Utah Jazz notes: Koufos shoots ball better, but Sloan still not smiling

DENVER — He didn't just get the memo. He apparently read it, too.

After a dismal 0-for-5 shooting performance in last Sunday's preseason loss at Portland, Jazz rookie Kosta Koufos took mostly safe shots in Wednesday's 120-119 overtime exhibition loss at Denver.

And he made 5-of-7 from the field as a result.

Still, even after Koufos had one block and seven rebounds to go with his 11 points in 20 minutes, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said the 7-footer from Ohio State has "a long ways to go."

"He's got to figure out what's going on in the game, what's happening out there, who he's guarding," Sloan said of Koufos, who got caught out of position on one critical defensive play in particular.

"I think everybody's pulling for him, but he's got to be held responsible for not knowing where he's supposed to be after a while," Sloan added.

"He's got to learn how to get to the right spots, know what play we're running, know what we're doing defensively. That's part of being a basketball player."

And it's part of being a rookie, too.

"I'd hate to have seen him if he hadn't been here in the summer league," Sloan said. "If he hadn't been here in the summer league, he would have been way, way behind. He's got a lot of work to do to get better. But he's willing to work."

INJURY UPDATE: Reserve guard Ronnie Price, reserve guard Brevin Knight and backup center Jarron Collins all did not play Wednesday, and two of the three — Knight and Collins — are being called "doubtful" for a pair of preseason games against Chicago this weekend.

Knight, battling Price for the backup point guard job behind starter Deron Williams, has inflammation in his sprained left thumb. X-rays were negative, though, and Knight said he hopes he can play against the Bulls either Friday in Champaign, Ill., and/or Saturday in Chicago.

An MRI exam performed on Collins' right elbow revealed inflammation and severe triceps tendinitis. He has missed two straight exhibition games.

Price, out for a second consecutive game due to a bruised lower right leg, will be a game-time decision Friday.

Meanwhile, as expected, veteran forward Matt Harpring (ankle rehab) didn't make the trip.

The Jazz probably won't know until sometime next week if Harpring will be available for their Oct. 29 regular-season opener vs. the Nuggets, general manager Kevin O'Connor said Wednesday.

HE WROTE IT: Columnist Woody Paige, in Wednesday's Denver Post: "Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. Beat Utah. If that wasn't clear enough, maybe this is: BEAT UTAH. The Nuggs must beat the Jazz nine times. And I'm not talking about (Wednesday night's) neither-here-nor-there, beside-the-point, not-worth-worrying-about exhibition. ... The Nuggets must beat the Jazz in the four regular-season games, for first place in the final NBA Northwest Division standings, and in four playoff games. Beat Utah, and the Nuggets can win a postseason series. It's not a cheer, a call to charge or a command. It's the Nuggets' challenge."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com