The Jazz dug down deep within themselves and earned a gigantic victory last night in Denver. The Jazz shot 52.9% from the floor as a team and it was too much for the Nuggets to overcome. Deron Williams flat out abused Chauncey Billups most of the night as he finished up with 33 points, 2 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. Carlos Boozer was a flat out beast last night with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 2 assists. Paul Millsap stepped up off the bench with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots last night. C.J. Miles played well on D against Carmelo Anthony last night and he finished up with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists himself. Kyle Korver provided instant offense off the bench for the Jazz last night with 13 points in only 24 minutes. The Jazz are now 1-1 in this series as it shifts to Salt Lake City later this week.

With Mehmet Okur out for the season the Jazz will need either Kyrylo Fesenko or Kosta Koufos to step up and give them some quality minutes. Fesenko is the more likely of the two to get the starting job. He played in 49 games (5 starts) for the Jazz during the regular season in which he averaged 8.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He played in 5 minutes in game #1 against the Nuggets with 1 point and 1 assist. Kosta Koufos is a former first round pick of the Jazz so he might have a bigger upside. He played in 36 games (0 starts) for the Jazz during the regular season and he averaged 4.8 minutes, 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Koufos played in 3 minutes in the opening game of this season and he got a rebound but didn’t score. I have a feeling that the Jazz will need 15 good minutes for them while Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer handle most of the heavy lifting along the front line.

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.

The Jazz hung in there until the 4th quarter when the Nuggets outscored them 38-27. The Jazz didn’t play and D tonight as the Nuggets shot 57.1% from the floor and they outrebounded them 42-31. Deron Williams led the way for the Jazz in this game with 26 points, 2 rebounds and 11 assists. Carlos Boozer not only started in this game but he was outstanding with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots. C.J. Miles had huge issues trying to stop Carmelo Anthony who dropped 42 points on them tonight. Miles finished up with 17 points and 2 assists in 24 minutes on the court. Paul Millsap was very good off the bench for the Jazz in this game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocked shots. Kyle Korver pitched in with 13 points and 4 rebounds off the bench tonight. Mehmet Okur re-injured his Achilles after playing 11 minutes in this game. The Jazz better hope his injury isn’t serious as they are playing short anyway. The Nuggets now lead this series 1-0.

This is going to be a great series, probably the best first round matchup of the playoffs. The Jazz are a little banged up and that could come into play as the Nuggets seem to have everyone ready to go. Here is a closer look at the matchups in this series:

Point Guard: Deron Williams is one of the very best point guards in all of basketball. He played in 76 games (all starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 36.9 minutes, 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Williams is a master at getting his teammates easy shots on the pick and roll.

Chauncey Billups is a battle tested big game player. He played in 73 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this season and he averaged 34.1 minutes, 19.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Billups is an outstanding shooter who doesn’t shy away from taking the big shot at the end of games.

EDGE: SLIGHT FOR JAZZ

Shooting Guard: This is the position where the kids play for both teams. Wesley Matthews was a undrafted free agent last summer and he turned into the starting shooting guard in no time. Matthews played in 82 games (48 starts) in which he averaged 24.7 minutes, 9.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He can pile in the points when needed.

Arron Afflalo really stepped up when given the chance for the Nuggets after spending a lot of time on the bench in Detroit in his first couple of years. He played in 82 games (75 starts) for the Nuggets this season and he averaged 27.2 minutes, 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

EDGE: EVEN

Small Forward: With Andrei Kirilenko out for this series it will be up to C.J. Miles to step up. Miles played in 63 games (28 starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 23.8 minutes, 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The most important thing the Jazz want Miles to do is play tough on D against Carmelo Anthony.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the best offensive players on the planet. He played in 69 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this year and he averaged 38.2 minutes, 28.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He should be able to score a lot of points in this series especially if Miles doesn’t get help on D.

EDGE: HUGE FOR NUGGETS

Power Forward: Carlos Boozer is a game time decision but I think he will give it a go for game #1. If he can’t go Paul Millsap will start at PF. Boozer played in 78 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season and he averaged 34.3 minutes, 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is a elite player when healthy.

Kenyon Martin has had a lot of success against the Jazz this season and he will see if it carries into the playoffs or not. Martin played in 58 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this season and he averaged 34.2 minutes, 11.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He brings a nasty attitude to the Nuggets and he plays all out, all of the time.

EDGE: SLIGHT FOR JAZZ

Center: Mehmet Okur is back for the Jazz. He will try to take Nene’ away from the basket but shooting a lot outside which will open the paint for Boozer & Millsap. Okur played in 73 games (all starts) for the Jazz this year and he averaged 29.4 minutes, 13.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He is a big key for the Jazz in this series.

Nene’ Hilario has really turned himself into a good center. He played in 82 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this season and he averaged 33.6 minutes, 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He will try to bully Okur in the paint in this series.

EDGE: EVEN

BENCH: The Jazz are going to have a tight bench in this series likely only giving Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Price a lot of minutes. Millsap is by far the best player of this bunch as he can play C, PF or SF. He 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. Kyle Korver is a flat out shooter for the Jazz as he set an all-time NBA record by hitting 53.6% of his three point attempts. Ronnie Price will give Deron Williams and Wes Matthews a breather when they need one.

The Nuggets got some good weapons on the bench with J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson and Chris “The Birdman” Andersen. Smith comes off the bench shooting the ball. He played in 75 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets this year and he averaged 27.7 minutes, 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Ty Lawson will give Billups a break when he needs a blow. He played in 65 games (8 starts) as a rookie this year and he averaged 20.2 minutes, 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The Birdman really brings a lot of energy to the court. He played in 76 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets this year and he averaged 22.3 minutes, 5.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. Joey Graham and Johan Petro can also help out if the Nuggets want to go that deep on the bench.

EDGE: NUGGETS

COACH: Adrian Dantley is stepping in for George Karl who is still battling cancer. He has done a good job coaching the Nuggets and he has more talent then the Jazz do. It will be interesting to see how well be matches up against crusty old timer Jerry Sloan of the Jazz.

Jerry Sloan is one of the best coaches in NBA history despite never winning a championship. He led the Jazz to a 53-29 record (64.6%) during the regular season. He has a 1,096-659 (62.5%) record during the regular season in his time with the Utah Jazz. He also has a 92-94 (49.5%) record in his post season career.

EDGE: JAZZ

PREDICTION: I think these are two pretty evenly matched teams with the Jazz having the edge on the bench (Jerry Sloan). Still, I think the Nuggets are going to win this series in 7 games for head coach George Karl.

Paul Millsap has been stepping it up lately for the Utah Jazz, especially on the glass.  Millsap has been a rebounding machine recently, and he proved that last night when he pulled down 24 rebounds in a win against the Golden State Warriors.  He also had 10 points and 3 assists.  Millsap has been playing great over the past seven games, averaging 13.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.6 steals.  Millsap definitely has the ability to be a starter in this league, but the Jazz have an All-Star in Carlos Boozer in front of him, so he is one of the top front-court bench players in the league.  Boozer may be gone after this year though, so Millsap may be the starter next season for the Jazz.  Either way, Millsap has been a great asset for the Utah Jazz in his young career.  With his strength inside and his knack for the ball, Millsap will be a very valuable asset for the Jazz in the playoffs.

The Jazz fell behind 86-70 after three quarters and they never came all the way back. It hurt that the Jazz only shot 38.1% from the floor which negated the fact that they outrebounded the Lakers 52-38. Deron Williams led the way for the Jazz again with 21 points, 4 rebounds and 14 assists. Mehmet Okur had a solid game in the paint with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Millsap was outstanding off the bench with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. The Jazz lose this series 4-2 to the Lakers.

The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers 44-34 in the game on Wednesday Night in L.A. but they were outscored 32-23 in the 4th quarter and it doomed them. Deron Williams led the way for the Jazz with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. Carlos Boozer also had a very solid game with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists. Ronnie Brewer pitched in with 16 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists in only 23 minutes. This game put the Jazz down 3-2 in this series.

The Jazz won this hard fought game yesterday and it really helped that they shot 52.6% from the floor as a team. Deron Williams was fantastic as he led the way for the Jazz with 29 points, 3 rebounds, 14 assists and 2 steals. Mehmet Okur was impressive once again with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Andrei Kirilenko was busy with 15 points, 3 assists and 5 blocked shots. Carlos Boozer was tough around the basket with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists. The Jazz have now tied the series at 2 games apiece.

The Jazz shot 50% from the floor last Thursday Night and it was a huge key to victory. Carlos Boozer was awesome in this game as he led the way for the Jazz with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 3 assists. Mehmet Okur also had a solid game with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Deron Williams did a good job of running the offense with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 12 assists. The Jazz are now down 2-1 in this series.