With Boozer gone, Sloan indicated backup Paul Millsap probably will start at power forward tonight, saying, "He's earned as many minutes as anybody at this point."

WEB WATCH: ESPN.com's John Hollinger, a statistical analysis guru, projects Boozer will have the 11th-best performance among individual NBA players this season.

Hollinger's top 10: Yao Ming, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh.

Okur was the only other Jazz player to crack the top 50, checking in at No. 49. Hollinger also had Millsap No. 55, Williams No. 65, Kirilenko No. 81 and Jazz swingman Ronnie Brewer No. 87.

Projections are based on a complicated formula that measures per-minute productivity.

BUCKS BITS: Milwaukee opened its exhibition season against Chicago on Tuesday night in La Crosse, Wis. The Jazz and Bucks, incidentally, share several ties:

• Milwaukee took care of ex-Jazz guard Mo Williams back in July by giving Utah's 2003 second-round draft choice a six-year, $51.5 million contract;

• Former Jazz big man Michael Ruffin is trying to win a roster spot with the Bucks; and

• Ex-Jazz forward Larry Krystkowiak, a candidate earlier this year for the University of Utah's then-vacant head coaching post, is preparing to begin his first full season as Milwaukee's head coach. Krystkowiak was promoted to his current position last March 14, shortly after interviewing for the Utes' job.

MISC.: The Bucks and Jazz meet again Saturday night in Milwaukee ... Veteran backup small forward Matt Harpring again was limited Tuesday to non-contact drills while rehabbing his surgically repaired knee. His status for tonight is uncertain ... Second-round rookie Kyrylo Fesenko was at the practice facility Tuesday but didn't work out due to a case of suspected food poisoning ... Sloan said he probably wouldn't decide who'll start at shooting guard until sometime today.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com