Pardon John Starks if he sounds like a man who lately has spent a little too much time on the road.
     
It's only because he has.
     
The Jazz, forced out of Utah by some fluffy February funfest known as the Winter Olympics, have not played a home game at the Salt Lake Ice Center, make that the Delta Center, since Feb. 2.
     
Twenty-six days later they're finally back, ready to open a five-game homestand that starts with tonight's meeting with Memphis, then continues with games every other night against Minnesota, Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York.
     
So when Starks is asked if he's happy to be home, it's no wonder he's a little confused on just what transpired while he was away.
     
"Oh, no question. No question," Starks said. "We did what we wanted to do on the road ? we won six out of seven. Well, seven out of 10, rather. Or, what, six out of nine? We lost our first two right? Yeah ? six out of nine. I think that's a good stretch for us."
     
For the record, it was six out of nine.
     
The Jazz first dropped a disastrous back-to-back set at Houston and Memphis, then, fortunately for them, had a six-day hiatus for the NBA All-Star Game break.
     
A successful six-game trip followed, replete with wins at Indiana, Philadelphia, Toronto, New York, Cleveland and Denver ? granted, largely patsies, none of whom had a winning record as of Wednesday, but all Ws nonetheless.
     
Then it was five more days off before Tuesday night's debacle at Sacramento, a 107-81 loss to the league-leading Kings.
     
No wonder the Jazz are so happy to be back in Salt Lake.
     
With 28 games remaining in their regular season, Utah ? which at 31-25 is currently clinging, however precariously, to a Western Conference playoff position ? can take solace in knowing 14 of those will be in their own backyard.