Deseret News | Reader comments: Kirilenko's ride on the ultimate gravy train

Reader comments
Kirilenko's ride on the ultimate gravy train

Jerry Sloan | 11:45 p.m. May 14, 2009

Too bad they didn't tell him to get a jump shot over the summer. He could also get rid of the tuxedo he's been playing in all year.

todd on Jazz "changes" | 12:53 a.m. May 15, 2009

Do not make changes, keep Jerry his "sloanaholics" then Phil comes in. Be "fun and competitive" come back with 90 percent the same roster, use an excuse injuries and a "trying year"

Oh, forgot...Make AK gain weight. Yeah he needs to for sure. But what is the "ulterior motive"?

To turn him into a 275 lb Power forward to replace Boozie?

Changes from within.

I expect next Brevin Knight will get first crack to start at #2, Brewer starts at#3.

Collins will likely get a 8 year extension and ask James DOnaldson advice how he lasted so long "taking space paint"

Good Old Days | 5:25 a.m. May 15, 2009

Todd's comments make me wistful for the posts of Jimmy's Sneakers.

Comments continue below

Miles | 8:03 a.m. May 15, 2009

So let's say that AK puts on 20 pounds in the offseason.....It will not make him a better shooter. It will make him a slower defender. It will not make him any smarter. It will not make Jerry utilize him any better. I really don't see the point? Todd I fully agree with you, Jerry needs to go. HE is the biggest problem on this team. Jerry is way overpaid. Boozer and AK deserve their inflated contracts over Jerry's. Jerry, do us all a favor and step down. Or at least be a man and admit you don't know what you are doing and hire some assistants that do. Send Phil to the pasture now.

Anonymous | 8:13 a.m. May 15, 2009

AK's contract is going to be the death of the jazz. Without it, the Jazz could go for a decent big man like Chris Bosh.

A.K. Gain #-Jerry Watch Film | 8:30 a.m. May 15, 2009

I agree with above regarding A.K. and more weight. Jerry why don't you go over tapes and just watch the teams now competing for the NBA title and the defense they play. It is unlike yours, so how about implementing the best of the best from these teams. If personnel needs changing to do this, now is the time. Also it wouldn't hurt to observe some of the offense being played. This doesn't cost you, the team or anyone anything but would be a welcome change.

Harolds Foot Accutriments | 8:31 a.m. May 15, 2009

Jimmy's Sneakers I am not, but I am a thinker. Methinks that Chris Bosch would be a great fit in the Jazz lineup. Drop AK and his doughnuts, with Boozer and his Hammy with a note, and lets get on with our lives.

The beautiful thing is that Bosch actually wants out of Toronto, and get this... HE LIKES DWILL. Crazy old concept, but maybe put you money where your mouth is and get some talent in here that wants to play D.

And just for old times sake, Harolds Foot Accutriments thinks that AK could pack on the weight by eating at Chuck A Rama.... worked for me.

20 pounds slower | 8:40 a.m. May 15, 2009

Depends on the 20 pounds. 20 pounds of muscle, including some in the legs, makes a person run faster and jump higher. It is about strength to weight ratio. Increase strength, get faster.

Harolds Foot Accutriments | 8:43 a.m. May 15, 2009

Trekkie | 9:42 a.m. May 15, 2009

People are missing the point here. AK's lack of strength is a real issue whether he plays at the 3 or 4 position. Eating donuts and whipped cream is not the answer. He should have been lifting weights all along but the bottom line is that he didn't want to. So what if you can't gain a lot of weight?, at least try to gain what little bit of muscle you can.

Karl Malone did not end up as #2 in scoring all-time by just showing up and depending on his natural ability. Malone couldn't even make free throws at the start of his career but he worked really hard on his game and conditioning. Kirilinko hasn't really worked on his game much at all but unfortunately the Jazz already paid him as if he were Malone.

Even worse than the physical weakness is the fact that AK went from shooting 51% for FG and 38% for 3-pointers last season to 45% and 27% this season. It looks like he's been playing too much World of Warcraft again.

Miles | 9:58 a.m. May 15, 2009

I don't beleive that the players are the problem when it comes to defense. I believe the problem is the system of Jerry. We don't need different personal to fix our defense. What we need is a coach who KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS defense. Honestly I don't think Jerry really cares about defense. He complains about it and the players to take the spotlight off him and his inabilities. The man should get an Oscar for his 20 year preformance. For the record, I never liked Jerry as a coach even in the Stock/Malone days. I thought he was horrible back then too.

IDjazz12 | 10:11 a.m. May 15, 2009

I hope management and Sloan are watching the playoffs.
Anyone who is a fan of the Jazz can see we are no where close to being able to compete with the last four teams in the west. Houston has pushed LA to a game seven when the Jazz could verily squeak out one win against LA. Denver has pretty much spanked whoever on there way to the WCF and we were blew out by them before the playoffs.

If nothing is changed for next year from the coach through the players then it will be tough to want to watch or attend any games know the inevitable.

Jimmy's Sneakers | 10:20 a.m. May 15, 2009

A Jimmy minion has informed Jimmy that Jimmy's opinion has been sorely missed.

Jimmy thinks that the Miller's need to shed AK's contract ASAP. AK the player does not have much left in the tank and the Miller's cannot afford to pay AK max money and hope to keep the remainder of the core together.

Jimmy thinks the most desirable option is to package AK in a larger deal with lesser contracts coming back. One deal Jimmy likes is Erick Dampier ($10m, 13m) and Jerry Stackhouse (7.2m but only guaranteed for $2m) for AK (16.5m, 17.8m) and CJ Miles (3.7m, 3.7m). The Jazz could then waive Stackhouse and end up essentially getting Dampier for 2 years and $25m versus the $41.5m the Jazz are paying AK and Miles.

This trade gives the Jazz interior muscle and just as important, salary cap flexibility to keep Boozer, Millsap, Okur and Brewer (next year). Miles is useless to Jimmy we can find a DLeaguer for his minutes. Cuban might be willing to roll the dice on an AK revival in Big D and a young hometown prospect like Miles.

Get a life | 10:46 a.m. May 15, 2009

Do you guys realize its the same five of you that argue back and forth, and nobody else cares enough to make a comment. Miles, magnus, todd, jimmy, I'm talking to you.

Skinny | 10:50 a.m. May 15, 2009

When I was 14 years old I was 6' tall and weighed 135 lbs. Now that is skinny. I could play a solo on my ribs. I finally gained weight when I started eating crummy Army food and spent most of the day running, doing pushups etc. Now I go to the gym and work out trying to lose weight. I don't give AK much hope.

problemis not AK's weight! | 11:09 a.m. May 15, 2009

Fish starts roting from the head. Sloan needs to leave.
AK had same weight when he was all-star and won gold for Russia and MVP of Eurochampionship.

Dave | 11:52 a.m. May 15, 2009

This was a funny read, good Friday material, thanks.

Sh@ | 11:57 a.m. May 15, 2009

I had similar issues up until my early 20s. I could not gain and weighed a buck 20. I started going to the gym to lift 4 days a week and ran the others. I added calories (good calories) to my normal meals along with a Slim Fast. I drank weight gain shakes prior to work outs and also incorporated creatine in water as I worked out. About a year into that I had put on 50 pounds of muscle. Drawback, after I lapsed in my routine, I had to work off pounds. I can still shed excess pounds quickly and the muscle was a definite plus. I think AK could do better than I did, he has the time and money to dedicate to the goal.

Conspiracy Theory | 12:23 p.m. May 15, 2009

I think Korlenko came back from his injury too soon be cause he was very tentative the rest of the season. I think he had other physical problems that were covered up. If a player can't compete cut his minutes.
I felt bringing him off the bench worked early in the season but was a disaster late, he seemed to lower his level of play to match the scrubs.
When he is playing his best he is worth the money when he is just coasting he definitly is not.
A little hypocracy: a player will seldom get post game interview for great defense but will always get them for scoring 30. points in a game.

Baby steps | 12:25 p.m. May 15, 2009

Maybe AK's weight isn't the Jazz biggest problem but the size of his contract is one of the bigger ones. If they can't trade him, then they might as well try to get him to man up and do his job a little better than he has so far. The NBA isn't some Euro-league. It's an 82 game schedule and AK lost 10 pounds from the start of the season to the end. AK would be a much better player if he could gain even 10-15 lbs of muscle and maintain it better over the course of a season.

The "Birdman" (Chris Andersen) is not that much bigger than AK but he plays inside and does his best to guard other Power Forwards and Centers. Meanwhile even as a Small Forward AK is missing way too many layups and getting the ball stripped when he drives inside because he's too weak to finish. Sloan and Kevin O'Connor have made their share of mistakes but asking AK to work on his strength is not one of them. If anything they should have said something about this sooner.

different Dave | 12:26 p.m. May 15, 2009

Fun article. Todd and his disciples are doofuses. Sloan rules. He (and Larry's trust in him) is the only reason the Jazz franchise isn't the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He just wants players like Houston has--a bunch of terrific role players that can beat ANYBODY when they work their tails off, with players on both teams bloody at the end of the contest. Missing Yao and Mutumbo? No problem. Missing TMac? Thank goodness, better off without that ballhog. Beautiful. Sloan just wants people who compete. AK used to be that kind of player.

Let Boozer go, and let AK start at the 4. The one year AK played the 4, he was an All-Star. His rebounding and blocks will go back up simply by playing nearer the basket, and all aspects of his game will improve. Yes he's light, and yes some bigger players will toss him around. I can live with that. It will be more competitive and fun to watch. (Although I do enjoy watching Boozer's offensive game--wish that AK could finish as reliably.)

Miles | 12:32 p.m. May 15, 2009

@Get A Life....By the looks of it, you not only can't read but you sound just like COMMA MAN.

PurplePeopleEater | 1:01 p.m. May 15, 2009

I like Jimmy's Sneakers' alter ego's name: Harolds Foot Accutriments. FUNNY, but should have had an apostrophe for "Harold's" (a possessive).

Too bad neither poster has a clue, though.

The ability to gain weight and change muscle structure are genetically determined. You can't do what you want with your body---only what it's genetically capable of. The Admiral was a prime example of that. Very tall and skinny, but he was known to out-lift his bigger-muscled teammates in the weight room.

You can have two types of muscles: strong or bulky. They're built via very different exercising. The Admiral had strong muscles. AK could, IF he wanted to. We'll see, won't we?

Hey, is Bosch really a possibility for the Jazz? Or, is this just posting fodder? I don't know the details on this. Anyone?

Get a Life | 1:04 p.m. May 15, 2009

Who the heck is comma man? This alternate world that you regular posters have created for yourselves must be fun for you.

Rich | 1:14 p.m. May 15, 2009

How ironic that a pizza ad popped up when I read this story.

Seriously the only way to gain weight is to change your metabolism. You do that by going on a diet, cutting carbs and fats. Soon your body will start storing calories in the form of body fat, and when you start eating just a little bit again, you'll balloon up to, say, Fesenko's size. Worked for me.

@ different | 2:23 p.m. May 15, 2009

I don't consider myself to be a disciple of Todd. I used to be a Sloan supporter. I have studied the Jazz extensively this year and as the year progressed I came to the same conclusion, "Sloan Rules".

However, that is not a positive. Sloan pretty much runs the Jazz. Whatever he wants he gets. Sloan is the primary reason the Jazz are a somewhat above average team. He is also the reason they are not more than that. I will grant that LA and BOS have bigger salaries. However, SA and NO compete well with salaries comparable to Utah's.

Memphis is a financially troubled franchise. Utah is profitable. Your implication is that no other coach out there could do better than Sloan. Many feel the Jazz could do a lot better. Sloan makes the playoffs (most years) but he also limits the team.

We are critical of Sloan because we realize that his coaching style and philosophy loses 5-10 games a year and that he is not a good playoff coach. He has trouble making adjustments. He is stubborn to a fault and it costs.

We want to win a championship. We expect more than 8th.

long time jazz fan | 2:34 p.m. May 15, 2009

dump boozer,ak and the dumb blue girley blue outfits

@Different 2 | 2:37 p.m. May 15, 2009

Sloan has veto power over who is hired and fired on this team. If the players do not have the personality of Houston it is because Sloan picked them.

If the players do not play defense it is because Sloan's defensive scheme is bad and also difficult to sustain. However, Sloan did not choose defensive players. He chose offensive players and then tried to get some defense out of them.

Sloan has done one thing well over the years. He has won enough at home to keep ESA filled. However given the Utah culture and the support of the average Jazz fan that is not to hard to do.

This whole organization coasts (not just the players), it uses the fans. It knows it can put just enough into the franchise to win at home and that will be enough to keep up the revenues.

Houston on the other hand tries to win. The owner and the org make any changes they need to and really try. Cuban for better or worse in Dallas does also. The Jazz are like Atlanta. They are too busy counting the money too worry about trying to win more than a playoff spot.

montana | 2:47 p.m. May 15, 2009

as usual, jimmy is the man with yet another well thought out, well written post....not sure i always agree, but jimmy's posts are always fun to read...

Throw Away Games | 3:18 p.m. May 15, 2009

NBA coaches tend to have a general approach and prefered rotations during the regular season. They do not adjust much to exploit the weaknesses of the other teams during the regular season they just try to make thier general approach work.

They know they will lose some games that they could have won but they also do not take any risk in upsetting the "chemistry" of the team by making adjustments for each opponent.

All of that changes in the playoffs. You have to exploit the weakness of the other team and protect your own over a 7 game series.

Sloan is worse than most NBA coaches on adjustments. He tries to get his general approaches to work in the playoffs and they usually do not.

Sloan knows he is throwing away games during the season by not making adjustments (many coaches do that). It think that is bad coaching and creates a sense of complaceny and entitlement in the players. However, Sloan is especially bad at making needed adjustments in the playoffs. The playoffs are a different world and you die if you don't out coach your opponent.

Adelman has out coached (9 rings) Phil Jackson. Sloan, NOT.

Socialism | 3:58 p.m. May 15, 2009

This is just another expample of Obama socialism.

Sincerely,
Glenn Beck and all the sheep who listen to him

Good Old Days 2 | 4:17 p.m. May 15, 2009

Jimmy,
"Sorely missed" might be a little overstated but, compared to Todd's comments, your Sneakers seem downright Shakespearean and Einsteinian. :-)

Steroids A.K. Steroids | 5:38 p.m. May 15, 2009

They have them in Russia or you can get them shipped. Go for it.

BigJazzFan | 5:53 p.m. May 15, 2009

The problem is not AK,

Blame managenment for paying Kk more they should have,

Blame sloan for playing AK out of position,

AK is NOT a small forward, and can not be realistically expected to have a great of deal success in that positon.

AK is not comfoprtable scoring from that positon, and it takes him out the defense that he is great at,

Sloan is so desperate to build his team around his PF /PG system

that he destroys players or causes them to leave,

or players have no interest in coming to a system were they will be under utilized and have to stand around waiting as a safety valve for the pg/pf.

Sloan could | 6:50 p.m. May 15, 2009

run the same cuts and plays for the SF as he does for the PF if he wanted to. They would just be the mirror image of what is run for Boozer all of the time. If Millsap plays PF more of that may be necessary.

The problem is not "Sloan's system" it is how Sloan insists on implementing his system. The system could be a lot more versatile and effective and involve other positions more if Sloan wanted to balance the scoring and put versatility into the system.

The insistence of running plays thru the PF when you know you are going to get TOs and Blocked is a perfect example of Sloan throwing away a game. His system is perfectly capable of running the plays thru the SF or making other adjustments for the strength of the other team, but he does not make adjustments until he is forced.

The system (like all systems) has advantages and disadvantages. The big problem is Sloan's implementation of his own system which he modified off of college coaches.

Another more flexible coach could get more out of "Sloan's System" than he does by adapting to each team played.

Sloan could use | 7:04 p.m. May 15, 2009

AK as a PF from the SF position if he wants. All he has to do is run the Boozer plays from the other side. AK should have an advantage over most SFs from the left side. (Think LeBron)

In other words if AK can play PF from the right side he should be able to make the same plays as a SF from the left side. If that puts Boozer/Millsap out of position for the rebound then adjust the play.

Sloan claims his system takes 2-3 years to learn. I am not sure if he is talking about the offense or defense. His basic offense or at least parts of it are fairly simple, pick and roll, back door cuts, hard screens in series. It is pretty basic basketball.

However, like BYU's offense it requires excellent execution which does not happen against really good teams.

Boozer can create his own shot and draw double teams. I do not know if AK can do that. If he can't then there is no reason to play AK at PF other than to save money.

If AK can then Sloan should have been running plays for him now.

todd to dave | 6:46 a.m. May 16, 2009

another "worthless sloanaholic" I try to stay cool for awhile, but so many keep giving me easy chances....BY the way it is funny to criticize "the five of us" then what "did you" add?????

Zero...........

todd to "get a life" | 7:20 a.m. May 16, 2009

Miles, with comments like that he was describing himself. I thought about it Miles has been in the league what 4 years? Guy was all everything in High School, yeah I know a lot are...However, do you really think under Adelman, or even Mike Brown or so many others that CJ would be accused of floating on 3 point line, getting silly fouls, not playing d all the things accused of? He would be far more developed where he would be a major contributor on a good squad...

To the other dave: "fun and competitive"

Serious fans" this is the mind set that is then problem why we are here complaining, while Denver rolled past 2 opponents, one fairly good in Dallas and they tore them apart and Houston giving the Lakers a fight for theyr'e lives by hungry, well coached players that are playing with grit, and defense and at least won in LA>

Tell this to the very "content" and loving "sloanaholics"

Miles" "fun and competitive"

YEAHHHHH I AM SATISFIED I AM REBORN....

Miles | 6:02 p.m. May 16, 2009

CJ would be a lot better on any other team. Who in their right mind would want to play for Jerry? If you are not Boozer or Dwill you have no role on the team except "play hard" or "compete out there". What a joke Sloan is. When players feel involved on offense they are more apt to give you better effort on the other end. Resign Jerry. The game has past you by.

Miles | 6:07 p.m. May 16, 2009

@Todd.........When you have a player who is 6' 7" who can shoot, dribble, pass and is long, coaches find a way to use your talents. Jerry is clueless on how to bring CJ along and improve his talents.

todd from santa ana | 11:02 a.m. May 17, 2009

if houston wins it will be to me the biggest and i repeat "biggest upset" in Playoff history. It would equal Houston beating the Lakers in a 2 out of 3 in 1981 or Denver over Seattle, and Knicks over Miami.

I want it to happen, however, if it does will be even more obvious for any bright person to see that "jer and his sloanaholics" defense for loving theyr'e man is pointless.

Miles. Lately I am agreeing with you more than ever. This team had talent and vastly underachieved. It may not have been the deep roster we thought, but what happened to this team after Boozer came back is no excuse. I watch Dallas having more success and Denver really played well to beat them and Houston and these teams are not as talented as us especially Houston.

These players are not focused and in today's market it is hard to make a lot of changes. We will never know what they could do right now with someone not named Jerry or Phil. However, I will always wonder.

The real "SOFTIES" | 2:07 p.m. May 17, 2009

The 1st version of soft is the SOFT IN THE HEAD complainers who incessantly whine about Jerry when it is the players who play and ARE soft.

Jerry has trained these players to play defense but they don't think they need to because they can win 50 plus games a year on offense alone. This is the entire reason they CHOOSE not to play defense. They win without it most of the time.

This is a players league and coaches can't MAKE players do much of anything these days--even Sloan. The NBA has rapidly deteriorated to the point that very few teams/players play defense. They just want to run score dunk and shoot 3's.

You people are soft in the head if you think it is the coaches decision how these players play.

todd from santa ana | 3:17 p.m. May 17, 2009

what a shock the Lakers crushing Houston, same ol nba so expect Boston to win tonight also....Such a predicatble league. Good luck Nuggets but it will be like 5 against The Lakers and the world...

concerned fan | 8:50 p.m. May 17, 2009

I wonder how AK will look like when he beef up those muscles,hhmmmmmn...will it help him and the team? we are talking health issues here, what is more important his health or how he will perform on the court?.. I agree he needs to beef up some muscles but he should be the one to take care of it and handle it by himself, it should come out on his part first before someone else does, if he feels he needs to gain weight then he should be the one to do something about it, if he feel he doesn't need to then don't push it, it might just get worse and we don't wanna risk the health of anyone

Real Problem | 10:43 p.m. May 17, 2009

The real problem with AK is not weight it's the mind. He plays dumb basketball. Trade him for all you can get and use the big money to get some one who can think. Athletic ability only helps if you know how to use it. AK's contract is going to be the end of GOOD Jazz teams.

Sloan's system is an | 10:17 a.m. May 18, 2009

advantage in the regular season since most coaches will not make major adjustments from what they are normally doing for just one game. Since Sloan's system is different from most that is an advantage (ditto for the triangle that LA runs).

However, when you get into the playoffs in a 7 game series the other coaches do adjust and attack the weaknesses. That is one of the reasons that Utah struggles in the playoffs. It may be a reason why LA has had as much trouble as they have.

It may be wise to get a coach who can keep the best of Sloan's system and also add some flex and versatility. The biggest need is to get a coach who can get defense.

As far as the "coach can't get the players to play" defense or much else, I would point to Denver. Their defense is much better and it is the coaching staff for the most part that made the difference.

If the coach can't get the players to play then you need a new coach. Why have a coach if they don't get good play out of the players?

re: todd from santa ana | 11:19 a.m. May 18, 2009

you said

"...... same ol nba so expect Boston to win tonight also....Such a predicatble league."

OOPS!!

The all-knowing oracle todd has been sipping a little too much california know-it-all kool-aid.

Anonymous | 11:37 a.m. May 18, 2009

sloan rules? LOL
two words for you: Ronnie Price.

anyone here greggy's comments today?
He is willing to pay luxo tax to keep milsap. Does that mean AK is staying?

todd from santa ana | 9:44 p.m. May 18, 2009

i know i commented on that, good I want to be wrong, I also would like to be wrong on SLoan and the direction of the team. I do not get extra kudos or dollars being right. Orlando should have won with Garnett out and Powe. I always liked Orlando but figured the same ol.. Hey I think they can beat Cleveland who I think is "very" overrated...

Hey the direction of the league and the refs the last few years make one maybe "paranoid".

THEeyepatch | 2:06 p.m. May 31, 2009

If he's still playing in a Jazz uniform this upcoming season I would be surprised. 16 million for a bench player that doesn't know what "Get Nasty" means is absured. Then again the Jazz are only happy getting to the playoffs. Winning a NBA Championship is not really that important....Right!

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