Utah Jazz: Price to start as shooting guard tonight

Another preseason game, another different starter at the shooting guard spot.

As he deals with player absences and experiments with chemistry and player combinations, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has decided to give Ronnie Price a shot at starting in the backcourt alongside Deron Williams for tonight's exhibition contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

C.J. Miles started the preseason-opener in the position, but the southpaw is out for the next six-or-so weeks with a thumb injury on his shooting hand. He is expected to return Friday from New York, where he had surgery to repair a ruptured ligament last week.

Ronnie Brewer started both games in Europe as the off-guard — the job he held last year. However, Brewer is sliding into the small forward spot tonight because Andrei Kirilenko returned to Russia for personal reasons, Miles and Matt Harpring are out with injuries, and Kyle Korver is a game-time decision with his left knee still "a little sore after the scrimmage (Tuesday)."

Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur will also start the 7 p.m. game at EnergySolutions Arena — Utah's final home showing until the second game of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 30.

Price, who's seen time this preseason as a backup point guard and a shooting guard, is excited that Sloan decided to call on him even though — make that, especially ?— because he'll be matched up early on with All-Star guard Brandon Roy.

"If you're not looking forward to playing against a guy like that, then you're crazy," said the 6-foot-2 Price, knowing full well that he gives up about four inches to the talented Roy.

Price said he feels more comfortable defensively going against shooting guards, even the bigger, talented ones. Offensively, he feels more natural in the point guard position, but it's not that big of a deal for him to change backcourt spots.

"I'm happy that they're giving me an opportunity to just be on the court period, whether it's at the two or at the one," the Utah Valley product said. "Wherever I can find minutes on the floor, it's good for me."

Williams likes the idea of having Price starting next to him on the guard line — in part because he said Price has worked hard in the offseason and preseason and because of Price's pizzazz.

"I like Ronnie Price at the 2. I like him at the 1, but he gives us a lot of energy," Williams said. "We play together and we have good chemistry. We can both handle the ball. It's a fun lineup to go with."

That opening combo means rookie Eric Maynor could be Williams' main backup tonight, though it's also possible Sloan might opt to move Price over when the Jazz's starting point guard needs a breather.

Sloan hinted that he could be in the mood to use a plethora of personnel. Meaning, guys fighting for roster spots like Wesley Matthews, Ronald Dupree, Goran Suton, Alexander Johnson and Spencer Nelson could see plenty of playing time.

"Tonight's game we'll put some guys out there and see how they play, see what we've got," Sloan said.

The Hall of Fame coach also mentioned that some player cuts could happen as soon as this weekend, though he still needs to meet with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor to discuss their options.

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