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The Jazz didn't practice Christmas Day, in accordance with NBA rules.

Even with the 66-game season opener only two days away, however, coach Tyrone Corbin didn't mind giving his players and assistants their first day off since the start of training camp.

"They deserve it," he said. "They've been going pretty hard. ... We've been through two-a-days, and it's been pretty grueling. But the guys have responded well, so it's a great time to give them some time off with their family."

Downtime will be difficult to find during the compressed season.

Although the Jazz don't open until Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Lakers, they play six games in the next eight nights.

It's another reason the no-practice Christmas was a nice gift for Corbin's players.

"This thing has happened so fast," he said. "It's a way for us to step back and catch our breath a little bit before we get into the rat race."

According to Corbin, the Jazz coaches have talked a little about the Lakers and "some of the things we need to do to get ready" to play them.

But most of the preparation will come during Monday's practice in Utah and Tuesday morning's shootaround in Los Angeles.

Trade perspective

Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek knows what it's like to be traded, so he understands what ex-Jazz center Memo Okur is experiencing after Thursday's trade to New Jersey.

Hornacek was traded twice during his career, once unexpectedly from Phoenix to Philadelphia in 1992 and from the 76ers to Utah midway through the '94-95 season.

"It catches you off guard," Hornacek said. "It's really a surprise, especially when you've been with a team for a while. ...

"You don't read anything in the papers so you're not prepared and, all of a sudden, you're traded. That's what happened to Memo. All of a sudden you get a call."

A trade is difficult for any player and their family.

"It disrupts the family routine," Hornacek said, "and makes for a crazy time for a while."

Millsap's brother cut

Jazz forward Paul Millsap hoped he'd be facing his brother during the season opener, but Elijah Millsap has been cut by the Lakers after spending training camp with them.

"He's doing fine," Paul Millsap said. "It's tough to be cut from a team, but he's been there before. He's growing up. He's becoming a professional, so he knows the nature of it. It's actually motivated him to do more — go out and continue to work harder."

Missing treys

Now that Okur has been traded, the Jazz find themselves without one of their best and most consistent 3-point shooters.

Okur shoots 37.7 percent from the 3-point line in his career.

"He gave us shooting from the perimeter, from a big guy," said Corbin said. "He could shoot deep and spread the floor. ...

"We don't have another big guy that can step out as far as he can and can shoot it. So it will be an adjustment for us."

Asked about Okur's ability to stretch an outstanding defensive team like the Lakers, general manager Kevin O'Connor said, "That's obviously something we're going to lose. But something we gain, hopefully, is a little athleticism and [playing] guys close to the basket." —