Andrei Kirilenko hoping for more, consistent minutes from Lionel Hollins

Andrei Kirilenko made some pointed comments about Jason Kidd over the summer,  then seemed to soften them, but there seems little doubt the 33-year-old believes his old coach didn't appreciate him ... and that his new coach will rectify that.  As noted on Monday, the key word is consistency.

Of note today: Andrei Kirilenko said he doesn't care if he starts, but expects his minutes to be more consistent under Hollins.

— Stefan Bondy (@nydninternets) September 16, 2014

Nowhere was that more bright-lined than in the playoffs. As Mike Mazzeo points out, In the playoffs, Kirilenko's minutes looked like this: 0, 20, 17, 15, 4, 14, 3, 13, 0, 19, 15, 26.  After that first number, Kirilenko's wife, Masha, took to Instagram to register a complaint.

Now, AK-47 believes things will change and it won't matter to him whether he's starting or coming off the bench.

"If the coach wants me in the starting lineup, he’s going to put me in the starting lineup. If he wants me to come of the bench, I will come off the bench. I’ve never had a problem to be the guy who’s worried about the position. I’m more worried about the game time," Kirilenko told reporters at D-Will’s Celebrity Dodge Barrage charity event Monday.

Of course, Kirilenko will have to stay healthy.  He missed 37 games last year, mostly with back spasms. It's hard to offer a player consistent minutes when he's in street clothes.

• Kirilenko: Starter or bench, I'm not worried - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Andrei Kirilenko wants Lionel Hollins to play him more than Jason Kidd did - Dan Feldman - NBC Sports
• Hollins needs to define a role for Andrei Kirilenko - Brian Erni - SNY Nets
  
• NBA Star Andrei Kirilenko Opens Up About Burglary -- I'm Most Upset About ... - TMZ