Carlos right now.
• Pistol gives is HORSE - Best shot for HORSE?  The left-handed layup.  Nobody can do it.
• Jazz players tradeability - I agree with most of these.  Pretty good write-up.
• I’m all in
• “I’ve loved my Salt Lake experience” - Music to Jazz fan’s ears.
• The media love-fest continues - Paul goes 1-10 from the floor and still gets a write-up in the Daily Dime.

Had to get something up on the quick. Reason number #2,425 why your life is nothing like that of a professional athlete. And thanks to My Utah Jazz for the links.

December 31st. The night started out with a great win over Portland. And as we can see, the Jazz wives were getting ready to celebrate not only the win, but the New Year. After the win, it was time for the party to start at Kirilenko’s. All of the players were there. They got in some good hazing on Fess.

And then, it looks like the Vodka kicked in because things went crazy from there.

Did AK decided to use his free pass already for the year?

Apparently the girl pictured is an assistant for the Kirilenkos. She’s in all the pictures and seems to be having a good time with everyone.

I think a lot of Jazz fans would have rather won a trip to this party than the contest to go the Denver game next month.

Any chance we’ll be seeing these photos in next year’s media guide? And it’s a good thing that Dee isn’t around to be a bad influence on Deron.

The SLTrib broke away from their black and white print and came roaring into 21st century with a moving picture camera-captured event today at media day.  Featuring Steve Luhm as “Luhmy,” Ross Siler as the “Newlywed,” and Gordon “Did I mention I was sitting next to AK when he started crying” Monson. 

AK was pretty mum about everything.  I’m sure he’s tired of talking about the whole situation, but at the same time he can’t expect everyone to drop it.  I’m starting to think now that if he is traded, it won’t be until well into the season.  If he’s playing well and happy, why trade him?  There’s not really anything to be gained on either side if that’s the case. 

Monson seems to think that Sloan was told in no uncertain terms to lighten up on him and to make some changes in his coaching style.  Yeah, I don’t see that happening.  Maybe Sloan is a little softer in his old age, but I think he’d still rather give you the bird than to do things other than his way.

Let’s please put this to rest until something happens and stop the speculation.  I realize that those that are professional journalists have to “monitor it,” but I think the Jazz collective will be better off by not dwelling on it.

Other notes and observations from the article:

• CJ Miles is back with the Jazz - Some things I’ve read state it was a four-year deal while others are saying that he just signed the QO.
• Looks like the Fess is #44.  And doesn’t AK look as tall as Kyrylo in the video?
• Deron wasn’t dressed due to having his wisdom teeth pulled.  I don’t know how he carried on a conversation.  When I had mine out, I was out of it for most of the day.  Doesn’t he know he’s not suppose to have anything done like that before picture day?
• Get ready for the Almond/Fess blogs.
• Giricek was pleased when a reporter noted Gordan’s weight loss, physique, and new haircut.  Man, what a girl.

 Well, after fires kept me from last Friday’s Revue game, the release of Harry Potter, and now flooding, I’m finally able to play ketchup and get things going again.  I’m not going to recap the Revue in this post as I want to do one on that separately.

We’ll start with the Ronny Price signing.  To which all I have to say is what?  This baffles me on so many levels.  So now we have potentially 6 guards?  So what happens if CJ and Dee accept their offers?  Maybe the Jazz have received word that they’re not going to accept.  That’s the only possible explanation I can think of.  No good fan reactions from this.  My other question is, who are we getting that can play some defense at the two?

Deron Williams is kicking can at the Blue/White Team USA scrimmage.  He didn’t shoot particularly well, but when you have the black holes that are Carmelo and Kobe, he doesn’t have to worry about points.  But I’m sure they’ll take his thirteen assists.  And if the PGs for Team USA are anyone other than Kidd and Deron, we’ll finish 3rd again.

Millsap was named MVP of the Rocky Mountain Revue.  No shock here.  He edged out Louis Williams, who was everywhere.  The Jazz could be regretting letting him go especially as they need another big man.  Have I mentioned that they just signed another guard?

I’ve uploaded a new video that I couldn’t edit about the ref scandal and Williams at the FIBA tryouts.  I couldn’t edit it, so you’ll have to forward to about 2:22.

Poca-what?  Dee Brown visited a school in Pocatello, ID where he admitted he didn’t even know Pocatello existed.  As a native Idahoan, we don’t like to admit that Pocatello exists either.  He wants to be back and should be back.  Although with the Price signing, it looks bleak.

AK loves the ice cream.  Kirilenko was spotted in St. Tropez with his family.  He seemed to blend in pretty well despite being 6′9″.  At least he’s not biting anyone’s throats.

deronwilliams.net has some info on his upcoming charity golf tourney.  Looks like the .com is a domain cybersquat.

I’ll get up a proper review of the Revue and each player.  Until then, please no more mother nature.

Well, we’re about 12 hours into the free agent period and no news yet on Pete or anyone else for the Jazz. So here’s a video of some interviews from the summer practices and some links:

• Jerry’s thoughts on Miles not showing up for the Revue - This is not how you get more PT with Sloan. I’m guessing Miles is gone. But you would think he would have announced a contract by now if he had one.
• Araujo continues to impress - While it’s no argument he works the hardeset, we’ll have to see what kind of interest he gets from other teams. I’m banking on him being back with the Jazz.
• More Peterson news - This and other sources are saying now it’s either Utah or Detroit for MoPete. I’m saying 75% for the Jazz.
• And Fisher a Laker again - So this looks like almost a done deal. But Fisher has since fired his agent after he announced he’s looking for the full MLE for Fisher after the Jazz waived Derek. With as much as the Lakers are hated in Utah, does he get some boos? Especially with this coming to light that his agent might have used Fisher’s daughter’s condition to get out?

Technorati tags: utah jazz, rocky mountain revue, paul millsap, derek fisher, jerry sloan

News from today… The Jazz have offered contracts to Dee Brown & CJ Miles. They’ll both test the market. I suspect that Brown might leave to get more PT. But I think CJ will end up staying. That will still leave quite the logjam at SG.