Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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One of the great unheralded resources to us sports guys is the Sports Information Director.
Each team has one (or several). They usually come with different titles, but they are the liaisons between the media and the players/coaches. They are also fountains of knowledge.
The Jazz have their gaggle of uber-Jazz nerds, Linda Luchetti, Jonathan Rinehart, Derek Garduno and Hannah Lee... but I'm going to single out Derek Garduno because he sends me some incredible pregame info that I need to pass along.
And be sure to check out the video at the bottom. It is must see internet-TV.
STANDINGS • The Jazz is 25-13 (10-7 home, 11-8 road) • The Knicks are 21-15 (12-5 home, 11-9 road) *play tonight at Portland
SERIES • Utah is 41-40 all-time against New York and 29-12 at home
• The Jazz have won the last four games at EnergySolutions Arena vs. the Knicks
• Three of the last four games at EnergySolutions Arena against New York have been decided by eight points or less
• New York's last win in Utah came on 11/14/05 (73-62)
HEAD-TO-HEAD Al Jefferson and Amar'e Stoudemire have met on the court 13 times during their NBA careers. Below are their averages when facing each other.
Al Jefferson 21.5 ppg 1.3 apg 0.8 bpg 11.8 rpg
Amar'e Stoudemire 22.2 ppg 1.6 apg 1.4 bpg 7.2 rpg
JAZZ NOTES • The Jazz are 6-4 over the last 10 games
• The Jazz have come back from a 10-point deficit to win 12 games this season, including coming back from a 15-point deficit in seven games this season
• The Jazz rank 29th in the league in first quarter scoring (22.8) but second in fourth quarter scoring (26.4)
• Al Jefferson is currently averaging 2.1 blocks, the most by a Jazzman since the 2006-07 season when Andrei Kirilenko averaged 2.1. Jefferson's 2.1 average is the highest by a Jazz center since the 1999-00 season when Greg Ostertag notched 2.1 blocks per game
• In Utah's 103-99 overtime win at Houston on Saturday, Paul Millsap scored 12 points in overtime, finishing the game with 27 points, 21 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime. The 6-8 forward is the only Jazz player in the past 14 seasons to collect 12+ points in a single overtime period
• Deron Williams currently ranks second in the league in double-doubles (17) and third in efficiency (23.5) among NBA guards
• After going scoreless at Memphis on 1/7, C.J. Miles turned in a 16-point, five rebound effort at Houston on 1/8
KNICKS NOTES • New York is 5-5 of the last 10 games
• New York is 21-15 after 36 games, which is their best start to a season since they started the 2000-01 campaign 23-13
• New York is 11-8 (.579) on the road (tied for seventh most road wins in NBA), already equaling last season's road win total (11-30)
• New York leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 107.6 points through 36 games
• Amar'e Stoudemire has won two NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards this season, the first Knick to do so since Patrick Ewing won three in 1992-93
• Amar'e Stoudemire recorded his 21st consecutive 20-point effort with 23 points, 10 rebounds on 1/9 at the LA Lakers, his 20-point streak is the longest by a Knick since Patrick Ewing accomplished the feat in 28 consecutive games from 1/25/90 - 3/27/90 and is the fifth longest streak in franchise history (since 1954-55)
• Raymond Felton is averaging 18.2 points per game (31st in NBA, fourth among point guards) after averaging 14.2 points last season, he ranks among the league leaders in assists (sixth, 8.7), steals (sixth, 1.89), free throw percentage (18th, .870), three pointers made (66, 11th) and minutes per game (seventh, 38.8)
• Raymond Felton recorded 313 assists this season (8.7) with 104 going to Amar'e Stoudemire (33%), 72 to Wilson Chandler (23%), 44 to Danilo Gallinari (14%), 33 to Landry Fields (11%), 15 to Ronny Turiaf (5%), 14 to Shawne Williams (4%), 13 to Toney Douglas (4%) and the rest to others (18, 6%)
• Landry Fields, the 39th overall pick in the NBA Draft and two-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, is averaging 10.2 points (fourth among rookies) on .520 shooting from the field (second among rookies, 15th in NBA), .376 from downtown (fourth among rookies)
COMING UP NEXT • The Jazz will play Cleveland in Salt Lake on Friday
• The Knicks will play against Sacramento in New York on Friday
INJURIES • Mehmet Okur - GAMETIME DECISION (lower back strain) *injury occurred at L.A. Clippers on 12/29
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• Danilo Gallinari - OUT (sprained left knee)
• Kelenna Azubuike - OUT (left knee surgery)
PRONUNCIATIONS • Timofey Mozgov………….…..TEAM-oh-fay MOZ-gov
• Kelenna Azubuike……...Ku-LENN-a Az-oo-BOO-key
• Andy Rautins……………………..………………….ROUT-ins
• Danilo Gallinari…………...Da-KNEE-lo Gal-in-ARE-ee
• Shawne Williams…………………….……………………Sean
• Ronny Turiaf……….….roll the r: ROW-ne TUR-ee-off
• Amar'e Stoudemire…………….………………..a-MAR-ay
• Asst. trainer Anthony Goenaga…………...go-e-NA-ga
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• Kyrylo Fesenko………..…….…….…Kuh-rill Feh-sink-o
• Andrei Kirilenko………...AHN-dray KEAR-ah-link-oh
• Mehmet Okur………...….………………….MEM-it O-cur
• Deron Williams……….….…………………...……..DARE-in
On a side note, check out and vote on the "UPS Guy" poll below. Garduno carries the trophy for "Best Jazz Pregame Open". Bring back the UPS guy!
