No matter what happens to him or his Utah Jazz team for the rest of March, Jerry Sloan is no doubt thrilled to see February in his wake. It may be the shortest month, but it has been the toughest road he’s faced in a long time.

During the past couple weeks, Sloan has endured the deaths of beloved Jazz owner Larry Miller, Sloan’s boss for his entire 20-plus year tenure in Salt Lake City, former Bulls teammate Norm Van Lier, and Johnny “Red” Kerr, who played and coached with Sloan. Any one of those losses would have been tough to take. All three together would serve as a knockout punch for some.

Not, of course, for Sloan. The man who earned the nickname “The Clamp,” for his ferocious hand-checking is hurting, to be sure. Miller’s death especially knocked him back, because the businessman, community leader and philanthropist was such a big part of his life for two decades. Kerr’s and Van Lier’s passings can’t be easy to take, either. Then you take a look at the NBA standings, and you notice the Jazz has won 11 of 12 and eight straight. Sloan and the whole Utah family may be numb, but no one can tell once the ball is tossed into the air. What’s even more amazing is that the team has done it largely without star power forward Carlos Boozer.

Boozer missed three-plus months with a quad strain and arthroscopic knee surgery and has played just three games since returning late last month. He has struggled to regain his form, scoring a total of 20 points and playing reserve’s minutes. Sloan acknowledges the frontcourt stalwart is a long way from top shape and can’t be sure when Boozer will go back to being a consistent force. Meanwhile, Sloan has the team charging up the Western hierarchy, just one game out of fourth place and two away from the Northwest Division lead. When Jalen Rose said early last month on ESPN that the Jazz was going to be a dangerous post-season club, many scoffed. Now, it looks like Rose might just know something others don’t.

The question at hand is how the Jazz have been doing it. During the stretch, they have beaten both the Lakers and Celtics. They have taken out New Orleans and Dallas. Sure, Sacramento has been in there twice, as have Memphis and Charlotte. But Utah looks good. It has, of course, one of the two or three best point guards in the league – Deron Williams. And Boozer is a star, too, when he’s healthy, which hasn’t been since December. After that, Sloan has done a fine job mixing in a collection of strong pieces into a stronger whole.

Let’s be honest now; Ronnie Brewer isn’t a front-line two guard, not with that shot anyway. Mehmet Okur has the shot all right, but he’s not exactly the perfect interior defensive deterrent. Paul Millsap is emerging as a strong forward, but he’s unlikely to earn elite status. And so on. Nice players, all. Standouts? Not quite. Still, they win, and depth plays a big role. There are an astounding 11 players on the roster who have played in 44 games or more this year for the Jazz – and averaged double-figure minutes. That doesn’t even count Boozer, who has appeared in just 16. You may not be that impressed with the contributions of Kosta Koufos, Brevin Knight and Ronnie Price, but by using them and winning with them, Sloan has the ability to weather big injuries, like Boozer’s. The coach doesn’t just build a team; he builds a program. Players develop. Chemistry emerges. And success sustains from year-to-year. Some wondered whether Utah would ever be good again after the departures of John Stockton and Karl Malone. The answer has been given the past few years.

Now, we’ll find out whether the Jazz is truly good. Utah could well find itself with home court advantage for the post-season’s first round. It could win the Northwest. Or, it could slip out of the playoffs all together, since it is just two games away from ninth in the West. Sloan chastises his players for feeling too good about themselves during the streak, since he knows what’s necessary to win big. With a healthy Boozer, Utah certainly matches up favorably against every team in the West except Los Angeles, and if Andrew Bynum isn’t playing for L.A., things could get pretty interesting in a series between those two, also.

For now, the Jazz will focus on the solid offensive play, good rebounding and chemistry that have produced this string of wins. It will work Boozer back into the lineup and try to improve its playoff standing. Most of all Utah, and especially Sloan, will attempt to weather the tough times by honoring Miller with strong play.

February is indeed over. The spring beckons. And the Jazz can see some sunlight ahead. Things might just keep getting brighter, too.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Cleveland at Boston, Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

The Celtics have been hit hard by injuries and entered Monday having won just six of their last 10. The good news for Boston is that Cleveland is just 7-3 in its last 10, so the teams are deadlocked atop the East. Kevin Garnett is out, and though Paul Pierce doesn’t want to make excuses, the team isn’t the same without KG. Still, the Cavs will be in for a fight, and it will be interesting to watch the continuing saga of Stephon Marbury, as he tries to fit in. This is a great time for Cleveland to make a power move in the East and perhaps even challenge the Lakers for the best record in the game. A win here will have a big psychological effect, KG or no KG.

IN THE PAINT

Houston doesn’t exactly look too broken up about Tracy McGrady’s absence from the lineup. The Rockets have won eight of 10 and are getting great play from the point guard tandem of Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry

Golden State coach Don Nelson, who has been famous during his tenure for treating young players with occasional disdain, has been playing them quite a bit the past week. He rested Stephen Jackson the other night and turned rookie forward Anthony Randolph loose. Randolph responded with some electric play, despite spending chunks of the season in the Nelson doghouse

Joe Smith got his buyout from the Thunder, and it’s just in time for the Cavs, who desperately need an established interior player to replace Ben Wallace, who broke his leg last week. Smith isn’t dynamic, but he can defend, rebound and score enough to force opponents to guard him

Don’t mess with Shaq. After Toronto forward Chris Bosh said the Phoenix center received some assistance from the referees in last week’s big win over the Raptors, Shaq responded by calling Bosh “The RuPaul of big men.” Ouch.

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