Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) cheers Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) up after a play at Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Oakland, California — In New Orleans four days prior, the Jazz possessed an abundance of perimeter players.
Coach Jerry Sloan was somewhat perplexed when asked how he would manage the rotation for substitutes C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver, and Wesley Matthews behind starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer and starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko.
“Just as I’ve always done. “I’ll be making straws,” jokingly said Sloan. “Unless someone up in the stands has a better idea.”
However, really…
For the Jazz, the situation was starting to become problematic.
“Who should be where is not a set in stone. I’m not sure I can give you a firm answer,” Sloan said. I suppose it’s a sort of instinctive response. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate or not. For whatever reason, I feel obligated to try and play as many of those guys as I can.”
However, really…
For the Jazz, the situation was starting to become problematic.
“Who should be where is not a set in stone. I’m not sure I can give you a firm answer,” Sloan said. I suppose it’s a sort of instinctive response. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate or not. For whatever reason, I feel obligated totry to
Additionally, the pick is protected through the 12th pick in the 2012 draft, the 10th pick in 2013, the 9th pick in 2014, and the 2015 draft. If it is still unclaimed by 2015, the Jazz will get an undisclosed sum of money.) Brewer’s 9.5 points and team-high 1.6 steals per game are gone, but more significantly, his poor shooting from last season’s playoffs—which cost the Jazz—and his 31.4 minutes per game are also gone.
Thus, the issue is resolved, correct?
Sloan can only hope so as his hot Jazz end a four-game trip tonight in Portland on ESPN.
The Jazz coach remarked, “Some of these other guys probably get a chance to play more.” “However, I won’t promise that to anyone.”
Next, let’s examine the recipients to see if they deserve it:
Kirilenko’s key
Kirilenko should play more minutes. The night after the trade, he scored 22 points in a blowout victory over Golden State, falling just two blocks and one assist short of a rare 5-by-5, which consists of at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
For the first time, it appears, Sloan gave Kirilenko credit before Friday’s victory over the Warriors for being the primary catalyst behind a run of 16 out of the last 18 games ending in victories.
“Starting Andrei Kirilenko has probably been the single thing that has helped us the most.” Sloan
