Crunch time settles in for Jazz News Utah Jazz

The Jazz's eight-game win streak is nothing to scoff at, especially considering they've done it while integrating not one but two surgically repaired rotation regulars ? starting power forward Carlos Boozer and sixth-man forward Andrei Kirilenko ? into the lineup. But they also know it's come with a caveat or two, including six games played at home and four against teams ?

Memphis, Minnesota, Sacramento and Golden State ? that will not be taking part in this year's NBA playoffs. And that's why the schedule to come ? games tonight against Houston and Friday against Denver, followed by five straight and seven of nine on the road ? could define the legitimacy of it all. "Playing at home ? that helps a lot," assistant coach Phil Johnson said when asked Tuesday about the streak. "We've had a couple nice road wins (at Minnesota last Wednesday and Golden State on Sunday)," he added, "but we have to (further) prove we can win on the road." After winning against the Warriors, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan ? his club just 11-17 in away games this season ? was concerned as well about what awaits beyond this week. "We've been fortunate," he said. "We had a good schedule. "Now we've got to get out and win some games on the road, and that's what it boils down to," added Sloan, whose injury-plagued but finally healthy again club has 13 of its final 20 games away from EnergySolutions Arena. "If we aren't tough enough to do that, it's gonna be a long season. It's been a long season anyway ? but it could be a lot longer if we don't make the playoffs." None of which is to suggest the Jazz are overlooking the task at hand, which is dealing with a hot Rockets team and a Denver club atop the Northwest Division title race. "This is about as big as it gets," Johnson said of the Jazz's next two games. "They're huge," point guard Deron Williams added. "These are two teams that are ahead of us in the standings right now, two teams that we're still within striking distance of and have a chance to catch if we win. That would definitely give us a nice streak going into the road." Also beneficial when traveling, Johnson suggested, will be the Jazz's health. With Kirilenko back from ankle surgery and Boozer from arthroscopic knee surgery, the 37-23 team lately has been enjoying the luxury of depth. "Any time you ? have players coming off the bench that are veterans that helps you playing on the road," Johnson said. "It's a proven fact that if you have experience in this league, you're a better team on the road." Boozer's return has allowed backup Paul Millsap to re-join a now well-stocked bench that features not only Kirilenko but also includes backup point Brevin Knight, shooting guard Kyle Korver and forward Matt Harpring. That comeback, though, has come with both pros and cons, especially considering Boozer's conditioning following a three-plus-month layoff. "The team has been together and playing a certain way," Johnson said, "and then all of a sudden it changes a little bit out there." But at least for now the Jazz don't have to obsess over who is about to catch them in what is now a nine-teams-going-for-eight-postseason-spots Western Conference chase ? something Johnson suggests can be quite a distraction, whether it's looking ahead or behind. "You just can't worry about what other people do or other teams do," Johnson said. "You have to worry about how you play. "And we're still struggling a little bit by getting players back, in Boozer's case, and we have to concentrate on getting guys back and getting our team playing (well) as a unit," he added. "We've had stretches where we haven't played particularly well. But that's understandable with the situation we're in." Equally plausible is that the Jazz haven't lost site of their highest priority. "We're still concerned about making the playoffs, just because we can lose a couple game and be out (of the top eight)," Williams said. "So, still, our goal is to make the playoffs," he added. "But, at the same time, we want to get up as high as we can. We're in a good position right now, considering all that's happened to us." NOTES: Sloan missed practice Tuesday for what a team spokesman called a "routine medical exam." He's expected to be back today, Johnson said ? Knight practiced but did not scrimmage Tuesday practice due to a sore left Achilles tendon ? Houston comes to town on the back end of a home/away back-to-back set ? just like the Jazz did in two road losses to the Rockets earlier this season ? Ex-Jazz shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson of the Wizards told Washington reporters he'll undergo season-ending surgery this week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com