JazzFan 4 Life

Jazz beat the Suns, 108-104, in what could be a big game for Utah as the season wears on in terms of confidence. Let's hear some sweet music and sour notes ...

* Kirilenko shows up: 17 points (5-11 FG), 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks -- One game after looking totally lost, AK-47 was all over the place on Friday, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds (he even made a 3-pointer) and making some key passes to help Utah rally in the second half.

* Boozer keeps it going: 21 points (7-15 FG), 12 rebounds, 3 assists -- He had the game-winning slam dunk and the game-clinching rebound of Leandro Barbosa's miss. Can't ask much more of the guy and he seems to be comfortable in the offense with each passing game.

* Harpring gets hot in 4th quarter: 17 points (6-12 FG), 4 rebounds -- Harp had a nice overall night, but when he made a critical double-clutch jumper off a high-low play with Kirilenko late in the 4th, it proved why the Jazz keep this guy around. He creates mismatches on the block with his strength.

* Fisher makes his mark (again): 18 points (5-10 FG), 2 rebounds, 3 assists -- When the Jazz play he and Deron Williams together, they have a pretty solid combination of ball handling and shooting. Fisher is the steadying force the team has lacked the last few years and I think he's providing the never-give-up attitude a playoff-caliber team needs.

Sour notes

* Poor interior defense -- The Jazz only had 2 blocked shots (both by AK-47). While Utah has been bullish on the glass (they outrebounded Phoenix 48-32), but need to do a better job of contesting shots or fouling and wrapping up around the basket.

* Welcome to Utah, youngsters -- In the season-opening win over Houston, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles played key roles. Tonight ... not so much. Brewer played 3 minutes (0-1 FG, rebound, 2 fouls) and Miles played 17 minutes (2 points, 1-5 FG, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls). Sloan is just DYING to make Fisher the starter ... and I can't say I blame him.

* Not a good sign ... Leandro Barbosa might start tonight. He averaged 13.0 ppg against the Jazz last year, but he's been playing really well this season. In addition, when the Suns have played both Diaw and Kurt Thomas together, their tempo has slowed a little bit. Mike D'Antoni is trying to speed things up (of course) and that doesn't bode well for the Jazz.

Here's some links from the other side -- The Phoenix Suns:

* Jalen Rose needs a home and the Suns always need more forward/guard players to go along with Raja Bell, Jumaine Jones, Eric Piatkowski, James Jones and Boris Diaw.

* Amare Stoudemire isn't at full strength yet (duh) and wishes he were playing more.

* Leandro Barbosa might be starting soon.

Sixers/Suns just ended on ESPN2 with the Sixers edging by, 103-100. It's NBA preseason, but it was a pretty good game, especially the furious comeback by the Sixers. Few things I noticed:

* During the broadcast, multiple points were made about how the Suns have to play better defense in 2006-07 if they want to get to the Finals. Despite all the talk about how Steve Nash has improved on defense and the Suns are making it a priority this year, Nash still looks like he couldn't guard Rick Brunson (and he didn't).

* Rodney Carney tore it up! 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Oh yeah, and the game-winning 3-pointer. Willie Green should watch out, because his replacement might be a few seats down on the bench.

* Amare Stoudemire looked OK. If he gets a consistent 15-foot jumper, he'll be the closest thing to a Karl Malone-Elvin Hayes-Shawn Kemp hybrid we'll ever see. He supposedly worked on his jumper while rehabbing, but all I saw today was a guy trying (unsuccesfully) to dunk on everyone.