Insider Special: Camp Battles ~ Jazz

[Weez]

Only Harpring is a sure thing to start

By Terry Brown

NBA Insider

Friday, October 10

Updated: October 11

11:47 PM ET

You have to have options to have camp battles. Jerry Sloan is just looking for 10 guys who will work their butts off. Positions and minutes don't really matter on such a young team.

Matt Harpring will start. That's the only given. Andrei Kirilenko, Greg Ostertag and Keon Clark will likely start, but then again Sloan told Insider he's still not sure. At point guard? Pick your poison.

Utah Jazz

Point Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

1. Carlos Arroyo 6-2 2.8 ppg, 1.2 pg in 6.5 mpg He was impressive playing for Puerto Rico at the World Championships last summer and at the Olympic qualifying tournament. His experience gives him the slight edge over Raul Lopez

2. Raul Lopez R 6-1 -- Two ACL surgeries have sapped him of playing time and his quickness the last two seasons. Now he's healthy and played well in the fourth quarter of the Jazz's win over Dallas. He's got the potential, but can he stay healthy this season?

3. Maurice Williams R 6-1 -- He had the talent of a first-rounder, but came out too early in a draft packed with point guards. A second-round steal who could emerge if Lopez and Arroyo bomb.

Shooting Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

1. Matt Harpring 5 6-7 17.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg in 32.8 mpg He was great last season. Will he still produce without Stockton and Malone taking most of the heat? He's playing a little out of position here, but it's only a problem defensively. Offensively, Harpring has improved his shooting. Defensively, it's a challenge for him to keep up with the quick, athletic two guards. Will get plenty of time at the three as well.

2. DeShawn Stevenson 3 6-5 4.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 12.5 mpg After spending three seasons in Jerry Sloan's dog house, Stevenson is quietly emerging in Utah. Sloan raved about him before practice on Wedensday and believes that Stevenson has finally figured out what it takes to be successful. If he can produce in games, he'll see lots of minutes.

3. Raja Bell 3 6-5 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg in 15.6 mpg A scrappy player with potential. He's essentially a veteran on this squad, which means he might get a few minutes. His defense and intensity will make him a Sloan favorite.

Small Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

1. Andrei Kirilenko 2 6-9 12 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 27.7 mpg He's the one guy on the team with the real star quality. But is he there yet? Kirilenko does everything well except for one crucial thing -- shooting. He shot just 32 percent from 3 last season, and to turn into the star the Jazz believe he could be, he's going to have to improve. He'll get big minutes, but could lose his starting job to Harpring if Stevenson keeps playing well.

2. Alexsandar Pavlovic R 6-8 -- He's a good, but streaky shooter. Pavlovic is an excellent athlete who has a two years of Euroleague play under his belt. Was great in the Jazz's preseason opener. Look for him to get minutes at the three and the two.

Power Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

1. Keon Clark 5 6-11 6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg in 22.3 mpg Clark is an unbelievable athlete for his size, but he's yet to put it all together. He's been a sixth man everywhere he's been. How will he handle a much bigger load in Utah? He's capable of scoring, but can he do it consistently? It's a contract year and it's really now or never for Clark.

2. Jarron Collins 2 6-11 5.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg in 19.1 mpg Health's still an issue, but when he can play, he's a solid role player coming off the bench.

3. Michael Ruffin 3 6-9 -- A tough, physical guy. He can rebound, but he won't give you many points in the paint.

Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

1. Greg Ostertag 8 7-2 5.4 ppg, 6.2 apg in 23.8 mpg He was disinterested when the team was winning. What will he be like now?

2. Curtis Borchardt R 7-0 -- Missed last season with a foot injury. He's a solid, if unspectacular, if he's healthy.