Utah Jazz Tickets

The Utah Jazz came into the 2008-2009 season looking to take that next step and become a title contender, but things haven't gone according to plan.

While the Jazz are a respectable 30-23, they are sitting in third place in their division, six games behind the Denver Nuggets.

Injuries have really taken their toll on Utah. Andrei Kirilenko is out several weeks after undergoing ankle surgery while Carlos Boozers is likely out for the season with a strained quadriceps and left knee injury.

Boozer played in just 12 games this year as the strained quad continued to bother him. The team eventually determined that he would also need to undergo surgery on his left knee, which was causing the quad issue.

An injured Boozer was still a pretty good one, as the power forward was averaging over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Trying to find someone to replace that production is nearly impossible.

The Jazz also don't have the deepest bench in the world, so making up for the loss of Boozer is that much tougher.

Point guard Deron Williams has done his best to do just that, averaging 19.2 points and 10 assists per game.

Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap are the team's third and fourth-leading scorers and are also each hauling in nearly 10 rebounds per game. The two big men are being counted on to pick up the slack for Boozer.

After playing so well after coming over from the Philadelphia 76ers last season, shooting guard Kyle Korver has failed to make a major difference this season. He is averaging just 8.5 points per game.

While the Jazz certainly have a decent shot at making the playoffs, the harsh reality is that they aren't going anywhere without Boozer in the lineup. Boozer is likely to leave the team after the season, so it might be back to the drawing board for the Jazz.