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Could it be?
Has the time arrived?
Because, I don't want this to be a false prophecy.
I think Jerry Sloan's Job-like patience has paid off.
C.J. Miles has become what Jerry Sloan always knew he could be... a major talent turned major player.
I get Jerry.
Or should I say, I got Jerry.
I got why he liked some players and didn't like others.
When people say "He's a Jerry Sloan player." I get it. No further explanation required.
Except that C.J. Miles is not a "Jerry Sloan player". He's fun loving and inconsistent. He'll jack up 30 footers and miss them... and hit them. Jerry said it best, "He has about as much range as you can be comfortable with."
For years, I've been baffled by Sloan's belief that C.J. would blossom (and I don't think that I was alone).
He's been in and out of the lineup more than Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live. Is he a starter, a sixth man or a perpetual underachiever?
Not too long ago (exactly two games ago) he was a sixth man.
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
"I've embraced it. At the beginning it was tough. It's definitely a role that I'm proud coach is able to put me into. It shows the belief he has in me to be able to score the basketball and be a leader in that second group."
Jerry liked C.J.'s firepower off the bench, but it seems that new headman Ty Corbin is ready for C.J. to make the jump to the starting lineup, for good.
The early results are in and they are impressive. Although any mathematician worth his salt would argue that C.J.'s two starts are too small a sampling to draw any conclusions. However, I'm not a math guy and I'm free to draw whatever conclusions I want.
In the last two games (both victories) that C.J. has started, he's averaged 35.5 minutes, 29.5 points, 6 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the field.
Starting or coming off the bench, C.J. claims he just wants minutes. "I like minutes, that's what I told (Corbin). I just want to be on the floor, want to play and contribute to the team."
Miles wants minutes and the starting lineup is just the place for him, "If they put me in the position, I'm up for it. I wouldn't mind it."
Playing alongside Al Jefferson, Devin Harris and Andrei Kirilenko has contributed to Miles recent success.
"I've had some good games starting... with that second group it's not as open because the first person the defense focuses on is myself." said Miles.
The move hasn't been without drama. Previous starting guard Raja Bell was unhappy with the way he was removed from the starting lineup, but realizes that it may be best for the team. "The way we play, the one on one style of play that we do play and employ, C.J.'s probably a better fit. It was inevitable, I knew it was coming." said Bell. "I think he plays better in that starting role and if that's the case... whatever gives us the best chance to win."
Jerry Sloan showed great patience with C.J. as Miles learned to stop camping out at the three point line and take it to the basket.
"I think if I can get layups, so I can get to the line, it makes that basket look all that much bigger. We've always talked about that." said Miles, "Coach Sloan has been hitting me across the head with it my first four or five years. I think it's just believing in the things that I do and not cutting my game in half by just sitting out there shooting long jumper shots."
Finally, the preaching seems to be paying off and if Miles continues his stellar play, it will mean a big payday for Miles... but not for another couple years. The Jazz can keep Miles through the 2011-12 season for the bargain price of $3.7 million.
Which makes C.J. Miles, one of the best bargains in the business.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves... it was just two games.
