<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - The Utah Jazz won just six of 26 games without Andrei Kirilenko. On Saturday, the Jazz activated their All-Star forward from the injured list. Kirilenko, who was sidelined for eight weeks with a sprained MCL in his right knee, will be in uniform Saturday when the Jazz host the Memphis Grizzlies. Kirilenko was injured when he collided with rookie guard Beno Udrih in the second quarter of a 109-76 loss at San Antonio on November 27. To make room for Kirilenko on their roster, the Jazz placed rookie guard Kirk Snyder, their first-round pick, on the injured list with patella tendinitis of the left knee. </div> Source
It's about time. Great to have you back, Andrei - now lets win some games please. You guys all remember how great the Jazz were doing in the beginning of the season? Now we just need to win 20 of 26 games and we'll be back in playoff spot. I'm just hoping that the Jazz don't take away the Lakers playoff spot, but I doubt it. Kirilenko is the only star player on the Jazz, as you can see we need him. Stats don't say everything - just Kirilenko being there, just his presence on offense and defense especially makes a huge difference. Hopefully the Jazz will now end this slump they're in.
It's too late for the Jazz, but it's going to be great to see one of the most complete (if not the most complete) player in the game return to action. You were missed from this lineup greatly. j
Wait, wtf? Didn't they need to deactivate 2 players when Kirilenko and Collins came back? One is Arroyo obviously, since hes gone. The other should be Kris Humphires. WHY SNYDER? SNYDER IS GOOD!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">It's too late for the Jazz, but it's going to be great to see one of the most complete (if not the most complete) player in the game return to action. You were missed from this lineup greatly. j</div> Oh boy, here we go with that "complete player" stuff again. While AK47 is an all around baller, he is NOT in the top 5 most "complete player"s. He does alot of stuff but he is really great at blocking and stealing. So unless you are just talking about fantasy stats don't try to say he is <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">one of the most complete (if not the most complete)</div> because that dog won't hunt.
Fantasy or not. While I'm a huge proponent on not judging a players worth on fantasy stats alone, sometimes their stats do mirror their abilities. Watch him sometime. He has a great understanding of passing lanes, defensive timing, range, athletecism... name one thing he doesn't do well. ONE! ...I didn't think so. j
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">Fantasy or not. While I'm a huge proponent on not judging a players worth on fantasy stats alone, sometimes their stats do mirror their abilities. Watch him sometime. He has a great understanding of passing lanes, defensive timing, range, athletecism... name one thing he doesn't do well. ONE!</div> I don't think Andrei is the most complete player in the league, but I do think he is the most complete defensive player. They are very few players in the history of this league that can play defense on all 5 positions, as well as being a great help-side defender. Yet to become the most complete player in the league, he will have to get more of an offensive game. He plays great offense but his offense comes off of other players. He needs to create a game where he can beat someone off the dribble or hit the mid-range jumper with regularity. Most complete player, no; most complete defensive player, yes.
Is Kirilenko a good one-on-one defender, or rather just a good team defender? I watched the game last night against the Sonics, and while Kirilenko made a lot of good team defensive plays (playing the passing lanes, coming over to block shots), he had a tough time stopping Rashard Lewis on multiple occasions. Now, Rashard Lewis can give lots of players fits, but I do think that Kirilenko can improve on his one-on-one defense. I get the impression that he doesn't use his feet to stay in front of his man consistently enough, and instead he relies on his incredible length to deflect the shot or pass. I don't know how effective that kind of defense is against the more skilled one-on-one offensive players like a Rashard Lewis.
You have to relieze that he is just coming off of an injury, but you are correct if they are any one point of his defense he needs to improve on it is his on ball defense. I have noticed sometimes that it appears that he allows the offensive to get a step on him where he can try to get the block. While that looks good if he actually gets the block, but it is two points if he doesn't. With that said, I still think he is the best defensive player in the league.
