"It's like I don't get any shots the first half, so I've got to show you I can get them off the second half," Sloan said of Miles. "That's not a good way to do it."

With Sloan opting to bring Andrei Kirilenko off the bench as long as Matt Harpring is out recovering from an ankle infection, Miles has been given an opportunity even he admits he never saw coming at the start of

training camp.

"I didn't think that it would be like I would replace Andrei in the starting lineup. I didn't think it would go like that," Miles said. "But I'm not going to complain about it. I was just trying to make sure I got some minutes somewhere."

Miles' new role is more than he expected after the Jazz matched the four-year, $14.8 million offer sheet he signed with Oklahoma City this summer. Miles was an injury-replacement starter at times last season but was out of the rotation just as often.

But Sloan also feels the need to see more out of Miles, who didn't take a shot in the first half Sunday. He missed those two jumpers to start the second half and committed a turnover followed by an immediate foul.

"He's got to play and compete," Sloan said. "He just can't be out there."

Sloan preaches that young players such as Miles should work to make their first shot a layup. That way they can build confidence before launching jumpers from the outside. Deron Williams, meanwhile, said Miles just needed to slow down a little.

"He's got to relax, play his game, take his shots when they're open," Williams said. "I think he's speeding up a little bit. He's got to settle down and play."

Miles said life as a starter did require an adjustment after three seasons as a reserve. He still has four preseason games to get ready before opening night.

"I'm trying to find my spots," Miles said. "It's not that I'm not used to playing with [the starters]. It's just a little different flow from coming off the bench and knowing where you're going to get your shots all the time, playing with different guys."

Sloan said he wasn't concerned about starting Ronnie Brewer and Miles together, given their lack of experience. Brewer is 23 and didn't become a full-time starter until last season; Miles is 21 and has averaged 10.5 minutes a game in his career.

"I wouldn't be worried as much about the inexperience to start the game as I would be trying to finish the game," Sloan said. "That's where the problems come in sometimes."

Miles also still has work to do to earn his spot in the starting five. Through three games, Miles is averaging 5.0 points and shooting 28.6 percent, though he noted Sunday that he hasn't shot well the last two preseasons.

Sloan could opt to start Kyle Korver and bring Miles off the bench. Korver has enjoyed a productive preseason, averaging 13 points on 55.6 percent shooting.

"There's a possibility," Sloan said of starting Korver. "Those are some of the things we have to look at. That's why we have the exhibition season."

Notes: The Jazz were off Monday and will practice today before leaving on a three-game trip to Denver, Champaign, Ill., and Chicago. . . . Ronnie Price (bruised right leg) and Jarron Collins (right elbow bursitis) sat out Sunday but are expected to practice. . . . Kyrylo Fesenko had seven offensive rebounds against Portland. . . . Former Jazz center Rafael Araujo was waived Sunday by Minnesota.

rsiler@sltrib.com