Starting lineups are a lot like statistics.
     
Media members and fans focus on them. The public relations folks are always worrying about them. And you know they matter to most players.
     
"Starter."
     
It's a nice tag to have, a handy title to take into contract negotiations. Impresses the ladies. Helps land your likeness on all those high-tech video games, too.
     
"People . . . they always bug me about the (starting) lineup," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.
     
Yet for Sloan, settling on a starting five for Utah's regular-season opener Wednesday night in New Orleans means much more than all the aforementioned.