JazzFan 4 Life

A look at what the Orlando media has to say about tonight's Jazz/Magic game at Amway Arena.

• Previews: Orlando Sentinel Yahoo.com
  
• Story on the Jazz still playing well, while the Magic have gone in the tank.
• Magic are considering whether or not to give PG Jameer Nelso an extension this off season or wait until next year. Nelson is a good point guard, but he still has a lot of growing to do. We all know he's better than ex-Jazzman Carlos Arroyo.
  
• Magic GM Otis Smith cites everything from a lack of leadership to the Magic players liking each other too much to this season's swoon. Maybe the team is just young? Just a thought ...
  

The latest headlines in anticipation of tonight's Jazz/Heat game in Miami. Here's what the Miami media has to say about the Jazz (and/or the Heat):

• The Heat have won 6 in a row, but other East contenders such as Cleveland (5 in a row), Chicago (5 of last 6 games), Detroit (2 in a row) and Toronto (2) are keeping them from moving up much in the standings.
• Miami's been stinking it up from the free throw line lately.
• Insight into the rough season Heat PG Jason Williams has had. This guy has been a pain the the Jazz's butt since that 1999-2000 playoff series.
• Are shorter practices helping in C Shaquille O'Neal's resurgance?

A look at what's happening with the Heat in anticipation for tomorrow night's game in Miami.

• Recap of Miam's buzzer-beating win over the Wizards.
• A column on Udonis Haslem's game-winner over the Wizards.
• Heat coach Pat Riley might actually use his draft pick this year to draft a player. Might be a good idea seeing as how outside of Dorell Wright, the Heat have zero young prospects on the roster.
• The Heat have won six in a row (just like the Jazz), but where will they end up in the Eastern Conference playoff picture?
• Recap of last night's game by Crazy from the Heat.
  

Some quick notes for tonight's Hornets/Jazz game at Energy Solutions Arena (as well as tonight's preview):

• The Hornets have allowed 100+ points in seven of their last nine road games. Ouch.
• Memories of an ironic collapse for Hornets coach Byron Scott as they ready for tonight's game.
• Hornets couldn't quite complete the comeback last night against the Suns.
• AP's preview of tonight's game.
• A ballboy helped Jazz C Jarron Collins understand exactly how home court in the first round of the playoffs works.

TONIGHT'S PREVIEW

Season series: Tied, 1-1.

What happened last time: Jazz dismantled the Hornets, 108-94, on Sunday. Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Mehmet Okur had 28 points and 9 rebounds and Deron Williams put up 20 points and had 6 assists. The Hornets muddled through the game, with only Tyson Chandler (20 points, 19 rebounds) and Chris Paul (14 points, 13 assists, 3 steals) doing anything of note for New Orleans/Oklahoma City.

What to expect tonight: The Jazz had their way with the Hornets the last time around by basically out-executing the Hornets all evening. David West was a non-factor (10 points, 4-12 FG, 7 rebounds) and players such as Bobby Jackson, Devin Brown and Marc Jackson contributed little to nothing. The Hornets are coming off last night's 104-103 loss to the Suns and will no doubt be tired.

Williams often says he doesn't play any harder against Paul and the Hornets than any other team. He says that the matchup is something the media makes up, but that he doesn't view it as otherwise. The numbers say otherwise:

Williams -- 23.5 ppg, 52.9 FG pct, 7.0 assists per game this season in the 2 games vs NOK.

I'd be surprised if Williams doesn't get himself fired up for this game and run the show as well as he has all season.

Prediction: Jazz win, 105-99.

Utah won the last meeting between these teams, 107-100, earlier this season. Boston was 1-4 at that point and Utah was 5-1, and since then, things have pretty much stayed the same for both teams. Here's a look at what the Boston media has to say:

* Wally Szczerbiak definitely won't play tonight, something that coach Doc Rivers expected.

* The Celtics took a beating last night at the hands of the Lakers and neither Rivers nor Paul Pierce were pleased with the effort.

* Rumor is people won't be surprised if Pierce asks for a trade in the offseason if the Celtics don't make a major trade.

* The Nuggets acknowledge the Jazz are the division leaders, but aren't ready to concede anything yet.

* Nuggets coach George Karl compares the Jazz's road trip to a "pit stop" in this article.

* Jazz vs Nuggets preview courtesy of The Nugg Doctor.

* The Nugg Doctor attended yesterday's practice. Very cool insights from inside an NBA practice.

* Nuggets G Allen Iverson is trying to get healthy and he better hurry. He could be the starting point guard as soon as Friday's game.

* SI.com NBA Players poll lists Iverson as the second-fastest player in the NBA (behind T.J. Ford). LeBron James and Shawn Marion are the only non-guards to make the list. Also surprising: Yao Ming is considered the NBA's slowest player.

* TheNugg Doctor laments the loss of J.R. Smith for the next 3-6 weeks as he recovers from knee surgery. Smith's injury is a huge loss for Denver and likely puts them in the race for the 6-8 seeds instead of challenging the Jazz for the Northwest Division title.

* Mavs might try to re-acquire Eduardo Najera today.

Some headlines from the Portland area about tonight's Jazz vs. Blazers game:

* Blazers C Jamaal Magloire missed practice Monday, but not because he was traded. He is expected to be punished, meaning he might not play tonight.

* Blazers GM Steve Patterson says he's seen 'marked improvement' by the team and that no deals are likely.

* Jazz/Blazers preview from Associated Press.

* A little old, but FoxSports.com's Mike Kahn on how the Blazers should try to unload Magloire, Juan Dixon and maybe Raef Lafrentz to shore up their future.

Some headlines from the Portland area about tomorrow night's Jazz vs. Blazers game:

* Cool feature about the 1977 Portland TrailBlazers championship team. This team, along with the 1975 Warriors, 1979 Sonics and 2004 Pistons were probably the biggest underdogs to win an NBA title.

* Blazers G Brandon Roy doesn't wear a headband for the Blazers, but he tried on on during the rookie/sophomore game.

* BlazersEdge predicts Portland (22-32) probably won't win as much in the second half of the season, given the team's inconsistent play. Additionally, they wouldn't be surprised to see Juan Dixon get shipped off to free up time for rookie sensation Sergio Garcia.

* Great story from the Portland Tribune on something I didn't know: The City of Roses has never hosted an NBA All-Star game.

* Imagine how Portland would be this season if the Knicks had pulled the trigger and sent F David Lee there last season? Newsday says that deal almost happened.

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.