I think coming of the bench is perfect for Kirilenko because he can be the go-to guy which he needs in order to feel that he is being used in the right way. He will get more touches and should be happier.

The more I think about this idea, the more I like it. Nearly everyone on the team seems to support the idea and like O'Connor said, it's about who ends the game rather than who starts it. I'll miss Andrei's introduction though.. "from Russia with love..."

Yes....its a win-win situation putting CJ Miles in the starting line up will develop him further and make him comfortable/consistent with his game and with AK coming off the bench, the second unit will be a lot stronger. AK will also get more minutes and freedom on his style as well as stability with the second unit.

Can we say Manu anybody? I like it very much because the 2nd squad is going to need alot of scoring and leadership. Why not come off the bench, let's doit Jerry!

It took Jerry how long to figure this out????

I don't know why AK is being benched? After watching the close of last season I would say bench Boozer instead.

I've wished all last year they would play Brewer and Korver together. Please start them together!

Andre will have a HUGE year and so will the Jazz if he comes in and is "the man" with the second unit. Opposing teams won't get a break, the Jazz will always have an all-star on the floor - the entire game!

Love it and LOVE Kirilenko's attitude. What a stud!

This seem like a win-win situation for both the Jazz and AK47. However, time will be the ultimate judge of whether or not this works to the bettterment of the Jazz or maladjustment traumas. I think it could be great as it gives AK more flexibility and when he is on the floor he is more of 'the man' with the 2nd unit than he would be with the 1st unit. He will provide high energy and defense in addtion to improved offense. As to ego, I know of several 6th men who were All-Stars - John Havlicek and Manu Ginobli. It did not bother them. They were important members of championship teams too. Can this be a harbinger of that for the Jazz?
Oh and to the poster who said 'What took you so long Jerry?' as a dig towards Sloan I say - 'Stop! Like you know how to coach better than Jerry. I dare say if you could, you'd be making millions as an NBA coach instead of a fan on a message board with an attitude about Jerry Sloan.' Jerry IS a great coach and you are . . .?

I'm not opposed to this idea, it seems to make some good sense. But I wonder how much of this will be matchup driven. For example, when the Jazz play the Rockets. Will Korver be guarding McGrady to start the game? Or would it then make more sense to start Kirilenko. I'm not sure Miles can defend some of those bigger wings that well. If it's Kobe, then Brewer can do the job.

Good to have the old AK47 back. He actually sounds excited to be on the team and eager to help it win as many games as possible instead of consantly complaining. Sounds like he's embraced the role and understands that coming off the bench in this rotation isn't a demotion, he'll still get his minutes and will most likely finish the game anyway. If AK can get back to the caliber of player we was a few seasons ago (which i think he can in the second unit) the Jazz have a phenomenal shot at getting to the finals and possibly even winning a championship.

If they start Korver, who would hit an outside shot off the bench?

I sure hope CJ can start playing better or Sloan might be forced to put AK back in the starting lineup. I'm still not convinced the starting lineup can live without AK's defensive. Like CJ can replace that??

re: And........

The complainers never stop. As fragile AK was the last two seasons, could anyone imagine what would have happened if Sloan had told him he would be coming off the bench? AK's head would have completely imploded. AK was not ready then to be benched, his ego could have never handled it.

I have to give AK credit now though--he seems to have settled down and accepted the fact he can produce in other places than just the starting lineup.

Our 2nd unit could be deadly if CJ can just manage to keep himself starting.

It works for the spurs, why wouldn't it work for the Jazz? We need to try something new to be the elite team in the NBA. We have the team this year to do it, maybe this little scheme will help put us over the top.

I like the sound of this. It's important to have that guy who can give the whole team a lift when he comes off the bench.

I can answer why it took Sloan so long to do this:

For one thing, with earlier incarnations of the team, he couldn't afford to. They didn't have enough talent, and Kirilenko had to be the go-to guy who held everything together.

For another thing, Harpring used to have that important sixth-man role, but he's out. The Jazz need somebody to be the difference-maker in that second unit. And now, with all the talent on that squad, Sloan has the luxury of choosing when to bring Kirilenko in.

Instead of having to keep Kirilenko on the court to keep things from falling apart, maybe now Sloan can use him as the guy who delivers the knockout punch.

I like the potential there. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the season.

I love the early attitude of the Jazz! AK seems to be in a much better place emotionally. He sees real value in this role. I'm sure it helped to come off such a high as King of Russia in the latest Olympics. He's only 27 - I know a lot of other 20 somethings who are still just maturing. I also see Sloan really becoming a more flexible and therefore better coach. We have to tip our hats to him - he was an unlikely candidate to bridge the hard-nosed 70s style of coaching to be able to effectively handle the fragile millionaires of today's NBA. But I think he has found a very nice balance and is probably a better coach now than he has ever been!

I just like everybody on this team....Call me Pollyanna or Sokol for that matter, but all of these
guys have such high character....The one most
important emerging element is the 'Fess' playing
more...He is our inside presence along with Kirilenko. They both deserve alot of credit.

Yes, this is a fantastic idea. AK will rock off the bench. We can all see what it has done for San Antonio. Who starts the game is not really an indication of talent or value. As good as Duncan and Parker are, Manu is the best player on SA.
This could work great for AK too. And Manu will finally have some real competition for the sixth man award.

AK has in his contract a clause that will pay him one million in bonus money if he wins the 6th man award. So why would he not want to come off the bench?

i think the jazz are gonna win the championship.
and we are a couple allstars on the team and very possible an MVP candidate. go jazz go

AK will be happy playing off the bench. My wife cuts hair and over heard Masha saying that AK is happy coming off the bench. She said that he will not feel the pressure as a starter and will play relaxed. He also will not be allowed to use his free pass any more because of what he heard in general conference. This is big.

Jazz win a championship. Keep Dreaming. NBA won't allow it. Sorry.

It really doesnt matter, until the Jazz get a new
man at the helm, it doesnt matter. I said this
last year, I said it the year before, and I will say
it again. (IT DOESNT MATTER) because the Jazz
will get no where until they get a new guy under
the helm.

Having coached and been part of the NBA since 1990 I have to say that the people who continue to bash Sloan as a coach may as well wear a t-shirt around letting the world know they are clueless. Jerry Sloan is easily one of the best 3 or 4 coaches in the history of hte league. Get real folks, you shoud move to Portland or Sacramento or cheer for the Clippers if you're so unhappy with Coach Sloan because as soon as he leaves the team that's what you'll have, a team with no identity and really no chance to win.

Amen, and Amen. All you Sloan haters need to move to Philadelphia or somewhere that there is a coaching carousel more sutited to your spineless tastes.

We haven't even started the regular season>>> SLOAN HATERS be gone with ya bad selves!!!!! this team looks very good If it holds together

Even though Jerry Sloan is such a great coach he has no ring to show. Get real Sloan defenders. If he was so great at coaching basketball then he would have a ring by now. How many years has he been in the league? How many NBA greats have been on the Utah Jazz team? It's not Malone and Stockton's fault. It's not D-will's or Boozer's fault. It's Sloans fault. Bad substitutions, bad timing. Yes, I could do better when it comes to who plays and who stays (on da bench). We want "Horny" for coach.

Sloan_No ring,No bling you are so right. If it wasnt
for a guy like Larry Miller Sloan would have been
canned years ago. I am not happy just to make the
playoffs, I am not happy with Sloan under the helm
and I know basketball as well as anyone. I hope
Greg Miller can see that we need a new coach. Jimmy
Z I agree with you so much. There is a reason Sloan
has never been named the NBA coach of the year by
his peers

Sloan needs to hit the farms in the midwest. And
the Sloan lover above, I am sure the Jazz can find
a new identity when Sloan leaves and they can be
very sucessful. Just because he has been here 20
years doesnt make him well liked as a coach by everyone. I never See Jerry contributing a lot of
time to our community,like Frank Layden did.But,
I have heard that the local pubs have been well
patronized by the midwest farmer

On any other team in the league, Kirilenko would be a superstar. Sloan has held him down for years. It all started a few years ago when he forced Andrei to stop going after blocked shots and other things that make the game so great to watch. Since then, Andrei hasn't been a shadow of his former self, and his play has struggled accordingly. This "sixth man" move is prompted to give Andrei a reason to leave the team for good. Then he'll move on and star for his new team. I called it first.

Anyone who thinks this team would be like the Clippers with out Sloan is an idiot. Even Jerry says players win ball games not coaches. The fact of the matter is that there is enough talent on the floor that there are any number of coaches not to mention a couple on our own bench who could coach this team to 50+ wins. Personally I think Jerry should only get one and maybe two more shots at this thing and then it's time to move on if we aren't getting close to the finals. Jerry's had plenty of chances in the past. Let's not make this same mistake again!!