Avant Garde Lineup Has Kirilenko's Scoring Up <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With Deron Williams looking more like a long-term fixture at point guard every day, the Jazz figured to try to complete their backcourt of the future this summer, whether in the draft or through free agency. But maybe they already have. Andrei Kirilenko has been the Jazz's starting guard for less than three weeks, but the difference his move out of the frontcourt makes has been startling in its effectiveness. At 6-foot-9, Kirilenko towers over most backcourt players who try to cover him, making it much easier for the Russian to attack the basket. The result is far fewer awkward jump shots, and a lot more layups - which has turned him from a a mediocre scoring threat to the Jazz's most dangerous shooter. Other teams must think so as well; Kirilenko gets to the free-throw line eight times per game as a guard. He's handling the ball more, too, and his prescient passing ability is producing more assists without a corresponding jump in turnovers. "He can see things other guys can't see," marvels Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "He'll pass the basketball sometimes before a guy ever gets where he's supposed to go, and there it is. [Jeff] Hornacek could do that, John [Stockton] could do that. It's kind of a lost art." </div> <div align="center">Source</div>
