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TAYLORSVILLE -- If Monday night's exhibition is any indication of where the Jazz strength might be you don't have to look any farther than the five big men under the hoop.
Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors led the Jazz big men, and the Utah team, with impressive moves on the block and shaking dunks. Paul Millsap was consistent as always for the Utah team and Jeremy Evans put his freakish athletic ability on show hammering dunk after dunk for the Stars
No. 3 draft pick Enes Kanter even played well holding his own on the defensive end before cutting his lip and being forced to leave the game early to receive stitches. Kanter's presence was missed by the Stars team as Jefferson and Favors took over after he left.
With Kanter gone another Jazz rookie stole the spotlight.
Utah's second lottery draft pick Alec Burks proved he's worthy of his early draft selection Monday night. The rookie from Colorado scoring 29 points and was 5-of-7 form behind the three point line for the game. Burks didn't miss a shot in the first half and missing only two shots the entire evening.
Burks was the 12th draft pick for the Jazz in the NBA draft this past June. But previous to tonight was known to most Jazz fans as the guy their team got instead of Jimmer.
Burks made his presence known immediately after checking in by scoring six quick points slashing to hoop and making plays at the basket. He later showed off his shooting touch my knocking down shot from behind the arc with ease. Throughout the game he showed he has the ability to put up points in a hurry.
The Jazz like the upside of the 20 year-old and believe he can only get better with time. If he can find anyway to improve on his Utah premier performance, Jazz fans won't even remember who they'd hoped for on draft day.
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
