Utah Jazz: No timetable on Harpring's return
The Salt Lake Tribune
Oct. 10--As closely as he follows the stock market, Matt Harpring had to laugh Thursday when asked which would be coming back sooner: Wall Street or himself?
Although he continues to make slow progress in recovering from an ankle infection this summer, Harpring couldn't even offer a best-case scenario for his return.
"I have no idea what I'm going to feel like," Harpring said. "I just know that these last 3 1/2 months have been terrible. I'm just waiting for something to change.
"I'm going to keep working, keep working hard, and hopefully it'll just change and one day I'll be like, 'Ooh, it's starting to feel better. I'm right around the corner.'"
Harpring said he could understand Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's desire to experiment with contingency plans -- starting C.J. Miles, bringing Andrei Kirilenko off the bench -- given that there is no certainty about his return.
"My focus is just getting back," Harpring said. "Obviously, the Jazz have to do whatever they need to do to win, and I totally understand that. I don't want anyone waiting on me or me holding up anyone. That's not what this is about. It's about winning.
"Hopefully, I can get back. I want to get back as badly as anyone, but it is what it is. I can't force anything."Miller timeJazz owner Larry Miller attended the game in a wheelchair, but did visit the locker room at halftime. Miller suffered a heart attack over the summer and battled kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and complications from diabetes while hospitalized.
"It was good for the familiarity of the surroundings and the energy," Miller said. "It was fun to be with them and they had warm welcomes, and that was nice. I guess we're off and running, whether we're ready or not."BrieflyThe Jazz will send players to six local high school football games tonight as part of a season kickoff event. . . . Carlos Boozer sat out his second game with a sore left hamstring but said he would practice today and return Sunday at Portland. . . . Kosta Koufos was in uniform but did not play due to a hamstring strain. . . . Jarron Collins is dealing with bursitis in his right elbow after a golf-cart accident this summer that also injured his twin brother, Jason. . . . Miles started but went 1-for-5 from the field and missed four free throws in 13 minutes. . . . KJZZ no longer will televise two preseason games, including Sunday's.
rsiler@sltrib.com
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