Twice since newly acquired Kyle Korver has suited up for the Jazz, starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer has watched the fourth quarter from the bench.

The first time came in Korver's debut, when the swingman picked up in last Saturday's trade with Philadelphia for Gordan Giricek and a future first-round draft choice played the entire fourth in Monday's win over Portland.

It happened again Wednesday, when backup shooting guard C.J. Miles played the first nine minutes and 41 seconds of the final quarter and Korver came in to close Utah's win over his former 76ers team.

"You've got to get ready to play the next one," Sloan said when asked about Brewer, who looked less than pleased when he was pulled in the third quarter — something that seemingly did not go unnoticed by the Jazz coach.

"I don't know if I made the right choice or not," Sloan added. "I've got to go on the instincts of what I've seen — and Ronnie has got to work a lot harder defensively. With his athletic ability, he's got get up and guard guys. He can't back off of them and give them open jumpers."

Brewer finished with 11 points Wednesday, breaking a rare streak of two straight games in which he failed to score in double figures.

SORRY: In light of the unhappy Giricek's departure, Sloan was asked Monday morning about his sour relationship with some former players.

"If I mistreated 'em I apologize for that, but I have to do things that I felt like were in the best interest of this franchise," he said. "That's what I've always tried to do.

"There's been some problems with players over the years. They haven't agreed with what I've done and the way I do things," he added. "In meetings when there's been a disagreement, I understand that. But I can't change everything in the business for one guy. But we wish them well, whoever it is."

MILLER TIME: According to Wednesday's Philadelphia Inquirer, "Since (new Philadelphia general manager Ed) Stefanski dealt Korver on Saturday ... his phone has been ringing. The calls have come from reporters and NBA executives figuring that phase two of his plan will involve dealing (former University of Utah point guard Andre) Miller. That's why Stefanski offered to address the issue without being prompted.'

Said Stefanski: "The trade we made, we felt it set us up in the summertime to either get a free agent or a possible trade because we're under the cap. We don't know who that player is. ... We're happy with our team and will see what happens in the summer, but I am not shopping Andre Miller around the league. We like the players we have on our team now, and Andre Miller is an integral part of our team, the glue of the team, who happens to make other players better."

---

Contributing: Linda Hamilton