Game #29-Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets
Energy Solutions Arena
February 27, 2010

What an awesome weekend. I headed out to Salt Lake City with DG and DI to go snowboarding in Park City for the weekend and then end the trip with a Utah Jazz game. The things I learned on this trip, one…always purchase the rental car insurance (DG’s great idea of getting a free upgrade from a normal size car to a Mercury Grand Prix lead to a $2000 claim) and second is the fact that Morman’s somehow know you are not one of them. Everywhere we went in Salt Lake, everyone was looking at me and DI. Kind of creepy, but the city was so clean and everyone was so clean cut we didn’t feel too worried. Anyway to the game. In short, the Jazz crushed the Rockets. Darren Williams had a great game. Lots of clean passes to Mamet Okur who was a three machine, Carlos Boozer looks like a monster even from the nose bleed seats, and the only redeeming player on Houston (Erin Brooks) could not keep up with the Jazz play. The fans went nuts on the three shots and any shot blocks. Some takeaways other than the game. A halftime show of Utah State ballroom dancers to Michael Jackson songs is a little weird, and the SLC residents are too trusting. The girls sitting next to us left their leather jackets and purses in their seats while they went to get food and beer…for 20 minutes. Any other stadium and their stuff would have been jacked. Anyway, like I said the game was a blowout but DI and I had a good time and it was a great way to end the trip. Final score, Utah Jazz 133and the Houston Rockets 110.

Notes on the arena: The Energy Solutions Arena is said to be one of the most difficult places to play in the entire NBA and after going to a game there, I would have to agree. The interesting part about this place is that once you get to the lower bowl there are very few aisle ways and the seats get really close to the action. Most other arena's have a walkway near the court that separates the fans from the players but Energy Solutions puts the fans so close to the court the players are said to feel the chanting. One of the first things you notice are the retired jerseys hanging with HOF's Karl Malone and John Stockton as well as their all time assists and MVP banners. Welcome to Jazztown!