As promised, Okur in better shape

BOISE — When last season ended, Mehmet Okur vowed to return in better shape. It sure seems he's kept his promise.

At 6-foot-11 and 249 pounds, the big man from Turkey looked like a relative jack rabbit when the Jazz held their first open scrimmage of training camp in front of a Thursday-night crowd of about 1,000 at Boise State University's Taco Bell Arena.

In one sequence, Okur yielded a steal on the offensive end, sprinted back down the floor to pull down a fastbreak rebound, then headed back the other way with nary a huff or a puff.

That probably would not have happened a season ago.

"Like I told you," Okur said, "I've been working out all summer."

Playing for the Turkish national team, Okur logged lots of minutes during the offseason. He also spent plenty of time lifting dumbbells and strengthening both his back and his abs.

The result? Okur shed about three percent in body fat, leaving even Jazz coach Jerry Sloan quite impressed.

"He's in a lot better shape," Sloan said, "than a year ago."

SNEAK PEAK: With camp closed to media members until Thursday night, little has been learned since it opened Tuesday morning.

The scrimmage, however, did confirm some of what has been suspected: big man Carlos Boozer should benefit by being much more chiseled than a season ago; rookie shooting guard C.J. Miles has a much better idea of what it takes to play in the NBA than he did during last July's Rocky Mountain Revue summer league; and rookie center Robert Whaley, a second-round draft choice who is being pushed by free agent James Lang in one of camp's best battles so far, still has work to do before he is in tip-top condition.

As for first-round pick Deron Williams, the rookie point from the University of Illinois played to a mixed review.

"He played okay," Sloan said. "He's got a lot to learn."

HARPRING SITS: Of the 19 players in camp, 18 took part in Thursday's scrimmage. Veteran forward Matt Harpring watched from afar.

After under undergoing microfracture knee surgery just days after last season ended in April, however, Harpring never did intend to take part. In fact, his personal preseason schedule will be quite limited — all part of a plan to help prepare him for the Jazz's Nov. 2 regular-season opener.