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Show The Salt LakeTribune NBAPLAYOFFS Saturday,May8, 1999 NBA PLAYOFFS 25 Reasons The Jazz Are Where They Are Now FIRST ROUND (Best-ot easrenn CONFERENCE ‘Miami vs. New York , 8 New York at Miami, 40:30 am. Monday, May 40 New York at Miami, 5 p.m. ve h “2 Miamiat New York, 6 p.m. ;, 14 Miamiat New York. TBA if necessary 16 NewYor Wor TBA it necessary @ Continued from B-1 pants per game. 6. Sam Battistone: Youngfans might not have heard of him, but without Battistone, there would be no Utah Jazz. He was the owner who movedthe team to Salt Lake City from New Orleans in 1979. All right, all right. EvenBattistone acknowledges the Jazz woundupin Utahin part because the NBAdid not wantthem to settle in a more lucrative market. But Phil Jackson gets credit for the six championships, doesn't he? 7. Mark Eaton: A 7-foot-4 center drafted in the fourth round after hardly playing in college at UCLA,Eaton de- Indiana vs. Milwaukee veloped into the best shot-blocker in recent NBA history son Anton! peertere vs. Minnesota Sunday, May Minnesota at San Antonio, 1pm. T , 14 Minnesota at San Antonio, pm. Thursday, May 13 San Antonioat Minnesota, 5. Saturday, May 45 San Antonio at Minnesota, necessary Minnesota at San Antonio, TBA, if necessary Portlandvs. preeole Saturday, Milwaukeeat Indiana, Phoenix at Pointstem. Sects Phocnie at Pontend, 8:30 ‘Tuesday, May 44 Milwaukee at Indiana, pm.Wed , May 42 730 pan. , May 43 Portland at Phoenix, 7:30 Indiana at Milwaukee, 7 PT 2a ag p.m. eras Portland ati Phoenix TBA, Indiana at Milwaukee, TBA, PPS ay ag and gave the Jazz the defensive presence they needed to become contenders. Let's put it this way: Eaton scored more than Greg Ostertag, and blocked nearly twice as many shots per game. 8. Jerry Sloan: He was the obvious choice to become coach when Layden resigned morethan a decade ago, and fans havesince learned why. A formerall-star who played every gameasif it werehislast, he continues to gruffly ask the sameofhis players. Nearly 700 wins and the longest tenure amongactive coaches proveshe’s on to something in spite ofthe John Deerehat. 9. Dave Checketts: Lured from a private consulting job if necessary 7 Phoenix at Portland, TBA, if Miwaukee at nclana TBA ei to becomethe Jazz's executive vice president in 1983at age 26, he presided overthe first profitable yearin team history, agreed with Layden on a vision for the future, and recruited a car dealer named Larry H. Miller to buy into the deal. No wonder his resume looked so good to the if necessa 10. Darrell Griffith: Chosen with the secondpick of the 1980draft, the College Player of the Year from Louisville quickly became a fan favorite on accountofhis dazzling dunks andlong-range shootingability. 11. Jeff Hornacek: Talk about an important piece of the puzzle. Before Hornacek was acquired in a 1994 trade for Jeff Malone, the Jazz had never finished with a winning record on the road, and had been as far as the Western ConferenceFinals only once. Since the deal? Winning road Utah vs. some TBA, if necessary records every year, fourtrips to the conferencefinals and ‘Sun Sacramento at Utah, TBA, if 16 Philadelphia at’ Orlando, TBA, if necessary Atlantavs. Detroit Saturday, May 8 Detroit a Atlanta, 6:30 p.m Detrolt at Mane opBm. , May 12 alonta et DeronBPM. Atlanta’ ot’ DeronTBA, i two to the NBA Finals. Plus, he kicksbutt in those TV ads. 12. Pete Maravich: One of the flashiest players of all- time,“Pistol Pete” unfortunately waspast his prime by the time the Jazz moved to Utah, where he played only one season, and he had been saddled with mostly awful teammatesin the years beforethat. Still, his 68 points against the New York Knicks in 1977 standsasa franchise record, and for years he wasthe only reason to watch the Jazz. 13. “Hot Rod” Hundley: The voice of the Jazz since the day they were born in 1974, Hundleyis one of those guys whoby now mightbe equalparts man and myth. Crities say hehaslost a stepsincehis glory days and he acknowledges having stolen his best material from the legendary Chick necessary — LA Lakers vs. Houston Sunday, May 9 Houston at LA. Lakers, 3:30 "Tuesday, May 14 Houston at LA, Lakers, 830 Thursday, May 13 LA Lakers at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15 Hearn, butthe fact remains — when fanssee the Jazz, they necessary LA. Lakers at Houston, TBA, Sunday, May 16 if necessary Detroit at Atlanta, TBA, if , May 17 necessary Houston at LA. Lakers, TBA, its inception until his retirement in 1994 (when Mike Shimensky took over), andis at least partly responsible for keeping a young Stockton and Malone healthy enough that meshed with that other Malone. However, he was hear Hundley, and vice versa 14. Don Sparks: The mostimportant Jazz employee most fans have never heard of. Sparks was the team trainer from if necessary JAZZ NOTES BY STEVE LUHM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The New York Knicks will sex Both players received a double technical. Just 1:20later. however, Ostertag was called for flagrantly fouling Divac. Sacramento's Chris Webber and Corliss Williamson charged Ostertag and were given technicalfouls. Ostertag was ejected After the game, DivaccalledOster. tag’s flagrant foul “stupid”and, yes the twowill see plenty of each other during the upcomingseries ‘Hepresentssomedifficult probbecausehe y more on theperimeter than a s [usuallyhaveto guard their search for a newgeneral manag- er soon and, whentheydo, the ES s Scott Layden could find himself on a short list of candidates. Madison Square Garden President David Checketts, a formerJazz execu- tive, says he hasn't contacted anyone regarding the Knicks’ vacant GMjob, and he won't until the season ends. Apparently, Checketts does not want to distract Coach Jeff Van Gundyoranyofhis players during the playoffs by conducting an ongoing (and well-publicized) search for a general manager. Seeded eighth in the Eastern Con- ference, New York opens postseason play today against top-seeded Miami GOOD FRIENDS Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman has plenty of connections with Utah Asked about his timetable for re- placing former General ManagerEr- and the Jazz. Adelman was a teammate of Jaz Coach Jerry Sloan when both plays York Times, “Nothingstarts until af. ter the playoffs. All of these ques. for the Chicago Bulls during the1 74 season tions, they are theoretical. And I understand them. But the bottomline is, this team has a chance to do some- After Adelman was traded to the NewOrleans Jazz, they traded him to thing specialin the playoffs.” Layden,theJazz'svice presidentof the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, where basketball operations, declined com- Adeiman’s head coach was current Jazz assistant Phil Johnson. menton thesituation in New York, Another oddity: In the trade that but this much is known: The new general manager in New Yorkwill earn about$1.5 million per year — aboutfourtimes Layden’ssalarywith the Jazz. sent Adelman from New Orleans to KansasCity-Omaha, the Jazz acquired Nate Williams. He is the father of Natalie Williams, the former Taylorsville High and ABL star who was drafted Tuesday by the WNBA’s Utah Starzz Qo CENTERS OF ATTENTION Utah center Greg Ostertag doesn’t believe his altercation with Sacramento’s Vlade Divac during a regular-sea son gameat Arco Arena will impact the Jazz-Kings series. “It happenedand it’s in the past,” said Ostertag. “It was just something that happenedin the heatof the game Wehad little skirmish andit’s over with.” ‘The Ostertag-Divae confrontration started with 8:25 left in the third quarter of the Jazz's 105-100 over time win at Sacramento onApril 13 Rickis a terrific guy,” said Sloan, “and he’s donea great job in Sacramento. I've always respected what SWEET STIKS GOLF CO. IRON HEADS $7 Low PRO WOOD HEADS $18 Tit(ANIUM FACE WOODS $30 pas caine a good him to workbehindSloan in two stints totaling 13 seasons, givingtheJazz the kind of continuity they alwayspraise as essential to their success. Betterstill, with ues around, Sloan can abuse the referees as much as he want 22. Dan Roberts: You might not know what he Teoks like, but you definitely knowwhat he sounds like. Roberts has Uo S RTOS DS been the public address announcersince the Jazz moved to Utah (he worked with the Utah Stars of the ABA before devastating with that jump-hook in his prime. Even now,at 38, he's much moreactive and mobile in the middle than, that) andis every bit as responsible for the team’s home- 17. Seott Layden: The son of Frank Layden who rose court advantage as the 19,911 fans who pack the Delta Center and cheerhis introductions. Remember Phil Jackson? He called Robertsandthe Jazz's pregamehistrionics say, Antoine Carr. through the organization to becomevice presidentof basketball operations, Scott Layden has made some savvy choices over the years. Bryon Russell, for instance, and V6, Front Wheel Drive Leather, CD Player, Sunroof, Traction Control, Heated Seats, Luxury Sedan. “outrageous.” Badgeof honor,rightthere. 23. Leonard Robinson: Easily the franchise's finest re- bounder,although he did play only125 games for the Jazz, Shandon Anderson — both second-rounddraft picks. Lay- denhas had someluck, though. Imagine what might have happened had he actually pulled off the Rony Seikaly trade, or signed free agent LaphonsoEllis? and in New Orleans, when the offense provided an awful lot of opportunities. Yetin that short time, he postedsix of the team’s top 11 single-game rebounding marks — including a team-record27, twice — all while averaging neatly 44 minutes per gameandansweringto the nickname “Tru 18. Howard Eisley: You're thinking, “Howard Eisley, the guy wholed the league this season in turnovers per 48 fore he came along, the Jazz went LARRY H. MILLER |. fCLEXus % 24. Dave Fredman: Aside from Hundley, he's the cae man to have been employed by the Jazz for their entire through backuppointguards like laundry soap. Now,they havea reliable backupto the aging Stockton, and playoff history. He beganas the team’sassistant public relations journeysat leastas far as the Western Conferencefinals in eachof Eisley's full seasons. 19. Jeff Malone: Once thought to be the player who director, and since has workedas the head public relations director, the marketing director, the director of broadcast- 5701 South State © 264-3600 ing, and now,an assistant coach whoscouts upcoming op- would pushthe Jazz to a championship,he averaged more than 18 points in nearly four seasons with the Jazz but he could not hit the three-pointer and never completely ponents andpotential Jazz players. 25. Michael Jordan: Without him, the Jazz might be two- MSRP$34,320. $3,500 total dueat lease sighing. 12,000 miles per yoar. Residual $21,621.60. Monthly pay excludes iah State sales tax, boonse,regstraton, Delvery must be taken out of dealer inventory by May 31, 1999 OAC Stock #8502 | time defending champions by now. 4050 WEST 3500 SOUTH WEST VALLEY CITY, UT TELEPHONE: #801-969-8221 UTAH'S #1 VOLUME CHEVROLET DEALER OVER 1000 VEHICLES AVAILABLE OVER 150 NEW SILVERADO PICKUPS AVAILABLE OVER 175 SUBURBANS TAHOES -BLAZERS AVAILABLE 6,684 SEAT 199 00 gti 3 MO. $2,400 DOWN pet273.90... 36 4 \ OR LEASE AT 99.0 PAYMENT 36 MO. $1500 DOWN HALF CAGE stock!’ FREE WEIGHT SYSTEM oe ery ire with Be] Ry Tete sume $30,996 me 0 PAYMENT «BRD1,06 ‘DOWN ait a i999 BLAZER « voor 4X4 LS LOADED STARTING @ $24,60 1° STOCK #972166 OR LEASE AT $299.00° PAYMENT 36 MONTH $500 DOWN T Figs tas be Bsa Gare & Dumbbells OVER 100 IN fF ld 3.00 PAYMENT 36 MO, $0 DOWN se@18,996 noe jae9,00som $1600 DOWN ne PAYMENT 1B-Bm Lada we Bas $2500 DOWN HAVE BEEN REDUCED! Tica Benches STARTING @ $9,999" suBURBAN 1/2 ‘ON 4X4 4 DOOR 4X4 LS LOADED, #972166 TREADMILLS ¢ ALL MULTI-GYMS ¢ ALL WEIGHTS ¢ ALL BIKES WE QUIT! ALLALLBENCHES $-10 P CKUP STOCK CK 1999 TAHOE \\Y IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS GusPaulos CHEVY TRUCKS Chevrolet ee a, ‘1 which will be 28th after a ecessful coinflip with San Antonio Friday. Said Layden: “Whenyou first look atit, you say, ‘Do we really want threepicks?’ Butinthefinal analysis, you'd rather havethemthannot have them.” No wonder Sacramento started slowlyand finished fast. The Kings played 10 of their first 13 games on the road. Theyplayed 10 of their last 13 at home. Sacramento rookie Jason Williams took almost as many three-point shots this season 323) as the entire Jazz team (388). . s the first time the Jazz have playedtheKings in the playoffs. After this series, the only two Western Con: ferenceteamsthe Jazz haven't played in the postseason will be Minnesota and Vancouver. The Jazz are 18-3 in their last 21 games games against the Kings. Sacramento hasn't won in UtahsinceFeb. 27, 1993 — a spanof 11 games. In three Utah-Sacramento gamesthis season,the Jazz shot 53.8 percent, 51.2 percent and 46.1 percent. The Kings shot 43.8 percent, 43 percent and 42.2 percent. Utah’s Shandon Andersonreturned to practice after missing Thursday's session with a migraine headache. 21. Phil Johnson: A perfect example of the depth that makes the Jazz so good. Johnson's tepid ego has allowed history (No. 7 out of North Carolina State in 1983) and SILV ownpick, rise to legitimacyin the 1980s. Plucked from the Continental Basketball Association mere months after the Jazz chose Griffith in the draft, Green taught Stockton plenty. able to trade him basically for a pile of cash that helped them make payroll and pay their bills. Otherwise, who knows. which bankruptcy court the team might have wound up? 16, Thur! Bailey: Sure, you see himout there now and wonder how he andhis 12 minutes per gamecould rank so high. But Bailey was one ofthe highest draft picks in team /2 TON PICKUP 911907, AUTO-AIR CONDITIONING As it stands, the Jazz have three first-round picks in the June draft. ‘They own Philadelphia's pick, which will be 19th. They own Orlando’s pick whichwill be 24th. They have their usedto say, Green wasanotherintegralpart ofthe team’s 15. Dominique Wilkins: How does the Human Highlight Film rate on the Jazz list when he neveractually played a gamefor the team? Simple. He was wortha lot of money And whenthe Jazz drafted him No. 1 in 1982, they were 1999 BRIEFLY and look how well that worked out. 20. Rickey Green: The “fastest of themall,” as Hundley gamesfor the Jazz. = he’s done in coaching While Adelman was between NBA headcoaching jobs in Portland, Goldte and Sacramento, he attended f training camps as an loan and Johnson He's afriend, "said Johnson enough to fetch Hornacek from Philadelphiain a trade, nowfans cantalk about how few gamestheyhave missed to injury. The acerbic “Sparky” worked more than 1,800 minutes?" Yes. 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