Bryon Russell asked out of the Utah Jazz starting lineup six games into the season. He says he's ready to return to the starting lineup anytime now.
There's one catch, however. Adam Keefe, who has started the past 18 games as the Jazz small forward in place of Russell, doesn't deserve to be benched. To the contrary, Keefe earned unsolicited praise from coach Jerry Sloan following Utah's 85-73 victory over Orlando on Thursday night. He was 5-for-7 from the field, scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 28 minutes.Russell wasn't too bad himself. He's still struggling with his shooting touch - he made only one of four attempts Thursday - but he's playing strong defensive and going to the boards with more authority. He had six rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes against the Magic.
Keefe will start in the next Jazz game Sunday afternoon at Gund Arena against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, Russell thinks the change will occur sooner or later.
"It will happen eventually," said Russell about re-entering the starting lineup. "I'm not trying to rush it. The team is playing well together and Adam is playing well. Whenever Coach gets ready to put me back in the starting lineup, then I'll be ready."
Until then Russell will continue coming off the bench and playing starter-like minutes. Both Keefe and Russell are getting plenty of playing time of late. During the three games on their current road trip, Russell is averaging 29.3 minutes of playing time, 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Keefe is averaging 26.7 minutes, 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
"Both guys are playing well right now," said Sloan. "Adam's played well all along. Bryon is starting to get his rhythm back. I've played them both some at the four position and had them in at the same time. It's hard to keep them off the floor when they are playing as well as they have been."
Keefe will likely continue to be the starter at small forward as long as either Antoine Carr (who started the past two games) or Greg Foster (who started the 16 before that) open at center.
Keefe is more of an inside player and a strong rebounder, so he complements Carr and Foster, who have good outside shooting touches.
If/when Russell is ready to start, Greg Ostertag will likely be the starting center to give team the same type of inside-outside balance, only this time it's Ostertag who is more of an inside player with Russell outside.
Right now, Sloan's not about to switch. The Jazz, with Carr making his only two starts as a Jazzman at Miami and Orlando, played their best two road games of the season on Tuesday and Thursday.
"I don't see us making a switch the lineup right now," said Sloan. "Antoine stepped up and made a couple of key shots early in the second half against the Magic. That was important to us."