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If the Jazz are anything but concerned over ex-teammate Carlos Boozer's latest injury, it doesn't show.
Boozer spent six injury-plagued seasons with the Jazz before signing a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bulls last summer.
But Boozer won't start the season with his new team because he broke his finger after a fall at home Saturday. Boozer is expected to be sidelined for two months, meaning he would miss the first four weeks of the regular season, which translates to 15 games.
"It's unfortunate," said Jazz point guard Deron Williams. "We wish him the best and hopefully he'll get back soon."
Andei Kirilenko also described the situation as "unfortunate … [But] it happens. You can't really control. I hope he is going to be well."
Said Paul Millsap: "I heard about it. It's a tough situation — something he's just got to fight back from."
In eight NBA seasons, Boozer has missed 146 of a possible 656 regular-season games.
"I've always had a difficult time trying to figure out why people think it was bad on his part," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "You know, we look for something wrong in him because he … missed games. I never appreciated that." "That's the way it is, I guess, if you get banged up or get hurt," he said. "When you make a lot of money, people expect you to play when you're not able to. I think that happened here a little bit [and] made it tough."
Williams also defended Boozer: "You never know somebody's body and what they are going through, so fans can speculate all they want. But they don't know how serious injuries are or how he's feeling."
Sorting out a lineup
Sloan is not close to naming his starting lineup as the Jazz prepare for Thursday's preseason opener against Portland at EnergySolutions Arena. Even with Memo Okur sidelined after Achilles tendon surgery — and with Al Jefferson and Williams almost certain to start — Sloan has options at power forward, small forward and shooting guard.
He could start Paul Millsap or Kirilenko at power forward, Kirilenko or C.J. Miles at small forward and Miles or Raja Bell at shooting guard.
"It's always tough; we're still working," Kirilenko said. "But in the starting lineup or off the bench, I don't care." Millsap has made 49 starts in four seasons as Boozer's backup. With Boozer in Chicago, he sounds interested in starting. "I don't know, man," Millsap said. "Hopefully I'll get a chance to showcase my skills at a starting position. … But you just have to sit back and wait. Everything is not in stone right now so I have to sit back on it."