Utah Jazz: Brewer, Price return to practice

With Ronnie Brewer and Ronnie Price returning to the practice court Sunday, what looked like a potential crisis for the Jazz as they prepare to open the season could be downgraded to a mere concern.

Down to just nine players in uniform for Friday's preseason finale at Sacramento, the Jazz were back up to 11 two days later. Brewer practiced in full while Price did everything but scrimmage, the team said.

The Jazz were caught in the numbers crunch after Brewer did not travel with back spasms and Price missed a fourth consecutive game with a strained left hamstring. C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver and Matt Harpring already are out to start the season.

"The numbers are real low," Brewer said, "and I know the problems that

we had last year with injuries and how important it is to have everybody out there and healthy, so I'm going to try to get back as soon as possible and try to contribute."

With only nine players, the Jazz opened the second and fourth quarters against the Kings with Deron Williams and Paul Millsap playing out of position at shooting guard and small forward, joined by Eric Maynor, Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko.

It was just as startling apparently to Brewer, who was following the game's play-by-play online, as it was to those watching in person at Arco Arena.

"At times, I was like, 'Wow, that's a crazy lineup,'" Brewer said. "And then it looked awkward because at the bottom of our stat sheet, it was just so many

guys with, 'Did not dress, [Not] with team.' I was like, 'Man, that's crazy.' I'm glad we got the win, though."

Williams was able to joke Sunday with Miles, who is recovering from thumb surgery, about the 22 minutes he had to play at off guard.

"I can't play two quarters at the two," Williams said. "I said to C.J. he needs to hurry up and get back. Work on his right hand or something, tape that bad boy up."

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said the team could move forward with 11 players, adding that he wouldn't explore a waiver signing "unless something really jumps up at us."

"The 11th man and 10th man usually play about three minutes in a game, somewhere along the line, and no one ever concerns themselves," O'Connor said.

He acknowledged the difference between a team with a full roster of 15, as opposed to a team with just 11, facing questions about what happens in the event of another injury.

Brewer, meanwhile, said his back was much improved from Thursday, when he was unable to drive and arrived late to practice. The Jazz had to send a ballboy to pick up Brewer and then return him home.

One suggestion was that Brewer had gotten hit in the Jazz's preseason games against Charlotte or Portland, though he couldn't remember anything. Brewer also might have just slept wrong. Either way, he'd never suffered from back issues before.

"If you ever had a cramp in your leg, you know how painful that is," Brewer said. "I had it on my whole left side."

Brewer, who had an impressive preseason with his shooting, has gone through multiple rounds of treatment, including chiropractic sessions. He said his back felt loose before practice Sunday and he even joined teammates in the weight room.

He did express some concern about battling back issues given how much he relies on athleticism and explosiveness. "A lot of my game is finishing at the rim," said Brewer, who hadn't been back on the court before Sunday. "It's kind of tough."

For his part, Price came in Saturday and went through a series of lateral drills. As much as he wants to play, Price also is trying to be careful, noting that Milwaukee's Joe Alexander is set to miss eight to 12 weeks with a hamstring injury.

"I'm going to try and be smart about these days coming up to the game," Price said, "and just make sure I don't do anything to set me back a day or make sure that my leg is good enough to be ready for opening night."

The Jazz intended to start him Friday, but Price thought he would have hurt the team on the court.

"The way I felt laterally pregame against Sacramento, I felt like I couldn't stay in front of anybody if I tried to," Price said. "That's been a concern, because I want to be able to be me if I'm going to play."

rsiler@sltrib.com