There was a time this season when the Utah Jazz struggled mightily against teams that tried zone defenses against them.
Apparently those days are over.
The Golden State Warriors tried to zone the Jazz midway through the opening quarter and into the second. While the zone seemed to get Utah out of sync the first couple of times down the court, the Jazz quickly figured it out, scoring almost at will. It was a key stretch in helping the Jazz to an easier-than-it sounds 119-109 victory on Tuesday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Jazz shot 68.2 percent from the field in the first half, including 71.4 percent shooting on 15-from-21 from the field in the second quarter in taking a 77-63 lead at the half.
The Warriors were using a zone early in the second quarter against the Jazz's second unit when Utah made eight consecutive shots, including a pair of Kyle Korver 3-pointers.
"They were in that zone and we were able to work it around a little bit," said Korver. "They probably got frustrated, and playing against a frustrated zone is one of the funner things to do in basketball."
Korver, Matt Harpring and Paul Millsap combined for 24 points off the bench for the Jazz in the second quarter, as Utah went from a 36-36 tie to a 13-point lead at intermission.
"The guys off the bench gave us a nice lift," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "Korver, Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap, I thought they gave us a little bit more energy than what we had to start with."
KISS ME KYLE: Signs that plead with new Jazz hearththrob Kyle Korver to kiss them or be the holder's valentine or other things do briefly catch his attention, but he tries not to look too closely or pay too much attention to them, especially during the games.
"I've go to focus on the game," he said. "When you see a sign, you might glance at it real quick, but I try not to look back.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but I've got a job to do, and I've got to focus on that."
Besides, most of the sign-holders are teenage girls, at least that's what they look like to Korver.
AKTV: A Russian television crew from the cable TV station NTV+ was in EnergySolutions Arena to send the game — with the only Russian still playing in the NBA, Andrei Kirilenko — back to Russia in a live broadcast. They were using video from the U.S. feed and Dimitry Garanenko, Oleg Ushakov and famous Russian coach Sergey Elevich did the commentary. Elevich coached Kirilenko in 2003 EuroBasket competition.
Since Viktor Khryapa — who was also on that EuroBasket team, was waived after a buyout agreement between himself and the Chicago Bulls Feb. 8, Kirilenko is the only Russian in the NBA.
"He is a Russian star," said Garanenko.
"It's always interesting for the Russian people to see the Russians on the teams, for sure," said Kirilenko, "but since I'm the only one Russian that's in the league because Viktor left before the All-Star break.
"At least I know Utah Jazz is the most favorite team in Russia, 100 percent," Kirilenko said, laughing because it has to be.
He said he wouldn't play any differently because friends back home might be watching. "It's my seventh year here, so I get used to it. It's good, but it's just TV. It's not that I'm going to try to do better or worse."
Besides, as in most of the world, "They like football better," but he was happy that those Russians who care for basketball can see a game.
Kirilenko spent the All-Star break with his family in Las Vegas. "I took all my kids skydiving — like indoor. Like air blowing," he said, explaining about one of those fun-park contraptions that allows people to be held up by blowing air as if they were skydiving, though they're just a few feet off the ground. "It's funny," he said. He was not able to participate. "No not me. I was watching. Well, I wanted to, but they didn't have my size in the suit."
HALL OF FAME BOOZER: Jazz forward Carlos Boozer was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening along with four others at the same time the Jazz were playing the Warriors. Boozer, for obvious reasons, was unable to attend the ceremony. Although he wasn't there, the Jazz star, who played prep basketball for Juneau-Douglas High, was honored at the ceremony with another ex-Duke basketball star Trajan Langdon. Two people closely associated with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Joe Redington and Rick Swenson, were also inducted as was ex-Denver Broncos lineman and current ESPN announcer Mark Schlereth.
YOUTH MENTORING: The Jazz hosted eight participants from the Village Project, a mentoring program that benefits at-risk youth, on Tuesday. The young participants arrived early to the game in time to watch the team warm-up and then have dinner at the EnergySolutions Arena VIP Room. The Village Project is administered by Utah's 3rd District Juvenile Court and offers youths that pass through the court system contact with appropriate adult role models. It is the third year the Jazz have been a part of the program.
Mentored youth will take part in a 10-week course during which participants will visit various Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment companies. Careers such as marketing, sponsorship sales, public relations and so on within the sports and entertainment industry will be explored.
Contributing: Linda Hamilton
E-mail: lojo@desnews.com