As a second-round draft choice trying to make a veteran team, Jarron Collins knew that the best way to get noticed wasn't by trying to score a lot of points.

That put him ahead of most young players trying to make it in the NBA -- and explains how he was able to land a spot in the Jazz starting lineup so early in his career.

"He had to come in and try to do it from a defensive standpoint,? coach Jerry Sloan said of his rookie center. "Ninety-nine percent of the players in this league are going to show you how they can make it through their offense.

"I think this is interesting to see how he has tried to make it just by being able to defend people.?

After a four-year career at Stanford, Collins clawed his way onto the Jazz roster by doing the little things -- running the floor, setting screens, rebounding and diving for loose balls -- and less than a month into the season he found himself in the starting lineup.

"He's getting better and better with each game,? teammate John Starks said. "You can tell his confidence is growing.