Utah will start Devin Harris, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Al Jefferson Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers
Favors’ promotion makes an immediate impact, moving former starting power forward Paul Millsap to the bench.
Corbin said he spoke with Millsap about the change, making sure the Jazz’s 2010-11 MVP knows it’s not a “demotion.”
Millsap said he’s willing to do whatever a rebuilding team asks of him, but acknowledged it’s impossible not to be affected by the decision.
“It’s a tough situation because you work to continue to get better; you work to continue to, I guess, get promoted,” said Millsap, after a shootaround Tuesday morning at Staples Center. “It’s just like a daily job. You work your butt off to get places in life that you feel like you’ve grown and you feel like you need to be.
“I’m not calling it — it’s not a demotion. I believe [Corbin] in that sense. But it’s still a tough thing to try to swallow. But being the team player that I am, I have to go out there and do the best I can to fulfill that role off coming off the bench.”
Millsap (right quadriceps tendinitis) will be a game-time decision. He’s unsure whether he’ll be active, since his quad flared up Monday after a few days of pain-free activity.
I can understand this if it's because of the uncertainty of his health but otherwise it sucks. It's definitely a demotion if he's not back in there when he is 100%. Means less minutes for your best player rather he is willing to do it even very reluctantly and Jefferson wouldn't be(besides the fact that you do't bench guys make the ridiculous money he is making).
I love Millsap but we have two Top 3 overall draftees, they need their minutes as soon as possible. Maybe not Kanter yet but Favors should get 30+ minutes.
He should get what he deserves and based on the two pre season games he's still got a ways to go. Inconsistent, foul trouble, etc. But, regardless of him Jefferson needs to go. That simple!
Millsap's right quadriceps tendinitis flare-up did not factor into second-year coach Tyrone Corbin's decision-making process on the starters.
Corbin likes the mix of experience and youthful talent, along with the increased size this starting combo offers Utah.
"I think the lineup gives us a chance to be versatile," Corbin said. "Also what we have coming off the bench will give us a chance to be strong on both ends."
This move does several things for the Jazz's frontcourt. First off, Favors is a 6-foot-10, so he gives Utah a couple more inches inside than the 6-foot-8 Millsap.
Likewise, the 6-8 Hayward has two inches on Miles, so Utah is putting a bigger product on the court. It also shows a commitment and confidence Corbin has placed on the future of the franchise with Favors and Hayward.
"(Favors) played hard. He improved from last year," Corbin said. "He's showed that he's ready to take a step forward, taking nothing away from other guys. He gives us a chance to be versatile."
The Jazz coach emphasized over and over that this is not a benching for Millsap, who wants to be the starter. Same goes for C.J. Miles, who began the first preseason game and came into camp hoping to win a starting job.
Rather, Corbin complimented both players for working hard and being in great shape.
"We want everybody to be ready to play, that's the main thing," Corbin said. "Don't worry about who's staring or who's getting the glory. We want to go out and (give) the Jazz a chance to win the game."
Still don't see how benching your best player gives you the best chance to win. It means he will be in their less minutes and it's a lot harder to have him on the court at the end of the game as well.
It was questionable coming into tonight, but last year's starting power forward, Paul Millsap, will play in the 8:30 p.m. Staples Center showdown against this 0-2 L.A. team.
Favors with 2 fouls by the end of the 1st quarter, gonna have to keep working on that. The way he's going he won't have to worry about Millsap not getting 30 minutes a game because Favors will foul out by halftime.
He should get what he deserves and based on the two pre season games he's still got a ways to go. Inconsistent, foul trouble, etc. But, regardless of him Jefferson needs to go. That simple!
Something we agree on, tired of watching 10,000 Jefferson shot/pump fakes while the offense comes to a complete hault and Favors only gets 5 minutes.
Favors with 2 fouls by the end of the 1st quarter, gonna have to keep working on that. The way he's going he won't have to worry about Millsap not getting 30 minutes a game because Favors will foul out by halftime.
One reason why he might not be ready to start til they unload Jefferson. Young bigs foul.
CJ Miles single handedly created half of that deficit. He should just not play when they're only giving Bell 25 minutes, Hayward 24, and Howard 24. Give those guys 5 more minutes each, and then I won't have to watch that atrocity anymore.
Also, they definitely didn't give Jefferson enough touches in the second half, or enough playing time. Same for Millsap. You just aren't getting any win when your only two scorers aren't getting possessions.
Jonathan Rinehart: Enes Kanter's 11 rebounds are the most in a Jazz rookie debut since the team moved to Utah (previously 10 by Thurl Bailey on 10/29/83)
The Jazz set a franchise-low for points scored during a season opener, according to the team’s public relations staff, eclipsing a 37-year-old mark. The then-New Orleans Jazz lost 89-74 to New York on Oct. 17, 1974.
Jody Genessy: Fascinating stat. The Jazz, who are losing 81-55, have outscored the Lakers by two points in the 24 minutes Paul Millsap has been on court.
Play Ball(finally)!
