Recap - Utah Jazz @ Portland Trailblazers
by Basketball John
on Oct 13, 2008 1:30 PM MDT
In case you missed it, and of course you missed it because apparently there wasn't a video camera in the place after KJZZ announced they were dumping the game. This likely would have been one of the most watched pre-season games of the year. Seems like they're cutting back a bit. Could it have anything to do with this story? But if they can save money by cutting this game to bring us more HD games, then I'm all for it.
The TrailBlazers didn't broadcast the game either. So unless you were there in person, you have no idea what happened. But luckily the Trib was able to finance Ross Siler's trip and he gives an excellent recap (BlazersEdge also has something). And to show even more that the pre-season doesn't give us much of an indicator, 4/5 of Portland's starting five were MIA. Only Oden got the start.
The part you want to concern yourself with the most is of course Kirileko's potential sixth man status. Sloan tinkered with the lineup in the first pre-season game by bringing him off the bench when Boozer was resting his hammy (which he states is fine).
But even with Boozer's first game last night, Jerry still brought in AK off the bench. And according to Siler, it worked out really well. I mentioned a few days ago that this seems like a no-brainer now. Kirilenko gets to be the star of the second team. It really seems like he excels when his ego gets stroked and he gets to be the man. Why didn't anyone think of this before? And if he can even help Fess get 10 & 10, then perhaps he's worth being a $16M man off the bench.
Like Siler mentions, he would be the highest paid 6th man in the league, but wouldn't we be getting a better value for him in this position rather than being the 4th or 5th option with the starting team?
This will bring an interesting dynamic to the season.
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I'm all for AK being the 6th man
but I’d rather have Korver starting in his place instead of CJ. I’m not trying to hate on CJ’s game or anything, but KK seems more like a more reliable option to be on the starting line up.
by Vromanite on
Oct 13, 2008 3:01 PM MDT
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I disagree..
CJ is more athletic, and he’s a better defender. But above all, I love Korver’s role off the bench. He provides instant offense. Double that with AK’s energy, and that would be a great second unit off the bench. I bet they would both be on the floor in crunch time too. I think Sloan should do this for the regular season if AK is truly happy with that role.
Whitewater In The Morning
by neff on
Oct 13, 2008 3:33 PM MDT
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Jerry still brought in AK off the bench. And according to Siler, it worked out really well. I mentioned a few days ago that this seems like a no-brainer now. Kirilenko gets to be the star of the second team. It really seems like he excels when his ego gets stroked and he gets to be the man. Why didn’t anyone think of this before?
I did think of this before. Over a year ago. Observe:
Here’s my proposal: move Andrei to the bench.
Before anyone freaks out, consider this: the Jazz bench could definitely use the help. There were periods last year where I would look at the team the Jazz had on the floor and marvel that we expected to score at all. A team of Jason Hart, Gordan Giricek, Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap and Jarron Collins isn’t going to intimidate anyone.
Now our second unit looks like this: Jason Hart or Ronnie Price, Matt Harpring (or Mo Nuts or Gira), Paul Millsap or Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, and Jarron Collins (or, dare I hope, if he develops fast enough, Kyrylo Fesenko). Now Andrei’s the primary offensive option out of that group, with plenty of room to roam in the post (WHERE HE BELONGS). Now the Jazz suffer less of a let-down when D-Will and Boozer are out of the game. Now Andrei gets his touches and has the energy and confidence to come in at the end of the game and do his thing. Where is the downside to this?
Being a bench player doesn’t mean sacrificing minutes (look at Ginobili). It does mean that Andrei has to accept a non-starting role. But the point is, he will get more touches, more points, and feel better about himself as the focal point of the second unit than as a fourth-option afterthought starter. He’s too talented (and too expensive) to let him suffer through another year like last year. This needs to happen.
Oh well. I’m still in favor.
I'll make it.
by Shums on
Oct 13, 2008 4:37 PM MDT
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sorry
that was really self-aggrandizing and obnoxious. Point is, I love the AK-as-6th-man concept.
I'll make it.
by Shums on
Oct 13, 2008 4:40 PM MDT
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I was thinking as I was typing...
That maybe someone had brought it up before and I would look foolish for stating such. But then I figured someone would post if there had been and we’d all benefit.
Good prognostication. Have you offered your services to KOC & Sloan yet?
by Basketball John on
Oct 13, 2008 4:55 PM MDT
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you didn't look foolish
I’m sure we were all thinking the same thing, I just had the time back then to write it out.
It might have been too soon last year, anyway — maybe it took this long for Andrei to be mature enough to accept the role. I wrote that post during the offseason after the crying fiasco in Houston. Coming from that, and from his star turn at Eurobasket, it might not have been the appropriate time to initiate the move. It makes perfect sense now, at least.
I'll make it.
by Shums on
Oct 13, 2008 5:14 PM MDT
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CJ still needs to earn his spot.
I like the idea of Miles and Brewer starting, but Miles needs to make shots and if he isn’t making shots, he needs to attack the rim, like he did against the Lakers in the first preseason game. Remember his and 1 and thunderous dunk in that game. Lofting up threes isn’t going to cut it, especially when Korver could start over you and has proven he can shoot the rock.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on
Oct 15, 2008 8:13 AM MDT
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And Shums.
I remembered you proposed that AK be a 6th man last year. You should have let me speak for you and you would have only secretly self-aggrandized. I’m only here to help.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.
by clarkpojo on
Oct 15, 2008 8:14 AM MDT
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alas
my hubris got the better of me. Thanks anyway.
I'll make it.
by Shums on
Oct 15, 2008 4:11 PM MDT
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