"I never feel real comfortable in a zone," Sloan said. "I think it's a gimmicky thing to do. But when you've got guys [who] can't get over screens, can't guard guys on the floor, can't stay in front of them going to the basket, then you've got to try something different."

The Jazz trailed 32-23 after one quarter against the Suns, switched to the zone and took a 57-54 lead into halftime. Starting with two victories over the Clippers, the Jazz have made regular use of the zone, with their defense giving up 93.4 points a game this season.

Sloan said the Jazz would become too predictable if they played zone any more exclusively. Andrei Kirilenko, however, is a supporter: "I would say in a perfect world, if a team can play great zone defense, it's way better than man-to-man defense."

Back in a Flash

The NBA Development League's Utah Flash held media day Tuesday in advance of their season opener Nov. 28 at Austin.

With last year's starting point guard, Kevin Kruger, opting to play in Bulgaria, the Flash traded No. 1 pick Denham Brown to Dakota to acquire Dontell Jefferson, a college teammate of Ronnie Brewer's at Arkansas who went through training camp last month with the Clippers.

"I think I'm real close," Jefferson said of making the NBA. "It's just a matter of going out there every night and proving that I can be a leader out there on the floor and run a team."

Jefferson averaged 17 points and 5 assists last season with Dakota before finishing the season in Latvia. He previously went through training camp with Memphis. Flash coach Brad Jones said, "The feedback we've gotten is . . . that NBA guys would like to see him be the guy at point."

The Flash again are affiliated with the Jazz and Boston Celtics. With the Celtics assigning Gabe Pruitt and Brandon Wallace to the Flash last season, Jones was asked if he got a ring (or even a T-shirt) after their championship.

"I got to hold the ring when we were up in Boston this year," Jones said. "They were sizing them and they gave it to me and I looked at it and the ring's about as big as my dang hand."

Almond update

With Morris Almond playing 21 minutes Saturday against Cleveland, agent Lon Babby said Monday that Almond was very much still a part of the Jazz even though the team last month declined an option in Almond's contract for the 2009-10 season.

"Whatever is going on behind the scenes with what they're doing or what I'm doing is inappropriate to comment on as long as he remains a member of the team," Babby said.

Briefly

Deron Williams (sprained left ankle) practiced Tuesday and is a game-time decision to play tonight against Milwaukee. So is Mehmet Okur (strained lower back) who practiced, but not in full, and Brevin Knight (strained left groin), who did not practice. . . . Kyle Korver made two surprise appearances to deliver the 800 coats donated at the Jazz's Nov. 7 game.