Although Paul Millsap has opened eyes with his play in the past week while Carlos Boozer has been out with a strained right calf, his teammates insist that nothing about Millsap's improved game has come as a surprise to them.
"I saw that this summer, just given the chance, given the time," Deron Williams said. "I've been a fan of Paul Millsap all along so I've always been one of his supporters. He's just getting the chance to show what he can do right now while Booz is out."
"It's a comfort level, knowing you're going ot be out there extended minutes, knowing you'll get a couple more shots," C.J. Miles added. "If you can get a rhythm, you don't have to really press for anything. He's done what everybody here knows he's capable of doing."
Millsap had 12 points Wednesday and is averaging 23 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in Boozer's absence.
"Guys tell me every day, 'Shoot the ball,' and I just wasn't feeling comfortable doing it," Millsap said. "But now I've got confidence. The coaches are telling me to do it, my teammates are having confidence in me and I'm just stepping out and shooting the ball."
Boozer, meanwhile, worked on defensive slides, ball-handling and shooting at Wednesday's shootaround. He said he was still dealing with tightness in his calf, but was hopeful to practice Friday and return Saturday against Denver.
Fame game
Ronnie Price will be inducted in Utah Valley University's athletic Hall of Fame as part of tonight's game against Texas-Pan American. Price played three seasons at Utah Valley as the basketball program made the leap from junior college to Division I status.
Price will be the 27th member of the Hall and said his family was making the trip from Texas for the ceremony. He is the first player to jump directly from Utah Valley to the NBA.
After growing up in Friendswood, Texas, and playing as a freshman at Nicholls State, Price talked Wednesday about the decision to transfer to Utah Valley.
"It was a culture shock for sure, coming out of Houston and then going to Louisiana," Price said. "I committed here without even coming on a visit, so I had no idea, never had been in Utah, had no idea what it looked like.
"I just knew it snowed and it had mountains. That's pretty much it. When I got out here, I realized that it was more to it and I'm happy that I made the decision to come here."
Milk man
As part of All-Star weekend in Dallas, Williams will be introduced next Thursday as one of three new faces of the 'got milk' ad campaign along with St. Louis Cardinals MVP Albert Pujols and gymnast Shawn Johnson .
