Utah Jazz Settling into Season with Third Straight Win

After starting this shortened season at a frantic pace, the Utah Jazz are finally settling into the 2011-2012 NBA season and looking like the team that was expected.

After a 94-85 home victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Jazz have now won three games in a row and are above .500 for the first time this season. 

The Jazz have been able to turn things around in several areas, but it is the defense where the most noticeable change has taken place. 

After being blown out in three games on the road, the defensive effort and intensity has been strong the last three games and players seem to be buying into coach Tyrone Corbin's new system. 

The recent win over the Grizzlies had more to do with the Jazz getting defensive stops and deflections than the Grizzlies being shorthanded.

Jazz team leaders Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are playing up the their expectations, and free agent signings Earl Watson and Josh Howard are starting to make general manager Kevin O'Connor look good.

Even the young players seem to be more comfortable playing the game, and rookie Alec Burks is making it difficult for Tyrone Corbin to take him off of the court.

The Jazz's success over the last three games does come with a measure of cautious optimism that must be used with any young team.

All three wins have come at home, and the Jazz have looked horrible on the road. They face a tough test in their next game against the Golden State Warriors. 

The upcoming schedule does set up well for the team as they will play only three games on the road in the month of January with nine games coming at home. 

This will give the team a good opportunity to continue to work to find a consistent lineup and develop the young players. The Jazz must take advantage of this home stretch to set them up for the rest of the year.

If the Jazz find a way to keep this success going, things will turn out well for them.

There is a long way to go until the end of the season, but if the playoffs started today, the Jazz would be in the sixth position, just ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.