Jazz 104 – Rockets 95

After grinding out a great win on the road coming out of the All-Star break, the Jazz are sitting at a remarkable-for-them road record of 11-12. Tonight’s game in New Orleans will be a great test to see where they stand after winning 10 of their last 11.

A few quick points:

• The fact that Aaron Brooks is the Rockets’ leader in scoring and assists represents everything that is right and everything that is wrong with the Rockets. Like David Locke, I could watch these two teams battle every night, but it’s crazy to have to depend on a bizarre amalgamation of Allen Iverson and Chris Rock for your scoring.
• Memo was the key. If the Jazz get that kind of performance out of the former all-star on even a semi-frequent basis, they’ll be a ridiculously difficult match-up.
• Kyle Korver made a dramatic return to the lineup. He stretches the defense on reputation alone so it’s great to see him back out there.
• The ESPN Dime Live chat was full of questions about trades, most of them involving people asking if the Jazz could get Rip Hamilton for Boozer. I don’t even know where to start with that one, other than to say “Stop it.” Second of all, I’m guessing these people are hoping the Jazz get a 2004 version of Rip, which makes me wonder why the Jazz don’t just trade for the 1966 version of Wilt Chamberlain?

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