This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's been a frustrating stretch of the season for Jazz veteran Raja Bell.
He acknowledges it.
After ex-coach Jerry Sloan resigned on Feb. 10, Bell missed three games with a calf strain.
After returning, he scored five points on 1-of-10 shooting at Dallas and Indiana.
Bell seemed to regain his stroke during Saturday's 120-116 loss at Detroit, where he made 6 of 9 shots and scored 14 points.
On Monday night, however, Bell scored two points in 27 minutes in the loss to Boston.
He made 1 of 4 shots.
"I'm frustrated we lost," Bell said before practice Tuesday. "Any time we lose, frustration comes along with that, especially at this point in the season."
Asked about his limited impact on the Jazz's offense, Bell replied, "I said when I came here I would do whatever people asked me to so. And that hasn't changed.
"I don't have to like it every night. But I will do whatever is asked of me to the best of my ability."
Evans to the D-League?
Jazz rookie forward Jeremy Evans could be headed to the Utah Flash in the NBA Developmental League.
Evans, a second-round draft pick from Western Kentucky, has played only two minutes since Feb. 16.
He was inactive Monday.
To get Evans experience, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor is considering a taste of the D-League.
"We would probably look at doing something like that," said O'Connor, who is on the road scouting college players.
O'Connor planned to let the Jazz practice Tuesday and Wednesday before making a decision.
Given the Flash's upcoming schedule, a D-League assignment for Evans makes sense.
The Flash play five of their next seven games at home, including back-to-back against New Mexico on Friday and Saturday.
"I don't know if we're going to do it," O'Connor said. "But right now, getting Jeremy some experience would be a good thing."
Evans averages 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.6 minutes this season. He has played in 32 games.
Youth movement
For 13 minutes against Boston, Jazz youngsters Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors were on the floor at the same time.
Hayward is 20. Favors is 19.
"They were playing a good game," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "They didn't look, act or play like 20- and 19-year-old kids. …
"They did a good job. They were aggressive. They played good defense and they fought their guys in tough situations. It was a pleasure to see."
Hours before the Jazz-Boston game, Tyrell Corbin scored 33 points in West High's 51-41 win over Riverton in the Class 5-A state basketball tournament.
But the Jazz coach doesn't think his 18-year-old son is NBA-ready, despite his closeness in age to Hayward and Favors.
Referring to the Jazz rookies, Corbin said, "That's how these guys are. They've been around the game forever. They played a lot of basketball. To their credit, they're ready for it."