Neither missed a game in either post-Olympic season.

Some believe the effects of the Olympics don't catch up to players until the next spring. While it's true the Jazz lost in the first round of the playoffs in '93, four years later they reached the NBA Finals.

Players are encouraged — ordered, actually — to stay in shape in the off-season. What better way than to play against international competition?

It's better to get winded than fat.

As for the "mental fatigue" argument, the rest of the work force gets mentally tired, too, but it doesn't usually get 36 consecutive days to recuperate — especially after already taking vacation time in May and June.

Basketball is no more mentally taxing than accounting or teaching. And five weeks is more than enough time to get your mind off work.

Kirilenko is still just 27, Boozer 26 and Williams 24. They're kids, and kids play all the time. They run around, bump into things, get bruised and scratched, slurp their food, stay up late, eat too much pizza and play hours and hours of basketball — yet still bounce back.

At their age, the Jazz stars should be ready to go in two or three weeks.

Anything beyond that is just loafing.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com