The Utah Jazz open their campaign in the 2011-12 National Basketball Association against the struggling Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.
The Jazz are still on a rebuilding process following a turbulent 2011 season that saw the departure of long-time head coach Jerry Sloan and star players Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams. They also parted ways with center Mehmet Okur, who was traded to the New Jersey Nets just before the start of the shortened season.
Head coach Tyrone Corbin still has top players Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap to count upon. But they need more help from their teammates if the Jazz are to reclaim their glory days during the John Stockton-Karl Malone era.
"We have to find our identity — find out who we are and how to be effective," Utah guard Devin Harris told the Salt Lake Tribune before Monday's practice.
"We have guys who can post up. We've got guys who can shoot,"
He also stressed the team's need to improve their defense.
"Obviously, defensively we’ve got to be better,” Harris said.
"We know we can score. We’ve proven we can score. But it comes down to, can we get stops - especially when we need them?"
Aside from Harris, Corbin can also rely on veterans Jamaal Tinsley, Josh Howard and Raja Bell. Young guns Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors give Corbin more options.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are out to end their two-game losing start.
Kobe Bryant and co. suffered their second setback after losing to the Sacramento Kings 91-100 last night. It was the Kings' first win in LA in more than three years as the Lakers duplicated their 0-2 start in the 2002-03 season.
"Everyone is going to have to play three straight games and we will have to find a way through this," Lakers head coach Mike Brown said.
"We have had a lot of practice, followed by a long day today, but everyone has to go through it as well."
Brown will once again rely on Bryant to lead his team against the Jazz. He also expects more production from the likes of Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher and Metta World Peace.
