And after taking that loss in Indiana, the team flew home - with plans to practice again today.

It's a busy schedule that Sloan likely wouldn't maintain during the regular season. But with so many players, and especially so many young players on the roster, the coach figures he needs to get his team as many minutes as possible on the floor.

"I've got a lot of young guys, and I can't get them all a lot of minutes in games," Sloan said. "I'd like to play everybody more, but they have to understand that I've got an obligation to give everybody a chance."

Only four Jazz players, three of them rookies, were on the floor for more than 20 minutes in Toronto, and none of them played that much in Indiana. "So fatigue-wise, they should be OK," Sloan said. "We need the time to get ourselves ready."

But the coach noticed a couple of players were feeling the effects of all the work. Centers Robert Whaley and James Lang "weren't quite as lively as last night," he said. "We'll find out who they are. This is a tough business. They've got to get in shape."

Miles away from playing

C.J. Miles, one day after his fourth-quarter heroics against the Raptors, didn't get off the bench against the Pacers. And the Pacers were the reason why.

When Indiana coach Rick Carlisle played his veterans for much of the night, Sloan decided that Miles was better off just watching.

"There's something he's got to understand" first, Sloan said. "Because this team can execute."

In other words, the 18-year-old Miles isn't quite ready yet to match up against Stephen Jackson or Jamaal Tinsley or Sarunas Jasikevicius.

"They get you in a situation where they pin you. They know all the tricks of the trade because they're a veteran team," Sloan said. "He's got a lot to learn, so I was a little bit concerned about that."

Free agent Matt Karcher also didn't play, and injured forwards Matt Harpring and Carlos Boozer did not dress.

Briefly

The Canseco Fieldhouse crowd was small - only 11,390 for the Pacers' preseason opener - but there were plenty of Jazz fans among them. Guard Andre Owens is from Indianapolis, so he left 28 tickets for family and friends. That only barely beat out Robert Whaley's contingent of 25 tickets, needed because the rookie forward is from Benton Harbor, Mich., about a two-hour drive away. And Deron Williams' mother, who lives in Indianapolis, also was in the crowd. . . . The Jazz's first cuts could come today. Sloan said he would consider who to keep on the roster during the next day or two. Of the 19 players in camp, 14 of them have guaranteed contracts and are likely to survive the cutdown. . . . Utah's next game is in the Delta Center, Monday night against the Suns.

pmiller@sltrib.com