SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko played for Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s TSKA Moscow team back in Russia. So perhaps more than any player, he may have the best insight into the big guy.
Kirilenko speculated how Prokhorov will react to being shut out for the marquee guys in free agency this summer. He’ll smile, wait and then try to pounce again, the Jazz forward said.
“He’s fine. He’s not a guy who’s really going to get (ticked) off right away,” Kirilenko said of Prokhorov’s failed bid to lure LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh to New Jersey.
“If he’s got the time, like three, four years, he’s really going to wait. He is going to work hard every year to get those free agents but he is really patient. I mean REALLY patient. And I think it is pretty good thing for the person who is in that kind of business to be able to wait and be able to be patient. He’ll be fine and he’ll go after it again.”
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Kirilenko (jammed finger), who is playing tonight against the Nets, said he can understand the little war being waged between the Nets and Knicks for the Russian heart of Brooklyn. He has visited the enclave, of course, and noted “It’s like Russia.”
“There’s how many, a couple million Russians? Those are the people to fight for,” he said.
So the Nets have Prokhorov and the Knicks have Timofey Mozgov, the second Russian to make it to the NBA. The Knicks center related to Kirilenko the difficulties of being a rookie. The Jazz forward advised him to just play his game and “pay attention to details.”
And Kirilenko is rooting for both his countrymen, especially Prokhorov.
“I hope he’s going to do well. I wish him good luck, I wish him all the best. It may bring more Russians into the league,” he said.
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Terrence Williams (missed four games, lower ab strain) is a gametime decision according to Avery Johnson. Williams feels he can play.
“I told the trainer I feel great,” Williams said after shootaround.
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The Nets have the Jazz’ attention, which might not be such a good thing.
“They’re organized, they know what they’re doing out on the floor. They’re coached very well. They’ve got little things that let you know you’ve got to deal with them,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. “Before I think everybody was playing just to get it over with. You see that a lot unfortunately in this business. But they’re in good hands now.”
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Johnson continued his praise for Kris Humphries and especially how he is working with Brook Lopez. One, Lopez, is a big guy who likes to wander to the perimeter. The other, Humphries, is a big guy who does “the dirty work.”
And that is the key to Humphries. Last year, he got the ball, he shot the ball. This year, he is defending and rebounding. And that offensive mindset was what made him a tough fit here with the Jazz under Sloan who was brutally honest about the Nets forward falling in love with points.
“He played but he got himself into the situation where shooting, he wanted to score so much he let that get in the way. His natural ability is rebounding so you’ve got to stick with the things you do well and work on the things you don’t do as well,” Sloan said.
“He can rebound. And now they put attention on the big guy who tries to take care of him,” Sloan said of Humphries and Lopez. “That plays right into his hands. He can go after the ball, he doesn’t wait for it to come to him.”
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One of the league’s most intriguing players, Paul Millsap, will be on display. Listed at 6-8 (he’s not), Millsap averages 21.7 points and 9.0 rebounds. Nets power forward Derrick Favors is a big fan.
“I watch how hard he goes after every rebound and how relentless he is on the boards,” Favors said. “I’m pretty sure he’s in the weight room a lot. He looks like a hard worker.”
And Avery Johnson also likes Millsap.
“I love to watch him. He’s a dirty work guy but he’s improved his offense. He can make a three every now and then,” Johnson said, noting Millsap demand coverage on the perimeter. “He’s just physical along the Utah Jazz model of power forwards. They’re pretty good when they come from Louisiana, right?”
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Johnson loves challenging his guys and he put another one out there for Lopez who hasn’t exactly been a Karl Malone off the glass lately (three rebounds against the Clippers).
“Brook needs to get more, especially on the offensive glass,” Johnson said flatly. “That’s why we need him to be more active. We can’t go through games with him getting three rebounds and Humphries getting 13.”