Salt Lake Tribune - Carlos Boozer's hamstring feels good, his recovery is almost complete, and the Jazz's power forward is all set to play basketball again on . . .
Whoops. Boozer's not going to make that mistake again. After scrubbing more re-launches than NASA over the past 10 months, Boozer refuses to specify a date for his first NBA appearance since Feb. 14.
"I'm not going to say when, because that hasn't worked out very good for me," said Boozer, who missed three or four targets dates last spring when his sore foot wouldn't heal, then twice aggravated his hamstring injury this fall just when he believed he was completely recovered. "But hopefully soon."
That's better than nothing for a franchise that tonight will play its 59th consecutive game without its highest-paid player. In fact, Boozer's optimism and enthusiasm at the Jazz's practice Sunday night were a stark contrast to the painfully pessimistic team that appeared beaten down by a long and ugly road trip last week.
"It's good to be back around the guys, it's good to have their energy," said Boozer, who originally strained the hamstring Oct. 8. He is not yet ready to participate in a practice, instead limiting himself to drills and strength exercises. But the difference between his strained left hamstring today, after a month working with specialists in Los Angeles, and its condition when he tried to work out on Oct. 31 and Nov. 14, when he reinjured it, is noticeable, he said.
It's been hard work, Boozer said, though he realizes that many Utah fans have lost faith in his sincerity about returning to the Jazz. "All they see is me sitting behind the bench in a suit. They don't see me working out, don't see me lifting weights, don't see me running, don't see me doing drills. But it comes with the territory," Boozer said.
And if he image has taken a beating during his absence? "I don't worry about that. I've been through much worse already," he said, an apparent reference to the avalanche of criticism he received for leaving Cleveland as a free agent in 2004. As for widespread rumors he and his wife don't like Salt Lake, Boozer said, "I'm fine here."