Sloan in no hurry to make team roster cuts

It's easier for the remaining players to get court time once the squad is cut down a little bit. But Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was in no real hurry at Friday's practice in the Zions Bank Basketball Center to make his first round of roster trims.

He might do it Sunday, he said, or maybe Monday or Tuesday.

Sloan has been pleased with the work ethic shown so far. He said he sees progress from the youngsters, sees them taking advantage of the chances they've gotten because they're willing to work.

"I haven't made a decision," Sloan said. "I don't want to cut somebody that I don't feel good about. I've always tried to be fair, first and foremost, and I don't want to make a mistake. That can happen. I'm not infallible."

He said he will probably get busy with the most distasteful part of coaching Sunday — "if we come to a conclusion," he said. "If not, it will be Monday or the next day."

The Jazz host Phoenix for a preseason game in the Delta Center on Monday night.

Sloan knows his veterans want some trims so they can play more. "But I don't need them to tell me who to cut. They have to worry about their jobs," he said.

Sloan added he understands their feelings. "I was the same way. I wanted more playing time in exhibition season. That's just natural."

MORE MILES: Asked why he didn't use 18-year-old C.J. Miles at all in Thursday's game at Indiana, Sloan began by talking about having so many players to evaluate. Then he came clean.

"I didn't want to put him out there against Ron Artest, to be honest with you, at this stage of his career," Sloan said. "I want to help him develop and not set him back. I try to do what I think helps the kid."

Sloan hopes to keep Miles in positive situations. "You don't want to destroy a person.

"Artest is a great player. He'd just take him to task and put so much pressure on him."

Miles said Sloan hadn't told him why he remained on the bench, "but I understand. I'm just grateful for the opportunity in the first game. It was a rush of excitement for me."

THAT'S WHY: Despite the fact forward Carlos Boozer has sat for both of Utah's first two preseason games due to a strained left hamstring, Sloan seems confident Utah's leading scorer from a season ago won't have any trouble overcoming the setback.

His reasoning: "His conditioning is better this year than it was last year," Sloan said. "If you're out of shape, and then you have to fight that, and then you have to fight the injury, (you get behind)."

Sloan did say Boozer is "getting better. He just is not there yet. He just said, 'I'm feeling better."'

POWER TO SMALL: The Pioneer Press in Minnesota recently noted that former University of Minnesota product Kris Humphries has transitioned from power forward to small forward.