Jazz look to get A.K. involved
Fine, then. Let's do it.
That's the approach the Jazz talked about taking Tuesday, their opening day of training camp at Boise State University here.
"We're going to do the best we can," assistant coach Phil Johnson said, "to involve him in the offense."
But how?
How do the Jazz go about getting more from, and giving more to, a not-exactly-sharpshooting starting small forward who at best is a fourth scoring option behind power forward Carlos Boozer, center Mehmet Okur and point guard Deron Williams?
Much of the burden, teammates suggested, will fall on Kirilenko himself.
"Andrei is a tremendously talented player. ... The biggest thing now," backup center Jarron Collins said, "is finding a way to get the best out of him."
"Andrei is good enough to figure that out. I mean, there were games last year where he was involved. ... The play-calling wasn't different. The game of basketball wasn't different," backup small forward Matt Harpring added. "So you've got to look at film, and look at yourself, and be like, 'OK, what was I doing when I was doing this?' I mean, I know when I have a bad game I go look at film from when I was playing better and say, 'What did I do in this game different?' That's how you get better as a player."
Still, there may be ways to tweak the offense just enough that Kirilenko will not feel forgotten.
Even Williams, who has admitted to not passing to Kirilenko at times last season because other teammates were working harder, recently went to Sloan suggesting as much.
One is to allow him to handle the ball more out of the point position and get the Jazz into their offense play point-forward, in other words.
Another is to play the versatile Russian more at shooting guard, where former starter Derek Fisher's offseason departure for the Los Angeles Lakers leaves the Jazz with a void.
"Actually, as strange as it sounds," Johnson said, "we did (those) things last year quite a bit and we're going to continue to do a lot of those things, and add some stuff."
One option the Jazz may turn to more frequently this season is using Kirilenko at power forward.
The 4 spot is where he thrived before Boozer's 2004 arrival in Utah he averaged a career-high 16.5 points in the 2003-04 season and it's where he mostly played en route to winning MVP honors and helping Russia win this summer's EuroBasket championship.
A possible way to get Kirilenko more post-up opportunities is to have center Okur, a long-distance shooting big man, play more out of the 3 (small forward) spot when the two are on the floor together, and perhaps have Boozer occasionally pop out to the perimeter as well.
Recent comments
Why doesnt he quit crying and do what he's payed to do. JUST PLAY...
Anonymous | Oct. 4, 2007 at 9:19 a.m.
I think rather than switching everything that worked last year, in an...
Brent | Oct. 4, 2007 at 7:09 a.m.
I agree with you Gretzky-can't imagine the Jazz EVER winning a...
heydebbie | Oct. 4, 2007 at 12:26 a.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- Twitter lets fans communicate, interact
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...


