Post by repole on Nov 12, 2005 11:04:26 GMT -5
Jerry Sloan Impressed With What He Sees
Jazz coach works his team hard in training camp, and it payed off.
UTAH--After a dissapointing loss in game 7 of the Finals last year, the Utah Jazz have showed up to training camp more motivated then ever. Mandatory practice times are between 10 am and 6 pm on weekdays, however the gym never stops buzzing. Whether it's Eddy Curry and Carlos Boozer playing a game of one on one, or Andrei Kirilenko and James Posey trying to shut each other down, there's always something going on in the Jazz gym when there doesn't have to be.
Posey and company were in the gym everyday, practicing free throws among other things.
The biggest improvements seem to have been made by fourth year point guard Deron Williams. John Stockton has been brought in for yet another summer, but this time has officially been hired to the coaching staff. Already a defensive wizard, Deron and Stockton focused on Deron's decision making with the ball and shooting.
Stockton practiced with everyone, even helping with Kirilenko's shot blocking.
In a recent interview focused on Deron, Stockton told me "his shot is really looking good, not as good as mine was in my prime, but it's up there. I think he's just a small improvement away from being one of the elite shooters in the league." To here such praise coming from John Stockton means a lot, as he was particularily harsh on Deron last year saying he needed to improve in all assets of his game to truely be a star.
Deron responded this year, as he not only improved his shooting but his improvement in ball handling puts him in the upper echelon of pure point guards in the league. Deron lead a group of 2nd unit players against Curry, Boozer, Kirilenko, Posey, and Gallinari and made his team look like a group of superstars. Each pass was crisp and on target, setting up everyone for easy baskets.
Deron thinks he'll be kissing another trophy this year.
"That's the key," commented Deron, "getting guys easy baskets. Any point guard can put up assists on a good team, but if a point guard can truely make his whole team better, that's when he knows he's effective." Whether or not Deron will look better in real games is yet to be seen, but it is apparent that a bit of John Stockton has been rubbing off on him.
Another bright surprise in training camp has been the play of Eddy Curry. Once labeled a slacker who had no will to improve, Curry has shaped himself into one of the premier centers in the league. When the Jazz sent Martell Webster, a hard working and talented prospect to the Knicks for Eddy Curry many questioned the reasoning. However a few dissapointing years for Webster, and big improvements for Curry are making the Jazz look like geniuses.
Curry has seen a lot of time in the weight room lately, adding six pounds to his already massive frame.
"I've come into camp and worked hard on my post game and rebounding," said Curry. "After last years final matchup between Shaq and myself I realized I need to up my game to a new level." Curry's bout with Shaq in the playoffs did not go particularily well, and many blame that matchup on the reason the Jazz ultimately lost the series. However at this point Curry is up to par with Shaq offensivly, and seems to be just a small bit off of Shaq's defense and rebounding. If they were to match up again, Curry is sure he won't be embarassed again. "I've worked all summer for that one reason. I want to be able to be on that same level." Curry is certainly headed in the right direction, as hard as many may find that to believe.
The player Curry tested and solidified most of his skills against this summer was fellow Jazz big man Carlos Boozer. Yet another player who has had his work ethic questioned before, Boozer has proved his critics wrong just as Curry has. Boozer showed a big improvement in rebounding this offseason just as Curry did, as the two battled on the glass day in and day out. "I feel like I should get every rebound. There's no reason a ball should ever bounce off the rim and not end up in my hands."
Boozer has shown he's worth his contract.
Throwing all the bricks for Curry and Boozer to figh over was none other than Antoine Walker. Don't worry, he's not back to his chucking ways Jazz fans, he was missing on purpose. Walker showed up to camp in as good as shape as ever, and ready to have a full year as the Jazz sixth man. "Last year I was fighting for that startig spot still and didn't really know my role. As everyone knows Posey really stepped it up and took that starting spot, so now I know that I'll be the team's major offensive weapon off the bench. I don't really mind, as I'll probably get more shots this way than if I were playing with all the great scorers on the first unit." Walker hopes he can contend for the sixth man award this year, and he should have a decent chance as he'll be backing up at least 4 positions.
The recently resigned James Posey was the reason Walker wasn't starting last year, as Posey solidified himself as one of the best man to man defenders in the league. Again Posey worked hard this offseason, as he showed up to camp with a post game and is now more of an inside-outside threat offensivly. "I've always been a shooter, but after averaging under 10 points per game last year I felt I needed to at least be capable of scoring from the inside. I know I'm not going to get a ton of shots, but when I do I want to make sure they're effective."
Walker is ready to accept his role.
Posey's fellow wingman and defensive superstar Andrei Kirilenko arrived at camp and took a leadership role. Kirilenko worked on his english more than anything this summer, and says he's ready to lead this team to the finals. "Last year I played terrible in game 7. I feel terrible, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz fans hate me. I want to make it up to the fans, to the team this year, I want to lead this team to a championship. Until I do that I won't be able to sleep." Whether or not Jazz fans will admit it, without Kirilenko the Jazz wouldn't have been anywhere near the finals last year, and it's wrong to blame the team's loss on him.
Other hardworkers in camp included Eddie House, who was resigned by the Jazz and proved he could be just the defensive stopper and sharp shooter they need off the bench. Danilo Gallinari who has been labeled as the next big thing in Utah yet again showed minimal improvemant, and the Jazz are beggining to question this unlimited upside he supposidly has. The Jazz are willing to wait however, as Danilo isn't needed at this point.
With preseason and the actual season approaching, the Jazz seem to be in the best shape they have ever been in. Better than the Stockton-Malone days even, and the Jazz plan on proving that with a championship this year. They were one step away last year, and it appears they've taken several steps forward this offseason. Enjoy the season Utah fans, it should be one unlike any other.
Jazz coach works his team hard in training camp, and it payed off.
UTAH--After a dissapointing loss in game 7 of the Finals last year, the Utah Jazz have showed up to training camp more motivated then ever. Mandatory practice times are between 10 am and 6 pm on weekdays, however the gym never stops buzzing. Whether it's Eddy Curry and Carlos Boozer playing a game of one on one, or Andrei Kirilenko and James Posey trying to shut each other down, there's always something going on in the Jazz gym when there doesn't have to be.
Posey and company were in the gym everyday, practicing free throws among other things.
The biggest improvements seem to have been made by fourth year point guard Deron Williams. John Stockton has been brought in for yet another summer, but this time has officially been hired to the coaching staff. Already a defensive wizard, Deron and Stockton focused on Deron's decision making with the ball and shooting.
Stockton practiced with everyone, even helping with Kirilenko's shot blocking.
In a recent interview focused on Deron, Stockton told me "his shot is really looking good, not as good as mine was in my prime, but it's up there. I think he's just a small improvement away from being one of the elite shooters in the league." To here such praise coming from John Stockton means a lot, as he was particularily harsh on Deron last year saying he needed to improve in all assets of his game to truely be a star.
Deron responded this year, as he not only improved his shooting but his improvement in ball handling puts him in the upper echelon of pure point guards in the league. Deron lead a group of 2nd unit players against Curry, Boozer, Kirilenko, Posey, and Gallinari and made his team look like a group of superstars. Each pass was crisp and on target, setting up everyone for easy baskets.
Deron thinks he'll be kissing another trophy this year.
"That's the key," commented Deron, "getting guys easy baskets. Any point guard can put up assists on a good team, but if a point guard can truely make his whole team better, that's when he knows he's effective." Whether or not Deron will look better in real games is yet to be seen, but it is apparent that a bit of John Stockton has been rubbing off on him.
Another bright surprise in training camp has been the play of Eddy Curry. Once labeled a slacker who had no will to improve, Curry has shaped himself into one of the premier centers in the league. When the Jazz sent Martell Webster, a hard working and talented prospect to the Knicks for Eddy Curry many questioned the reasoning. However a few dissapointing years for Webster, and big improvements for Curry are making the Jazz look like geniuses.
Curry has seen a lot of time in the weight room lately, adding six pounds to his already massive frame.
"I've come into camp and worked hard on my post game and rebounding," said Curry. "After last years final matchup between Shaq and myself I realized I need to up my game to a new level." Curry's bout with Shaq in the playoffs did not go particularily well, and many blame that matchup on the reason the Jazz ultimately lost the series. However at this point Curry is up to par with Shaq offensivly, and seems to be just a small bit off of Shaq's defense and rebounding. If they were to match up again, Curry is sure he won't be embarassed again. "I've worked all summer for that one reason. I want to be able to be on that same level." Curry is certainly headed in the right direction, as hard as many may find that to believe.
The player Curry tested and solidified most of his skills against this summer was fellow Jazz big man Carlos Boozer. Yet another player who has had his work ethic questioned before, Boozer has proved his critics wrong just as Curry has. Boozer showed a big improvement in rebounding this offseason just as Curry did, as the two battled on the glass day in and day out. "I feel like I should get every rebound. There's no reason a ball should ever bounce off the rim and not end up in my hands."
Boozer has shown he's worth his contract.
Throwing all the bricks for Curry and Boozer to figh over was none other than Antoine Walker. Don't worry, he's not back to his chucking ways Jazz fans, he was missing on purpose. Walker showed up to camp in as good as shape as ever, and ready to have a full year as the Jazz sixth man. "Last year I was fighting for that startig spot still and didn't really know my role. As everyone knows Posey really stepped it up and took that starting spot, so now I know that I'll be the team's major offensive weapon off the bench. I don't really mind, as I'll probably get more shots this way than if I were playing with all the great scorers on the first unit." Walker hopes he can contend for the sixth man award this year, and he should have a decent chance as he'll be backing up at least 4 positions.
The recently resigned James Posey was the reason Walker wasn't starting last year, as Posey solidified himself as one of the best man to man defenders in the league. Again Posey worked hard this offseason, as he showed up to camp with a post game and is now more of an inside-outside threat offensivly. "I've always been a shooter, but after averaging under 10 points per game last year I felt I needed to at least be capable of scoring from the inside. I know I'm not going to get a ton of shots, but when I do I want to make sure they're effective."
Walker is ready to accept his role.
Posey's fellow wingman and defensive superstar Andrei Kirilenko arrived at camp and took a leadership role. Kirilenko worked on his english more than anything this summer, and says he's ready to lead this team to the finals. "Last year I played terrible in game 7. I feel terrible, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz fans hate me. I want to make it up to the fans, to the team this year, I want to lead this team to a championship. Until I do that I won't be able to sleep." Whether or not Jazz fans will admit it, without Kirilenko the Jazz wouldn't have been anywhere near the finals last year, and it's wrong to blame the team's loss on him.
Other hardworkers in camp included Eddie House, who was resigned by the Jazz and proved he could be just the defensive stopper and sharp shooter they need off the bench. Danilo Gallinari who has been labeled as the next big thing in Utah yet again showed minimal improvemant, and the Jazz are beggining to question this unlimited upside he supposidly has. The Jazz are willing to wait however, as Danilo isn't needed at this point.
With preseason and the actual season approaching, the Jazz seem to be in the best shape they have ever been in. Better than the Stockton-Malone days even, and the Jazz plan on proving that with a championship this year. They were one step away last year, and it appears they've taken several steps forward this offseason. Enjoy the season Utah fans, it should be one unlike any other.
