Estimated read time: 3-4 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 27-17 (15-7 home, 12-10 road)
• The Lakers are 32-13 (17-5 home, 15-8 road)
SERIES
• The Jazz is 55-96 all-time against the Lakers and 15-60 record on the road
• Utah is 3-18 at STAPLES Center against the Lakers
• Utah has lost its last eight games at STAPLES Center against the Lakers with the last Jazz win coming 1/1/06
• Deron Williams has led Utah in scoring in nine of the past 12 games vs. the Lakers
JAZZ NOTES
• The Jazz are currently in the longest losing streak of the season (four games)
• The Jazz made a starting lineup change in the last game, moving forward Gordon Hayward into the starting five, his seventh start of the season
• After scoring a season-low five points at Boston, Deron Williams rebounded with a 20-point, 14-assist performance at Philadelphia on 1/22
• Al Jefferson has scored 19 or more points in five of the last seven games
• The Jazz is 20-2 when scoring 100+ points and 7-15 when scoring under 100
• The Jazz currently rank 30th in first quarter scoring and first in fourth quarter scoring in the league
LAKERS NOTES
• For the third consecutive season the Lakers have reached the 30-win mark by the mid-point of the season
• The Lakers lead the league with seven wire-to-wire victories this season
• Entering the game against Utah, former Jazzman Derek Fisher has played in 458 regular season games dating back to 4/15/05, the longest consecutive games streak among active players
• Kobe Bryant, who is the sixth leading scorer in the league at 25.0 ppg, is two for his last 13 three-point field goal attempts
• Over the last five games Kobe Bryant has attempted 38 free throws but only five in the past two games
• Over the last three games Andrew Bynum has connected on 16 of his last 25 field goal attempts
• Pau Gasol has registered double-doubles in three of the past five games
COMING UP NEXT
• The Jazz will play against the Spurs in Salt Lake City on Wednesday
• The Lakers will play against Sacramento in L.A. on Friday
INJURIES
• Francisco Elson - GAME-TIME DECISION (left quadriceps tendinitis)
• --------------------------------------------------------------
• Matt Barnes - OUT (right knee surgery)
• Andrew Bynum - PROBABLE (hyperextended right elbow/contusion to ulnar nerve, right arm)
• Theo Ratliff - OUT (left knee surgery)
PRONUNCIATIONS
• Pau Gasol……………………………………..Pow! Ga-Soll
• --------------------------------------------------------------
• 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!
