From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz notes: Teammates appreciate Okur
"He's been more aggressive," point guard Deron Williams said, adding, "We've been wanting more out of Memo all year. ... We're gonna have to have that to be successful in the playoffs."
On Wednesday, as the Northwest Division-champion Jazz prepared to face Dallas in the first of their final four remaining regular-season games, Williams revealed how and why he's been on Okur's case all season long.
"Once he gets that confidence, it's tough to stop him," he said. "I'm just happy he's shooting the ball. You know, I don't think I've ever told a person to shoot the ball like I've told Memo this year.
"He's a 6-(foot)-11 guy that can shoot 3s with the best of 'em," Williams added. "He spreads the floor out, he hits clutch shots. And he can put the ball on the floor and be effective when he does. It's tough to stop him."
Okur readily acknowledges that he's expanded his game in this season's second half, both crashing the boards and driving to the basket more and more.
NO HARD FEELINGS: Last time the Jazz and Mavericks played, in early March, starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko got knocked hard to the floor on a flagrant foul from Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki.
The play cost Kirilenko three games with a sprained hip, and cost Nowitzki a one-game NBA suspension.
Yet there are no hard feelings whatsoever.
"There's not gonna be any revenge or, like, rivalry," Kirilenko said.
"I don't feel like I'm supposed to play 'harder than usual,'" he added. "I will play as hard as possible, but not with intent to hurt or revenge back something."
Kirilenko suggested he adamantly believes no harm was intended.
"He was kind of out of balance; I was definitely out of balance at that point," he said. "It happens.
"It might look like horrible on the TV," Kirilenko added, "but I've known Dirk for probably like five, six years, and he's never been like 'dirty guy.'"
KNOCK ON WOOD: Williams and backup power forward Paul Millsap remain the only Jazz players with a chance to appear in all 82 games this season.
Millsap didn't miss any games as a rookie last season, either.
Recent comments
Re: Sloan Hater.
Russell, Anderson, Ostertag, Eisley just to name...
odogtriever | April 11, 2008 at 3:57 p.m.
@Sloan Hater (the Fake One)
If you are going to imitate somebody...
magnus | April 10, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.
Perhaps you didn't see my message last week, when I apologized for...
Sloan Hater | April 10, 2008 at 5:05 p.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- Alpine District school honored 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
246 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
92
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
Beck, Hannity, and Limbaugh get the audience they deserve and vice versa. ...
I find the rule,very discriminitory. I am not gay, I don't understand what...
I understand we were outmanned last night. However, this effort was awful....
My advice to Jonathan is shoot it when they pass it to you as soon as you...
Maybe they should try drafting a shooting guard who can shoot from outside ....
The sad thing about it is that there are actually people out there that are...
Thank you TCU and BYU. Your wanting to beat Utah so bad has to drive you...
Play fes and koufos. Look to the future. It looks like we will have two...
Oh come on. Obama's a horrible president, but I couldn't care less which...
"We had the best soccer of any place in the state. There's no disputing...
