On 1280 The Zone earlier, Deron Williams didn't sound to fond of AK in an interview. He said Kirilenko had a problem with work ethic, and was the first to leave practice. He also said that if Kirilenko and Harpring were coming off a screen, he'd pass to Harpring becauseHarpring trains harder. His comments on Kirilenko don't start until about a quarter of the way through the link. </p>http://www.1280thezone.com/persons/bigshow...iams9-21-07.mp3
Kirilenko is a Pussy and i don't really blame Williams for talking about AK47 he seems like the kind of player thats gets emotional and acts like his the star i don't like the guy .
I actually disagree. While not knowing anything specific about their relationship, it seems to me that Kirilenko is a very intelligent, thoughtful guy, and he may simply have grown tired of getting screamed at by a taskmaster like Jerry Sloan. It comes down to a situation where you have to wonder if for all Sloan's coaching success, that really outweighs the fact that he's said to be a fairly unpleasant person. Does job performance (in an especially high profile job) mean that you should get extra slack for rudeness and vulgarity?</p> I came to this conclusion because of what John Amaechi wrote in his book about Kirilenko; he said that he was an extremely thoughtful person with whom Amaechi got along very well with. Kirilenko apparently suspected correctly that Amaechi was gay, and made it known that he was accepting and perfectly fine with that, so perhaps Sloan's homophobia towards Kirilenko's friend may have started this rift that continues to grow.</p>
This shows a different side of Kirilenko:</p> http://ptcatimg.vox.com/library/post/bounc...ar-mindset.html</p> </p>
This will really make AK want to stay.</p> This shows a remarkable lack of both savvy and leadership from Deron. </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lukewarmplay)</div><div class='quotemain'> This will really make AK want to stay.</p> This shows a remarkable lack of both savvy and leadership from Deron. </p></div> </p> that's what i thought when i saw this. players who are supposed to be team leaders should not be acting this way. this is very disrespectful towards Kirlenko, as much of a "bitch" everyone says he is.
Without the leadership and maturity of Derek Fisher, Utah might end up being an even more unbearble team for Kirilenko to be with.
I don't really see too much wrong with what Deron said. If AK is not working hard and if AK does not want to be on this team, then he should leave. Deron wants to win.
This AK situation seems like it will blow over, I expect Kirilenko to show up when the Jazz training camp begins. I've seen too many players make remarks like this just to take it back.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marbire)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't really see too much wrong with what Deron said. If AK is not working hard and if AK does not want to be on this team, then he should leave. Deron wants to win.</div> There's nothing wrong with wanting to win, and letting your teammate know that they're slacking is a part of that. But calling someone out in public is very different from calling them out behind closed doors. AK is key for this team to remain where they've been. And unless the Jazz is serious about shipping him out, then they need to control the way Sloan, and apparently Williams, act towards AK.</p>
I saw this on RealGM and was at first somewhat taken back at just how sad this whole thing is. The thing i'm talking about is the unprofessionalism from everyone involved. Andrei is unhappy but is handling the situation extremely poorly and is not doing himslef or Utah any favors in the alfready difficult task of trading him. Deron is a young player who's been given the reigns of this team and is coming to defense of his coach and trying to do what he feels is a leadership thing to do in call out his players in a very similar fashion to the guy he's defending but is only componding the situation further. The sad truth is everyone is acting like a bunch of babies, the Jazz included. They see the success on the floor and have built a very formidible team but in doing so are overlooking the indicators that there was this unhappyness and points of friction growing. </p> Utah has sunk alot of money into Kirilenko and want to see there investment come through but while they may have given Derek Fisher a good grace by letting him be with his daughter after only one season they routinely hold the card of Andrei will have to tough it out when maybe thats just not the type of person Andrei is. This is a guy feeling alot of pressure to perform up to a massive contract, and that's quite commendable because basketball fans have seen plenty who get the money and don't, but while I don't belive he would forfeit his contract either I think it's the only way he can get across to the organization how desperately he wants to be moved because his other attempts have fallen on deaf ears. I don't think it's unconceiveable that any meeting with Jerry Sloan or the Jazz brass are quite intimidating where Andrei, being a seemingly non confrorntational person, has a hard time not just saying 'ok i'll try harder' as he is a team player and they walk away thinking everything is solved when stuff like that isn't so quickly solved. </p> I in no way think Deron actually holds any animosity towards AK either but he is simply trying to figure out just what kind of leader he'll be and this is his shot at being a vocal one. Maybe some like that approach but it doesn't work for everybody and while a certain few can pull it off quite nicely but in this is reactionary piling on in this instance. He's laid his feelings on the table about the situation and that's good to be open and say to a guy like AK that you need to step up your commitment if he feels that way but he should be doing that as he's walking out of the gym as a ture leader and not behind his back, It's a difficult situation to be in for Deron as he tries to establish himself in a role like this, his play is easy but while he seemingly gets along with his teammates he's still tying to figure out how to connect with them and Ak's no easy subject. Not to mention he really has no clue about playing out of position in the manner AK has been used last season as he plays the position he's been comfortable playing and groomed to play in the system he's in. Andrei is a defender learning the ins and outs of a position different than the one he originally signed this contract for and goes up against the opposing team's permier players where the NBA rules favor a the guy he's guarding and it's not what he signed on for while Deron sees Ak's comments as slaps to his team.</p> One person's perception of effort can be very different than anothers and both feel they are working hard. Maybe it's their different upbringings in different parts of the world? Who knows, none of us are in those lockerrooms or practices but there's seemingly stuff boiling under the surface that may have escalated when they could have been so easily recitfied earlier with better communication. I in no way am under the illusion that every club house needs to be a happy tight knit one but I agree fully that the loss of Fisher will hurt them much more than they had anticipated as Sloan can be tryannical on the sidelines yet seemingly lets the lockerroom police itself. </p> Last season was the first one where we saw this verison of the Jazz at full strength with Deron maturing and Carlos healthy and the plan has changed as those two are clearly the running force behind that team, things have changed where Andrei is no longer the guy he was that made Utah give him a max deal. IMO they need to trade him because even though he will still produce on the floor things have been said that are very difficult for competitive and prideful people never get out of the backs of their minds where it will only implode if things get bad. I'm in no way taking a dig at Utah by any means but they overachieved in alot of areas last season and keeping a player that doesn't want to be there will only make reaching that level they were at last season a much more diffcult task this time around and making that possibility for finger pointing to get that much greater. </p> It's disappointing to see this happen becuase I enjoy watching Utah, Deron, and AK but it's starting to look like they might not be the best for eachother. Hopefully this can be resolved soon becaus the only thing worse than Andrei's comments wil be the storm and speculation following him until he is traded. I don't think this is a tantrum the way Kobe's comments were earlier in the season nor do I think it's a hardball tactic because he dislikes his team I just think it's time both part their seperate ways for the benfit of both parties. Sadly this whole exchange has kinda muched that up already. </p>
After learning what I've learned through this thread, I'm pretty happy Sloan has never won coach of the year or a title.
Great post reganomics813.</p> This whole situation is really just a misunderstanding on the behalf of Kirilenko and the Jazz. Specifically, what the Jazz expect out of Kirilenko and what Kirilenko believes his role should be. The Jazz want Kirilenko to be a stat stuffer, and a game changer defensively. They don't want him to be a main offensive option, insteadto just put upreliable 10ppg or so at a high percentage.Kirilenko though wants to be more involved in the offense, and get more shots. He was required to take shots for the Jazz when he was an all star, because the Jazz were so lacking in talent compared to other teams. There was no Williams, Boozer or Okur then. But now they're there and each put up 20ppg or so nightly, so there's no need for Kirilenko's role offensively to be so big. Kirilenko seems to be having a hard time accepting that.</p> If he could accept the role the Jazz want from him, he could be worth that max contract to them with his defensive ability. But now it'd be in Utah's best interests to trade him, and most likely take a step backwards defensively.They wouldn't be a defensivelyorientated team, which is rare under Jerry Sloan.</p>
Andrei is a good guy. I understand why he is unhappy. He is a very capable scorer and offensive player altogether, he has good size and quickness that creates mismatches regularily. He has a handle that is very underrated. He has all these tools and abilities that he has honed over many many years and now he's being asked to be a defensive stopper and not worry about the skills he worked so hard to get and develop-waste them in my opinion! I mean thats a good idea for the jazz but I think a waste of talent. I mean its not like AK has the offensive game of Ben Wallace! He can play!</p> I think Deron made a mistake by call Andrei Lazy and I dont believe that he is. Its clear that it isn't working for either side so I think a trade would be the best situation for both. With out fisher the locker room could potentially become a very volatile place and last years success would soon fade into history. The Jazz dont need this. If they want AK they should ensure that he is involved on both ends of the floor. I mean before the breakouts of Boozer and Williams he was the man and a sensational player- then just like that he gets pushed back to 4th option???!!! Who would be happy? I also dont believe he has been replaced (offensively speaking) as #1 or 2 option with better players. I STILL THINK THAT DESPITE A BELOW AVERAGE SEASON HE IS THE MOST TALENTED PLAYER ON BOTH SIDE OF THE BALL THE JAZZ HAVE!!!</p> Trade him utah. Let him out! Its not fair to selfishly waste a super talent by turning him into arole player. He should be the #1 or 2 option somewhere.</p>
Kirlenko should be traded ASAP, while he still has somewhat trade value.</p> if they keep him thru Jan '08, i can only see bad shit coming out of all of this.</p>
