From Deseret News archives:
Banged-up Jazz adjust on the fly
Millsap, Giricek slide to 3 spot as injuries hit Utah
Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, with small forwards Matt Harpring ill and Andrei Kirilenko having to leave the game with a mild concussion in the second quarter, Millsap and Giricek each got time at the unfamiliar small forward position for the Utah Jazz.
With varying results.
Millsap understandably struggled a bit, said coach Jerry Sloan, trying to guard Corey Maggette. Giricek, meanwhile, was one of the heroes for the Jazz in his new and probably temporary role at small forward.
Sloan was still complimenting Giricek's play at Wednesday's practice before the Jazz took off for tonight's game at 6 MST in San Antonio's AT&T Center, where the Jazz have never won.
They have fallen 13 straight times, since 1999, in the building once known as the SBC Center, and haven't won in San Antonio since the Alamodome days.
Despite his success at the three on Tuesday — 23 minutes including a 19-foot shot that started Utah going the right direction again after L.A. had gotten within one with about five minutes left and a 3-pointer to boost Utah's lead to six 2 1/2 minutes later — Giricek said Wednesday he wanted his teammates healthy.
"I wish these guys are going to be back because we need every single player, especially against San Antonio," he said, admitting he personally felt buoyed for helping the team after five games at the wrong end of Sloan's bench.
It looks as though Kirilenko will be back tonight. Medical scans Wednesday morning showed nothing of concern. He missed practice but was taken on the trip and is expected to play.
Harpring remained ill Wednesday and stayed home to rest. It's thought he may be ready for Saturday's home game with Portland.
The Spurs are suffering a similar ailment and lost to Milwaukee by seven in the AT&T Center without Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and Matt Bonner, all out with a stomach virus, which is Harpring's illness. Ginobili's wife, teammate Fabricio Oberto and his wife, the trainer, and assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo's wife have also been ill, and coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News Tuesday night he was beginning to feel something coming on.
After Giricek responded so well Tuesday, Sloan said he wished he'd have gone to him before trying Millsap, who was playing small forward even before Kirilenko went down with an elbow to the jaw and forehead.
"I've still got to learn most of the plays and get that down, but if I do that, I'll be fine," Millsap said.
"I probably should have gone with Giricek, but he had struggled some in some of the other games," said Sloan. "But then he got back in the ballgame last night and did well."
