From Deseret News archives:

Utah Jazz: Boozer still not ready to return to lineup

Published: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 12:09 a.m. MST
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Knight was elbowed in the throat during Saturday's game and may play tonight despite staying overnight Saturday for evaluation and observation at a Phoenix hospital.

"We've got some guys back, some more bodies back, which definitely helps," Williams said. "And hopefully Booz (Boozer) will be back soon as well."

Whenever he is, Millsap is bound to return a reserve role — albeit probably having earned even more minutes off the bench than he had been playing previously.

Even Boozer said, "He's one of those guys you want out there all the time."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan — who has witnessed Millsap play every game during his two-plus seasons in Utah, despite a multitude of injuries that might keep others out — feels similarly.

"He's just a real pleasant guy to be around; he just keeps playing however he feels," Sloan said. "If he feels bad, he still plays hard."

Unanswered, however, is the issue of if — and, if so, how — he can possibly keep up what he's been doing the last few weeks.

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Millsap — who will be a restricted free agent in the offseason and seems bound to land a contract that pays significantly more than the team-low $797,581 he's earning this season — addressed that very question with as much vigor as he's played while Boozer has been out.

"Well," he said, "just continue to keep doing what I've been doing to get me this far ... and continue to provide that energy."

Sloan doesn't doubt he can.

"He's a little bit like Matt Harpring — able to step out there and automatically have energy," the Jazz coach said.

"(He) doesn't have to warm up all day and get so many shots. He doesn't rely on getting shots as much as he relies on just playing," Sloan added. "A lot of guys rely on shots as to whether they're having success or not. He relies on just effort."


Contributing: Jody Genessy


E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com

Recent comments

boozer is so overrated. he is a poor man's nene hilario if you ask...

d-nugs | Dec. 15, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.

Why doesn't Sloan end up with Coach of the Year? Well, it's because...

SLOAN | Dec. 9, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

he is no Karl Malone...he would be playing..Booz is not a stopper on...

booz | Dec. 9, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.

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