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 26-13 (11-7 home, 11-8 road)
The Cavaliers are 8-30 (5-12 home, 3-18 road)
SERIES
Utah 47-41 all-time against Cleveland and 30-14 at home
The Jazz have won three of the last four games at EnergySolutions Arena vs. the Cavaliers
The last four games in Salt Lake City against the Cavaliers have been decided by an average of three points
Cleveland's last win in Utah came on 1/24/09 (102-97)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Deron Williams and Mo Williams have met on the court eight times during their NBA careers, below are their averages when facing each other:
PPG APG FG % RPGDeron Williams 17.0 9.8 0.420 3.8 Mo Williams 11.8 5.0 0.316 2.5
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 30th in the league in first quarter scoring (23.0) but second in fourth quarter scoring (26.5)
· Al Jefferson is currently averaging 2.0 blocks, the most by a Jazzman since the 2006-07 season when Andrei Kirilenko averaged 2.1. Jefferson's 2.0 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 (18) and third in efficiency (23.7) among NBA guards
· Over the last two games Deron Williams is averaging 13.5 assists
· After going scoreless at Memphis on 1/7, C.J. Miles is averaging 20 points over the last two games
CAVALIERS NOTES
· Cleveland is 0-10 over the last 10 games (11 consecutive losses, 21 losses out of the last 22 games)
· The Cavaliers average only 13.6 turnovers per game, sixth fewest in the league
· Cleveland's bench ranks fourth in bench scoring, averaging 36.8 ppg, on the year, the Cavs bench has outscored their opponent 36.8 ppg to 31.4 ppg
· Antawn Jamison will play his 900th game against Utah, he will become one of 23 active players with at least 900 games played and one of only three players all-time to have at least 17,000 career points, 7,000 career rebounds, 900 three-pointers made and 900 career games (Dirk Nowitzki and Scottie Pippen)
· Antawn Jamison has scored over 20 points in four straight games, including a 35-point performance vs. Dallas on 1/2
· Antawn Jamison, who averages 16.1 ppg, has the third lowest scoring average for a team leader in the league
· Manny Harris is averaging 21.5 points over the last two games, his regular season scoring average is 5.7 ppg
· J.J. Hickson is averaging 20 points over the last two games, his regular season scoring average is 10.8 ppg
HE SAID IT…
Following Utah's 101-90 win at Cleveland on 12/20, Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison said the following about Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan who tied Pat Riley for third-most coaching wins in NBA history with the victory:
"He's not flamboyant at all," Jamison said. "He just goes out there and you can just tell he enjoys coaching basketball. He's old school, man. That's what I like about him. He gets his point across. His players respect him and he's been doing it forever. You have to respect that.
"In our society, we overlook that steadiness. We want to know what's new or what's hip or something different. This guy has been doing it for a long time. I definitely think a lot of people overlook what he has accomplished as a coach. But once you're out there playing, you understand the importance of what he's done." - Akron Beacon Journal
COMING UP NEXT
· The Jazz will play at Washington on Monday
· The Cavaliers will play at Denver on Saturday
INJURIES
· None for Utah
· Daniel Gibson - OUT (left ankle sprain)
· Joey Graham - OUT (right quad strain)
· Leon Powe - OUT (right torn meniscus)
· Anthony Parker - TBD (low back strain)
· Anderson Varejao - OUT (torn peroneus longus tendon in right ankle/foot)
· Christian Eyenga - QUESTIONABLE (right ankle sprain)
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!
