The Jazz are calling 27-year old center Al Jefferson a game time decision tonight due to a bad ankle. It has been bothering him for a while now and the Jazz might be smart to give him some time off to heal up a little bit. Jefferson has played in 16 games (all starts) for the Jazz so far this year and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 17.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. If Jefferson can’t go tonight, look for Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter to split time at center. Favors has played in 18 games (5 starts) for the Jazz so far this year and he is averaging 20.9 minutes, 7.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Rookie Enes Kanter has also been solid so far this year for the Jazz as he has played in 19 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 14.4 minutes, 5.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. The Jazz feel that they will be o.k. if Jefferson has to miss a little bit of time to get healthy as Favors and Kanter are playing pretty well so far this year.

24-year old center Kyrylo Fesenko is done for the season due to a fractured right hand.  Fesenko played in 53 games (1 start) for the Jazz this season and he averaged 8.6 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 132 games (7 starts) in his first four years with the Jazz and he has averaged 8.3 minutes, 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  I think that Fesenko has played his last game for the Jazz as he can become a free agent at the end of the year.

The Jazz have decided to shut down 31-year old center Mehmet Okur due to back and leg injuries.  Okur played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 12.9 minutes, 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  He only shot 35.5% from the floor and 31.3% from three point range as he never appeared to be anywhere near 100% for the Jazz.  They aren’t going to the playoffs anyway so it made sense to shut him down.

Starting center Mehmet Okur will miss the rest of the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. He will miss the next 6-9 months after he decides to have surgery which could put him out o action until next Christmas. Okur played in 11 minutes in the first game of the playoff series against the Nuggets and he finished up with 7 points and 2 rebounds. Losing Okur is a big blow to the Jazz as either Kyrylo Fesenko or Kosta Koufos will start at center for the rest of the year. More than likely though the Jazz will go with a small lineup most of the time with Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer on the court at the same time.

Starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko will miss at least the next two weeks as he aggravated his strained calf during practice. Kirilenko has played in 58 games (35 starts) this season for the Jazz in which he averaged 29.0 minutes, 11.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. The Jazz will really miss AK-47 as he was going to unleash his really good D on Carmelo Anthony. That job will now fall to C.J. Miles. Miles played in 63 games (28 starts) this season for the Jazz and he averaged 23.8 minutes, 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Starting power forward Carlos Boozer will be a game time decision for Game #1 of the playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a oblique injury. Boozer has played in 78 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season and he has averaged 34.3 minutes, 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. If Boozer can’t go the Jazz will turn to Paul Millsap who is a outstanding player in his own right. Millsap played in 82 games (8 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 11.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Millsap will do a good job if needed to start but the Jazz would be better off having both Boozer & Millsap tomorrow against the Nuggets.

Starting center Mehmet Okur didn’t play in the Jazz’ last game and there is really no reason to play him until the playoffs with his Achilles aching him right now. Okur has played in 71 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season and he is averaging 29.4 minutes, 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. The Jazz will need all hands on the deck in the playoffs so it’s a good idea to rest Okur for now.

The Utah Jazz have lost SG/SF Kyle Korver indefinately due to surgery on his left knee. This will hurt the Jazz who have already lost C.J. Miles for a while hurting the depth of the Jazz big time. The Jazz will likely try to talk Matt Harpring into playing this season as he was considering retirement due to bad knees. If they can’t succeed in talking Harpring out of retirement then Ronnie Brewer will likely be playing big time minutes at shooting guard. Point guards Ronnie Price and rookie Eric Maynor might have to play some minutes at shooting guard until Korver is ready to return and there lack of size will be a huge problem.

22-year old starting small forward C.J. Miles reptured a ligament in his left thumb which will require immediate surgery and cause him to be out indefinately. Miles played in 72 games (all starts) for the Jazz last season and he averaged 22.5 minutes, 9.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 192 games (98 starts) in his four years with the Utah Jazz in which he has averaged 15.0 minutes, 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. This is a bad break for Miles who was finally starting to earn good minutes for the Jazz.

Andrei Kirilenko is out indefinately with a fractured left thumb.  He could possibly return at some point in the playoffs if the Jazz get by the Houston Rockets.  Kirilenko had a disappointing season for the Jazz.  He played in 68 games and averaged 29.5 minutes, 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.  The Jazz really need Kirilenko back because of his defensive ability.