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Los Angeles • Neither Steve Nash nor Trey Burke suited up Sunday night at Staples Center.
For the 40-year-old Nash, injuries have kept him off the court with frequency the last two years. For the youngster Burke, it was simply a deserved rest in the preseason.
The two point guards are at opposite ends of their careers. But Jazz coach Quin Snyder said this week, he'd like to see his young floor general look to Nash for inspiration.
"He changed the game in a lot of ways," Snyder said. "… Frankly, I've told Trey Burke that this is the guy that I would like to see him emulate as much as anyone."
Nash is likely in his final year in the NBA and has taken on a mentorship role within his own team.
"He could have been a 20-point scorer, easy," Laker point guard Jeremy Lin said. "You just shoot three or four more times. But [he told me] it's about getting your team and everybody feeling good, getting the ball flowing and building that team chemistry and camaraderie."
Burke, watching from afar, is hoping to pick up some tricks, too.
"[Snyder] definitely talked to me about that," Burke said. "He wants me to play at the pace that Steven Nash played at. When he was in Phoenix and they were up and down the court, obviously that's when he was in his prime. He was making plays for his teammates. It wasn't just a half-court offense at all times. He got the most out of the Suns because he was pushing the ball."
Injury report
Jazz forward Trevor Booker was held out of Sunday's preseason game with a sprained ankle. Booker hurt himself during a brief skirmish with Clippers forward Blake Griffin on Friday night. Booker, however, was no longer wearing a protective walking boot during the team's shootaround Sunday morning.
Familiar face
Lakers rookie Julius Randle might be the future of the franchise, but for now he finds himself behind former Jazzman Carlos Boozer, now L.A.'s starting power forward.
"Carlos has been a good mentor to our younger big guys," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "And on the court, I think he's starting to get his legs under him and starting to feel good about where his conditioning is and he's starting to find his place in the offense.
Is the up-and-coming Randle's potential motivating the vet?
"Carlos pushes himself," Scott said. "I think he's pushing the rookie more than the rookie's pushing him."
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