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Jazz players have summer reunion on Chinese court

"AK was so aggressive and very confident � he played great. Let me tell you, if we can get that out of him in Utah, whew, we might be cutting the nets down."

1. Maybe Carlos Boozer is right. If Kirilenko can get consistent next season, the Jazz have a decent shot.

2. Boozer is such a great ambassador for the Jazz. Just read and hear everything he tells the press. He never stumbles over his words, always has something interesting, positive, and articulate to say, and always compliments and encourages his teammates. His words exude teamwork, people skills, and I daresay charity. What a good example for the rest of the NBA!

Hey Gary S.,

I agree with you. But I heard Boozer stumble over his words once. Remember what he said after the Jazz went um 2-0 against the Rockets last playoffs? Something like "We won't be coming back here". Provoking the Rockets like that and playing once as if home games were guaranteed killed the Jazz against the Lakers, who knew that giving the Nuggets any sign of live could hurt them later.

Anyways, hope to see AK rocking this next season! o/

I watched the entire game. I haven't seen AK being that agressive for a long time. He's the go to guy of team Russia, while only being the 4th or 5th guy in Utah.

He did manage to score the most for Russia, but his shooting, one on one still have a lot of room to improve. So I hope he accept his role in Utah and play with the same effort.

Go AK go Jazz

IF we can get more out of Boozer, we might be cutting the nets down...

are you kidding me Gary??? Boozer's commments were a complete shot at AK. AK is going to take that as he doesn't work hard enough in a jazz uniform! Its funny, cause boozer is the one all the reporters are interviewing but he is the one playing the least minutes on the team. Its like he is begging for attention! Booz is the one that needs to sit back and reflect with all that time on the bench...he needs to watch how hard everyone else plays compared to him. Maybe he just doesn't want to "tweak his hammy" again....

A.K. can't play like that here - grumpy old Sloan won't let him.

NO doubt AK plays the game consistently well in international play--even against the world's best! He was ALL over the court in Russia's game vs USA; had 18 points (by finding or making his own plays without a great guard-line to help in assists) and 8 rebounds. Was also the go-to player in and MVP of the '07 Euro-championship games.

The missing part of the equation for motivating AK's Jazz-play lays on Sloan's shoulders--to find or develop a way to motivate this bright star's 'star'-potential and to increase his level, intensity and consistency of play. This kid CAN play the game well and actually got physical, in his international play over the past year.

To anyone who thinks he should be traded, the light shoulda finally clicked "on"! Consider instead that with just a little more of a persuasive or encouraging court-side manner, a little better coaxing (by Sloan), is ALL that's needed to instill the same passion and drive to lay it on the line, EVERY time--i.e. like Stockton and Malone! Constant 'negatives', i.e. berating, benching, overbearance of criticism, in-communicado (absent encouragement, patient mentorship etc.), isn't working for him, and doesn't for most people with any sense or sensitivity.

I am so tired of hearing... We'll AK just doesn't accept his role in Utah or whatever other junk you are talking about. Remember, Kirilenko is a PF, not an SF. And he plays out of his position. It is like telling Deron he sucks because he can play the SF well when he is a PG/SG.

Kirilenko gets a bad rap from Utah's fans. He's consistently defended the interior better than anyone else in a Jazz uniform. Along with Millsap, he's the only other Jazz player who intimidates opponents from coming down the lane. When Andrei is active defensively, the Jazz usually win...and they've won a lot in the last couple of years.

Jason Kidd should not be starting. Paul and Deron are the best point guards in the league. Coach K seems to be using them well, though.
BTW-- Booz said we hope we won't be coming back here. He should be articulate. Duke doesn't recruit Prop 1 players.

Dwill has to share some of the blame for AK's "underperformance." A little over a year ago, Williams admitted that he shut AK out of the offense because he did not think AK worked hard enough in practice. How mature is that?

Very mature, if your the leader and you back it up by putting the time in yourself! He should have said it with in the confines of the team but it still should have been said.

i like basket ball but this is ridiculous, these guys are paid a kings ransom to play a game...i pay my taxes and these guys travel the world...now because of gas ...and the predicting heating costs..i have to give up my jazz tickets. but go jazz anyways!

Hey Gary, get off the Boozer band wagon! If it wasn't for his horrible play and lack of "DEFENSE", we probably would have had a chance to make it to the conference finals!! Boozer is good, but everybody including him questions his ability to play "defense" and also play big for the team when it counts! AK played great, not to mention he had to guard the likes of Kobe Bryant & T-Mac! Tell me this, why can Millsap come into a game 6 situation & help make such a huge comeback? Defense & Hustle, something Boozer needs to learn

Boozer is the one who needs to play with more effort. Yesterday's game should have been a huge eye-opener for anyone questioning Andrei's ability to play 4 in the NBA. He looked great. He scored from inside and out, played great defense, passed the ball well, it was an outstanding performance against the NBA's best.

If Boozer played with any kind of effort on the defensive end of the court we'd be a championship team. I can understand why Andrei is not happy in Utah...he probably can't stand watching Boozer play at 1/4 the energy level guys like AK and Millsap play at.

If Boozer would start to box out, play defense, hustle to loose balls, etc. we'd be a championship team. Until he starts doing all those little things, I think AK deserves a shot. He is a legitimate All-Star when playing the 4. Boozer can score points and that's about it.

Carlos needs to take a serious look in any nearby mirror before spouting off about ANYONE on the Jazz roster. Giving back handed compliments like this is bush league and I have absolutely never seen AK dog it. I would ask Carlos--how would you feel, if after you have your first good game of next season, AK were interviewed and said, "He was fantastic. If we were to get this kind of effort out of him in the playoffs every time out, we might go somewhere."

It's not Boozer, It's not D-Will It's not Sloan, It's AK 100%. The guy is a very selfish basketball player and I don't think we will get maximum production out of him unless he is the first option. If that happens we will be a lotto team for sure.

How blind we are by mere totals.
Yes, AK scored 18 points. Care to guess what his percentage was? 6-14 on FG's and 6-12 from the line. A great game? Not by a long shot.

By all means make AK the focal point of the Jazz offense. Let him take 30 shots per game and see how far that FG% will get the team. I'd wager we'd be closer to the team that he "led" to a lottery pick than to a championship.

But I'm not about to defend Boozer, either. He is to defense what AK is to 3-pt shooting: embarassing.

AK IS a complementary player on offense IF you want to field a contender. I watched the Russia/US game. AK drove around Carmelo for most of his points. Last time I checked, Anthony plays SF for the Nuggets, not PF. U.S. team actually does not have much in the way of NBA-style PF's, opting for better shooters for the int'l game.

In the NBA, putting AK at PF would equal a quick trip to the hospital. He already misses several games each year with various injuries. Playing against physical PF's would mean foul trouble or injuries.

I agree with the defenders of AK but have a little more respect for Boozer.

AK is one of the most versatile players in the NBA, maybe the world, he could start at 3 different positions, but in the NBA I think his natural position is the small forward.

Before Boozer started playing for the Jazz (2 years after he joined the team) AK was for the Jazz what he is now for Russia. Once Boozer came on board and his role started to diminish AK had a hard time adjusting, I mean their aren't many players who could go from the face of a franchise to a third or fourth option role player, in the prime of their career, and not have some growing pains. That's a tough thing to do, but I think AK is in a good place now and I think we will see more from him like we saw in the playoffs this year.

Boozer is a great player and the Jazz should keep him if they can, but if they do lose him, if they could pick up a tough PF/C like Okafor, Gooden, Haslem, etc. I think they could actually be better.

I wish the Deseret News would put the feet to the
fire with these guys and ask them point blank:
"How do you explain Carlos, that many people question
your defensive prowess?"

"Andrei, how do you explain your erratic play? Are
you happy being the fourth or fifth option on the
team?