Williams suggested that while he can't control precisely how Kirilenko is used — "I call the plays, but at the same time (Sloan) dictates the offense and he (Sloan) decides where people play" — he can, as point guard, at least try to be more cognizant of matchup opportunities.

"Definitely," he said, "if A.K. has a smaller guy on him, we've got to get him to post up. If he's got a bigger guy on him, let him handle the ball, let him bring him out and clear it out for him."

The rest is on Kirilenko, an All-Star in 2004.

"I thought he got a lot of touches last year. It's just a matter of getting them more where he's comfortable — you know, around the basket more," Williams said. "We did a lot of dribble handoffs to A.K. last year. It's just a fact that you've got to go, and do something with it — not just settle for those pull-up jumpers. Try to attack the basket more."

And perhaps fret less.

"I think he just needs to relax," Johnson said, "and play within what we're doing — he's had success here before — and quit worrying about all those little things."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com