SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA could soon hurt Utah Jazz fans who dig Jimmermania.

Barring a negotiating miracle, the Jazz’s first game against Sacramento in the Jimmer Fredette era — Nov. 23 at ex-Arco Arena — will be added to the NBA lockout casualty scrap pile.

That contest against the former BYU star/rookie-in-limbo was among six Jazz games that were to be canceled Tuesday along with most of the November schedule, according to the New York Daily News.

Though it hasn’t yet officially happened, the report claimed the league is about to chop off its second two-week block of games, prolonging the NBA-less period through Nov. 28.

The Jazz’s official schedule on the team website still includes a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 18. Contests against Oklahoma City, Chicago, Portland and Golden State will also be pulled off the slate if/when the official announcement is made.

Nearing the four-month mark of the lockout, the NBA previously canceled the eight-game preseason and scrapped all games from Nov. 1-15.

Various reports claim the league still hopes to cobble together a full 82-game season beginning Dec. 1. That could push the playoffs back a bit and result in less time off between series and games in the postseason, among other modifications.

It’s also been reported that the NBA could announce the start of the season will be put “indefinitely” on hold until owners and players reach a labor agreement.

The problem with that, however, is that the two bickering sides haven’t even agreed to resume face-to-face discussions after last week’s marathon mediated sessions ended Thursday with acrimony but no resolution.

SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA is about to really hurt Utah Jazz fans who dig Jimmermania.

The Jazz’s first game against Sacramento in the Jimmer Fredette era — Nov. 23 at ex-Arco Arena — might soon be added to the NBA lockout casualty scrap pile.

That contest against the former BYU star/rookie-in-limbo will be among six Jazz games to be canceled later today when the NBA whacks most of November off its official 2011-12 schedule, according to the New York Daily News.

The report claimed the league will chop off its second two-week block of games, prolonging the NBA-less period through Nov. 28.

The Jazz’s official schedule on the team website still includes a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 18. Contests against Oklahoma City, Chicago, Portland and Golden State will also be pulled off the slate if the official announcement is made as reported.

The NBA previously canceled the eight-game preseason and scrapped all games from Nov. 1-15.

Various reports claim the league still hopes to cobble together a full 82-game season beginning Dec. 1. That could push the playoffs back a bit and result in less time off between series and games in the postseason, among other modifications.

It’s also been reported that the NBA could announce the start of the season will be put “indefinitely” on hold until owners and players reach a labor agreement.

The problem with that, however, is that the two bickering sides haven’t even agreed to resume face-to-face discussions after last week’s marathon mediated sessions ended Thursday with acrimony but no resolution.

Email: jody@desnews.com Twitter: DJJazzyJody

CHICAGO, (AFP) – Carlos Boozer officially became a member of the Chicago Bulls who convinced the two-time NBA all-star to leave the Utah Jazz for the Windy City.

Boozer agreed to a deal reportedly worth 75 million dollars over five years on Thursday. The team did not disclose the exact terms.

“I feel we have the talent here to begin competing for a title and I cannot wait to get started,” Boozer said.

Boozer is expected to compliment point guard Derrick Rose and forward Joakim Noah nicely. Chicago signed the free agent with the hope he would be able get them into the second round of the playoffs after two consecutive first round exits.

The Bulls had also tried but failed to convince Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to switch teams.

“We are confident that his skill set, toughness and leadership are all qualities that make him a great fit for the Bulls, and he will add a low-post element to our team that we have been searching for,” Bulls general manager Gar Forman.

“Post players, with the skills that Carlos possesses, are at a premium in the NBA and we believe that we have landed one of the best big men in the NBA.”

Boozer spent six years with Utah, averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds last season.

In other signings Thursday, the Orlando Magic have signed point guard Chris Duhon.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Duhon is expected to play behind Jameer Nelson.

The Milwaukee Bucks also signed their 2010 first round entry draft pick forward Larry Sanders.

© Copyright (c) AFP

By Wendell Maxey, For the Deseret News

BAMBERG, Germany — Enes Kanter was only two years old in 1994 when Nihat Izic was appointed by the Turkish Commission for Youth Basketball to lead a new program for the development of young basketball players in Kanter’s native Turkey.

The goal? To nurture and grow the top players in the country who would one day be able to compete for the Senior National Team and secure basketball supremacy in European basketball.

Seventeen years later, Izic is an assistant coach on the National Team and Utah Jazz rookie Enes Kanter remains one of his prized prodigies.

“I’ve known him since he was like this,” said Izic, bringing his right hand up to his waist.

“Enes was always a big kid and pushed the other kids around. He’s always had the competitive mentality. That is inside of him. And if they are patient in Utah, they will see he can be a very important player.”?

Knowing the current unsettled state surrounding the NBA’s lockout and collective bargaining agreement, patience most certainly is a virtue for Jazz fans — and Kanter too.

Good thing he has plenty of practice.

While it feels like yesterday since Utah selected the 19-year-old 6-foot-11, 260-pound center with the third overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, it’s been two years since Kanter has competed in any meaningful basketball games.

“It’s easy for me to say that I am the unluckiest guy ever. I couldn’t play in college, and right now there is the lockout. The only thing I can do is just wait,” said Kanter, reflecting on his failed college basketball career with the University of Kentucky and head coach John Calipari.

In January, the NCAA denied Kentucky’s appeal and ruled Kanter permanently ineligible as a collegiate athlete because he received $30,000 from Fenerbahce Ulker, with whom he played professionally in the Euro League before attending Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California.

No one ever imaged playing nine games during that 2008-09 season would cost Kanter his college career and come to haunt him the past 24 months.

“I haven’t played in almost two years and it’s hard within that time to go from not playing to being ready for games,”? Kanter added.

Despite tedious workouts before and after the draft with famed basketball trainer Tim Grover with Attack Athletics in Chicago, there’s no substitute for in-game experience.

It affects players both physically and mentally.

“Those two years of not playing hurt him a little bit and he’s a little lost in space,”? explained Izic, as Turkey prepares for the 2011 European Basketball Championships.

EuroBasket, as it’s commonly known, will be held in Lithuania from August 31st through September 18th.

Updated Aug 19, 2011 12:12 AM ET

RUSTON, La.

Scotty Robertson, the first coach of the now Utah-based Jazz NBA franchise, died Thursday in Louisiana at age 81, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported.

Robertson became the first coach of the New Orleans Jazz in 1974, before being fired 15 games later with a 1-14 win-loss record. The team later moved to Salt Lake City, where it is still based.

Robertson later coached the Chicago Bulls in 1978-79, before moving on to coach the Detroit Pistons between 1980 and 1983.

He also served as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, helping the latter reach the 1992-93 NBA Finals against Chicago.

Robertson’s legacy, however, may be defined by the success he enjoyed as head coach of Lousiana Tech between 1964 and 1974, when he racked up a 161-86 win-loss record, the Times-Picayune reported.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Lou Lancaster Robertson, three daughters and 10 grandchildren.

Read more.