Boozer a happy camper – and bonus coverage on a Spencer for hire
Even if he didn’t want to be here or thought he wasn’t going to be here so he started thinking out loud that other places sorta, kinda sound cool, too, while promoting his basketball camp in Alaska to media outlets that coincidentally just so happened to be located in his two most desirable playing locations – Chicago and Miami, baby! – Carlos Boozer seems to be enjoying himself in Utah.
Huh? Anyway, the point is Carlos Boozer is all smiles right now.
(If you want to enter your own joke here about how his happiness might be related to the fact that he’s yet to make the injury report, feel free. I’m personally taking the high road on this one, and will not go there.)
Anyway, here’s how Boozer said he was feeling at practice Tuesday:
“Great. Having a great camp, enjoying it, having fun with my teammates,” he said. “Learning a lot about some different things this year, which is gonna hopefully get us (to be) more successful on the court, get some more wins. Having fun learning our new stuff.”
And, yes, some of that “new stuff” is on the defensive end of the court.
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Former Utah State standout Spencer Nelson is participating in camp with the Jazz this week, and I had the pleasure of catching up with him at practice Tuesday for an article.
Fortunately for me, he had some interesting quotes. Unfortunately, space didn’t permit using all of them. Because I know there are Spencer Nelson fans out there – he was well-liked by non-USU supporters and extremely beloved by Aggies – and because I liked what he had to say, I thought I’d find a spot for the parts of the article about him that hit the editing-room floor. So, voila:
Nelson credited his European experience – including stints in Germany, Italy and Greece – for helping him develop throughout what he called “a growth period.” Because of that maturation process, Nelson believes his outside shooting, ability to fight through screens and perimeter defense have improved to the point where he belongs in the NBA.
Which is why he’s trying to battle for a roster spot on a roster that may or may not have any openings, and several candidates duking it out if one happens to open up.
“If I give it my best,” Nelson said, “I think I’ve got as good a shot as anyone to make this team and that’s all I’m really focused on.”
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Nelson also said he turned down a couple of offers to play in Europe this season because “nothing felt like the right fit.”
“When the Jazz came and invited me to camp,” he said, “it felt like the right place.”
Funny. That’s just about what Brigham Young said when the Jazz invited him to camp in the Salt Lake Valley, too.
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Having played for Stew Morrill, Nelson can more easily relate to a no-nonsense, demanding coach like Jerry Sloan. He’s likely a long shot to make the team, but it’s not because he doesn’t heed Sloan’s advice. In fact, Sloan openly gushes about the 29-year-old.
“Coach Sloan just demands hard work and an honest day’s effort from everybody, so as far as that goes, you betcha, I’m gonna bring it every day,” Nelson said when asked if his style fits Sloan’s. “I’m not going to let down. I know that I have to scrap and claw every second in order to have a chance to make this team.
“I love the way he coaches. I love the system he runs. Yeah, it would be great to play for him for a whole year.”