How Good are the Jazz?

We all know the Jazz have been playing some damn (excuse me, dang) good ball lately. A lot of people are asking why. Is it because Boozer is out? Sundiata Gaines is on the team? Or is it that Wes Matthews' locker is now next to AK's, and they've been inspiring each other to hustle all over both ends of the court?

We may never know. And to some extent it doesn't matter as long as Jerry has figured out the rotation and we keep getting Ws. The more interesting question is, how good are we? According to EPSN, our boys have actually played the second most difficult NBA schedule of any team so far this season. They also rate us as the second best team in the league, behind only Cleveland. Unfortunately, although this may be mathematically accurate in some sense, I'm not sure it fully accounts for how much better we are at home than on the road or our penchant for losing to teams we should beat by 40. It doesn't bode well that as of today we've played six more games away from the Tox Box than in it and still have to go to battle with the mighty T-Wolves once more this season.

It's certainly encouraging that we've been winning without Boozer and it seems like -- for reasons that certainly no one understands -- Kirilinko is a legimate third offensive weapon in the starting lineup again. Even better, we're only a half game behind Dallas for the 3 spot in the West. But color me cautious. We're two weeks away from the trade deadline and are looking to make some kind of move, which may be major. With all these road games coming up, something also tells me we're headed for some uncalled for losses. Come on Jazz, prove me wrong. . .

Wes Matthews is no Deshawn Stevenson

Deshawn Stevenson prepares for tough defensive matchups by calling out the opposing player. For instance, when facing Lebron, he calls him overrated.

The Jazz' lone rookie in the starting lineup and lone defensive player, Wes Matthews, charts a different course. As Young Wes prepares to face the Lakers and their all-star shooting guard, he may just have referred to Kobe as "the greatest to ever play this game."

Wes might as well have spat in Booner's face.

Our Lineup

It looks like Jerry is going to continue to start Wes Matthews after his two-game tryout. That likely means AK will move to the bench and Ronnie will start at the three. Neither of those guys have exactly staked a claim to a starting position this year, so it must have been a bit of a tossup. AK has a fragile ego but he also benefits from going against other teams' second unit. Let's be honest -- you'd rather try an ill-advised three or behind the back pass on a fast break against them than the starters.

This begs the question though: who was the last rookie to claim a starting spot this early in the year under Jerry Sloan? Emphasis on "claim" not "start a few games because everyone else at the position was out with an injury." I don't actually know the answer. It certainly wasn't Deron Williams or Ronnie Brewer or any of our other high draft picks. You gotta hand it to Wes.

Speaking of our lineup, next year's is looking better as the Knicks are considering signing Allen Iverson. Could their dysfunctional disaster of a year get any worse? With that type of move, you bet.