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Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin spent 16 years and 1,065 games playing the small forward position in the NBA.
Now, the heir to Jerry Sloan will attempt, in the middle of the season, to get Utah's big men to do something not even his mentor could accomplish: play bigger.
Jazz center Al Jefferson and power forward Paul Millsap are undersized and technically play out of position. They have put up strong scoring numbers all season, though, adapting to their new roles as the season has unfolded.
But a consistent balance between putting the ball in the basket and securing it when it fails to sail through the net has been harder to achieve.
Jefferson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds during Utah's 95-83 home loss to Phoenix on Friday. However, he finished with just four points on 2-of-14 shooting. Meanwhile, Millsap recorded 16 points but only recorded three rebounds, and failed to collect an offensive board.
Factor in the inconsistency of reserve Kyrylo Fesenko, Mehmet Okur's continued absence and the fact that backup Francisco Elson often plays more like a power forward than a center, and Corbin knows that the Jazz's front line has to stand taller as the stretch run of the season approaches.
"We've had some successes. … We need to get where we get everybody playing right for longer stretches," Corbin said. "We're talented enough. We've got to get more focused in on what's at hand."
To Corbin, consistency is the main issue that troubles Utah's big men. Jefferson and Millsap have been dependable, and each has carried the Jazz at certain times this season. But getting all of the Jazz's power forwards and centers to step up at the same time has been nearly impossible.
Case in point: Fesenko. He poured in a season-high 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds last Monday, playing up to size during a tough road win against Sacramento. But he failed to record a point during the Jazz's next two games.
"We've just got to get more consistent as to how we're playing well," Corbin said. "And if we struggle, why we're struggling. And then fix it as soon as we can. And not just in scoring, and don't let it be based on whether I'm hitting shots. It's based on whether I'm playing right."
The Jazz played right for one quarter during Corbin's coaching debut, jumping out of the gate and outscoring fast-running Phoenix 31-19 during the first period. The insertion of C.J. Miles — normally a reserve small forward — into the starting shooting guard spot played a large part, as Miles hit his first four shots and finished with 14 points in the first half.
But like Utah's big men, consistency is still an issue for Miles. He appears to be closer than he has all season to assuming a starting role in Utah's offense, and point guard Deron Williams said that Miles' impact was noticeable when the Jazz were initially humming. But for Corbin to turn to Miles more often, the sixth-year player has to perform more like a veteran than an up-and-down rookie.
"C.J. understands that he has to be more consistent in coming off the bench or starting," Corbin said.
He added: "We've got to find what's going to make it better for him and for this team for 48 minutes."
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