From Deseret News archives:
Sloan expecting more from Andrei
For Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, though, Andrei Kirilenko was not going nearly enough with an eight-point, two-steal, two-block, 3-of-11 shooting showing in Utah's 99-92 preseason loss at Indiana on Wednesday.
"You don't get yourself better by playing at half-speed," Sloan said when asked about Kirilenko's play. "I don't care how many years you've played in this league, you have to come out and get yourself going, so you get into a good rhythm and you don't get hurt.
"You get to playing around out there, and get to going half-speed and playing this game casually, you can really get hurt."
Yet Kirilenko — who hurt his knee and broke his wrist last season, then broke his nose during recent international play — suggested he didn't feel nearly so slow.
"Actually, I don't think I'm playing half-speed," the one-time All-Star from Russia said. "You know, I'm trying to do my best on the floor and trying to play hard.
"You see me when we're in the flow trying to run hard and play good defense. It not happens every time, but I will try."
NBA INITIATION: By Thursday, after a late-night flight from Canada, the Jazz were in Indiana and C.J. Miles was back on earth.
In fact, the 18-year-old was so grounded he did not even play in Utah's loss to the Pacers. It was not punishment, though, so much as a protective gesture from Sloan.
"This team (Indiana) can execute," the Jazz coach said. "They know all the little tricks of the trade, because they're a veteran team."
By sitting and watching, Sloan added, Miles "can understand he's got a lot to learn."
Wednesday, though, Miles learned a lesson on life in the clouds. The youngster's impression on his first NBA game, even if it was only an NBA exhibition?: "It's not like high school."
Miles, a second-round 2005 draft choice straight from Skyline High School in Dallas, seemed somewhat overwhelmed after his first shot caught the backboard and his second nothing but air in the Jazz's October opener at Toronto.
"After the airball," he said, "I was like, 'It can't get any worse.' "
And it did get a bit better for Miles.
After missing four straight 3-point attempts, his fifth touched nothing but net, falling with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation to force a five-minute overtime and spur Utah's 102-101 win.
He did throw an errant pass that nearly in the extra period that nearly prevented the Jazz from winning, but after fellow rookie Robert Whaley's putback of an Andre Owens miss ensured the victory Miles was able to savior the trey that finally went.
"Always in high school," he said, "I was thinking, 'I can do this in the NBA.' "
