Utah Jazz notes: McHale has admiration for Sloan

MINNEAPOLIS — Jerry Sloan has an admirer in Kevin McHale, who worked the first game in his second stint as coach of Minnesota when Utah beat the Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

"I'm a big fan of his," the ex-Boston Celtics great said of Sloan. "I think he and (San Antonio's Gregg) Popovich and Phil Jackson (of the Los Angeles Lakers) are the best coaches in the league. I mean, I think those guys set themselves apart. And he's a great guy too."

On Tuesday, Sloan was celebrating his 20th season as head coach of the Jazz — a milestone observed quietly Monday night with a dinner with staff members at pricey Minneapolis steakhouse.

"Jerry's system is a system that is really a fun system to watch," McHale said. "I mean, I hate to play against it. But it's a fun system to watch.

"His guys read and react, and just play basketball. It's the way basketball, I think, should be played. They have sets, but they're not married to the sets. There's movement, and they're reading the defense all the time.

"You know," he added, "it's really a credit to him that he can get those guys to play that system that well year for after year after year after year."

NO WAY: Sloan was asked Tuesday if he thought he had 20 more in him.

"Not 20 more years," he said. "Twenty more minutes? That's all I've ever gotten. A little bit at a time."

A couple Jazz players were asked the same.

"There's something in him," shooting guard Ronnie Brewer said. "I mean, y'all see him on the sidelines. Sometimes he (acts) like he's in the game. So, it's up to him. He could still do it for a long time. I don't know about 20, though.

"I wish," center Mehmet Okur added. "Twenty more with me."

SAVE IT: Sloan's anniversary was recognized with a short pre-game announcement Tuesday, but besides the dinner nothing special was done.

And that's fine by Sloan.

"I don't need any ceremonies," he said. "Save those for when you're dead."

INJURY UPDATE: The Jazz played their 11th straight game Tuesday without Carlos Boozer, but the All-Star power forward hopes to return later this week from a strained left quadriceps tendon sustained Nov. 19 vs. Milwaukee.