Jarron Collins and Andrei Kirilenko Won't Win These Battles

Jerry Sloan is known as one of the NBA's last great disciplinarians -- he's an institution in Salt Lake City, and there isn't a player-coach battle possible in which he won't come out ahead. I know it and you know it, but I'm thinking somebody might want to mention it to Jarron Collins or Andrei Kirilenko. From the Salt Lake Tribune:

"It's just bull----" Collins said. "Eight points, two rebounds in seven minutes, and I can't get back in the game?"

Collins sat out the entire second half, as he has for the past six consecutive games. That's tough enough for the Jazz's backup center. But he played well during his 7:34 stint against the Raptors, drawing three fouls under the basket to earn six free throws (he made them all), and nailing an open 18-footer from the right elbow.

He believed he had earned more time. "I want to play, but he's not playing me," Collins fumed. "But it's the coach's prerogative. It's his decision. It's just bull----"

As for Kirilenko, his recent complaints about his role in the offense have drawn not only Sloan's attention but also owner Larry Miller's. From the Deseret News:

Miller was highly critical of Kirilenko during his weekly radio appearance on KZN 1280-AM, saying he "cringes" when Kirilenko takes shots and that forward from Russia was "on thin ice" as a combined result of poor play and previous public comments about wanting a bigger role on the team.

Kirilenko failed to break double-digits in scoring in 33 minutes during Friday's win over the Raptors, but now that the guy who signs his checks has spoken I'm guessing he won't be complaining too loudly.