Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles may win starting job back

ORLANDO, Fla. — He started at small forward for every game in which he played last season.

The presumption, at least by some with the Jazz, was that he would open this season as a starter too.

But C.J. Miles saw that notion blow up in smoke, or at least the fog of London.

Miles ruptured a ligament in the thumb on his left, shooting hand during an early October practice prior to a Jazz preseason game there.

Now, one surgery and more than two months later, Miles may be getting his starting job back.

It's been babysat for the past 19 games by rookie Wesley Matthews, who has opened at shooting guard with the usual starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer, shifted to small forward.

But for the second half of Saturday's win at Charlotte, in Miles' ninth game played following surgery, Matthews found himself watching from the bench.

Miles opened the half instead, and afterward coach Jerry Sloan said he'd spend Sunday — along with his assistants — pondering the possibility of making the move a permanent one.

"He plays with a lot of confidence when he's on the floor most of the time," Sloan said of Miles, who while just 22 years old — one younger than the undrafted Matthews — is in his fifth NBA season straight out of high school in Dallas.

"He's been hurt, so we've been trying to move him along slowly and not too fast," added Sloan, whose Jazz visit Orlando tonight in stop No. 4 of their five-game pre-Christmas trip. "But we needed him to play (Saturday night). Fortunately, he stepped up and did a good job."

Miles shot 8-for-16 from the field, scored 20 points, pulled down five rebounds, dished three assists, made three steals and blocked a couple shots while logging 35 minutes against the Bobcats.

He's shot 44.9 percent, including 35.5 percent from 3-point range, post-surgery.

"I think I've had some times where I don't allow myself to really get in the flow of the game," said Miles, who is getting more and more comfortable on the floor. "I mean, I get open shots here and there. But as far as, like, the whole game, you're able to play a lot better when you allow yourself to get going like that.

"Conditioning-wise, I still can get better from practicing and playing. But as far as the game, I see everything better (lately). The speed's a lot slower, and I can make plays better. ... It's not just catch-and-shoot the ball."