<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The mask he has been wearing is designed to shield his broken nose. If Andrei Kirilenko really wanted protection, though, perhaps full-body bubble wrap would work best. Because six games into the preseason, it is not just the Russian's beak that seems out of whack. With just one exhibition game and less than a week to go before the Jazz open their 2005-06 NBA regular season, Kirilenko's whole game seems to be something of a mess. Coach Jerry Sloan did not shy from suggesting nearly as much after Utah's 88-80 preseason loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, especially not after Kirilenko hit just 3-of-11 shots from the field including an 0-for-4 opening half. "I thought his shot selection was terrible," Sloan said. "He's got to get more focused on what we're doing with our team ? not just what he does. "I mean, he's got some things he can do well ? but those kinds of shots that he took, he has to make them. Those are prayers. They weren't even coming close to coming in the basket on a couple of them. And he's a veteran player." In other words, Kirilenko should know better than to jack up one errant 20-plus-footer after another.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Stockton:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center">Source</div></div> I've been waiting for this!! All right gentlemen. Now that Sloan has called out Kirilenko, much in the same manner as LHM did Carlos last season............I'm curious to see if the posters on this board malign him for as long and as badly as they have Boozer. Equal treatment boys........lets hear it. And if I don't see it, you had better forever duck tape your lips about my favorite PF. Tank
Reply to Tank - Lets see how Kirilenko reacts to the calling out. If Kirilenko improves his shot selection and starts performing, then I don't see an issue. People were probably harsh on Boozer, because of how he left Cleveland. I think Utah has a playoff worthy roster if Sloan gets the players to come together.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">Reply to Tank - Lets see how Kirilenko reacts to the calling out. If Kirilenko improves his shot selection and starts performing, then I don't see an issue. People were probably harsh on Boozer, because of how he left Cleveland. I think Utah has a playoff worthy roster if Sloan gets the players to come together.</div> It wasn't just the shot selection..........see the Des News below. Sloan also was a tad peeved by a behind-the-back dribble from Kirilenko as the Jazz tried to rally in the second half. That comeback bid saw them close to within five with just more than eight minutes to go, only to have the Rockets ? without All-Star Tracy McGrady, who was resting tendinitis-troubled knees ? stay comfortably ahead the rest of the way. "That kind of stuff will get you in trouble every time," Sloan said. That frustration, though, was soothed a bit by the fact Kirilenko did at least respond to his tongue-lashing by going 3-of-6 during 19 second-half minutes. "I thought he played his best basketball, probably, in the second half," the Jazz coach said. "He played much better. He was much more alive. He executed." Sloan might not be quite so concerned as he seems to be if it weren't for the reality that Kirilenko's preseason play has fallen into a pattern of relative mediocrity. Early in the preseason, Kirilenko was criticized by Sloan for playing at "half-speed." "If he's not going to try to do what we want to do ? with all the guys, it doesn't make any difference ? I've got to start sitting guys down," Sloan said after the Jazz fell to 2-4 with one preseason game remaining, Friday night's vs. Denver at the Delta Center. "When it comes down to it, I can lose just as easily with guys playing hard. Some of these young kids out here ? they're playing hard," added Sloan, who got a team-high 16 points from first-round draft choice Deron Williams and 13 more from free-agent University of Houston product Andre Owens. "If we're going to lose the way those guys are playing, I can live with it." What kills him, though, is not knowing whether this is simply a case of Kirilenko waiting to turn it on when the results really matter. "If it is, then we're waiting for it," Sloan said. "If it's not, we've got a real concern." I'm saying it's time you people got off my man Boozer. You got another pidgeon here now. Lets see you use him up for a while. Certainly the ArchAngel Kirilenko isn't sacrosanct, is he??..........Carlos led the team in FG %...PPG...and RPG............and he's still been roasted for a solid year. Another patsy has just been identified. Try him for a while!! Tank
Jerry Sloan often criticizes his players publicly, and rarely gives significant praise publicly to them. Been called out by Jerry Sloan means little in comparison to be called out by LHM for anyone on the Jazz. It's going to take more than a dissapointing preseason for Jazz fans to start pointing the finger considerably more at Kirilenko. And as SkiptoMyLue11 said, people were probably harsh on Boozer, because of how he left Cleveland. It didn't get him many supporters.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Stockton:</div><div class="quote_post">And as SkiptoMyLue11 said, people were probably harsh on Boozer, because of how he left Cleveland. It didn't get him many supporters.</div> And how did he leave Cleveland??...........No one, certainly no one on this board has any first hand knowledge about what went one in those negotiations at all. Even so, I can see it to an extent for Cavs fans. They were on the loosing end. It's not them I'm referring to. I'm talking about the way he has been maligned for a whole year by Jazz fans, even though he was their most productive player. You spin it any way you want. Explain it away if you will. The truth is LHM's tirade was no different than Sloan's. And at least Miller apologized the next day saying he made a mistake by buying into what the media was saying. Nope as far as Boozer is concerned, you've got nothing but lies, half truths, suppositions, and inuendoes. And he's taken the adversity like a man with not one complaint. I'm saying it's time to get off his back. Try Kirilenko or Okur for a while. Lets see how they take the same treatment. Tank
BTW--When is Boozer gonna come back, opening night? IMO, Kirilenko is struggling because he hates wearing all of this stuff. He didn't like wearing that knee brace last year, he kept complaining about it. I think Kirilenko will get going once he get's rid of that mask.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">BTW--When is Boozer gonna come back, opening night? IMO, Kirilenko is struggling because he hates wearing all of this stuff. He didn't like wearing that knee brace last year, he kept complaining about it. I think Kirilenko will get going once he get's rid of that mask.</div> Kirilenko didn't wear the mask last night against Denver and had a mediocre game. I figured before I ever raised this question, that everyone would continue to make excuses for him and that was my point. It's time you all found a new whipping boy. Here's your chance. Play fair gents. If you choose not to, I don't want to hear any more bogus crap about Boozer. He's been on the receiving end long enough. And Boozer will be ready when it's time. Tank
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">Kirilenko didn't wear the mask last night against Denver and had a mediocre game. I figured before I ever raised this question, that everyone would continue to make excuses for him and that was my point. Tank</div> O, see I didn't know that, I haven't been following the preseason. At least he's played in the preseason though
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">And how did he leave Cleveland??...........No one, certainly no one on this board has any first hand knowledge about what went one in those negotiations at all.</div> We don't know any first hand knowledge, you are correct. I'm just wondering if Boozer denied those reports that he made an oral agreement with Cleveland to re sign with them? I think it seemed dishonourable on Boozer's part to leave Cleveland, because the only reason Cleveland would choose to not exercise their option on Boozer's contract is if they knew they were going to re-sign him. Otherwise they loose him for nothing. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm saying it's time to get off his back. Try Kirilenko or Okur for a while. Lets see how they take the same treatment. Tank</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">It's time you all found a new whipping boy. Here's your chance. Play fair gents. If you choose not to, I don't want to hear any more bogus crap about Boozer. He's been on the receiving end long enough.</div> I will ask you one question here, because Boozer was receiving a lot of grief unfairly, do you think it is right for it to happen to someone else? Lets say the scenarios were swapped and Okur was getting grief for stuff he wasn't accountable for, and an Okur fan was saying because Okur was treated unfairly, Boozer deserves to be treated unfairly now. Maybe there shouldn't be a whipping boy in any scenario?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">We don't know any first hand knowledge, you are correct. I'm just wondering if Boozer denied those reports that he made an oral agreement with Cleveland to re sign with them? I think it seemed dishonourable on Boozer's part to leave Cleveland, because the only reason Cleveland would choose to not exercise their option on Boozer's contract is if they knew they were going to re-sign him. Otherwise they loose him for nothing. I will ask you one question here, because Boozer was receiving a lot of grief unfairly, do you think it is right for it to happen to someone else? Lets say the scenarios were swapped and Okur was getting grief for stuff he wasn't accountable for, and an Okur fan was saying because Okur was treated unfairly, Boozer deserves to be treated unfairly now. Maybe there shouldn't be a whipping boy in any scenario?</div> Certainly he denied it. A number of times. And you say it "seemed" dishonorable, when you admitt you have no direct knowledge of what took place. As far as grief unfairly, in one night Sloan points out Kirilenko's rotten shot selection, his streetball behind the back dribble when they were behind, and added that he has only been playing at half speed.............. I'm just saying it's time to shift your focus. You've got no more on Boozer than you now do on Kirilenko. Carlos has had enough. Share the wealth. You want to ragg on somebody, pick a different player. And I added that a good candidate in light of recent developements might be Kirilenko. And one more thing. I'm not going to go away on this. You Boozer detractors have had your fun, it's time to rail on somebody else. Tank
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">All players that drafted AK47 in the first round of this year's fantasy draft are doomed!</div> Nooooooo!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tankster:</div><div class="quote_post">I've been waiting for this!! All right gentlemen. Now that Sloan has called out Kirilenko, much in the same manner as LHM did Carlos last season............I'm curious to see if the posters on this board malign him for as long and as badly as they have Boozer. Equal treatment boys........lets hear it. And if I don't see it, you had better forever duck tape your lips about my favorite PF. Tank</div> And ladies...I'm not sure of Kirilenko right now, I'm hoping that he's the future of the Jazz and that he gets his game together...Preseason doesn't mean much...anyways I hope he gets it together. And about Carlos, I was actually really impressed with him last year, you can go back and see the posts that I posted. I don't care that he might of cheated Cleveland or whatever, now he's with the Jazz and he's improving, leave all the business disagreements to the managements. All the Jazz fans need to worry about is how the team is playing.
