This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Nobody cares about what prompts a hot streak to burst into flames. They just enjoy basking in the heat. "No worries when you win," notes Andrei Kirilenko, philosopher.
So only a killjoy would point out that, just as they benefitted from some teams not being ready for the season to start last November, the Jazz are aided now by some teams being eager for it to end. That the Jazz have nearly matched their torrid 12-1 arrival in November with a 12-2 midseason rush is at least partially attributable to a squishy-soft schedule full of lottery teams.
Even the Jazz's timing is nearly perfect. Not only has Utah not faced a team with a winning record in March, but their opponents are generally slumping. Minnesota had lost four of five before facing the Jazz, the Hornets two of three, and the Bobcats were on a five-game losing streak. Tonight's visitor to Salt Lake, the Indiana Pacers? They've lost six in a row.
The challenge doesn't get much tougher for the next couple of weeks; only Miami and Cleveland among Utah's next nine opponents own a better than break-even record.
But there's no strength-of-schedule component to NBA standings. "They all count the same," Matt Harpring likes to point out, and besides, you still have to win them.
And now is a good time to do it.
The Jazz are in a tight race with San Antonio for the coveted third seed in the Western Conference, a position that would put off a potential matchup with the conference champion Mavericks. Under the NBA's new rules, a Northwest Division title guarantees only a top-four seeding, not top three.
Utah is typically a great stretch-drive team - only once in the last 19 seasons have the Jazz lost more than they won after March 1.
Utah's less-than-grueling March schedule turns tougher in April, however, when four of their final five are against playoff foes, including matchups with Dallas and Phoenix, the conference's elite. The Spurs play six home games in April, the Jazz just five, and the teams' final head-to-head meeting on March 30 is in San Antonio.
"We have to keep winning every game now, every one we can, because you don't want to say, 'Oh, we're lower because we didn't try hard [in March],' '' Kirilenko said. "Don't look back and be sad."
Interesting comment, coming from the Jazz's Russian forward, considering how he regards his own season. Will he someday look back and be sad about his 2006-07 season, the worst of his career?
"No, I'm happy," Kirilenko said. "We're winning, and I don't worry about these things. I try to contribute. If we're going to be high in playoffs, we need to help each other. No negative things."
Kirilenko was negativity personified in January, however, when he complained about his gradually diminishing role in the Jazz's offense. As the team increasingly relies upon Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, all of whom score twice as many points as Kirilenko, the Russian has watched his scoring average plummet to 8.7 points per game, a career low.
"We have set up our tactics and strategy in a different way," Kirilenko said. "We really have three guys who play at All-Star level, and it's very tough to have four All-Stars, five All-Stars on team. I need to concentrate on myself little bit more in positive way."
The biggest obstacle to that is the emphasis placed on scoring in the NBA. Kirilenko remains part of the foundation of the Jazz, assistant coach Phil Johnson said, but all anybody notices is who scores the points.
"His value to the team is what it's always been - offensive rebounding, playing defense, blocking shots, running the floor," Johnson said. "His scoring has dipped, but he's never been just a scorer. He's a guy we need doing everything else."
Still, Kirilenko's scoring averages rose during his first three seasons, and settled in the 16-point range over the past three. It frustrated him in January, when he publicly fretted about being ignored within the offense, and still bothers him somewhat. In all likelihood, Kirilenko is playing on the first 50-win team of his career - but "it's tough season for me," he said. "It's learning season. I understand it's different role, but I need to get used to it."
He also needs to understand, Johnson said, that the team still relies upon his contribution.
"He's not getting criticized by his teammates. He's not getting criticized by his coaches," Johnson said. "He was in a little funk, but he's getting better."
Note: Kirilenko's second son was born Tuesday morning, apparently with his father's wiry physique. Stepan Andrei Kirilenko is 24.8 inches long and weighs 8 pounds, 3 ounces, a Jazz spokesperson said. The baby and his mother, Masha Lopatova, are doing well and Kirilenko expects to play tonight against the Pacers.
Pacers at Jazz
At EnergySolutions Arena
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
TV: FSN Utah
Radio: 1320 AM, 101.1 FM
Records: Utah 41-19, Indiana 29-30
Season series: Jazz lead, 1-0
All-time: Pacers lead, 33-31
At Utah: Jazz lead, 17-9
Streak: Jazz, 1 win
Last meeting: Jazz 104, Pacers 94 (Dec. 17)
Line: Jazz by 8 1/2
About the Jazz: They have won four straight for the fourth time this season, and 12 of their last 14. . . . They are 23-7 at home and have won six of their last seven. . . . They have lost three straight home games to Indiana, and four of the last five. . . . They are 8-0 against Central Division teams. . . . They are 10-2 on Wednesdays.
About the Pacers: They had lost six straight games and nine of their previous 12. They are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. . . . They are 11-18 on the road, having lost seven of their last eight. . . . They are 5-8 on the second night of back-to-back games. . . . At .434, they are the worst shooting team in the NBA. They made 36.5 percent of their shots against the Jazz in December. . . . Probable starters: C Troy Murphy, F Danny Granger, F Jermaine O'Neal, G Mike Dunleavy, G Jamaal Tinsley.
The Jazz's March schedule is less than grueling. A look at some of the easiest:
SATURDAY
New Orleans, at home
Record: 28-33
Last time: The Jazz rolled 108-94 on Sunday.
Key stat: The Hornets have won just nine games on the road and lost 21.
MARCH 16
at Philadelphia
Record: 22-38
Last time: The Jazz eked out a 98-97 win Jan. 3.
Key stat: The 76ers are on a roll, by their standards, having won their last four games.
MARCH 20
Golden State, at home
Record: 27-35
Last time: Jazz lost at Golden State 91-78 Nov. 25.
Key stat: The Warriors aren't bad at home, but they're terrible on the road, where they're 7-25.
MARCH 24
Memphis, at home
Record: 14-46
Last time: The Jazz took a 104-88 win Feb. 28.
Key stat: The worst team in the league has won just four games on the road.
Utah Jazz philosopher