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Show Scoreboard D3 Business D4 D Financial Markets D5 Th Daily Hertld Tutsday. April 23, 1996 NBA had TOW W pre-playo- ff excitement By SAM McMANtS Contra Costa Times You think that it's about time the real NBA season gels cranking, and that youd need an y advanced degree in to locate your minuscule interest in that soporific prelude to the playoffs. I think that, for once, the opposite may be true and that the regular season may hate been the most memorable, zany and downright weird on record. You think the literal referee bashing administered by Dennis Rodman. Nick Van Exel and Magic Johnson seriously hurt the league's reputation, as did the Mahmoud Abdul-Rau- f "The Star Spangled Banner" controversy nanomi-croscop- 82-ga- . By BOB BAKU AP Sports Writer did in the regular season, and the Blazers made a exit against San Antonio. "Cliff has to step up and really show himself in the playoffs." teammate Buck Williams said. "He has to come out and be aggressive. He can't play passive in the playoffs. He can't be worried about the fans or his shooting percentage. He has to turn up the intensity and the tempo." first-roun- Will ClifPORTLAND. Ore. ford Robinson be a playoff bust again? The question haunts the otherwise optimistic Portland Trail Blazers as they prepare for Thursday night's Game I of their series against the Utah Jazz. Robinson, the team's leading scorer, has seen his game fall apart n in the the last three y ears, so those demons of the past inevitably surfaced this week. "People have always questioned what I've done around here for the team." he said, "so why is it going to change now " Robinson has no explanation of w hy he's struggled so in the postpost-seaso- season. "It just happens." he said. "I couldn't tell you why I ran into a little slump this year. You just have to deal with it and make some adjustments." His scoring average dropped by more than five points and he shot 36 percent from the field a year ago as the Blazers were swept by Phoenix in the first round. Two sears ago. he shot 41 percent in trie playoffs and his scoring dropped by nearly four points per game and Portland was knocked out in the first round by Houston. Three years ago. he was a dismal 26 percent from the field, and averaged nine points fewer than he h & In) d Robinson discounts the danger that he w ill be try ing Kw hard to erase n his image as a fkp. post-seaso- "I didn't during the stretch when I really wasn't knocking r down shots after the break, so I don't see myself pressing or putting extra pressure on my sell now." he said. Robinson will be likely matched up against Karl Maione. at least at the start of the game. All-Sta- o) "The most I can ask my self to do is limit the easy baskets that he gets." Robtnson said "I mean, he's got to guard me as welL and I think that's a tough matchup for him." Robinson' play is one of three crucial factors for Portland in the Utah series. The others are Rod imo said Utah is a lough team for Portland because the two play similar styles, emphasizing rebounding and holding the other team to a low field goal percentage. "They're good in areas where e are." Carlesinio suki " Tvere they 'a better than us is ofiensne execution. Strickland's health and whether Any da Sabonis can dominate the game inside. Strickland sat out the last three games to rest a groin pull that has bothered him for six weeks. He indicated it wasn't a whole lot better and probably wouldn't heal completely until the off season. Salnts also sat out Sunday's In my opinion, rhey're the most efficient offensive team in the league." Much has been made of Utah's season-endin- loss to the Los 92-8- 8 g Angeles Lakers to rest a sore nghl knee. But he's expected to be ready, and his presence will be a tough matchup for the Jazz. Still. Portland coach P.J. Carles- - n struggles and Portland's strong finish, when the Blazers won 18 of their last 22 Cariestmo said the Jazz will be late-seaso- ready. "They 've been there They 're a playoff team every year." he said "I think the Utah we see will he more the Utah of the entire y ear. I don't think it's going to be the one that played the" last 15 games I hope we're the team that played the last 22 games " I Cougar gymnasts shoot for Super Six and the Cedric Ceballos spring-brea- k water skiing soiree, and you believe the league almost is becoming cartoonish. I think that the league is cartoonish or haven't you heard that Michael Jordan and various other NBA stars that revolve around him will appear in an animated movie to be released this spring? and that while the referee abuse is troubling, at least the league got to collect mtre than $50,000 in fines, w hich goes to charity. You think this new found thuggery could seriously mar the playoffs, when emotions run higher and physical play reaches the level of a Madonna video. I think there's no may any player in his right mind or even Rodman, for that matter w ould a forearm bash apply a or a chest bump to a referee in games that really count, that these players were driven to temporary insanity by the maddening repeli- tion of the regular-seastgrind. r You thinklhe Bulls already have clinched the NBA title based on their record 72 regular-seaso- n victories, thai the playoffs will amount to little more than a coro- . '4 c t I I -- head-but- ff - : ) V "V, 1 J N v ' . t, f f v v - t By DOROTHY KN0ELL The Daily Heaid Assistant Sports Editor " 4 1 - national champion. BYU will be in the after- If. noon session, Colorado Northwestern ' Jim Omohundro is safe as the ball sails past Utah Valley first UVS e Btodgefl doubleheader. The Wolverines won both and games. 2-- 5-- 1. 1 The evening session includes No. Alabama (1 9$.()75. No. 3 and defending national champion Uluh (I9(v675). No 5 Arizona (195.75). No. 7 Honda (195 375). No. 9 Oreeon " State (195.0) and No II Stanford 94.70 1. The Cougars have come close to beating UCLA twice this year, once in L.A. and once in Provo. when a horrible beam set kept them trom winning. They have averaged noie than Nebraska all the "Huskers year long had their best meet of the year at Midwest Rcgionals to edge the Cougars there. And the Cougars have been near the mark a couple of times this year. So there is definitely reason for optimism. "I'm pretty thrilled jwith the session)'." said BYU coach Brad Cattermole. "I'm pleased we gtt the session we did We don't have the home team to worry ahou An old baseball adage says good pitching will almost always stop good hitting. On Monday. Utah Valley State and Colorado Ninth western both got good pitching. The Wolverines 1 managed just six hits in a doubleheader sweep of the Sp,ur-tan- s. CNCC managed just five hits in the two games. "We got good pitching today." said UYSC coach Stee Gardner, whose team improved to 7 in the Scenic West Athletic Conference and 20-1- 8 overall. "That's what kept us in both games." Game I was a classic pitching duel between L'YSC's Gres Lindsav and CNCCs Mike Hladfk. Hladik nearly made tlie UYSC record hooks, holding the Wolverines to no hits for 6 13 innings. They have never been the victim of a r. Mike Wood kep( thai record 2-- 1. intact when he homered with one in the seventh to tie the game at Nate Duv all's single with the bases loaded in the eichth cave L'YSCthe victorv. Until Wood s hit. UYSC's only base runner had been Curtis Jacob-sewho walked in the second inning. The Spartans hadn't had many after six. more, but they led Kirk Rush got things started w ith a single. After Jason Dunaw Ru. h out. Dunaw ay stole second and moved to third when Jake Huff's pickotY attempt sailed into center field. Tony Santos' sacrifice fly gave Hiadik the lead. Wood took it away shortly thereafter. out 5-- 11-- n, -0 "He was hitting his corners pretty well w ith a lot of curve balls and change-ups,- " Wood said. "But then he threw a fastball right there in the middle ol the plate I had been waiting all day lor it and finally go( i(. I was due. I think the . hole team w as due." Thus. Wood saved Lindsay from being a loser for the third time in a month. Lindsay has mt allowed an earned run over the last 23 innings, but is just Seth King started UYSC's vv hard-luc- k 2. g rally with a single. He took second on an error. Hladik walked Todd Mitchell intentional- eighth-innin- Jesse Weight's bunt single loaded the bases for Duv all. ly. In Game 2. Casey Gardner and King held CNCC to just two hits. Aaron Brandsma. Steve iXnuhue and Jeff Kelly gave up just two Wolverine hits. But they also walked nine and hit two batters. Gardner walked just two while King pitched two innings of perfect relief. UYSC took a lead in the second. After two outs. Mitchell was safe on an error. Tyler Perry singled and Justin Coggins walked to load the bases. Duv all then walked to force in a run. CNCC tied it in the third. Jim sweep Ouxhundro singled, took second on Marcus Wood's sacrifice and scored on Rush's single. After that, the Spartans managed just three base runners, on a pair of w alks and an error. UYSC went ahead for good on two runs in the third. Gary Jones walked, then stole second. He advanced to third on WoikI's deep fly ball to center field. Jacobsen then w alked. Jones scored on the front end of a double steal. After King was hit by a pitch, the Wolverines tried another, but Omohundro threw Jacobsen out at third. Mitchell then drove King home with a single. The Wolverines scored two runs without a hit in the fifth. Jacobsen and Mitchell walked and King was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Perry and Coggins then blasted sacrifice flies. CNCC slipped to and 9 with the twin losses. The two 0 teams will nveet in Rangely. on Saturdav. 10-1- Colo, ( 1 1 SCOU;RS,lascD: cham- against defending pion Houston when the Sonics (followed closely by coach George Karl) will be ousted. You think there's absolutely no way Houston can w in the championship a third lime, that this team in no way belongs in the class of storied Celtics. Lakers and Bulls champions. I think you're right again, but that as long as Hakeem Olajuwon two-tim- Dy Hert3 PcJohn baseman Todd Mitchell in the first game of Monday's Scenic West Athletic Conference maCies (pitted foir CNCC By BOB HUDSON The Daily Herald Assistant Sports Editor h -- hich includes I tt 29 technical fouls notwithstanding. Rodman was a great addition to the Bulls and will not cause any more distractions. I think you're half right, that Rodman for Will Peracquiring due w as the trade of the decade, but also that Rodman's distraction quotient figures to increase soon with the release of his tell-al- l. show all hook. You think the Sonics. whose 65 wins make them the Western Conference's best bet to beat the Bulls in the Finals, are in serious trouble, given Shawn Kemp's latest missed flight and tight with Denver's Tom Hammonds. I think ihe Sonics are just rounding into playoff form, keeping in mind that such form means getting bounced from the playoffs in ignominious fashion You think there's no way Seattle will lose to No. X seed Sacramento in the first round. I think you're right, that it won't be until the second round w all the seeds. That group includes No. 2 Georgia (which scored a 196 95 at regional No 4 Michigan (196.2751. No. r UCLA (I95.45. No. S Nebraska (195.30). No 10 BYU (194 925) and No 12 Penn State ( 193 650). even-number- I league-hig- will actually decide the national title. The 2 teams at the national meet will compete in two different sessions Thursday The top three finishers from each session will advance to Friday's Super Six competition, which will detemune (Ik 1 nation. think, if the Bulls somehow don't win it all, at lea.st it'll get Greg Norman off the hook. You think the Bulls record wasn't all that big a deal, anyway, given the serious dilution of the NBA via expansion. I think staving mentally and physically read), regardless of the competition, is incredible considering all the travel and back games that's part of the NBA grind. You think that, head-buand The BYU women's gymnastics team is seeded mily 10th out of 12 teams at the NCAA ChampitMiships beginning Thursday at University of Alabama in TuscaUosa But never have the Cougars had a better chance to make the Super Six. which is the group of teams that Mays healthy, the Rockets will upset the l.akcrs in the first round, the Sonics in the second round before bowing out gracefully. You think, w ith Magic Kick, ihe Lakers: have a .shot at the title. I think that, by mid-Mathe Laker w ill be holding a team party at Ceballos' lakeside cMaie. tou think the playoffs (hem-selve- s are too long, that two rounds would suffice. I think you're right. As playoffs approach, IftocEte&s remain champions os By CHRIS SHERIDAN AP Basketball Writer the West and play the Los Angeles Lakers in a best-of-- 5 playoff scries Time to slop gushing over the Chicago Bulls. The regular season's over and (he Bulls were great, but it doesn't mean much in the NBA for the beginning Thursday night Houston won the title as a sixth seed last ear alter going all tin way as a nel two month. The Houston Rockets are still defending champions and the team to beat. And the Bulls still have to overcome their failures of the past tw seasons. "We're not going to give it up, not without a fiht." Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said two-tim- e Sunday. The' Rockets, finally healthy after injuries hit them hard the past 2 12 months, are the f.fth seed in o. 2 seed in 1993-94- . "If we re healthy. I'd say on paper, ihj have added a Mark Bryant, added an F.ldridge Recas-ne- r (o a championship Team, you have to feel you're bolter." Tom- janovich said. "But talent and potential really means nothing in getting the prize. "Are tHi the best team? Can vou handle (Ik tough situations? live first year we thdn'l have an evplo-Mv- e offense. We have more jMhmis now than w had on the I'iim championship learn. Right now. we have to get back to (he team that what it takes to win." Other Chicago-Miam- first-roun- i. Indiana-Atlant- a d matchups are Orlando-IVtroi- t, and Cleveland-Ne- w York in the Last and o. San Antonio-Phoenid and in the West. The Bulls are coming off the best regular season in NB A history (72-10- ). which assured them of (he htxne-cou- rt advantage through the finals. First, though" they have to get there. Seattle-Sacrament- x Utah-Portlan- There are two images to remember from last year's playoffs before penciling in (he Bulls as (he automatic champion: Rudy T.'s mtHiih and Michael's mistakes. Tomjanovich Mood at center court in the Summit last June, confetti falling all around him as the Houston Rockets celebrated their second straight championship. "Never underestimate the heart of a champion." Tomjanovich yelled to the crowd after his team swept (he upstart Orlando Magic. The speech came nearly a month after Jordan, the rust showing after a 2 month retirement, botched his way through Games I, 3 and 6 against the Orlando Magic and the Bulls crc eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "He's probably still the greatest player, but he wasn't quite his old self and the people aiound him weren't the same, Scottie Pippen 1 -- 4 said utter Jordan had his earliest playoff exit since 19X8. Jordan looked much better tins season as he won his eighth scoring title and is probably headed for his fourth MN P award. The Bulls reveled in their unprecedented success, but they repeatedly said 72 wins won't mean a thing unless a championship follows. "The most important thing is for us to win the title," Pippen said. "We've had a wonderful season, it been challenges set for us all season and we've been able to meet those challenges. But now it's a big challenge for us." Their first task will be getting (See ROCKETS, ftct D2 |
