A few thoughts on Game 1

Tim Buckley’s at the Honda Center/The Arena Formerly Known as The Pond/Hallowed Ground for Ute Hoops Fans, but I have a few thoughts from my recliner after watching the game on TV:

– Ronnie Brewer had some nasty dunks and really just looks strong, athletic and aggressive. He’s been the talk of the preseason so far — because of his offseason work and early shooting — and it seems as if the early accolades are well-warranted.
In other words, he’s well on his way to making the Preseason All-Star team. Heck, he even outscored Kobe Bryant 13-8.

– Paul Millsap got the start in place of Carlos Boozer (hamstring) and had a pretty solid offensive outing with 13 points, but the lengthy Lakers limited him to just 3 rebounds (a fact that didn’t stop Craig Bolerjack from hitting double digits on Millsap “nose for the ball” references.)

– Gotta feel kind of bad for rookie Kosta Koufos. It didn’t sound like his hamstring injury was too serious (though we’ll have to get a more accurate update from Tim and the team), but getting sidelined in your pro debut (of the preseason variety) isn’t how he envisioned it going down, no doubt.

– Ronnie Price had 17 minutes, and Brevin Knight only had 12. Is that a sign of things to come in the race to be Deron Williams’ backup or simply coach Jerry Sloan playing the returning guy who knows the offense better? Several of their minutes were spent together on the court.

– ESPN lists Jazz hopeful Kevin Lyde as being 6-10, 260 pounds. The Jazz list him as being 6-9, 294. As far as the weight goes, Lyde might prefer ESPN’s kind numbers, but here’s guessing the Jazz roster is a bit more (though perhaps not completely) accurate.

– Did you hear former Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek tell Bolerjack that he thinks this Utah team might have a better chance at winning a championship than the old Stockton-to-Malone-and-every-once-in-a-while-to-Hornacek teams? Now that’s a ringing endorsement.

– Perhaps the most impressive player on the floor tonight: Lakers’ big man Andrew Bynum.