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SALT LAKE CITY -- Jazz Vice President Kevin O'Connor joined Tom Kirkland in-studio on SportsBeat Sunday, weighing in a number of topics, including the Jazz's hopes for new acquisition Raja Bell, center-forward Mehmet Okur's rehabilitation from Achilles tendon surgery (which is being measured in weeks, not days, by the way), and the recent cliff diving antics of point guard Deron Williams.
As to Raja Bell, O'Connor and the Jazz are really hoping to get a more physical defensive presence from Bell, akin to former San Antonio Spur Bruce Bowen, who was named five consecutive times to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.
He also couldn't say enough about new back-up point guard Earl Watson and thinks that, depending on where Andrei Kirilenko ends up, this young Jazz team will be able to compete.
Of course, being able to compete on the road is going to depend in large part on all-star guard Deron Williams, who was shown on YouTube this week doing a back flip into the water from a small cliff.O'Connor, after watching the film, laughed and gave him an "8 1/2" on the dive.
When asked if seeing that concerned him, considering the risks involved, O'Connor said, "For me to have a comment on it- I mean, I can't imagine what a lot of the other players did during the summer... it just happened. [Williams got] caught on YouTube."
So will O'Connor ask him in the future not to do that sort of thing considering the investment the Jazz have made in him?
"I might ask him to keep his arms a little closer together- or his tuck," O'Connor said smiling. "Other than that, I got no control over that one."
E-mail: dnoriega@ksl.com
