Specifically, Corbin has helped Okur improve his versatility on offense. Instead of taking the majority of his shots from a spot-up position at the three-point line, Okur now tries to get to the basket more often for higher percentage shots.

Corbin "does such a great job with me," Okur said. "He just keeps telling me, 'Start the ballgame getting to the free-throw line, or getting an easy basket.' So he's really helping me right now. It feels good."

True to his nature, Corbin deflects the credit, saying all the Jazz coaches have worked with Okur. But he likes the results.

"Memo is doing great," Corbin said. ". . . In the last few ballgames, he's giving teams different looks - mixing his stuff up. He's not just sitting out there on his jump shot."

Head coach Jerry Sloan agrees.

"Memo has worked on it a lot," he said. ". . . Any player in this game, if you stay one-dimensional, people are going to learn to take that away. He's recognized that - and Ty's worked with him - and it's shown up. It's obviously helped him."

In the last two games, Okur has scored 52 points on 18-for-29 shooting. He's 10-for-13 from the three-point line, 8-for-16 on two-point shots and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line.

"Before, I was thinking more like, 'Just stay on the perimeter and wait for somebody to pass to me and, if I'm open, take the shot,' " Okur said. ". . . That is what I've focused on. Now, I put the ball on the floor more and more and it helped me get my confidence back."

As Okur continues to become more adept at maneuvering to the basket, he will be more difficult to defend.

"If they don't close up on me, I have more time to shoot my jump shot," he said. "If they close up very fast, I can pass by them and create an open shot for myself or my teammates."

Said Carlos Boozer: "Him being that versatile has really helped our team."

Happy homecoming

The Jazz-Bulls game will be a homecoming for Deron Williams and Sloan.

Williams played at the University of Illinois, leading the Illini to the 2005 NCAA championship game. Sloan played and coached the Bulls during stretches from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. His No. 4 hangs from the rafters at the United Center.

For Williams, this will be his third game in Chicago since the Jazz took him with the third pick of the 2005 draft. They lost during his rookie season, 103-98. They won last year, 95-85.

"Definitely one of my favorite places to play," Williams said. "The Illini fans are going to be everywhere. I've got a lot of friends there, too, so it will be fun to go back again."

On the other hand, Sloan shrugs off his return to Chicago.

"That's been so long ago, I've about forgotten how to get there," he said. "I do have a daughter who lives in the northern part of Chicago - in Crystal Lake. So I'll have a chance to maybe say hello to her."

luhm@sltrib.com

Jazz at Bulls

At the United Center, Chicago

Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. MDT

TV: KJZZ

Radio: 1320 AM, 98.7 FM

Records: Jazz 42-22, Bulls 25-38

Season Series: Jazz lead, 1-0

Last Meeting: Jazz, 97-87 (Feb. 9)

Line: Jazz by 4