Deseret News | Utah Jazz: AK is OK starting on bench

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Utah Jazz: AK is OK starting on bench

Matthew | 12:36 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Finally, the Jazz are willing to make a move that will improve them. This is the best possible move that they could make with their current roster. With C.J. Miles new contract and his overall skill set, he is a perfect player to have in the starting line up. Kirilenko will be perfect off the bench. He can play the point forward role when Ronnie Price comes in for Deron Williams. Price has more of a shooting guard's skill set and would really take off if he was not forced to be the distributor. Also, with Ronnie Brewer's add strength, he can more effectively guard small forwards while Miles guards shooting guards. Brewer's offensive skill set is that of a small forward and Miles's is that of a shooting guard. It is perfect.

2008-2009 Utah Jazz Depth Chart:
PG: Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, Brevin Knight
SG: C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver, Morris Almond
SF: Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring
PF: Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap, Matt Harpring/Andrei Kirilenko
C: Mehmet Okur, Kosta Koufos, Jarron Collins, Kyrylo Fesenko

London's Jazzfan | 6:59 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

I totally agree! Good decision and Kirilenko can be the go-to guy when the bench comes on the floor. He'll get the points he wants and provide something special when the starters aren't doing it. I think Brewer at SG and put Korver at SF, don't think CJ is ready to start yet. He'll also work well with AK off the bench!

Starting 5:
PG: D Williams
SG: R Brewer
SF: K Korver
PF: C Boozer
C: M Okur

Reserves:
PG: R Price
SG: CJ Miles
SF: A Kirilenko
PF: P Millsap
C: K Koufos

Now that team may be ready for a run at a Championship after all!

good move as long as... | 7:18 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

this would be a great move, like manu coming off the bench for the spurs. i am fine with coach sloan doing this as long as the AK47 play in crucial minutes down the stretch. his overall game is way to valuable for the jazz to leave him out of games at the end. GO JAZZ!

Comments continue below

Tommy k | 8:21 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

This would be a great move, anybody who comes off the bench beside Matt Harping will be okay in my book. I like either Ak47 or miles coming off the bench. But Ronnie needs to be at that spot, he bigger and more atheletic? can't wait to see the Jazz!!! go Jazz

Matt Johnson | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

This is just a preseason game. Somehow I get the feeling that when Sloan talked to AK about coming off the bench it was in the back of both of their minds that it is just a preseason game. Sloan explained that he wanted to see Millsap and Miles play together. In the future Millsap won't be starting. To further my point, I'm pretty sure Kobe was happy with sitting the entire forth quarter too.

When AK sits on opening night, then this will become a story.

To Matt- How can you say CJ Miles is ready to start? I'm a huge CJ fan, but I haven't seen enough from him yet to say he's the "perfect player to start"

Anonymous | 8:25 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

I'm glad you're okay with it and that you have given Sloan your blessing as long as you do it your way with AK.

This is a great move as long as AK doesn't start crying about it...And even then it still might be a great move.

Juj Tibbz | 8:31 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Mathew is close. Booz, Will, CJ, Brew & Memo can get us rolling. Will can oop to the slashing wings and it will be a dunk fest. When they plug that off then Memo can start launching. When the second unith comes in AK will be the go to guy, (he can even play some 4. Sap is a better utility man than a go to guy. Then if Korver can keep em honest fine (Let him launch 4 shots)if he misses all four its Almond time. Its time to have all the weaponry at your disposal Jerry. Use the right tools for the right job. (You know back in Illinois you can't plow with a baler). When its time to bust a zone put in Korver, Almond, D'Will, and Memo. When its time to bust a Nose Harps, Brewer, Milsap and Fez will do. When Boozer Comes back in Links can stay in for a while and roll with the big boys. Brevin Knight is so much better than Jason Hart. Jason Hart is the worst player in the NBA that is not named Collins (Jason & Jarren). If a injury or foul trouble arize, we have 3 1's.

AK | 9:25 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Yeah right. He'll be ok for a week or so.

Hollywood | 9:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

No reason to get worked up about this. Jerry said he was using AK off the bench to give the 2nd unit a veteran presence. So, when Harpring returns, Sloan will go back to the same rotation he has always used: Ak will start and Harpring will be the 1st SF off the bench. And CJ dons his "invisible man" costume and gets a bunch of DNP's.

Right or wrong, ol' Jerry is consistent. Both Harpring and Collins have to get their minutes - usually at the expense of the younger guys who are or could be much better if Sloan would only give them some playing time.

james | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

like most Jazz fans, I am very excited to see AK coming off thye bench. I have felt that DWill and Booze, in their wish to establish themselves, will overlook AK. With AK coming off teh bench, Sloan can selectively match him against the opposing team's tired starters or the reserves. And I agree completely with Matthew that Price can play an off guard while AK can fill his desire to be a point forward.

And CJ and Brewer, both young players will learn faster in the structured first team's offense. Now if Booze and Okur will be more assertive on defense, the Jazz could be in the Finals.

J-dizzle | 10:15 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

We're having a discussion here at work, and we've decided with the new line-up changes we should change the name to the saints, and have angel moroni as our mascot:)

Coach Sloan | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

I'm sure that Coach Sloan is reading all of these comments and is happy everyone is on his side, I bet he even thinks of ways to make all of us posters happy when he's laying in bed thinking about how to be a better coach. Regardless of our optimism about this team, it will come down to whether or not Boozer decides if he's willing to give defensive effort and whether or not he wilts away under the pressure of the playoffs again. The Jazz may even win as many as 60 games this year, but what happens in the playoffs is really all that matters. Coach Sloan for COY!

Longhorn 22 | 10:48 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Here is my starting 5

PG Deron Williams
SG Kyle Korver
SF Andrei Kirlilenko
PF Carlos Boozer
C Mehmet Okur

Bench

PG Ronnie Price
SG Ronnie Brewer
SF Matt Harpring
PF Paul Milsap
C Jaron Collins

magnus | 11:10 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

I actually think AK will really blossom in this if this is how they chose to go. He was a great facilitator and team player last year, he kept a great attitude, and I think comming off the bench could actually allow him to play a little bit more loose and aggressive, more like the AK-47 of old.

I think it is a very interesting situation that the Jazz are in from a personel stand point because they have so much versatility. AK can play every postion on the floor, Brewer Miles and Korver can all play either the 2or3, Price and Williams can pay either gaurd spot, Kosta and Memo can both play either PF or C. That is a huge luxury for a coach to have.

Brewer will be the starting SG, Sloan already said he will not be playing him at SF very often.

I am exited to see a lineup of Williams, Brewer, CJ(or AK), Millsap and Memo. Fast break even on made baskets, attack the rim, and let Memo trail up the left side and spot up, get a shot up in 8SOL. That would be fun to watch and tough to defend.

Jazz neutralist | 11:36 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Enjoy it while you can Jazz fans because the experiment will end immediately once Harpring comes back from his injury. It doesn't matter how many defensive limitations he has, how many layups he misses, how much his skills continue to deteriorate, how slow he is, or how broken down his body is, as long as Harpring gets the go from the Doctor, he'll get the go from Jerry. No matter if its a detriment to the progression of the team. Sloan is a stubborn ole cuss. He sees too much of himself in Harpring and because of that is too blind/stubborn to see Harpring's declining production. Was this theory ever more evident than during last year's playoffs? You could probably attribute more than half of Kobe's free-throw attempts to Harpring himself.

magnus | 11:45 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Here's what I think the Jazz roster should look like at the start of the regular season.

PG: Williams, Price, Knight
SG: Brewer, Korver, Almond
SF: AK, CJ, Harpring
PF: Boozer, Millsap, Kufos
C: Memo, Lyde, Fes

When they have to trim to 12, assuming no one is injured, send Kufos and Almond to the D-League and put Knight on the inactive list. But truth is there is almost always somebody hurt so 13 players for 12 active sposts shouldn't be an issue.

I know I am going to have to defend myself against the Harpring doubters out there so let me explain...
Every good team needs a Matt Harpring. He is an old school veteran enforcer with great locker room influence. Do I think he should play 20 minutes a night, no way, but I do think the Jazz need his toughness and consistency both on and off the court.

Anonymous | 11:57 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Maybe Sloan can come off the bench too???

byron | 12:02 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

I like the move and on paper it seams like a good idea, but let's see if it works in reality. As to the question of what will the jazz do when Harpring gets back? In all likely-hood this is Harpring's last season he's not the player he was a few years ago that demanded 30 min per game, He'll probably average about 10 to 15 min per and take time away from Miles, Brewer, AK and Milsap, basically everyone playing the 2, 3, and 4, and not from just one player. Because of the Jazz' depth the only player that will be getting monster min will be D-Will.

Craig | 12:41 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

This is just the preseason! It doesn't matter.

And am I really supposed to like AK more because he didn't throw a tantrum? Gee, we've lowered expectations.

and in response to J-dizzle, I'd rather rename the team to the Utah Porter Rockwells.

I mean really, has there ever been a more bad-ass dude?
When people tried to accuse Porter of attempted-assassination of the Governor of Missouri, Joseph's response was "It couldn't have been Porter, otherwise it would not have been an ATTEMPT"

Anonymous | 1:42 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

longhorn... there's no way you put Kyle starting over brewer.. all around brewer is a much better player especially with how much he improved again this offseason

AZ COUG-JAZZMAN | 1:50 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

PAUL MILLSAP PLAYS WITH HIS HEART...LOVE THE GUY....BOOZ COULD LEARN ABOUT EFFORT FROM HIM.

AK IS A TURNOVER MACHINE.

KYLE KORVER MISSED A LOT OF BIG SHOTS LAST YEAR.

DERON NEEDS TO TAKE IT HARDER TO THE HOOP AND FINISH.

MY STARTING 5

1 D WILL

2 RON PRICE

3 BOOZ , IF HE'S AMPED AND READY TO PUT THE BALL ON THE FLOOR AND GET INSIDE. IF NOT, MILLSAP

4 OKUR

5 HARPRING

lET'S PLAY SLOANBALL THIS YEAR!!

J-dizzle | 3:57 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

My starting five with Boozer injured which he will be a lot this year.

1- D-will
2- Ronnie B.
3- CJ Miles
4- AK
5- Okur

Subs
1- Ronnie P
2- Korver/Almond
3- Millsap/Korver (depending on matchups)
4- Millsap/Koufas
5- Koufas/Fesenko

PS: Boozer can opt out this year but if he wants to stay the jazz are obligated to pay him next year. If he's injured all year, and no one will pay him more, he might just do that. That could throw a real wrench in our plans to keep brewer and millsap.

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