Utah Jazz: Newcomers Maynor, Matthews fitting in nicely

From pre-practice shooting contests to getting their ankles taped around the same time, it should come as no great surprise that they seem to have become fast friends.

Both, after all, are rookies.

Both played four seasons of college ball.

And each's respective father played, Wesley Matthews' in the NBA and Eric Maynor's very nearly.

Now, though, it's younger smiles from the portraits of two basketball families that are breaking into the league.

Maynor, the Jazz's first-round draft choice from Virginia Commonwealth last June, appears to have won the backup point guard position behind Deron Williams, while Matthews, undrafted out of Marquette, seems to have secured a roster spot in Utah for at least the season's start.

"I'm part of it. I'm part of the team now," said Maynor, whose father George — a fourth-round draft choice of Chicago's in 1979 — actually was cut in 1980 by current Jazz coach Jerry Sloan before he could ever play a regular-season game for the Bulls and officially make it to the NBA. "I went through the preseason, and had a good preseason, and now I'm just trying to get going.

"I feel very comfortable," added Maynor, whose father played at East Carolina but — after getting waived by Chicago — couldn't stick in either Europe or the CBA. "I think I've been playing real good, learning the system and just trying to get adjusted to this game, the NBA game, and I think I've done a great job."

So does Jazz brass, although there evidently is plenty for 22-year-old Maynor for work on.

"I think Coach (Sloan) has been pleased with his progress for the preseason," general manager Kevin O'Connor said after an exhibition season in which Maynor got the majority of minutes behind Williams. "He's got to understand defensively what he's got to do to stay in the game."

"Kevin indicated (before drafting him) that he can shoot the ball, and he's demonstrated that," Sloan added. "But he's got to get stronger, because teams will go right at him every time down the court if you're not careful — and that's where he's got to continue to work and get in shape and better condition and build his strength, because this is a tough business."

Matthews should know.

His father, Wes, played for the University of Wisconsin and later six teams (Washington, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers) over nine NBA seasons from 1980-90.

Yet the youngster has had to scrap his way into the league.