Utah Jazz: Sloan sympathetic on Boozer's health woes

Deron Williams called in sick and C.J. Miles didn't practice Friday because of his moderately sprained right ankle.

Carlos Boozer was also not with the team.

Instead, the two-time Olympian was in Los Angeles undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that has forced him to miss 24 games this season. Results of how the surgery went were not made public Friday.

"We wish him a speedy recovery because we know how important he is to this team," said Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer.

Coach Jerry Sloan said the Jazz have to go on with (and hopefully soon) or without one of their two standout power forwards.

"We go on about our life — not anything we can do," Sloan said.

Sloan has some sympathy pains for Boozer — both for being injured and for getting questioned by some about just how injured he really has been. The former defensive standout of the Chicago Bulls knows from personal experience just how frustrating dealing with all aspects of injuries can be. He said getting out of the daily basketball routines can be strange.

"After you've been hurt a couple of times and being away from everything, you're like in another world away from everybody," Sloan said. "It's a pretty cold feeling, but that's the facts of this business. Coaches have to go ahead about their business, players have to try to get ready to play. It's just the way it is. It's not a very comfortable position to be in."

The doubters and naysayers make it all the tougher.

"Everybody's looking at you like, 'What's really wrong with this guy?'" Sloan said. "They questioned me when I played. I thought I was a pretty hard-nosed guy and played hard. But people still questioned. ... There's nothing you can do about it, so just get yourself ready to go whenever it's time and go on with your business."

As for Williams, he is expected to play tonight when the Jazz try to beat Detroit for the eighth straight time. He missed practice with a sinus infection that also forced him to play under the weather Wednesday against New Orleans.

C.J. Miles joined the Jazz at their training facility for treatment, but he didn't practice because of his moderately sprained right ankle that he twisted while stepping on James Posey's foot in the win over the Hornets. Miles, the only player who's appeared in all 36 Jazz games, is "doubtful" tonight.