http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595095786,00.html Jazz have some questions to answer By Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News Transition out of the era owned by John Stockton and Karl Malone is well on its way. A season of coach Jerry Sloan's kids doing so much so few expected is history. A summer highlighted by two rather notable free-agent signings, follow -ed by a few weeks' worth of Olympic dreams and disappointment, has passed. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur are here. Carlos Arroyo and Andrei Kirilenko are back. Now it's time to find out if the Jazz have what it takes to return, after a one-year hiccup, to their familiar position in the landscape of NBA postseason play — or if their seemingly successful replacement of Stockton-to-Malone with Arroyo to Kirilenko and Co. was a mere aberration. It's time to begin wondering what surprises Sloan's club may have in store for the 2004-05 season. It's time for some hoops. Media day is Monday. Training camp opens Tuesday in St. George. Utah's first preseason game is Oct. 17 against Seattle, in retiree Stockton's hometown stomping ground of Spokane, Wash. And the start of the regular season is just a month away, as the Los Angeles Lakers — Malone's team a season ago — formally open festivities with a Nov. 3 visit to the Delta Center. That in mind, here are 10 questions — and some conceivable answers, for what -ever they're worth — facing the Jazz as the start of Camp Sloan looms near: 1. Question: Can first-time All-Star Kirilenko return to form from 2003-04, with a lucrative contract extension in hand? Answer: There is no reason to suspect Kirilenko cannot make it two in a row on the All-Star stage. In fact, the presence of megamoney free-agent acquisitions Boozer (from Cleveland) and Okur (from NBA-champ Detroit)might only make things easier. As for Kirilenko's own money matters, there is ample reason to suspect a long -term extension of the Russian forward's rookie deal can be reached before the late-October deadline for doing so. Agreeing to continue the pact now would seem to make sense for both sides. Besides, Memphis just gave Pau Gasol a reported $86 million over six seasons; many around the league seem to believe Kirilenko is deserving of a similar extension. 2. Question: With Kirilenko seemingly slotted to play a lot at small forward, where does that leave Sloan-favorite Matt Harpring? Answer: This answer will become clearer as camp progresses — and is one likely to be followed closely by many as November approaches. Harpring missed last season's latter half with a significant knee injury,and the Jazz sorely missed his inspired play. Boozer's presence at power forward, however, may mean more time than last season for Kirilenko at the 3 spot. It could also reduce Harpring to a backup role, at least to start the season. But that does not necessarily mean his minu -tes will take a major hit. In fact, it's possible Harpring will see plenty of time — with Okur at center, and two of three among Boozer, Kirilenko and Harpr -ing used interchangeably at power forward and small forward. 3. Question: So what might the Jazz's starting lineup be? Answer: Sloan will tell you it doesn't matter, and that who finishes is much more important than who starts. And it is true that the Jazz's finishing five will depend largely on matchup and individual game circumstances. Still, fans care. And many players care even more than the fans. That in mind, Arroyo - hot off a strong showing playing for his native Puerto Rico in the Summer Olympics — certainly has done nothing to lose his status as starter at the point. And the Jazz do like him, evidenced by the four-year contract he signed over the summer. Backup Raul Lopez, though, may make a push. At shooting guard, Gordan Giricek started shortly after arriving in a trade deadline-day deal with Orlando. Assuming the Jazz still like Raja Bell in his sixth-man role from a season ago, Giricek seems like a likely candidate to start again. Sloan also will tell you he does not care how much money players make, but Boozer and Okur are making so many millions (68 over six seasons for Boozer, 50 over six for Okur) that it would be a major disappointment for the franchise if either does not start, at power forward and center, respectively. That leaves small forward, and the issue of Kirilenko likely starting over Harpring. 4. Question: Where are the Jazz weakest? Answer: After spending as much money as they did to beef up the frontcourt and re-signing not only Arroyo but also Giricek to a deal worth $16 million over four years, it appears they should be happy with a potential starting lineup of Okur, Boozer, Kirilenko, Giricek and Arroyo. Bringing Lopez, swingman Bell and Harpring off the bench, meanwhile, should satisfy their need for depth at the 1, 2 and 3 spots — and Harpring and Kirile -nko both could help some as undersized power forwards in certain matchups. But that leaves only the trio of re-signed Jarron Collins, unproven Curtis Borchardt and rookie power forward Kris Humphries in the battle of true big men coming off the bench. 5. Question: How geared to go is Sloan? Answer: It's been a trying summer after losing his wife, Bobbye, to cancer, but the longtime Jazz coach was inspired by the play of his mostly unproven youngst -ers a season ago. Gone are veteran center Greg Ostertag (signed with Sacramento),young shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic (drafted by expansion Charlotte, then traded to Cleveland) ,No. 3 point Mo Williams (signed with Milwaukee) and bench big-men Mikki Moore (signed with the Los Angeles Clippers) and Tom Gugliotta. The additions of Boozer, Okur and particularly rookies Humphries and Kirk Snyder to a group he really likes, though, should have Sloan hyped to work through what otherwise remains a tough time. 6. Question: How high will the expectations for Boozer be? Answer: With the contract Boozer has, suffice it to say Jazz owner Larry H. Miller has something far beyond the sky in mind. Still, a reality check might be appropriate. Boozer did play in the Olympics — but he was largely a role player for an American team that failed to bring home gold. The Duke product should fill much of the huge void in Malone's old power forward spot, but expecting anyone to put up Malone-like numbers on a night-in, night-out basis seems rather unfair. 7. Question: How much will the Jazz's 2004 first-round draft choices play? Answer: The Jazz like swingman Snyder and are said to be especially high on young power forward Humphries, but Sloan's track record with rookies suggests neither should be overburdened by demands early in their initial NBA seasons. 8. Question: What kind of physical condition is Lopez in? Answer: The point from Spain was not in tip-top shape for last July's Rocky Mountain Revue summer, but that was mostly by design. After two reconstructive surgeries on the same knee, and after playing in every single game as a rookie last season, the Jazz told Lopez to give the knee a good rest before the Revue. In fact, Lopez even skipped the Olympics in August — primarily with the grind of another 82-game season in mind. 9. Question: Who has the most to gain this month, and throughout the course of the season? Answer: Borchardt's first two NBA seasons have been riddled by injuries.Now, the Jazz must decide by the end of October whether to pick up the fourth-year option on the Stanford product's rookie contract. If they do, it will be because of the potential they see in the likeable 7-foot center. If not, a heal -thy Borchardt must prove this season that he truly belongs in the league. 10. Question: Which player in camp without a fully guaranteed contract has the best shot at sticking with the Jazz? Answer: That would be guard Keith McLeod, a Bowling Green product who was with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. The Canton Repository newspaper reported late last week that McLeod signed a one-year, $750,000 contract — $250,000 of which is guaranteed. If correct, it means the Jazz plan to start the season with McLeod on the roster — and give him a chance to show he deserves to stay for the rest of the year. He essentially is a replacement for combo guard Williams, who signed a deal with the Bucks that the Jazz decided not to match, and could start the season as Utah's No. 3 point behind Arroyo and Lopez. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 要睡觉了!!改天有空在翻吧 ^_^ --

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