Arroyo struggles in '04 debut

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After missing the season's first six games with a sprained left ankle, Carlos Arroyo returned Tuesday. But Arroyo has a ways to go, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan suggested, before he is truly back.

"Carlos struggled with his game," Sloan said after Arroyo shot 1-of-4 from the field with four assists and two turnovers in 19 minutes of the 6-1 Jazz's 107-105 comeback win at Charlotte.

"He's going to have to pick it up defensively to get his rhythm back, instead of just looking for the one end of the floor."

Arroyo, who started, said he initially was concerned with "trying to protect the ankle and the injury." Keith McLeod, the Jazz's former fill-in starter, came off the bench behind Arroyo. But Howard Eisley, who had been backing up McLeod, finished with the game on the line.

That's a juggling act Sloan may have to toy with for some time.

"It can be an excuse, or they can make the best of it," he said. "I have three guys, and I would like to play all three of them - but I'm not sure I can always do that.

"Like I told them . . . I'm going to do the best I can not to screw any of them up."

Meanwhile, the Jazz put rookie forward Kris Humphries on the injured list to make room on their 12-man active roster for Arroyo. Humphries isn't really hurt, but he went on anyway with supposed right-knee patella tendinitis.

Humphries, who was being used sparingly anyway and had appeared in just four of the Jazz's first six games, accepted the assignment like a team player.

"I'm going to just keep working hard, wait for my opportunity," he said. "That's all you can do.

"I'm really just trying to . . . make the best of the situation, and hopefully we'll keep winning and be successful as a team. That's what it's all about," added Humphries, a lottery pick. "You've got to be happy with anything that goes on when you're winning like this."

IN SI: Jazz forward Carlos Boozer is featured in the Sports Illustrated issue arriving in mail boxes this week.

The 1,500-word profile covers everything from how Boozer met his wife CeCe ("She cold-called to ask him to dinner") to his controversial exit from Cleveland.

" 'Based on the type of person (Cavaliers owner) Gordon Gund is,' " Cavs general manager Jim Paxson told the magazine, " 'I feel bad for him and (Boozer's former) teammates and our fans that Carlos didn't keep his word.' "