"There's definitely going to be a lot of energy in the building favoring them," Tracy McGrady said. "We're just going to try to take care of business.

"We're up. We're leading 2-0. It's in our favor right now. But we can't worry about that. We still have a lot more basketball to play. We're going into their building for two games. And we know how tough it can be..

"It really doesn't bother me. I've had great games in that building. The fans are very passionate about the game. They can't come on the basketball court and play. That's why I never worry about how loud the building is or what type of environment. If we go out there and are focused, we won't even notice they're there."

The Jazz were 31-10 at home this season. Only the Mavericks and Suns won more home games.

"When you're on the road, you really block the crowd out," Shane Battier said. "I know fans would like to think they're a distraction with the thundersticks at the free-throw line, but you get used to it pretty quick. You block pretty much everything out. I think the crowd has a much more uplifting effect on the home team than a demoralizing effect on the visiting team.

"We know they'll come out fired up. They know this is a game back in their neighborhood and they should play better. We're on guard for that. We know we have to play our best game of the series to win this Game 3."

No thievery planned

While the Rockets have said they expect victories to be tougher to earn, they dispute the idea that as the visiting team they will be attempting to "steal" a road win.

"Everybody talks about trying to go up there and steal a game," Tracy McGrady said. "No. We're not trying to steal a game. We're going to go up there and try to earn it."

It's just their style

The Jazz have had players foul out of each game ¡ª Matt Harpring in Game 1 and Gordan Giricek in Game 2 ¡ª but Rockets center Yao Ming said there is no change in the Jazz's defense when players are in foul trouble.

"They play very physical, everybody knows, and also they're not afraid to foul," Yao said. "I don't remember any player having foul troubles. They fouled many times, and I never felt anybody have foul trouble. They keep playing aggressive. My last game, I had foul trouble in the first half. In the third quarter, I could not, on the defensive side, go too much.

"They always try to be aggressive on the defensive side, try to push us away from the paint and make the catch difficult. I think we need to use that better, try to go to the free-throw line, use their aggressiveness."

Jazz still confident

Maybe it's just a stiff upper lip. Maybe their video study has helped them find a way to carry their first-half play over to the second half, but the Jazz maintain they don't need to adjust their game to even up the series.

"I think we're confident that we can beat this team," forward Matt Harpring said. "I know a lot of us feel that way. We lost two. But we feel like we were in those games and could have won them."

Carlos Boozer nodded his agreement.

"They did what they were supposed to do," he said. "Now we're looking to get some home cooking. We're going to do everything we can to win the next game and change this series. We know we can play. We've beaten them before."

Okur rededicates himself

Utah's Mehmet Okur said he won't just settle for jump shots in Game 3.

"I'll attack the basket, try to get some easy baskets and maybe get some free throws," he said. "Then maybe step back for (jump) shots."

Okur would not blame all of his shooting woes on fatigue from having to guard Yao Ming at the other end.

"I would say a little bit," Okur conceded, "because I have to play 110 percent against him on defense. He's such a good player, big guy, and I have to deal with that first. But I think what I must do is attack the basket."

Stockton drops by

Jazz icon John Stockton was on the sidelines during practice Wednesday and had a brief one-on-one chat with second-year point guard Deron Williams after the workout.

But Utah coach Jerry Sloan said he was not expecting any kind of inspirational talk from Stockton to inspire his team.

"I doubt it," Sloan said. "If they're relying on that, then we're pretty weak. He didn't come to watch practice. He just stopped by to say hello. I talked to him last night. But that (a Stockton speech) is not something we want to do to give us an edge. What will give us an edge is if our players play."