After nightmarish year, Kirilenko gets back on track

Given more playmaking responsibility this season, Andrei Kirilenko is averaging better than five assists a game. Icon SMI

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For a game so widely governed by the feats -- or limits -- of human physicality, the fact that pro basketball is, indeed, played by humans is easy to dismiss. How can a bruised ego be as important to someone's productivity as the $13.7 million he is getting paid to produce? What is selfish pride compared to the thrill of the win?

Try as fans and coaches might, the human element of the NBA is not confined to that part of the body below the neck. One need look no further than Andrei Kirilenko's 2006-07 season to see that.

"It was tough last year," Kirilenko, 26, told SI.com recently. "There were a lot of disappointments."

Kirilenko, an All-Star in 2004, experienced one of the more puzzling declines in NBA productivity in recent seasons. After averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his five previous seasons, he saw his numbers plummet to career lows last year: 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

But a summer spent leading the Russian national team to the European championship, combined with coach Jerry Sloan's decision to increase Kirilenko's involvement in the offense, has revived the production (11.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg) and, more important, the attitude of the 6-foot-9 forward. The gains have been modest, to be sure, but for a player who was literally left in tears by how he felt he was being used last season, the new season has breathed life into his career.

"I think he got down on himself," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said of Kirilenko's struggles last season. "I've been there, in my rookie year. Once your confidence is shot, you're out there like a chicken with its head cut off."

The descent seemingly hit bottom just as the Jazz were starting the playoffs. After playing only 16 minutes in a Game 1 loss to the Rockets, Kirilenko cried the next day while discussing his limited role with the media. Though he bounced back to produce at a slightly better clip than his regular-season numbers as Utah reached the conference finals, Kirilenko still expressed his desire for a trade by the time training camp opened in October.

"When you feel that your teammates don't have confidence in you, and maybe the coach doesn't have confidence in you -- and I don't know if that was the case, but that's what Andrei was feeling -- then you start losing your confidence," said Jeff Hornacek, a former Jazz shooting guard who was brought in to work with Kirilenko before the playoffs.

"That's a hard thing to get back sometimes. When things aren't going well, it just snowballs," Hornacek added. "Last year, I think some of his teammates would look at him and decide not to pass because they thought, 'He's not going to make that.' [And] guys [like Andrei] read the papers. If it gets harped on that you're not making shots in the newspaper and on radio, you start thinking the seven rebounds, three blocks and five assists aren't really a big deal since no one ever says anything about them."

But they are a big deal on a club that is fifth in the league in scoring (105.2 points) but ranks only 19th in points allowed (100.2) and 22nd in field-goal-percentage defense (46.0).

"Andrei comes with the energy of a 10-year-old kid," Jazz center Jarron Collins said. "He's running all over the place, making steals, blocking shots, getting put-backs, making assists. It's unfortunate about how we, as players, are judged by how many points we score. People don't see how many shots he's altered and how many opponents start to look around for him when they're going to the basket."

Convincing Kirilenko of the ways he affects the outcome of a game is only part of Hornacek's role as unofficial advisor.

"I come into Utah from Phoenix [where Hornacek lives] two days a week and we do five or six shooting drills," said Hornacek, who reached back-to-back Finals with the Jazz in 1997 and '98. "I make sure he's leaning forward on his shot.

"Another is a concentration drill where if you miss one shot, you adjust your shot the very next time so you're not missing four or five jump shots in a row. We'll look at some tape and how he's getting the ball in the offense. We'll imagine we're in some situations and talk about how his footwork has to be prepared to shoot.

"For example, if Deron is driving at his side, [Andrei's] guy is probably going to help because they're going to say, 'Let's keep Deron out of the lane and if we have to let Kirilenko shoot, then let him shoot.' So as soon as Deron starts coming off that pick, Andrei should have it in his head that as soon as Deron makes the pass, he's just going to shoot it.

"That's going to take some time because Andrei spent last year trying to decide, 'Should I shoot it or not shoot it?' Guys would lay off him and he'd look at the basket; he'd decide not to shoot it and then, all of a sudden, he'd shoot it. He's done a much better job of that this year, and I think Deron realizes if he throws the ball to Andrei, he's got a good chance of making it."

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