From Deseret News archives:

Speedy Brown ready for more if Fisher's not able to return for Game 2

Published: Wednesday, May 9, 2007 12:17 a.m. MDT
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The Jazz still didn't know Tuesday if starting shooting guard Derek Fisher would be available for tonight's playoff game against Golden State.

"I'll just wait and see when he gets here," coach Jerry Sloan said.

Fisher has missed two morning shootarounds and Monday's Game 1 of Utah's second-round postseason series due to an undisclosed family matter involving one of his children.

Backup Gordan Giricek opened in his place at off-guard Monday, and No. 3 point Dee Brown picked up Fisher's usual minutes as backup at the point to starter Deron Williams.

"Derek is a huge part of our team," teammate Andrei Kirilenko said Tuesday, "but, you know, things happen in the world. ... We understand that."

Besides altering their rotation and working in Brown, Williams suggested, the Jazz didn't change strategy because of Fisher's absence from Monday's 116-112 win.

"We just tried to attack the same way," Williams said. "When a guy goes out for whatever reason — he's injured, personal reasons, whatever — guys have to be ready to step up. And guys were ready (Monday) night."

The Jazz gushed Monday over the contributions of seldom-used rookie Brown, and it was more of the same Tuesday.

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"I don't think he needs any push-ups," Kirilenko said of the oft-upbeat Brown. "He's always ready to go."

"I don't know if he's as confident as he was in college to shoot the ball and things like that. He's a little more tentative, just trying to run the offense," added Williams, who shared the backcourt with Brown for the University of Illinois' 2005 NCAA title-game team — and did the same for a stretch Monday. "But it's definitely fun to play with him — and I have confidence in him when he's out there."

DEDICATED COACH: Bruce Weber, Williams' and Brown's coach at Illinois, attended Monday's Game 1 and went to dinner afterward with his ex-Illini stars.

"Coach, he doesn't get to see us much," Williams said. "So it means a lot to me he came and saw us play in the playoffs, and we got a win."

Williams said the three discussed "a lot of things" — but one was not the subject about which he sought advice from Weber as a rookie last season.

"I don't have a problem with my confidence right now," Williams said.

X'S AND O'S: Williams offered some strategy insight Tuesday.

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