From Deseret News archives:
Jazz's top priority: Big guys
Deseret Morning News graphic
Jazz player projections
Requires Adobe Acrobat.
|
"But," Miller added, "I think 4 (power forward) is our single most-glaring need."
Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, can't help but agree after seeing a common thread among each of the NBA's top playoff qualifiers.
In the West, Minnesota has Kevin Garnett. The Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone. San Antonio, Tim Duncan. Sacramento, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Brad Miller.
In the East, Indiana has Jermaine O'Neal. Detroit, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace. New Jersey, Kenyon Martin.
"Anytime you go into a situation, and you don't have a player like that," O'Connor said of All-Star talent at power forward or center, "that's your need."
The Jazz do have an All-Star who can log minutes in the 4-spot in Andrei Kirilenko.
But he's a versatile type better-suited to play the 3 (small forward) or 2 (shooting guard), taking advantage of mismatches along the way not a physical sort who can mix it up regularly out of the power forward position.
"Andrei's a 'player,' " O'Connor said. "I don't think you establish a position with Andrei . . . I don't think Andrei's got, quote unquote, a traditional position."
Comments
- Festival of Trees includes roadster 2:14 a.m.
- Getting serious about seat belts 1:15 a.m.
- Witness describes '99 killing 1:15 a.m.
- Police increase presence at Skyline 1:14 a.m.
- Cougars cruise past Southern 1:03 a.m.
- Utes fall to Seattle U. at home 1:01 a.m.
- Utah celebrates Real Salt Lake Day 12:59 a.m.
- Y. focused on 10-win season 12:54 a.m.
- Thunder rolls by Jazz 12:49 a.m.
- Sloan remembers Abe Pollin 12:47 a.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Best prep football games of 2009
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- Witness describes '99 killing
- Boys basketball rankings
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
229 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
224 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
189 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
122 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99 - 4A: Timpview wins 4th in 4 years
93
On Tuesday, the Utes moved their preparations for this week's game at...
needs to get a dunk!
First of all, the Thunder aren't known for being a great outside shooting...
And if BYU didn't lose any games, they could have been in the BCS. And if...
OKC = 16 Jazz = 24. Boozer and Millsap had 10 and Okur had 2. That is...
to To KF 9:35 PM My 42% increase may seem insignificant, but I have a...
Nice........
This is so weird. You see how stacked it is to include Nebraska,simply...
Mike, don't take it so personal. We know you are a Utah homer, but let's get...
I am a Seneca Indian from Western NY and find the meso America theory hard to...
If the chances are slim to none, why is this even news?? Trust the D.N. to...



You can be the first to comment on this story.