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Houston • Boris Diaw is unquestionably bright and one of his old coaches knows that the big man needs his peers on the basketball court to keep up with him to keep his interest.
"I do know that Boris wants to play a certain way," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said after heaping praise upon the player he once coached with the Phoenix Suns. "He wants to play smart basketball and if people aren't playing around him he can be disengaged."
Diaw has perhaps looked that way at times during his early days in a Jazz jersey, but his new coach says the 34-year-old has simply been hampered by injuries through the first month of the season.
Diaw missed eight games with a bone contusion, and on Saturday in Houston he was held out with a sore groin.
"He's trying to come back and he's still a little banged up," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "But he's doing his best to play."
Diaw dressed for Saturday's game but was only available in an emergency situation. Snyder said the team was being cautious with the player, especially with another game Sunday in Denver.
"Back-to-backs at this point are going to be a challenge for him," Snyder said.
When Diaw has played for the Jazz this season, the veteran has struggled. Diaw is averaging 2.2 points per game on 23.8 percent shooting and is committing more turnovers (1.6) than assists (.6).
ESPN's real plus-minus stat, which attempts to isolate an individual player's impact on his team, places Diaw among the league's worst big men early this season. Only Washington's Jason Smith and Orlando's Bismack Biyombo are ranked worse among power forwards and centers.
With Diaw out, second-year forward Trey Lyles started and scored 21 points to go with five rebounds.
What if?
D'Antoni on Saturday called Diaw and Jazz forward Joe Johnson two of his favorite players from their days with the Suns, but the coach lamented that Johnson was traded to Atlanta as part of the deal that brought Diaw to the desert.
"I know Joe Johnson owes me at least two championships, because he cost me at least two for leaving," D'Antoni joked.
Thumb keeps Hill on bench again
Point guard George Hill was held out of action Saturday as he recovers from a sprained right thumb.
Hill has missed as many games (seven) as he has played for the Jazz this season. The Jazz, coincidentally, are 7-7 on the season.
Twitter: @aaronfalk