Carlos Boozer Is Jazzed For The Playoffs
April 17, 2009 – 8:37 am by Michael Bean
Not too long ago, the Utah Jazz seemed to be rounding into form at just the right time. But down the stretch, the Jazz stumbled to the finish line, losing seven of their last ten games and falling back down to the #8 seed. That means they’ll square off against the top-seeded Lakers in Round 1. Though the Jazz are probably as good as any #8 seed in the history of the playoffs, they can’t be pleased that their falters down the stretch left them in this position.
Let’s check in with PF Carlos Boozer, the team’s top rebounder and third leading scorer, joined KFAN in Salt Lake City to talk about the monumental task at hand for him and the Jazz beginning at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this weekend.
On putting the rocky finish behind them and focusing on the task at hand:
“We have a new start, a new season. This is the most important season. We know if we go out there and play defense, play hard for 48 minutes, play defense like we can, we’ll have a chance offensively to win the game.”
On whether having played the Lakers in last year’s playoffs will be an advantage for the Jazz:
“A lot. It helps a lot. Obviously they’re familiar with our system with Coach Sloan. We’re familiar with their system with the Triangle Offense and Coach Jackson, and familiarity helps a great deal but you still got to go out there and do it. You still got to go out there and beat them.”
Listen here to Boozer on KFAN in Salt Lake City
Tags: Carlos Boozer, KFAN, NBA interviews, NBA Playoffs, sports interviews, Utah Jazz
