Okur to make his return tonight in New Orleans

[KatieMCR]

News was just posted on Twitter. Will update with links.

Okur will play, Sloan said.

Link

Okur will come off bench; minutes will be limited.

Link

Jazz's Okur will make season debut vs. Hornets

Published on Dec 17, 2010 11:13AM 1 Comments

New Orleans — Jazz center Mehmet Okur is expected to make his 2010-11 season debut tonight against the Hornets, Utah coach Jerry Sloan announced following a morning shootaround at New Orleans Arena.

Okur will come off the bench and is expected to play 5-10 minutes. His time on the court will initially be limited as the Jazz embark upon a four-game, six-day road trip that concludes Dec. 22 against Minnesota.

“It's time to go out there and give it a try,” said Okur, who has not played since April following surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

Okur acknowledged that he is not 100 percent. However, he is returning to the court with the idea that his comeback has to start at some point this season, and he feels he is close enough to full health to slowly work his way back to his normal production.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound nine-yearveteran from Turkey has missed all 26 of Utah's games this season. He has averaged 13.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent behind the 3-point line during his career.

Once fully healthy, Okur is expected to improve Utah's perimeter shooting and floor spacing. He will likely be worked in with the Jazz's second unit, and could team with veterans Earl Watson, Ronnie Price, C.J. Miles and Francisco Elson to further strengthen a rotation that has been a key part of the Utah's early-season success. Reserve center Kyrylo Fesenko could see the largest reduction in minutes due to Okur's activation.

Sloan said that he is not sure where Okur is at in terms of his production, though, adding that the center will play tonight only if he stays eligible between shootaround and a 6 p.m. tipoff.

“Just getting him in the game is probably the biggest concern,” Sloan said. “I'm not going to play him very long.”

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said that a strong showing by Okur on Tuesday and Wednesday during practice — including a full-court, 5-on-5 session — without any setbacks moved forward his return. Okur then went through 2-on-2 drills Thursday without any soreness.

“Going three days of basketball-related stuff, we're going to try him,” O'Connor said.

Utah had been reluctant to place any timetable on Okur's activation since he underwent surgery in April. On Monday, the Jazz had even disputed a statement made last Sunday by team president Randy Rigby that Okur's return was 1-2 weeks away.

“He's a guy that hated to miss games, and he's hated that it's taken the time that it's taken,” O'Connor said. “So we're going to be very cautious.”

Elsewhere, Jazz guard Raja Bell (strained right adductor) said that he expects to play tonight against the Hornets. Bell has missed Utah's last three games.

Elson, who was not available Monday versus Golden State due to visa issues, has rejoined the team.

— Brian T. Smith

Link

 

[DutchJazzer]

what does your signature say.
cant seem to read it. bad designing with background color and font color/type.

 

[Marty McFly]

I was hoping his return would be at home, but oh well. Go Memo.

 

[dipship31]

This kinda came out of nowhere, but nice! Hope he can be effective

 

[kwb]

There's that man!

 

[KatieMCR]

A couple of more updates were posted.

Jazz's O'Connor said last three days of practice changed Okur's status. Utah will still be cautious with Okur, though.

Link

O'Connor, Okur said that center will likely play 5-10 minutes for next few games as he works his way back.

Link

 

[YB85]

Hopefully he's not a petrified puppy.

 

[sirkickyass]

Too bad his first game won't be at home. Can you imagine the crowd reaction if he hit a three?

 

[Qman]

Well I hope they take it slowly and Memo doesn't get discouraged when things don't go complete right.

 

[GVC]

Despite my frequent calls for the Jazz to move Memo, I'm super stoked to see him play again. He brings a much needed element to the Jazz offense, and he's extremely fun to watch. Go Memo.

That was and 1.

 

[Fakers Luck]

Okur may be limited in many ways, but ya gotta hand it to him for his "staying hungry".

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

Well I was totally wrong, and I am totally surprised! I anticipated a first of the year appearance at home v. Memphis. When guys come back from injury there is usually a little road-bump, a loss or two, I suppose it will depend on how many minutes Memo plays, etc. At any rate, WELCOME BACK, MEMO!

Flashback, Saturday, April 17, 2010:

Center Mehmet Okur fell awkwardly driving to the basket with 8:04 left in the second quarter. He re-injured his left Achilles and did not return to the game.

“I was driving to the basket and I slipped. Then I felt pain because all my weight was on my left side because I was driving right. Then I felt something pop. We’re going to get an MRI tomorrow.” Okur said.

The Jazz will have an MRI Sunday to determine Okur’s status for the rest of the series and maybe the post-season.

The next day we heard the sad news:

A beat-up Utah Jazz team received more bad news this morning when it was learned that starting center Mehmet Okur is lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Okur suffered the injury in the second quarter of Utah's loss to the Nuggets in Game 1 of their first round playoff series.
"He's out for the rest of the playoffs," Utah general manager Kevin O'Connor said.

I remember seeing them take him off the floor, his face told the story:

Here's some footage at :27-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7rJWYJoqNo

Here's to hoping we see more of this:

 

[GVC]

God damn those were hideous uniforms.

 

[sirkickyass]

The Madame chimes in after hearing the news. This is how the conversation went (exactly transcribed from text messages):

I'm less than excited about Okur - isn't that a trade-off for big Fes minutes

Yes. But you can't hate on a guy who blew out his Achilles in the playoffs maybe fifty feet from our faces.

My only loyalty is to Fesenko. Okur means nothing to me except as the purveyor of hand-me-down suits to Fes.

I can't believe you'd forsake the dirty Turk after all these years. You truly would pick a favorite child."

Yep.

I'm probably going to marry that woman.

 

[//r00t 4 Jazz]

Suweeet, I know I heard rumors he'd be back for the Christmas road trip but you never know how those turn out. It will be nice to see Memo back and interesting in how they bring him a long and how it changes the bench's dynamic.

 

[LifeOnaPlate]

There's that man!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2U0F9yIejE

 

[KatieMCR]

Another update.

Okur made it clear that he is going to work his way through his return. He is not 100 percent, but feels he needs to help team.

Link

 

[//r00t 4 Jazz]

I'm probably going to marry that woman.

With all due respect, if she's smart she'll say no.

*just kidding*







*about the all due respect part*

 

[KatieMCR]

More updates.

Jazz's Okur said that he decided that Utah's road trip is the best time for him to return to the court. He is done with waiting.

Link

The following article is supposed to have a video added shortly.

Jazz's Okur will make season debut vs. Hornets
Published on Dec 17, 2010 11:13AM 0 Comments
New Orleans — Jazz center Mehmet Okur will make his 2010-11 season debut tonight against the Hornets.
Okur will come off the bench Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. The veteran big man is expected to play 5-10 minutes, and his time on the court will be limited during the next few games.
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said that a strong showing by Okur this week during practice without any setbacks moved forward his return. Utah had been reluctant to place any timetable on Okur's activation following Achilles tendon surgery in April. On Monday, the Jazz had even disputed a statement made last Sunday by team president Randy Rigby that Okur's return was 1-2 weeks away.

Link

 

[Jazz Punk Rocker]

more like Medi-okur for the first few games