More than Communication Problems?
by JazzMoney on Jun 21, 2010 10:50 AM MDT
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PrintAndrei Kirilenko is one of the most athletic players on the Jazz roster. He has the physical tools to get the job done, the one thing that has been holding him back for so long has been his skinny frame, which he bulked up last year. Ak47, was noticeably stronger last year, and he was able to put on the muscle without losing much of his speed and without affecting his shooting. He had an amazing stretch last year when for about 5-10 games Ak47 did everything for the Jazz, and the Jazz were killing teams with their precision offense, and defense; winning multiple games during that stretch by 15 pts. Further, Kirilenko, despite the years he has with the Jazz, is still young, at 29, and the question arises, is Kirilenko looking at his best bball years ahead of him, or are his best years already in the rear view mirror.
Kirilenko's best year came before the arrival of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. In 06-07, Kirilenko averaged 15 pts, 3 blcks, 4.5 rbs, 3 ass, and 1 steal a game. Subsequently, the Jazz gave him a huge contract, and basically watched him become less and less a part of the teams plans, being moved from the starting lineup to sixth man duty, and back to the starting lineup. Regardless, I'm sure the Jazz would've traded him last year, to rid themselves of his contract, but now that his deal is expiring, his value as a player is on the rise. IMO, Kirilenko fits the rugged small forward profile that many teams are having huge success with, and a rugged sf is one of the most valuable assets that a team can have, think lebron james, c.anthony, and p.peirce.
However, this raises the question of whether Kirilenko is rugged. Last year, AK47 missed 22 crucial games, by the time he returned to the lineup he could offer little help, and he was probably more of a distraction than a help, considering the Jazz had to readjust to his role, a role that he has been dissapointed with in the past, bringing him to tears in the playoffs after the first full year of him playing in a less featured role. Since then, the Jazz have done more to involve him, and he has had better numbers, but again, his increased role hasn't exactly translated to increased team success. Lebron James, Paul Pierce, and Carmelo Anthony have all had seasons where they've averaged the 30pt per game mark, Ak'47's best year, with the offense running through him, 15 pts a game.
Looking to the future of AK47, many question marks arise. Questions about his health, is he going to be injury prone, or will he have a long and healthy career? Is he a pwfoward, or sm forward? One things for certain, it's hard to imagine him averaging 30 pts a game, leaving him out of the ranks of the best small forwards. When healthy and inspired, Ak47 is an exciting player and fan favorite. While crying about a lesser role and sitting on the bench in a suit for extended periods leaves many wondering where he is going to fit. One could say the chemistry between AK47 and Dwill is not very good, but it's probably AK's fault. He is not a primary scoring option for the Jazz, and while AK47 probably wishes for the days the Jazz ran the offense through him, the coach and best players, ie, the people who know, opine differently.
Going forward, it's hard to assess what is the best situation for the Jazz and AK47. Certainly, an improved attitude with his role would be a huge bonus. The Jazz aren't going to run their offense through him, they might in short stretches, but it would never work for extended periods. If the Jazz are going to get the most of AK47, they're going to need an AK47 with a better understanding of himself. IE, he's not helping the Jazz by asking for larger roles, and pouting when he doesn't get it. If he was the man for the role of offensive initiator, he'd have to trust the of the coaches to pull it off, but his numbers show he really can't from sf, and he doesn't have the muscle to play pfwd. This leaves him in the role of filling out the places where the rotation is weak, a role he can do if he wants. This is what the Jazz desperately need from him, has Kirilenko approached earth close enough to realize who he is to this team yet? Jazz front office must hope so, a more realistic AK47 not only makes him more valuable to the Jazz, it makes him more valuable should the Jazz try to move him.
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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I've
never heard of D-Will and Ak having issues on or off the court? Where are you getting that info from? Ak didn’t complain last season about his role as far as I know and even wished tha the could change his contract so they Jazz could spend money else where.
AK as a sixth man is a huge boost for the Jazz. When he’s healthy he is one of the best 6th men in the league. AK’s contract is a huge asset to have but I don’t think he’s getting traded unless someone offers the kitchen sink for him.
Ak should stay in Utah and stay here as long as he’s productive. Hell, he should even get his number retired here.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
Only bummer thing about AK is his contract
But it’s worth it if he plays like he did last year.
I say AK was the 2nd most important player on the team last year (just behind Deron and WAY ahead of Boozer). When he plays, the team is transformed. And I saw no issues with his attitude last year. He had the best attitude on the entire team. He scored 15 PPG as a starter. He transformed the team with his energy.
I don’t get all the negativity to AK in this post. His crying and moodiness was 4 years ago. Deron and AK had great chemistry last season. And there’s a ton more to the game of basketball than scoring 30 PPG.
I don’t even think he should be relegated to 6th man—the team was great with him starting as SF. And his versatility is amazing, he can play any of the 5 positions well (depending on match ups).
His increased #‘s didn’t translate to team success? Did you even watch the Jazz last January and February? He was the single most important factor to how well they played—the biggest reason they were in position to nab the #2 seed before his injury.
Zounds.
Only concern is injury history. I do worry that it’ll be an ongoing thing. But I agree with ForTheLove … keep in in Utah as long as he’s productive and then retire his freaking number.
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
totally agree with you here
AK can completely change the complexion of this team. Boozer has never had that presence.
Eh not so much
I’ll agree with ya, i can’t stand boozer and all he has done here or lack there off. But when he’s plsying his best he is an all star caliber player, kirilenko is not. Kirilenko has become just a great defender when he feels up to it, alot like boozer. And he was a huge distraction in the playoffs. He never should have been out, a calf strain? Really? I’m not saying I’m a doctor but I have played sports my whole life, had annoying injuries like any other average person who enjoys playing sports, but i can tell you that a calf strain doesn’t keep you out for a month.
You would have to drag John Stockton, Karl Malone, Jeff Hornacek, Deron Williams, or even Wes Matthews off the floor if they had a broken leg.
AK has been a great player in this franchise for many years, but he is not worth half of what he makes. Yes 29 is still a young age, but most players in the league tend to start to fade in their 30’s, with the exception off the all time greats like Jordan, and so on. He needs to be traded while they can still get something of equal or better value for. He is not going to take a pay cut when this current contract is up, and he would want something equal or greater than what he already has, who wouldn’t? They need to ship him before he gets hurt, or his career goes in the tank. But who knows, maybe he’ll actually play really well this upcoming season, we’ll just have to wait and see.
pretty sure his calf strain was legit.
He tried to come back quickly and re injured it. Boozer on the other hand had a mysterious “oblique strain” to miss the most important game of the year which happened to coincide with a matchup with amare stoudemire who owns him. Then he was back playing with no pain or discomfort just a couple days later.
AK has already said he would take a paycut. He knows he isnt a max guy. There is no way in hell he thinks he will get the same amount of money. But he is a bit injury prone and I think he should be traded if a really good deal came along, but otherwise I want him with the Jazz. And Boozer can take his all-star defense to another team.
Oblique strain?
It was his ribs. He had to come out the game before. I am not upset with him for missing the Suns game. I believe he was legit injured that time. The way he moved when he tweaked his Ribs/Back the previous game made it believable to me.
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
i agree with yucca man and write the rest without my homer glasses on:
first of all, his role on the team changed when the jazz signed boozer. the jazz signed boozer the same summer they gave AK his max contract, and it therefore strikes me as strange why some use season-to-season stats to analyze his before/after performance. his best year was when he played the 4—and then the jazz went and signed boozer and moved AK to the 3 and/or the bench. his role changed, so of course his averages declined.
several times, you mention AK crying. that was 4 seasons ago, and since then he’s been nothing but a team guy. the media is always asking him about whether he prefers starting or coming off the bench, or playing SF or PF. every single time, he answers, “whatever’s best for the team. whatever helps us win.” he has been a complete team guy for the past few seasons, which is more than we can say for some of the other jazzmen. (“i’m a starter, period.”) you asked, “Is he a pwfoward, or sm forward?” the answer to that is, he is whatever sloan asks him to be. AK isn’t the one deciding that.
you’re right, it’s hard to imagine him averaging 30 ppg. however, that’s NOT what the jazz need from him. i don’t think anyone wants him to avg 30 ppg, including AK himself. he’s most effective when he’s doing a little of everything, when he’s involved in the offense not by taking shots but by setting up his teammates—and that’s when the jazz run over other teams. chemistry problems between ak47 and deron? that was also 4 years ago. the stretch of last season in jan-feb when the jazz were on the win streak and AK was the difference—that was the only time all season (and maybe in the past few seasons) that deron was playing loose and looking happy on the court instead of sullen and annoyed.
in the last paragraph, you say you want ak to have “an improved attitude,” that he needs to have a “better understanding of himself,” and that he needs to stop “asking for larger roles and pouting when he doesn’t get it.” seriously, when is the last time you saw him asking for a larger role or pouting about it? when a guy is saying he’ll do whatever the coach wants and whatever helps his team wins, does it seem like he doesn’t understand his role or needs to improve his attitude?
i don’t and can’t refute the injury-prone part, but that’s about it.
I'm on the same bandwagon
sure, he’s overpaid for the role he has now, but that’s not really his fault.
When he got the contract, he had been the focal point of the offense.
Things changed with the signings of Okur and Boozer.
It took him (and the Jazz) a while to get used to it… but I think they’ve all got it figured out.
AK is not the go-to-guy offensively. He gets that.
And what he brings elsewhere (energy, defensive help) makes up for the fact that he’s not scoring 20 ppg.
All he needs now is a new hair-stylist…
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09
SLC Dunk
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Yep...
bring back the mohawk… that hairstyle coincides with his best performance….
by iLoveBooks100per on Sep 15, 2010 4:54 PM MDT up reply actions
My apologies to moni, but you got to trade him. That much money for a role player? He is not the franchise player and that contract is killing us. His health is a concern. When he is healthy and mentally there, he is a huge game changer. But the problem is besides the first 3 seasons he is playing about 3 out of 4 (76.6%) games a season.
Kirilenko had me in love with an assault rifle from Russia. The guy was simply amazing. Problem is that we haven’t seen the same guy. Sure he has shown us glimpses, but if we are shipping Ronnie B out of town then you have to wonder about this guy.
Let’s not cut corners, the NBA is a business first and foremost. Paying franchise money on a role player is NOT good business sense.
I voted for trading AK. I would love to see him stay, but he hasn’t shown us that there is an upside. I think we are on the downside of AK’s career. His downside is still good, but not to the tune of $17+ million.
Hah the poll is at 50/50
What to do with AK47 is really an interesting question. He is a player who can drastically alter a game with his athleticism and defense. He is probably the best intangibles player in the NBA when healthy. I have always liked AK. He has had his rough moments and of course his injuries. But I think we learned something really important about him this year. He is most effective as a Starter.
I am sure a lot of people feel he is more of a sixth man energy guy, but I am pretty sure stats have shown he is much more effective as a starter. So my answer to the poll question is that the Jazz should keep him and put the pressure back on him as being the 3rd offensive option on the team. I believe that if Boozer leaves he will have to play that roll. Lots of fans are scared of the prospect of having AK and millsap as our leading big men, but it actually makes me excited about the upcoming season.
Amen
I am very excited about an AK-Millsap front line. I thought the team really clicked when they were on the court together last season.
My only fear is that the Jazz FO are going to do something stupid in order to resign Boozer (who is the last dude they need right now).
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
Something else to think about
If the Jazz draft Xavier Henry with the 9th pick. The Jazz will be able to create alot of backcourt height advantages.
Not many PGs have Williams size. Xavier Henry has a hugggge wingspan for a guy his size. AK is long long long.
We could end up with a backcourt lineup that is pretty dang long.
Pg- Williams (6’3, 207lbs)
Sg- Henry (6’6, 6’11 wingspan!, 210 lbs)
Sf- AK (6’9, 235lbs)
For the Love of the Game
Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!
"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).
MonSTARZ forever!
@moni-fine, you are obviously a bigger ak47 fan than I am, and I am a pretty big fan of ak47. what i said is mostly a matter of opinion, a speculation taken from observation both present and past, and it’s my opinion, he has said the right things as you mention, but whether he believes that as much as you do is also a matter of opinion. AK47 is definitely a fan fav, but I think he has a problem with his role, it’s my opinion.
@for the love-ya, a backcourt of dwill, mathews, and henry has me drooling. that’s a stud backcourt. Some scouts have criticized henry for his defense, but from what I saw he has great defensive instincts, i wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a lockdown defender, and just a really good player, with his 3 pt shooting, he’ll always have some room to make a play. I don’t know, do we take henry and lock up the backcourt, or do we go with one of the top pwfwds in a pwfwd deep draft. It’s probably not typical to be able to pick up a guy like either henry or davis at the #9, i think both will do well with the jazz, the jazz will do well to pick either.
i think the reason that henry’s draft stock is dropping is he doesn’t look very aggressive on the offensive end, he claims a more passive role on offense was the best thing for his team, and I buy that, but it makes it look like he doesn’t believe in his offense, so maybe he proved that wrong in his workouts, that what he says he is aiming to do.
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