POSTGAME QUOTES, March 4, 2009
Jazz 101, Rockets 94

Next: vs. Denver Nuggets

Jazz Quotes
Notes:  The Jazz shot 100% (17-17) from the freethrow line…The last time Utah shot 100% from the foul line was on 1/8/05 at Milwaukee, a 86-89 loss to the Bucks…The Jazz extend their current winning streak to nine games…The Jazz improve to 19-1 at home against Western Conference teams…Since returning from injury, Carlos Boozer played a game high 33 minutes and recorded his first double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds…Deron Williams had his 29th double-double of the season…During the Utah’s nine game winning streak, Deron Williams is averaging 18.3 points on 48.1% shooting, 13 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1 steal…Mehmet Okur continued his hot shooting from the three point line by going 2-4 tonight and is now 16-23 (69.6%) over the last seven games.

On the game
“I thought our guys played well, I thought we played hard.  It’s nice to see Boozer back, seeing him play well.  Deron Williams had a great game.  This is a tough team to play against, they’re so big and long, it’s tough to deal with them all night long.”

On Boozer being back
“It’s a tough situation with Paul Millsap, because Boozer’s starting, but he’s a guy that averages 20 and 10 most of the time, and we need to see him get in a little better shape so he can play longer, and I think he’s willing and he’s worked real hard, and we had some results – positive results.  And Paul will hopefully still play hard and come off the bench and give us the kind of lift we need to try to win with those people coming off the bench.”

On the team shooting 100 percent from the free throw line
“Well, they missed a couple plays I called.  I don’t know what happened on that.”

On the game
“You know we always have battles with these guys. We’ve played them in the last two playoffs. We know it’s going to be a tough game, tight game, defensive battle and they play hard. And we really needed this game because they’re right there ahead of us.”

On his last shot 
“I thought that was the shot that finally broke them. Ron Artest came back and hit that tough three but once we hit that last shot I thought we had it sealed.”

On upcoming games
“We have a nine game win streak and we have a big game on Friday against Denver and then we go on the road. So all of these games coming up are important with how tight the west is and we just have to keep it rolling.”

On the knee
“It was a playoff type of game. The refs let us play, let us get physical, let us battle. I thought we did a really good job of maintaining great composure down the stretch of the game to win the game.”

On the depth of team
“I was really excited. I’m getting more comfortable out there. I’m back with my teammates and we’re working hard every day. Me and D-Will got our chemistry back. We’re very humble and we have a long way to go, but for me I thought we did good with my knee.”

On the nine-game win streak
“I’m not 100%. I can’t jump yet. I’m still working on my knee strength, but I’m going to keep working every day and hopefully continue to get better and better.

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Rockets Quotes
Notes:  The Rockets started out the game on a 7-0 run…Rockets fall to 2-1 against the Jazz on the season…The Rockets forced seven turnovers in the first quarter…The Rockets only had three  rebounds in the second quarter…In the first half, the Rockets were outrebounded by the Jazz 27-9…With 4:03 left in the third quarter Carlos Boozer had as many rebounds as the entire Rockets team (15)…The Rockets forced 29 fouls on the Jazz…The 29 fouls was a season opponent high for the Rockets…The Rockets had 15 more free throw attempts than the Jazz (32-17)…The previous high for free-throw differential for an opponent in Salt Lake City this season was seven (1/27 against the Spurs)… The Rockets fall to 7-5 on Wednesdays this season.

On the game
“I thought our guys really played hard, with a back-to-back. In the 4th quarter, we came back to win it but couldn’t do it. Deron Williams is very good. He controls the game, finds the right people and makes the right plays. (Carlos) Boozer also played great tonight and made a lot of open jumpers. (Deron) Williams is going to find the right situation. They are always aggressive, that’s how they play.”

On the game
“We’ve got some things we’ve got to work on. We’ll get better from this. I had an open three to put us up one. Shane had an open three to put us close to (being within) one. We had some good shots we missed, a couple freethrows, and that’s not characteristic of us. We’ll be fine. We’ll get it back.”

On the intensity of this rivalry
“I’m not really that familiar with it, just a little bit. I know next game when we come here, I think we come here again this month, it will be another intense crowd. Unlike when I was in Sacramento I had to get the crowd riled, all rowdy just to make it a fun, entertaining game. When I come here now, the Rockets are already entertaining.”

On how Utah pulled away in the last few minutes
“Their go to guy the last couple of minutes.  Deron Williams and Carlos with the pick and roll or pick and pop.  I think we needed to guard it better.”

On getting his sixth foul
“I had two offensive fouls tonight, three last night (against Toronto), two at the Minnesota game and I don’t remember, but I’m sure I had about two in the Chicago game.  Every time a defender player is on the ground, even if he just wants to sit down and have a rest, it’s my offensive foul. That’s unfair. I know I have 300 pounds, but the same way people pushed me I have to really limit my strength to push back. I guess I don’t need to worry about flopper next game. I don’t think Shaq’s that type of player.”

On Jazz vs. Houston rivalry
“It’s almost our house too. We’re here a lot. Both teams, last two years, a lot of competition. I really enjoy that.”

BOXSCORE

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