Q: It seems every team that has made a disappointing exit in the playoffs makes a coaching change in an effort to bring the title to that franchise. The Utah Jazz have come close a few times but could never get the job done. Jerry Sloan, regardless is a great coach, but why haven't the Jazz brought in someone else?
— Michael Williams, Salt Lake City

A: Maybe Vinny Del Negro or Terry Porter or Flip Saunders or Mike D'Antoni or Rick Carlisle or Marc Iavaroni or P.J. Carlesimo and all their championships? Whom exactly did you have in mind?

This is what I know. If the Jazz were to give up on Jerry Sloan, even at his age, a dozen or more teams would be jumping to hire him.

Did you get a look at Carlos Boozer in the Olympics? Oh, that's right, he hardly played because he was overmatched so often. Sloan has done an amazing job over the years with some of the least athletic talent for good teams ever. His players are disciplined and compete relentlessly, which is what you seek in your coach.

The Jazz not once in their history have had the best talent in the NBA, or even second or third, in my view. Malone and Stockton were wonderful players, but hardly great talents. Their work ethic made them what they were and it's a tribute to Sloan they did it for so many years.

Do see any players now anywhere working so hard for so long under one coach? The Jazz will have another coach one day, and you will be asking why he can't be more like Jerry Sloan.

Q: With Andrew Bynum playing center and Pau Gasol at power forward, how will Lamar Odom fare for the Lakers defensively at the small forward position given his inconsistency last season?
— Lakers fan

A: Afraid to leave your name? Is this Kobe? It's a problem many teams would like to have.

First, no one is quite sure about Bynum's return. But, yes, the Lakers were looking in the summer for a more traditional, defensive oriented small forward, someone who'd guard the Paul Pierce the Lakers couldn't in the Finals.

So, yes, the Lakers may not be perfect. But Odom is a wonderful facilitator and ballhandler and is a huge mismatch on the other end and difficult for teams to contend with. I wouldn't trade him if I were the Lakers. As a third or fourth scorer, it's an ideal situation for him and the Lakers weren't quite the defensive juggernaut anyway and had become more an offensive team.

If Bynum can pick up where he left off, it will take pressure off Odom and give up better offensive options and there's plenty of minutes in a front-court rotation if they still add a defensive three and alternate Gasol, Odom and Bynum, the latter not ready for 35 minutes per game in any case.

Q: The Sixers made some good moves this offseason. Is there any chance that they'll be better than the aging Detroit Pistons this year?
— Jared, Philadelphia

A: That's actually possible. Of course, the key is Elton Brand's health. But assuming he's fully recovered from his Achilles injury and Andre Miller is on board, I can see them as a top-four team in the East and a contender for several years.

I said the Pistons were another year older last season and perhaps going through a transition, but they were right near the top again. So again we add another year and envision a transition, but it's the same guys. Of course, Rasheed Wallace is a wild card with his behavior, but I see the Pistons in a battle to stay ahead of a young team like Philadelphia.

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