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The Utah Jazz unanimously agree that Rocky Mountain rival Denver remains a viable playoff contender despite trading Carmelo Anthony.
The Jazz and Nuggets exited the All-Star break as two of seven teams lumped within 51/2 games of each other in the battle for the final four berths in the Western Conference playoffs.
"They are still going to be a good team — a talented team," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said Tuesday.
"We can't think, just because they made a trade, we can overtake them. We have to get better, we have to play better and we have to win games. Then we'll see what happens."
Denver turned over nearly half its roster in the three-team deal that sent Anthony to New York.
In return, the Nuggets acquired Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, draft picks and $3 million.
Anthony had sought a trade for months.
"Me, I'm like everyone else," said Jazz guard Raja Bell. "I'm just glad it's over — finally."
Asked if the trade would disrupt the Nuggets' playoff drive, Bell said, "On paper, they lose their best player. You'd think it would be a good thing for a team like us. ...
"But they got a lot of good young players in the deal. So it remains to be seen. ... Selfishly, I hope it takes them awhile to get it figured out."
In the trade, Denver also sent veteran point guard Chauncey Billups to New York.
"As big as Carmelo is," Bell said, "one of the reasons they've won is because they had a leader and floor general like Chauncey. To lose both those guys has got to be a big blow for them."
Welcome back
The Jazz play Dallas on Wednesday night.
They could not have picked of more difficult opponent for their first game after the All-Star break.
The Mavericks have won 13 of their last 14 games and moved into second place in the Western Conference.
Asked about coming off a one-week break and playing Dallas, Deron Willliams shrugged and said, "If we want to get to the playoffs and make a run, these are the kind of teams we have to beat."
Since starting the season 27-13, the Jazz have lost 13 of their last 17.
Their four wins in the difficult stretch came against Minnesota, Charlotte, Denver and Sacramento.
At the All-Star break, Utah was tied for the eighth and final playoff berth in the West.
"We dug ourselves a hole," Williams said. "We put ourselves in a tough spot. At the same time, we're only a couple of games back of fifth [place]."
"A little more freedom"
According to Andrei Kirilenko, there is a difference between playing for ex-coach Jerry Sloan and Corbin.
"I would say it's a different team right now because you have a different captain — a different ruler," Kirilenko said.
"He has his own vision of how the game is supposed to go … [and] we will try to help as much as possible."
What's the biggest difference?
"I would say we now have a little more freedom," Kirilenko said. "It's a little less organized, but in a good way. I think people are a little more relaxed.
"With Jerry, I think, we've been very organized — like a machine. … You have to be in his system, which is good, too. It's just a different system."
Of course, Kirilenko knows that any coach and any system will be judged on wins and losses.
Utah is 0-3 under Corbin.
"So far we don't have a result, so you can't say it's better," he said. "We just have to start winning games. It's a work in progress."
Jazz at Mavericks
P At American Airlines Arena, Dallas
Tipoff • 6:30 p.m.
TV • FSN Utah
Radio • 1320 AM, 1600 AM, 98.7 FM
Records • Jazz 31-26, Mavericks 40-16
Last meeting • Mavericks, 103-97 (Dec. 11)