Brewer is feeling frustrated

PORTLAND, Ore. — Many suspected backup C.J. Miles would take the biggest hit.

As it's happened so far, however, it's starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer whose playing time has been impacted most by the recent arrival of swingman Kyle Korver.

During both of Korver's first two games with the Jazz since being acquired last Saturday from Philadelphia for swingman Gordan Giricek and a future first-round draft choice, Brewer has watched all of the final quarter from the bench.

The first time it was because Korver played all 12 minutes in a win over Portland, Utah's opponent again tonight. The second it was because a hot Miles played the first 10 minutes or so of the fourth, and Korver came in to close in a victory over his old 76ers club.

And when Brewer got yanked against Philly, as Miles replaced him with just more than three minutes to go in the third quarter, it was evident that the 2006 lottery pick was none too pleased.

There was no war of words with Sloan like the one that happened in Giricek's final game with the Jazz.

But Brewer did make a beeline for the bench — no passing Go, no collecting $200, no friendly hand slap with the coach — and, suffice it to say, the exit did not go unnoticed.

In fact, Brewer — who had 11 points on 4-for-5 field shooting over 19 minutes at the time, including 3-of-3 in the third quarter alone — readily admits being frustrated.

"Just a little bit," the University of Arkansas product said, "because I felt that I was shooting the ball — I mean, 4-for-5 — and then a couple free throws (actually 3-for-3), a couple assists (actually one). (And) I think I was playing pretty good defense. It wasn't amazing, but pretty good.

"Just to get subbed out, it was kind of, I don't know, kind of frustrating, but, at the same time, I mean, it's basketball, it's a job, and you've got to sacrifice to win games. And I'm willing to do that, because we haven't been winning games."

The Jazz indeed had lost 11-of-14 before Korver's arrival, which is one reason Brewer was realistic about what the trade would mean.

"I knew some players' minutes were gonna be cut," Brewer said.

He just didn't necessarily think it would be his.

Instead, Miles has played nearly two minutes more than his season average since Korver came, while Brewer's minutes have dipped from a pre-Korver season average of 30-plus to just 18.5 over the past two games.

And it's not just because Brewer, who averages 12.5 points, has been struggling with his offensive game — though he has indeed failed to reach double figures in four of his last seven games after having done that in 19 of his first 20.