Tuesday report
Every time I write about Kyle Korver, as I did for Wednesday's paper, I keep coming back to one set of numbers: 62-20.
The Jazz went 38-12 after Korver arrived from Philadelphia last season, a pace that would equal a 62-20 record over an entire season. (Actually, I'm rounding down a little. The real pace is 62.32-19.68. But I don't think anyone's going to argue with 62-20.)
That number is the reason why I think Kevin O'Connor could afford to bring back the Jazz intact this season, even if Houston did add Ron Artest, New Orleans did add James Posey and the Lakers will get back Andrew Bynum.
The Jazz were unstoppable at times the second half of last season, especially at home. Even if they aren't about to go 62-20, I think 57 wins definitely could earn the top seed once again in the Western Conference.
As for Korver, he's been lights out so far this preseason. He's the Jazz's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) and is shooting 55.6 percent. He's been used off the bench exclusively since he came last season, but you can definitely make a case for Korver to start.
How does a starting five of Deron Williams/Ronnie Brewer/Kyle Korver/Carlos Boozer/Mehmet Okur sound. The Jazz could then bring Brevin Knight or Ronnie Price/C.J. Miles/Andrei Kirilenko/Paul Millsap/Jarron Collins off the bench.
That starting five is truly gifted offensively, with five double-figure scorers. You have three shooters in Okur, Korver and Williams, the pick-and-roll combination of Williams and Boozer and a stud athlete in Brewer, who can run for layups and dunks on the fast break.
I'm not sure that Brewer and Korver is a worse defensive combination than Brewer and Miles, just because Korver is a more experienced player. Watching Korver guard Allen Iverson last season proved to me that he's better defensively than advertised.
That second team, meanwhile, has some veterans, some scoring punch and some youth. Kirilenko is such a good passer, I think he's going to create a lot of easy baskets playing almost a point forward role.
Just in case you were wondering, Korver has started 101 games in his career, though only once of those starts has come in the last two seasons. He was a pretty consistent 30 mpg player with the Sixers.
* * *
Jerry Sloan regularly talks about coming off the bench as being the toughest job in the NBA. But that comes with a caveat. Sloan's talking about players who don't know when they're going into the game or what their role is going to be night to night.
In the case of Andrei Kirilenko, potentially coming off the bench and playing near-starter minutes as a sixth man, Sloan actually thinks Kirilenko might have the best job in the league, simply because he can size up the game.
"If you're a real bench player," Sloan said, "you're going to get your time the same way, and you get a chance to see the other guys and the other guys can't stroke you quite as much coming off the bench."
* * *
The Jazz have so many minor injuries right now it's kind of crazy. I'm not sure how extensive an injury report you want in the preseason but here goes: Andrei Kirilenko has a sprained index finger, did cardio only at practice Tuesday, and is a game-time decision for Wednesday.
Paul Millsap suffered a corneal abrasion in practice Tuesday and also is a game-time decision. I'm wondering if Millsap is going to have to wear goggles of some kind for a little bit. Brevin Knight has a sprained left thumb, was limited in practice, and is a game-time decision.
Ronnie Price was held out of contact at practice and is - - you guessed it - - a game-time decision. Jarron Collins did not practice as he continues to try to rest his right elbow and is a game-time decision. Gerry McNamara missed practice with stomach flu and is also a game-time decision.
So the Jazz could have anywhere between 18 and 12 players actually available to play against the Nuggets.
* * *
Before practice, Kyrylo Fesenko was working on his shooting with Jeff Hornacek on a side basket. I can report that Fesenko knocked down probably eight straight shots from 15 to 16 feet going from the right side to the middle and then to the left side. It was pretty amazing to see. Fesenko pumped his fist when he was done in satisfaction.
--Ross Siler
The Jazz went 38-12 after Korver arrived from Philadelphia last season, a pace that would equal a 62-20 record over an entire season. (Actually, I'm rounding down a little. The real pace is 62.32-19.68. But I don't think anyone's going to argue with 62-20.)
That number is the reason why I think Kevin O'Connor could afford to bring back the Jazz intact this season, even if Houston did add Ron Artest, New Orleans did add James Posey and the Lakers will get back Andrew Bynum.
The Jazz were unstoppable at times the second half of last season, especially at home. Even if they aren't about to go 62-20, I think 57 wins definitely could earn the top seed once again in the Western Conference.
As for Korver, he's been lights out so far this preseason. He's the Jazz's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) and is shooting 55.6 percent. He's been used off the bench exclusively since he came last season, but you can definitely make a case for Korver to start.
How does a starting five of Deron Williams/Ronnie Brewer/Kyle Korver/Carlos Boozer/Mehmet Okur sound. The Jazz could then bring Brevin Knight or Ronnie Price/C.J. Miles/Andrei Kirilenko/Paul Millsap/Jarron Collins off the bench.
That starting five is truly gifted offensively, with five double-figure scorers. You have three shooters in Okur, Korver and Williams, the pick-and-roll combination of Williams and Boozer and a stud athlete in Brewer, who can run for layups and dunks on the fast break.
I'm not sure that Brewer and Korver is a worse defensive combination than Brewer and Miles, just because Korver is a more experienced player. Watching Korver guard Allen Iverson last season proved to me that he's better defensively than advertised.
That second team, meanwhile, has some veterans, some scoring punch and some youth. Kirilenko is such a good passer, I think he's going to create a lot of easy baskets playing almost a point forward role.
Just in case you were wondering, Korver has started 101 games in his career, though only once of those starts has come in the last two seasons. He was a pretty consistent 30 mpg player with the Sixers.
* * *
Jerry Sloan regularly talks about coming off the bench as being the toughest job in the NBA. But that comes with a caveat. Sloan's talking about players who don't know when they're going into the game or what their role is going to be night to night.
In the case of Andrei Kirilenko, potentially coming off the bench and playing near-starter minutes as a sixth man, Sloan actually thinks Kirilenko might have the best job in the league, simply because he can size up the game.
"If you're a real bench player," Sloan said, "you're going to get your time the same way, and you get a chance to see the other guys and the other guys can't stroke you quite as much coming off the bench."
* * *
The Jazz have so many minor injuries right now it's kind of crazy. I'm not sure how extensive an injury report you want in the preseason but here goes: Andrei Kirilenko has a sprained index finger, did cardio only at practice Tuesday, and is a game-time decision for Wednesday.
Paul Millsap suffered a corneal abrasion in practice Tuesday and also is a game-time decision. I'm wondering if Millsap is going to have to wear goggles of some kind for a little bit. Brevin Knight has a sprained left thumb, was limited in practice, and is a game-time decision.
Ronnie Price was held out of contact at practice and is - - you guessed it - - a game-time decision. Jarron Collins did not practice as he continues to try to rest his right elbow and is a game-time decision. Gerry McNamara missed practice with stomach flu and is also a game-time decision.
So the Jazz could have anywhere between 18 and 12 players actually available to play against the Nuggets.
* * *
Before practice, Kyrylo Fesenko was working on his shooting with Jeff Hornacek on a side basket. I can report that Fesenko knocked down probably eight straight shots from 15 to 16 feet going from the right side to the middle and then to the left side. It was pretty amazing to see. Fesenko pumped his fist when he was done in satisfaction.
--Ross Siler
12:14 AM
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