From Deseret News archives:
Giricek is all right with boos
Just five days after he was traded with a conditional first-round draft choice by the Jazz to Philadelphia for Kyle Korver, Giricek was back in ESA, surprised at the crowd's response — as was Fisher when he was booed here on Nov. 30.
But, like Fisher — and like he has for the past week, ever since he was reinstated by the Jazz after missing three games, sent home from a road trip by coach Jerry Sloan and then traded two days after reinstatement — Giricek had only nice things to say, even about being booed during Utah's 110-107 win.
"Oh, you know what? That's the easiest thing that somebody boo me," said the Croatian, who spent three-plus seasons with Utah. "Like I said, I played in worse atmosphere than this. It's nothing. It was fun.
"Honestly, I didn't (expect it), but you know, it's always good. I like playing in this atmosphere. It gives you, like, (your) adrenaline goes up, at least for myself, and it gives you more a bigger momentum to just play well."
Korver had a bigger impact on Wednesday's game with 12 points including five of six free throws in the final 26 seconds. Giricek played 12:41 minutes and shot 1-for-3 for four points with one rebound, a steal and a turnover.
Giricek said that, since he hadn't played much lately, his legs didn't feel connected with his body or jump shots, and he's still learning Sixer plays. "When they call (a play's) name, it's very hard for me to connect name with actual movements, but point guards doing great job directing," Giricek said.
At Wednesday's shootaround, Giricek was asked what kind of welcome he expected. "Even if they boo me or something, which I see no reason to do that, I'm going to respect that," he said. "No hard feelings. They're just fans. Fans are going to cheer for their team."
About the worst thing Giricek said all day was that now that he's with the 76ers, he has more freedom to choose the size of his practice jersey and shorts — his outfit for Wednesday's shootaround was baggier than his Jazz practice uniform by his own choice — and, after the shootaround, "now I see that the rims are pretty hard."
He didn't even get riled about the hard foul that former teammate Memo Okur laid on him. "It's OK. That's the way the Jazz always play, right?" he said, "So it's OK. I'm just sorry I didn't make both free throws."
