Re: SI.com's Scout on some Jazz players. Rookie Dee Brown has some quickness, but he's undersized with no definite NBA skill -- I don't see him as a knockdown shooter, a terrific ballhandler or an all-out defender ... Based on his recent past, the Jazz are always going to be worry in the backs of their minds about Kirilenko's health because he's so important to them. He changes the game with his shotblocking alone -- it's unbelievable the way he comes from the help side, he comes sweeping in with the instincts of when to go when not to, he deflects a shot and off they go. He puts up some ill-advised three-pointers and he isn't a good shooter, but he has some Toni Kukoc-like feel for the game with the touch passes and the knack for knowing where his teammates are and moving the ball around to them. Plus he gets to the basket and finishes. He's one of those rare stars who can dominate the game without having the ball in his hands all the time ... So when Kirilenko is absent it's not just his scoring that they miss, but his shotblocking and rebounding and the way the offense moves through him and the way he energizes their defense. I've seen Kirilenko on the perimeter guarding quick small forwards and down low against bigger guys trying to post him up. But his best defense is as a helper, where he gambles with arms like a 7-footer's -- he's got that quick second jump and he runs like a deer in constant motion ... Carlos Boozer's reputation has taken a real hit the last couple of years. We all heard the rumor that he sat out last year while trying to force a trade to the Lakers. So was he really hurt? His whole time in Utah has been a question mark, which puts it on him to prove himself this year or he'll truly be exposed throughout the league. He's definitely overpaid, but he should be a solid contributor who -- if healthy -- can be a 15 and 10 guy for them. For them the 10 rebounds will be the most important thing. They need him to control the boards and be more of a force in there because aren't going to get it from their other big guys ... If Boozer doesn't make it to the post, they'll have to throw rookie Paul Millsap out there to see if he can get some rebounds ... I really like center Mehmet Okur because he's got it all -- he's Bill Laimbeer with a postup game. The first time you see him he doesn't look like a player, but he's got a good feel for the game, he knows where the open spots are. He can make the pick and pop spots, he can put the ball on the floor and he passes it well ... The difference between Jarron Collins and his twin in New Jersey is that Jason is a little more active and nimble and a better shooter. Jarron is big enough to give the Jazz some minutes but he's neither a big-time shooter nor rebounder. Rafael Araujo is a big strong guy who knock you down but he has absolutely no offense ... I don't know how Matt Harpring walks. He drags that leg around, he's on the floor all the time and at least every other time I've watched him play he's been bleeding from some part of his body -- his nose or a cut on his hand or elbow or knee. But he still competes ... Besides being injury prone with Boozer, Kirilenko and Harpring, the Jazz are kind of a plodding team. Except for Kirilenko they're not really athletic on the wings, though it will be interesting to see if rookie Ronnie Brewer can make a difference there. But Brewer will have to prove that he can shoot, which is another issue for this team -- their only deep perimeter shooter is Gordan Giricek. The lack of more weapons from the three-point line is another gap in their roster ...http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketbal...lines/jazz.html
