Show 'fk A v The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday December 21 2003 — B3 By Chris Sheridan AP basketball writer ' Andrei Kirilenko produces stat lines as wild as his haircut Never seen an elongated mohawk atop an overgrown crewcutTThatY OK Sejdom has an NBA player had a ’do as daring as this one! Never seen a line in a boxscpre that includes at least five each olT points rebounds assists steals and blocks? That's OK too because they come around only about twice a decade — or at least they did until Kirilenko recently made the “5X5’' part of the basketball lexi- con for the statistically infatuated “There’s nut many players' I’ve ever seen that are ax active as he is for as long as he is'' said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan who has been playing and coaching since the 1950s “He's like a rope out there: He's got arms and legs going Star caliber ' He was one of those guys was now the on at that doing things that-timyou probably would have voted him to the All-Stteam” ' Seattle coach Nate McMillan said Kirilenko's freak weekon the ' stat sheet began Dec 5 when he had 19 points' five rebounds seven assists eight steals and five blocks against Houston-Theoh Dec 10 hehad 10 points 10 rebounds sis assists six steals and five blocks against New York! A “5X5” hadbCeri accom- -' plished only twice before in the past' decade by Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley in' 2001 and by Vlade Divac of the Lakers in 1995 “If you take a look at a few more games I was close to those stats — ' : e ’ ar '' y' — trying to rebound steal the ballv and hyperactivity at both ends of the court have made him one of the most enjoyable players to t watch on a revamped Jazz team ’ that has already exceeded expectations in Year One of the post- - '' Stockton & Malone era--- ' Russian is v: The lanky ranked among the top five in the- ' NBA in steals and blocked shots accumulating them in bushels while ' APphipto aisj averaging about 16fpt)ints ? Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko dunks over the Philadelphia 76ers' Samuel Dalembert f eight rebounds and three assists “About two weeks ago We were earlier this week Kirilenko has achieved 5X5 twice within the last seven days - ‘ - play- - ingat an All-- 1 ' ’ Damon Jones said V “He’s really blossomed Hecan r guard just about anybody" Bucks v' coach Ttjrry Porter said' “Vou'rc never safe just rebound-- ’ irig the ball He’s everywhere" " Wizards guard Larry Hughes said “Hebloeks shots he guts '’ deflections he gets steals he cuts hard he screens hard and is quick around the basket He's got extra long'armsgrcat wingspan He plays so hard" Washington's Eddie Jordan said “he makes ’ them go right now:" While doing so inuch on the basketball court Kirilenko Jives a full and colorful life olT ji too talking about who-i- ' ' blocking shots score '“I thihk every player wants to do that be but most ' to more on concentrate players try offense or defense I think it's not right You need to concentrate both and be aggressive both ends then you can help much more your ' team" Kirilenko said and coaches Opposing players ' : are effusive in their praise ‘I don't think the guy has a weakness1’' Milwaukee guard I : - - ' The happy-go-luc- ky ld is endlessly cheerful and upbuilt a fan favorite whose jersey outsells those of all the other Jazz players at sporting goods storesin Utah Kirilenko communicates pcrsoii- -' ally with Tans through his Web site often tending to the English and ' Kirilenko sporting academy at bought a home in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains near the wide-ope- n expanses of the West He is not ashamed to admit he : V ’ took his silver Porshe— the one with the AK-4- 7 license plates (his initials and uniform number) onto an open stretch of freeway in the Salt Flats west of Salt Lake City last summer and got it up to 200 mph “It was just one time" he 1 1 - SccNlOHAWK on B4 James leads Cavs by Bulls in front of IV1J Clippers top Mavs By The Associated Press at Dallas i mx L ‘ LeBrbn James did the No23 Angeles is 2t0 against Dallas this ' 'V: ' "season' house in his idol's proud ' ' Aritawn 26 had Jamison points 'With Michael Jordan watching ' Dirk Nowitzki 23 and Steve Nash 2Q from askybox James scored a for the Mavericks who droppedto ' 32 points and had a game-hig- h 10 assists Saturday night : 12-- 2 at home They last their third -career-hig- h to lead tire Cleveland Cavaliers to : straight game1— tlKir lorigest skid : this seasontheir seexmd straight road Win'a 95- Knkks 103 Hawks 92 87 victory over the Chicago Bulls double-double- 'Don was It Jaihes’third Chaney yanked Howard Eis-le- y ' and inserted Frank Williams of the season his first since Nov 29 rof-22 V : in the third from the flooir' and He was! I l -quarter' a snap early : have that decision from the line He also was may coaching saved Chaney's job ' had six rebounds two steals arid two Williams had four assists in a 15-tblocks while turning the ball over third-quartrun that gave New Yoik four times the lead for good in a 103-9- 2 vjetory r The loss spoiled the Bulls’ home- oyerThe' Atlanta Hawks on Saf uirday coming party Jordan attended his' v' irecond game of the year Watching in : ' The teammates with former a suite victory was just the third in 11and Will Perdue: Jay Charles games for the Knicty ( ' ' WilliamsOakley ' ’coach is also was at the gamehis reportedly in danger of : being fired if the team continues Jo V first sinte June motorcycle accident that's threatened languish amid the lower half of the ' c - his career Williamswhq is still on ' Woeful Atlantic Division 1 1 ofhis scored Keith Van Horn - crutches and is undergoing rehabiliT' ' 20 points in the fourth quarter and'tation at Duke sat behind his old : Allan Houston also had 20 for New v Yoik Williams contributed nine assists all but two coming in the ’ : 115 Mavericks 105 pnd half when he played the majority ' : of the minute's at point guard ' : Corey Maggette scored 26 points ShareefAbdur-Rahimhil20 d and Quentin Richardson had 25 points ' and-1ebounds as Los Angeles hand- - points to lead tlre Hawks who lost ' ed Dallas its second home loss their seventh Straight overall and ' their eighth consecutive roadgame:Elton Brand had 22 points and 2Q Hornets 94 (rizzlies 89 rebounds for the dippers who had - won only four of their previous 22Baron Davis had 25 points and !2 assists and New Orleanslrroke out 'meetings with the Mavericks Los v including 10 in the firniih quarter ' and nine rebounds for Milwaukee' : Kerry Kittles had 20 points liir New Jersey which had won six of its ' last seven Jasoh Kidd added 18 priints and 1() assists but missed 1 3 of his first 15 shots' Milwaukee trailed with 2:55 leftbul theBiieksused a 7r0 run put away'New'Jersey Tlmberwolvcs 102 Facers 80 Kevin Garnett had '28 points to lead Minnesota to its fifth straight victory’ Backup Fred Hoiberg hud 2 points and Sam Cassell added 8 points' and 1 0 assists l'or iheTimherwol ves Jermaine ONeal led Indiana with 16 ptrints but hit just 6ofl 8 fmiii the ' field for the Pavers who eoiiiinued their inConsistenl shooting by hitting' on just 35 percent rif their field goals It was the Puccis- worst sIxMiting per- ' ftymance of the seasoh und their third Under40 LmseeutiveguiK: percent ' ' - : - : 1 1 10-of-- 12 ) er r : - - - : SuperSonics l 15 Nuggets' 106 Richie Frahm hit six 3 p tints: and scored a career-hig- h 1 ' APphotQ and Ronald Murray added 24 poinN' :' Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James front heads to the basket past Chicago and 10 assist sit) lead Seattle Rick Brunso'n'rear during the fourth quarter1 Bulls defenders Kirk Hinrich The Sonjes were cbining'blTa lop-'- v' ' y sided loss' to San Antonio on Friday ‘ i Bdnzi Wells canie off the bench to v of a shooting slump td snap a three- without guards ’night V lead Memphis with points game lasing streak- Daniels and Antonio Brepi Barn' Jl' and a finger Jamaal Magloire added 1 8 jxtints including a didn't seeni hi slow them ' V1:: roll that helped Memphis get as close ' and 13 rebounds and PJ Brown ' Seattle shot 50 percent arid got 7 as 76-7- 2 early in the final period' with 12 points and 10 rebounds points eaeh lront Luke Ridnbur and But New Orleans responded with a for the Homets whose skid was its ''' Rashard Lew is to end a three-gam- e ' ' rv-: 144:ran longest this season fosing streak: Frahni was Bucks 92 Nets 87 David Wesley coming off his ' the field including I'roni front ' Tim Thomas scored 16 of his 2 1 worst game of the season in New : ' f range ' Orleans' loss Thursdily night to" points in the first quarter and aukee Voshbuleiuird hit sey’eh served eight' of the final U points in : Sacramenta started strong as the ' finish with 3 points arid Andre- ' to ' ' Hornetsbuiit iin early lead He fin- a victory over New’ Jersey- - ' Michael Redd added ished with' 16 points1 pKiints' V: : See NBA on 114 left-an- ' ' - arid-playe- fin-ish- 1 - : IO-fo- r- ' j 1 n visits team By - ' ' The Associated Press Utah Jazz coach Jeriy Sloan has' never paid attention to preseason ' " predictions a lesson he learned ' nearly four decades '? ago ' In the summer of 1966 Sloan left' the Baltimore Bullets as die first pick in the' expansion draft joining Chica- a distinction that earned him ' the nickname “The Original Bull’’ went to an expansion team that was supposed to wid 10 ganies and we made the playoffs -' one of the few expansion teams ever to make the playoffs” said Sloan whose team hks been one of v the biggest surprises thus far in the 2003-0- 4 season “I’ve always believed you can win if guys come: and play hard every night” Playing hard hgs been Sloan’s V mantra' since hirdays as a scrappy : fesward who led Evansville to a 29-- 0 record as a senior before gar-team nering NBA honors six times Sloan’s teams have always mimic ked their coach’s Characteristics of waking hard and acting professional- - : - - ' r A v-- to the Elias Sports Bureau there have been 158 head' coaching changes in thg NBA since ' loan replacied Frank Layden on Dec 9 1988 He has been with more than twicie as long as the v second-mo- st tenured NBA coach 'Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves (eight seasons): ' Retirement will eventually lake Sloan back to the downstate Illinois off-gua- rd ' V T-- Accrftding '' go-—-- - fa bigger markets': - ‘ - Jy andlhis year's unit js no exception Nobody expected the Jazz to " Contend for a playoff spot this sea- son after the departure of Karl Mai- one and John Stocktoriyet Utah ' entered the weekend as one of 1 1 ' 1 yestem Conference teamswith ‘ records above 500 Sloan dismisses Utah’s early-sea- v son success explaining that the Jazz caught opponents during the first six weeks because ' nobody was certain how Utah's revamped roster planned to pay : Now tjhat there’s a body of work for opposing coaches and scouts to-pick apart the challenge for the Jazz will be to rtiaintain the level of i success they’ve established Utah’s streak consccof Extending utive playoft appearances to 2 1 is “ still a kmgshot Still Sloan figures to receive strong support in voting for the Cogch ofthe year award thal elud- era ed him in the Stockton-MaloNot that he gives a hoot “fdidn'tplay this gamefor ' recognition and J don’t coach for it” s4id Sloan who' twice turned down opportunities to leave Utah ' t '' - Z ' - - Mm be summer before he can run again But Someday soon Williams ' promises he'll be back on the court: “I’m goirig to come hack and play” he said Satiinlay after watching a' ' Bulls practice the first time since : ' the devastating motorcycleacddent that jeopardized his career "That’s the motivation where you ' want to get track to This is what I've done ihy whole life Thafs what I look-- : forward to doing again" : Williams is in Chicago this Weekend : for the first time since being released from the hospital July2 He visited with his teammates after Saturday morning's AP photo v shootaround exchanging a hug with Bulls' rival Jamal Williams walks fellow guard and one-tiTheChicago Jay ttirotigh the halls of the United Center on - See VISIT on B4 crutches before Saturday night's garfie 1 - ' these lasf sixmohths: ''Every bounce of a ball every screech of a sneaker on hardwood echoes through his head like a siren's call push-Ing him to chase his dream He still can't walkwithoiit crutches'and itwill likely fa - ne Jay Williams - - tenacity and toughness '" ' “The easiest thing to do is jujst ' I'-turn ’em loose and let 'em go but don’t see uS helping them become any better My job still remains' the same doesn't make any difference who’s here" Sloan said “Our job’s still like an expansion team in my mind we have to go in with the idea ' we're going to try to get better” - sounds that have carried him through - community of McLeansboro' where he will tinker with his coir ' eXion of antique tractors' But hie isn't certain when that day will arriye- leaving himpacingthe sidelines swearing at officials and demanding the same of his team that he gave as a player—effort - CHICAGO (AP)- sat in a chair at theedge of theChica- go Bulls pr&tice court Smiling Ut the : : |