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2006 Jazz Training Camp - Daily Updates

Training Camp - Day One
Morning Session

The Jazz took the floor at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho with both new and familiar faces for the 2006-07 NBA season. The first practice of training camp begin at 10:00 a.m. and it gave The coaching staff its first look at newly acquired Derek Fisher and rookies Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap and Dee Brown.

But perhaps what interests both the staff and fans most is the improvement of Deron Williams and the health of Carlos Boozer and Gordon Giricek. Boozer, who spent the off-season in Miami, worked with the same trainer as Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning. “We had a great summer, we went to the track a lot and lifted weights,” said Boozer. “I also played a lot of pick-up basketball, more than usual.” Giricek returned to Croatia where he continued to rehab from an Achilles injury suffered early last season.

And though the team is in the early of stages of a six day stay at the Boise State Campus, Boozer and Giricek, along with the rest of the Jazz core appear to be at full-strength. The coaching staff began the morning session with a variety of drills mixed with conditioning while implementing the early stages of offensive sets. The team will return for the second session of the day at 6:00 p.m.

Training Camp - Day One
Evening Session

The coaching staff wasted little time in the second practice of the day continuing to teach the team’s offense. Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson took primary roles showing players the ins and outs of what makes the Jazz’ attack work. The team also continued to work on conditioning with free-throw shooting and jump shots worked in between.

But defense was also on the agenda. The Jazz worked on deflecting passes, defending the post and stopping the fast-break. Late in the practice the Jazz worked on applying what had been worked out throughout the day in five-on-five action.

Training Camp - Day Two
Morning Session

With a day of practice behind them, Jazz players and staff took the floor at Taco Bell Arena ready for more work. Eight players in camp are with the team for the first time, including former BYU standout Rafael Araujo who felt Monday was a good start to the 2006-07 season.

 

“Everything went good yesterday,” said Araujo. “We worked on little things and went through the plays and started to adapt to Coach Sloan. We went through everything slowly…today I think will be more specific than yesterday, we’ll learn some more plays and just keep working.”

 

Luckily for the center he, Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown, Brian Chase and Roger Powell Jr. got a head start on learning the Jazz system during the Rocky Mountain Review. The five learned Jazz drills, parts of the offense and how the team likes to defend. Araujo thinks the summer practices paid off.

 

“We’re doing pretty good, this group we stick together,” said Araujo. “We played in the summer league together so it’s not new for us. Training camp is a short time, we go through drills and there is a lot to get through. There are a lot of guys and we can’t get behind.”

Training Camp - Day Two
Evening Session

With each practice the coaching staff continues to put more emphasis on the team’s offense and defense and further away from skill drills. Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson review various options in a variety of settings, ensuring the Jazz are prepared for the any game situation the team will face throughout the season.

 

Players are also beginning discover their roles. Rookie Paul Millsap, who displayed a knack for rebounding throughout college and into the Rocky Mountain Review, looks to be a complimentary player on a team with a talented front court. Though he knows what has made him successful thus far.

 

“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,” said Millsap. “I just need to step it up a notch now. I’m ready to go and I just have to be ready when Coach needs me. I have to come in and be the energy guy.”

 

Part of Millsap’s learning process is learning to guard bigger competition, including centers. Thus far in training camp the Louisiana Tech product has found himself guarding everyone from the 6-9 Andrei Kirilenko to the 6-11 Jarron Collins.

Training Camp - Day Three
Morning Session

After facing each other four times in practice, Jazz players are already looking forward to playing in front of a crowd that doesn’t consist of the regular group of staff and observers at Taco Bell arena. Ronnie Brewer, the team’s first round pick from Arkansas, is among those awaiting the Jazz’ first preseason game.

 

“It’s going to be nice. A lot of guys play better when the lights come on. We’re really looking forward to playing in front of fans.”

 

A live game situation will also give coaches their first look at various combinations of players. Among the frequently asked questions at training camp thus far is how second year guard Deron Williams will play with Derek Fisher. Many wonder if the two will see action together.

 

“We’ve played two point guards together against a lot of teams in the past,” said Head Coach Jerry Sloan. “We’ve had to switch to smaller lineups to match up against teams but they’ll have to do the same thing if we run Deron and Derek together at the same time.”

 

Many remember seeing Fisher play against John Stockton in Jazz battles against the Lakers in the late 90’s. And for the left-handed sharp shooter, he learned valuable lessons against the former Jazz great.

 

“I competed against him for years and I learned a lot from him,” said Fisher. “You knew you were in for a tough game every time Stockton stepped on the floor.”

Training Camp - Day Three
Evening Session

If training camp is about building a rapport with your teammates, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams are hoping to use this time to become one of the league’s better duos. Last season when the guard and forward finally got time on the floor together (after Boozer recovered from a hamstring injury) they proved to be effective.

“We had a real good chemistry, obviously once I got healthy and was able to play, Deron was already playing great,” said Boozer. “After the All-Star break he might have been one of the best point guards in the league.”

And while that seems like high praise for a rookie, this season Williams will look to take a permanent spot among the elite floor leaders in the NBA. He came into training camp in excellent shape and has taken an active roll as a leader in both drills and scrimmages.

Thursday night, intensity continued to pick up in five-on-five action with positions on the roster up for grabs. Dee Brown continued to show the intensity and quickness that made him a household name at Illinois though Brian Chase is providing strong competition.

Training Camp - Day Four
Boys & Girls Club Visit

After going to Boise, Idaho the past several years for training camp, the Utah Jazz and Larry Miller Automotive Group looked to leave a small piece of gratitude for the city that embraces the team each preseason.

Jerry Sloan made a visit to the Boys and Girls Club of Ada County Friday afternoon and he brought along some gifts. On behalf of the Utah Jazz and Larry Miller Dealerships in Boise, Sloan dropped off brand new basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, board games and other various sporting goods for the Club to use.

“We’re excited to make a donation like this,” said Sloan. “We think this is a great opportunity and hope these items will benefit the Club. Boise is always good to us each year and I’m glad we were able to make a contribution to the community.”

Sloan was also able to take a few questions from the kids. One child asked if players would be joining the long-time Jazz coach and Sloan explained the players were preparing for an open scrimmage at Boise State later in the evening. After apologizing for their absence, the child replayed, “it’s okay…you’re pretty cool too.”

The Utah Jazz and Larry Miller Dealerships also donated items the Club needed for its computer lab and office. The organization was able to get 28 new chairs, new printers and other office supplies.
 

Training Camp - Day Four
Evening Session

For the first time all week the Jazz had a crowd for their practice at Boise State on Friday night. Fans filtered into Taco Bell Arena for an open practice that primarily consisted of an inter-squad scrimmage. The game featured some interesting matchups as the white squad faced the blue squad. Derek Fisher faced off against Deron Williams, Dee Brown matched up with Brian Chase and CJ Miles went head to head with Ronnie Brewer for portions of the practice as well.

 

Deron Williams continued his strong training camp, scoring 18 points with three rebounds and two assists. The guard controlled the floor, feeding teammates for good looks at the basket and getting into the lane at will against defenders, though his teammate from Illinois did not fair as well. Dee Brown struggled with the white squad, going 0-for-4 from the field while fellow training camp invitee Brian Chase flourished. The Virginia Tech product scored 13 points and handed out five assists for the blue squad. Chase also demonstrated strong leadership running the point when Deron Williams was on the bench.

 

CJ Miles played well on the perimeter for the blue squad going 5-for-7 with 14 points while Ronnie Brewer demonstrated the athleticism that made the Jazz take him in the lottery, scoring six points and getting to the free throw line on strong drives to the basket for the white squad. In the frontcourt, starters Carlos Boozer (white squad) and Memhet Okur (blue squad) put in strong games scoring nine points each. In the end the blue squad was too much for the white squad to handle 80-47.

Training Camp - Day Five
Morning Session

The Jazz entered the team’s final day in Boise Saturday morning after a scrimmage the night before. The coaching staff put players through drills and conditioning, looking to get as much in as possible with the only practice of the day.

 

The team will head back to Salt Lake this afternoon and will have one more practice on Sunday before leaving to Fresno for a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. With games against new opponents, the coaching staff will continue to follow the point guard battle between Brian Chase and Dee Brown and the development of rookies Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap.