From Deseret News archives:
Who will start at shooting guard?
Sloan has multiple options, evidenced by starting point guard Deron Williams' response when asked who he's felt most comfortable with in the backcourt this month.
"You want to put me on the spot?" Williams asked. "To be honest, I've been impressed with both the young guys — you know, C.J. (Miles) and Ronnie (Brewer) have shown glimpses of what they can do."
Williams had kind words for both.
On Brewer, the Jazz's 2006 first-round draft choice: "Ronnie has played terrific defense, and that's why I think he's going to earn a lot of his minutes ... He gets his hands on a lot of balls, gets a lot of deflections. And his offensive game will come along. He's got to keep working on his shot to be comfortable with that, but he's been solid."
On Miles, a '05 second-rounder who played sparingly last season straight out of high school: "C.J., he's also improved so much from last year ... His offense has been there, but what he needs to work on his defense. He needs to get up on guys — and he's going to learn how to do it. I definitely think he's capable of playing for us."
That said, however, it seems Sloan is considering another alternative. When asked, he referenced veteran Gordan Giricek, who started 36-of-37 games last season before yielding to an Achilles tendon injury.
"He (Giricek) has more experience," Sloan said. "Will we be better off playing a rookie to start the game, and have a veteran player play along? I don't know."
Sloan hasn't formally revealed the rest of his Wednesday lineup, but it seems likely Williams, small forward Andrei Kirilenko and big men Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer — all starters late last season — will be among those who open.
ROCKET SNIPS: According to Sunday's Houston Chronicle, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy has chosen ex-Jazz guard Kirk Snyder "to begin the season as a starter with Yao Ming, Shane Battier, Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston."
"It's somewhat feel," Van Gundy told the Chronicle, "that I think it gives us the best chance to have a rotation early in the year that keeps enough offense on the floor, enough size on the floor, things of that nature."
Yao, hobbled recently by a slightly sprained ankle, reportedly will be good to go.
