Doctors call it "turning over" - the period when the rehabilitating knee starts making significant strides toward normalcy. Sometime next week, the knee of Jazz center Mark Eaton should begin doing just that.
Whenever it does turn over won't be too soon for the Jazz. Since returning to play on Nov. 25, Eaton has only been used sparingly, usually under 10 minutes a game. As a result, the Jazz's defense suffered."I don't think people realize just how valuable Mark Eaton is to this team," says Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.
Saturday afternoon at the Delta Center the Jazz will again see just how much they need a fully healthy Eaton when they host the Boston Celtics. With 39-year-old center Robert Parish doing his impression of the Duracell rabbit - he just keeps going and going and going - Eaton's services will be at a premium.
Eaton started the Jazz's last two games, playing 13 minutes against Orlando and 12 Wednesday against Miami. Considering they were back-to-back games, it was a good indication his recovery is on course. Nevertheless, the minutes this year are well below the 25-minutes-per-game average he had last season. "(The knee) has continued to improve," said Eaton. "I'm not at the point where I could play 25 minutes, but it's getting better."
Eaton says although his playing time hasn't increased significantly, the soreness is diminishing. "Three weeks ago I could hardly walk after a game. Now it's down to a small limp," he said.
"There's less swelling. It still gets stiff and the joint gets hot, but it's ever-improving."
A return to normal for Eaton is something the Jazz will need in the weeks ahead. Though they have a good 15-8 record, it has been a relatively light schedule so far. Only once have they played four games in five nights - and that was when Eaton was still on the injured list.
Certainly the next month will be a greater test than they've had to date. The Jazz have played only eight teams that currently have an over-.500 record. Coming up in January are two games against San Antonio - who has already beaten the Jazz twice - two each against Portland, Seattle and the Clippers and return matches with Cleveland and Houston.
"The schedule definitely gets tougher from here," said Eaton.
In February the schedule is equally rugged, with two games against Chicago and one each against Houston, Phoenix, Golden State and Seattle.
Boston remains dangerous, despite being a far cry from the team it used to be. Utah took its first-ever regular-season win at Boston Garden in November. But the Celtics (12-13) have won seven of the last 11 and two in a row. All-Star Reggie Lewis leads the team with a 20.8 scoring average.