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DJ & PKDJ AND PK IN THE MORNING | KFAN 1320. Monday – Friday 6:00 am to 10:00 am Funny, topical, debatable and educational all in one show! Utah’s top sports authorities bring it all together. David James and Patrick Kinahan “DJ and PK in the Morning” offer the best radio sports show – funny, topical, debatable, and educational. David James “DJ”, is one of the top sports personalities in the market. DJ’s knowledge of sports is immeasurable, and with nearly 20 years in this market he has gained the trust of the local sports community. His partner, Patrick Kinahan “PK”, is also recognized as one of the top sports personalities in Utah. As the beat writer for BYU sports and Utah sports over the last 15 years, no one has developed better insights into the major rivalries in Utah. Tune in to “DJ and PK in the Morning” from 7 to 10 to hear the hosts answer all the tough questions and to hear interviews with some of the most prominent sports figures around: LaVell Edwards, Bronco Mendenhall, Kyle Whittingham, Jazz players, and much more. 
PK BLOG
With 20 games remaining, the Jazz embark on a crucial four-game road trip beginning tonight against the Chicago Bulls.
The obvious question: How many will they win?
For starters, say goodnight to the season if the answer isn’t at least two. With virtually nothing separating four teams in the West, and with the Lakers coming back to the pack, the Jazz can’t afford anything less than a 2-2 trip. Even at that, they may need three wins to stay in contention for home court in the first round.
To take the pressure off, the Jazz need to beat the Bulls and then do the same 24 hours later against the Detroit Pistons. Anything but a 2-0 start could lead to tension as the Jazz might press to break even for the trip.
One month ago, the Chicago game appeared tougher than it is now. After losing to Orlando at home on Feb.10, the Bulls won four consecutive games. But it may have only provided false confidence, as the streak came at the expense of the Knicks twice, along with Minnesota and Philadelphia.
After winning six of seven games, the Bulls have lost four in a row coming into the Jazz game. Worse yet, the last three have come at home.
Aside from Derrick Rose, and possibly Luol Deng, this team shouldn’t be brimming with confidence. In a top-heavy conference, they are fighting for the right to get obliterated by Cleveland or Orlando.
The key for the Jazz is getting a handle on Rose, a John Calipari-trained point guard with star written all over him. The shoot-first Rose needs to be hot in order for the Bulls to remain competitive.
Even if the game comes on the second night of a back-to-back, the Jazz ought to hammer the Pistons. Simply put, this Detroit team is in as bad a shape as the city itself.
Since the New Year, the Pistons have suffered through losing streaks of four, five and six games. From Dec. 15 through Jan. 11, they lost 13 consecutive games.
Think Carlos Boozer would like to play for this team?
The road trip closes with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, two games that should be difficult.
Don’t underestimate the Bucks, who were seven games under .500 as late as Jan. 22. Since then, they have gone 16-5.
The schedule works against the Jazz, who will be playing their third game in four nights. The Bucks, meanwhile, have only two home games this week.
If the Jazz want to keep pace in the Western Conference, they need to win this game. The Bucks are 9-1 since John Salmons came over in a trade with Chicago. The key here is to let Brandon Jennings, he of the 36 percent shooting, keep firing away.
As impressive as the Kevin Durant show has been, the Thunder are beatable. They have lost 11 home games this season, most among the West’s top six teams. If not for a disputed call against Paul Millsap in the final seconds, the Jazz would have won in Oklahoma City on Dec. 31.
But realistically, it will be tough for the Jazz to pull this off. Even with a loss here, a 3-1 road trip is good enough. As long as Milwaukee’s Jennings takes at least 15 shots and doesn’t make half of them, the Jazz will go 3-1. If he’s hot, look for a 2-2 trip.
PK BLOG
1. Dallas Mavericks
Nothing, not injuries or tough schedule is stopping these guys. Eleven-game winning streak includes three back-to-backs. When Jason Terry goes down, Rodrigue Beaubois – who? – scores 24 points in win over Chicago. Last week: 4.
2. Denver Nuggets
Kenyon Martin is the latest sidelined with an injury. It could be serious if he needs surgery on his knee. But with Carmelo and Chauncey, will it even matter? Last week: 2
3. Cleveland Cavs
True sign of the MVP: Lakers can win without Kobe, but Cavs can’t without LeBron, as they showed Saturday against Milwaukee. Last week: 3.
4. Orlando Magic
Five different players have led the team in scoring during current 5-0 streak. Last week: 5.
5. Los Angeles Lakers.
They shot only 37 percent from the field in Orlando loss. They are 0-8 in games they’ve shot under 40 percent this season. Last week: 1
6 Utah Jazz
Is Junior sleeping more than a few hours at a time? Mehmet “New Daddy” Okur strings together 24 and 27 points, his best two-game stretch of the season. Last week: 6.
7. Oklahoma City.
Just finished a two-game road trip against the Clippers and Sacramento. Sound familiar? Difference is they won both games. Last week: 7.
8. Phoenix Suns
Strange scheduling gives them a spring break time – no games until March 12. The final 17 games include only four against teams at. 500 or better.
9. Atlanta Hawks Five games in seven nights caught up to them with loss Saturday at Miami. But the other four games were all wins. Last week: 8.
10. San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker’s broken hand puts major dent into four-game winning streak. Last week: 10
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Even when they’re injured, they get injured. Joel Przybilla, who was already out for the season, had again ruptured the right patella tendon he tore in late December when he slipped in the shower at his home in Milwaukee over the weekend. Last week: 11.
12. Boston Celtics
Hard to criticize a week in which they won four in a row, but I’ll do it anyway. Barely beating Detroit and Washington isn’t all that impressive.. Last week: 12
13. Milwaukee Bucks.
Who would have thought John Salmons was the difference? Since he came in trade from Chicago, they are 9-1.
14. Miami Heat
In current three-game winning streak Dwyane Wade is averaging 33.3 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. Last week: NR.
15. Toronto Raptors
Not even the return of Chris Bosh can prevent embarrassing home loss to Philadelphia. Last week: 14.
PK BLOG Not to overstate the situation, which will seem incongruent with the following statement, but the Jazz must beat Phoenix on Thursday.The ramifications go beyond a single game. If the Jazz lose, it will erase all the confidence gained from last month’s seven-game road winning streak. From Jan. 20, beginning in San Antonio, through Feb. 21, ending in Portland, the Jazz didn’t lose a road game. The streak included back-to-back games, three games in four nights, and rallying from a 25-point deficit in the second half. During that time, the Jazz seemed invincible. No matter the situation or opponent, save the impossible task of beating the Lakers in Los Angeles, Jazz nation believed. Cracks in the foundation began to form in, of all places, Sacramento. Kings for a night, without starting forward Jason Thompson, lowly Sacramento surprised the Jazz. More doubt seeped in this week, when the dregs of the NBA, otherwise known as the Los Angeles Clippers, beat up on the Jazz for 43 of the 48 minutes. Worse yet, All-Star Deron Williams, considered by many the game’s best point guard, succumbed to the pressure and missed two free throws that could have tied the game with 16 seconds left. What took a month to build is close to unraveling in four days. Here’s where the game against the Suns comes in. Beating Phoenix would go a long way to restoring the team’s confidence. Another loss further strengthens the belief, which is held by many listeners of the DJ and PK show, that the Jazz aren’t a good road team. But a win could show the two most recent road losses were things that happen over the course of 82 games. The thinking would be that Williams, who played poorly in both losses, simply had bad games, like any star does. All it takes is success in the Valley of the Sun. Unlike the Clippers and Kings, Phoenix is an excellent team, capable of thrashing Denver and ending Oklahoma City’s nine-game winning streak all in the same week. The Suns are a direct competitor, trailing the Jazz by a game in the powerful Western Conference. One game creates an entirely different outlook, particularly as the Jazz prepare to begin a four-game road trip next week. Assuming nothing, the Jazz could head to the Midwest on a two-game winning streak if they beat Phoenix and follow it up with a home win over the Clippers on Saturday. Despite a recent upswing, Suns ought to be ripe for a bad game. They will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, also enduring four games in five nights. The point is, with 37-year-old Grant Hill and 36-year-old Steve Nash, this should be a tired team. The Jazz, with a bunch of young bucks, have the benefit of two days off. In other words, no excuses. Besides the immediate need to regain confidence for next week’s trip, the Jazz have to keep pace. An ill-timed slump could plunge the Jazz, as well as any team besides the Lakers, into opening the first round on the road. Only a few days ago, the Jazz had visions of winning the Northwest Division, taking with it the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. At that point, a Kobe Bryant sprained ankle or shooting slump could potentially thrust the Jazz into the NBA Finals. But reality finds the Jazz scrapping with Denver, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and San Antonio. For all of these teams, the time has arrived. For the Jazz, the clock starts Thursday.
The Jazz are going to finish third in the Western Conference. Sure there are six and a half weeks left in an extraordinarily tight playoff race and I might have missed on a prediction or two, but look at the standings and schedule with 45 days to play. To read the rest of DJ's blog, click here. |
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