Translator's comments in brackets []

Who is going to be the main power in the 2003/2003 season?

- Still the same Lakers, Sacto, NJ. SA and Dallas are very strong. But would name Portland as the one of the main favorites. Very likely that HOU can gain something with adding a good center Y.Ming, and Memphis who has got a good even team.

What do you think the major change in the league compare to the last season?

- There are more euros in the league. I think that soon NBA will be more like NHL where they have a lot of foreigners. It is not changing the game style that much, but ...For example the Spaniard Pau Gasol is not that aggressive in defense as Americans are, but he is playing easy and clever, he beats the opponents elegantly, makes some nice passes. I am not saying that American basketball is too direct. Yet the combinations style is belonging more to Europe. BTW that very combination game style my team, Utah, is playing. Also Sacto - last season regular championship winner.

Do the Jazz ready for the season?

- Sure. We have gained some chemistry during the preseason, prepared some tricks, we have lots of polished combinations.

What are the goals for the Jazz?

- As usual, to get to the playoffs. And then - to go further as much as we can. also we will try to finish the regular with at least 6th spot on the west. To avoid meeting with the regular championship winner in the first round, as it has happened last season. I think at the right circumstances Utah may finish as one of the leader on the West. Yet even the fight for the playoff spot won't be easy.

So, did Utah become stronger or not?

- We have only one serious loss - DM has left. Yet the newcomers: Matt Harpring, Calbert Cheaney, Mark Jackson; they fit to the team style very well, and concerning the team game the Jazz have gained a lot.

What are the strongs of each newcomer?

- Harpring has a good shot. Before B. Russell was missing a lot of shots, and Matt is shooting consistently. At the same time Harpring is very tough in defense - he is very ......[Russian word is evil, but it translates as the person who never gives up on the way to his goal] in the sports. Cheaney was a big surprise for me with his defense. When he played for Denver, I did not pay any attention to him. I have learned about his abilities during the practices and exhibition games: Cheaney was able to cover such a super stars as Carter and A. Houston. On the top of it he has a perfect left hand. And Mark Jackson is already the legend of NBA. Of course he is not that quick as he used to be, but, as the saying goes, you can't lose your skills by drinking [alcohol , that's just a russian saying]. He is all right with his head, he can estimate the game 2-3 steps ahead.

What is the main goal for yourself this season?

- My personal goals are coming in the front this time. No, it doesn't mean that Kirilenko will try to score 20 points each game. But I will try to become the one the team result depends on. So if I am playing bad, the team have troubles too.  Starting five? It is abstract term in the Jazz. It is not my goal to always start the games.

Did they leaders of Utah become older after the year you played with them?

- Yes they've got older. Of course they do not play worse than before, but I can see it is more difficult for them [to keep the level]. But love for the game still there. I think it is linked with the physical condition. Not Malone or Stockton, but the entire NBA. The league has made a step forward in that and it is difficult for the veterans to catch it.