Utah Jazz notebook: Wesley Matthews' shooting is important

LOS ANGELES — A potential rematch in this year's NBA playoffs is quite some time away.

But should it happen, the Jazz's visit with the Los Angeles Lakers tonight offers a preview of Utah's new-look approach to dealing with Kobe Bryant.

That would be the one with new rookie starting shooting guard Wesley Matthews taking a turn matching up with Bryant and ex-Jazz swingman Ronnie Brewer — traded in February to Memphis — no longer in the picture.

Brewer struggled terribly to knock down outside shots over Bryant two postseasons ago, and he shot just 40.8 percent from the field in five playoff games against the Lakers in 2009.

That allowed Bryant to easily cheat off him, making things terrifically tough for the Jazz's bigs.

"As far as clogging up the lane," point guard Deron Williams said prior to practice Thursday, "Kobe was just sitting there on our pick-and-rolls."

Now, the Jazz feel the Lakers will be forced to respect Matthews' range much more than they did Brewer's.

"Wes," coach Jerry Sloan said, "I think people are starting to recognize that he can make shots out there — but he can also put the ball on the floor a little bit and take it to the basket."

"He (Bryant) can't guard Wes like he did Ronnie. (What happened in the playoffs) made things tough on everybody. I think it took Ronnie's confidence away a little bit," Williams added. "I think Wes is gonna make things a little more honest, the way he's shooting the ball."

And undrafted Matthews isn't alone.

"C.J. (Miles), Kyle (Korver) — you know, we have shooters on the wings on both sides," Williams said.

It's not just making Bryant work harder and cheat less on the defensive end, though, that the Jazz feel 6-foot-5 Matthews is good for.

"He's not afraid to put his body on people and try to guard them," Sloan said.

"He's gotten a little bit more respect for a young guy than a lot of guys get — because he's started, he's been able to get up and get after guys," the Jazz coach added. "Yeah, his size is different sometimes. But his heart is pretty big."

RUMOR MILL: According to the New York Daily News, in addition to Portland center Marcus Camby, "The other free agent role player on the Knicks radar is … Korver, Utah's 3-point specialist."