‘Behind the Back Pass’ (Melissa Majchrzak- NBAE/Getty Images)

International Conflict -

When Dirk Nowitzki grabbed Kirilenko by the shoulder and pulled him to the ground halfway through the first quarter Monday night, two of the more famous foreign players in the NBA had started something. It wasn’t a war. Although it kind of felt like it. For his part, Kirilenko was helped off the court after hitting two free throws. Maybe Nowitzki helped fix Kirilenko’s shot. With the bruised hip – Kirilenko could not fade away from the foul line after he shot it. Eventually Kirilenko was taken to the hospital for x-rays. Nowitzki was charged with a flagrant foul.

Crowd Avenges Kirilenko -

The flagrant foul given to Nowitzki was hardly a harsh enough penalty in the eyes of the crowd. The big screen in the arena had a rotating Jazz symbol for a good portion of the time Kirilenko was sprawled out on the floor with trainers attending. The flagrant foul was not shown over and over. Images of Masha Kirilenko looking on concerned were not shown to the crowd in the arena. Probably a smart move. It might have stopped a mob from forming. Because as it turned out, the fans in the arena hardly needed further motivation than what they had witnessed with their own eyes.

From the point of the foul on (7:04 mark in the first quarter) the crowd erupted to a chorus of “Boos” every time Nowitski touched the ball. Every time. The crowd never got bored, they never missed a touch, they never lost volume. It was loud. It was intense. I have to hand it to the fans in the arena. They rode Dirk the whole game without distraction. Dirk shot the ball fairly well – but with 6 turnovers and a technical foul in the fourth quarter – he was clearly unnerved. The crowd ended up being “the enforcer” sent in to the game for payback.

Korver’s Legend Grows -

Kyle Korver is known as a shooter. He is the team’s best free throw shooter. He is the number one threat for three. With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter he added to his legend by not just blocking – but completely rejecting the shot attempt of an already very unpopular Nowitzki.

It was the fourth time the “one dimensional” Korver has recorded a multi block game since coming to Utah. He had a career high 4 blocks when the Jazz visited Washington a month ago. Korver is now averaging .5 blocks a game since joining the Jazz.

Touchdown -

The more Williams and Boozer run the pick and roll and play in the Jazz offense, the more Williams and Boozer inevitably will draw the comparisons to Stockton and Malone. As far as they have come, there is one thing the new dynamic duo have yet to add to their arsenal. The touchdown pass.

With the Jazz down by 1 point with 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Williams had the ball as he stood on the opposite free throw line. Boozer had begun the break and had a step on the perusing defenders. Williams never even thought about throwing the long downcourt pass to Boozer’s outside shoulder. Stockton would have never thought twice before hitting Malone in one of the pair’s trademark plays.

Speaking of Passing -

It was only a game ago Deron Williams racked up 19 assists against the Grizzlies. The easiest way to top that was to get 20 against Dallas. Which is what he did. Willaims had 14 assists in the first half, a personal record for Williams and only one shy of the Jazz all time record for assists in a half. Stockton had 15 assists in a half on 4 separate occasions.