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The Salt LakeTribune NBA BASKETBALL Saturday. SmallBall MightHelp Jazz Today vs. Blazers Is BS JAZZ VS. BLAZERS 999 Pacers Rip Past Philly, h 93, Portland 83 Can Sweep on Sunday “Thursday — Uta! Nd, T *Sat., May 29 — Portland afVion, TBA — it necessary) @ Continued from B-1 bly makes us tougher to guard. We're quick and everybody hus tles,” insisted Russell. We would prefer our bigguys comeout andplay great. But if we peed to mind-strongandonthe ue we could go small” all for jongrs(retcties Logically, the problem comes on thedefensiveend e Jazz used their small line. up late in Game 2. Portland was big. ger at everyposition. The 6-7 Russell drew the defensive assignment on Wallace. Still, Utah closed the gap and missed getting to overtime when Stockton’s lob shot over Jim Jackson bounced offtherim Everybody hastoblock out,”” Rus. ‘and everybodyhas to keep small lineup can wor wgainst the biggerBlazers. In the best-of-five opening round Blazers Seeking Weekend Sweep OverJazz ok pS = ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Asked after Friday's practiceif the Jazz mightturn to their small lineup moreoften, Sloan said, “That's some. thing we haveto take into consider ation. A lot depends on whoPortland hasonthefloor If the Blazers are using their starts A las Sabonis. 6-11 Rasheed Wallace and 6-9 Brian Grant — their size probably prohibits Utah fromgoing small. But if Sabonisis re placed and Wallace moyes to center. the Jazz believe Small Ball becomes an option. “When we go small.” said Malone. ‘we're probably tough to match up against. It makes us more athletic, we canget up anddow floor quick er, and everybody canscore. It proba. Backup point guard Howard Eisley playedso well. Sloanco Problem mightily against Portland games, he has scored five points on 1of-10 shooting He has more turnovers(five) than assists (three). Basketball’s a great game, and this is part of it,” Eisley said. “One week you're on the topof your game, and the next week you'reonthe bottom The only thing I cando is s! ygressive, play hard and work ay through it sa different team and they're playing ‘They're getting up on him getting all over him. ‘They'reforcing him to make quicker decisions.” Everages 15/5 minutedinthe Portland series Howard has always bounced back,” said Sloan. “Hehas adjusted in the past: he needs to doit again.” Meanwhile. the Jazz hopeto regain the upper handin this series with a vietory in Game3 Ve've beenin this position before,” said Malone. “Not that welove it. But sometimes weplaybetter when our back is against the wall.” My mindset,” said Russell, “is to go oul and win, If we get this first one out oftheway, everything will be back to normal There were no flaws in Thursday's fourth-quarter performance. He was 3-for-3 from the field, including a three-pointer He was 4-for-4 from thefree-throw line and chippedin a The specter of Rider improving back that coach sure to point up to himin anticipation of Game3 was that his counterpart, Hornacek. went ers stayed awayfrom carelessfouls. the series moves on — and maybetwo when they fouled five fewer or three other Blazers stepping up to times than the Jazz and shot seven complementhim — should be ahaunt morefree throws. It wasinstark coning thought for the Jazz. Rider scored trast to Game1, whenPortland fouled just 12 points in Game 1 and was 0- 10 times and saw the Jazz shoot 19 for-3 from thefield in the fourth 4 rt of his frustration may have givento season-long stenimedfromthestrainedknee inju- temper tantrums and frequent con Ty hereceivedina collision withthe frontations with theoffi opted Phoenix Suns’ TomGugliottain Game 3 of the Blazers’ first-round sweep. for composure. Rider said it was the If Game1 against theJazz had been emphasis of a game-day team meet Sunday, I don't know if Isaiah would ing: “We agreedthat if wegot a foul have beenready,” said Trail Blazers call, wedidn't react The Blazers were composed in Coach Mike Dunleavy But when he wants to play — he was Game2 and confident on Friday. In suspendedfor three different games fact, they don't think feel they've by the league during the season and played anywhere near thelevel they was benched fromstarting by Dun exhibited in sweeping Phoenix We'll have homecooking for our two leavy five times for tardiness — Rider is uriquestionably one of the most pro games. Our fans have been great, said Rider. They watchedtheir Blaz ductive shooting guards inthe r-season The former UNLVstar, who was ers compile a 2: the same home second in the nation in scoring in are cognizant the Jazz 1992-93 with 1 average. has aught the playoff fever. “I'mdoing it dealt them 91-77 defeat here on all he said. “I'm playing defensc March12, ending anine I'm talking to my teammates, I'm homewinning streak We're pl keeping us in it and I'mgivingus of. better now as a unit.” said Gr fense i'm playing good basketball That's the confiden of a mom tum-switchingplayoff win talking probably my best basketball JAZZ, NBA NOTEBOOK Sloan Draws Praise in L.A., Jazz Coach Jerry Sloanis the subject of a Lis Angeles Times columnin today’s ed itions that labels Sloan — not NBA Cvach of the Year Mike Dunleavy of Pa.rtland — thebestcoach in the Jazz-Bl,azersseries Dunleavy’ received 48 of a possible 118 votes from a panel of NBAsports writers and’ broadcasters. PhiladelBrown was second with fol lowed bySloan(15) and Orlando's Ch uck Daly (13) the Times’ J.A. Adande observes that having Karl Malone and John Stockton onf is team causes Sloan to beoverlooked whenit comes to recognitionof the league's to coaches Adandecou nters, “I'd like to see what someoth er coaches would do if they had to decide between Greg Ostertag and Todd Fuller when it came time to choose centerfor thefinal minutes of a pla yoff game.” Other exce M Asked whit he grows on his 1,000-aere farm in SouthernIllinois, Sloanreplied, “) Wheat. soybeans and corn. No marijue na M Adande: “li there’s one S an trait I don't like, it's the way he petuates the ‘everyone is against the Jazz’ mentality thiat abounds in Salt LakeCity MUSICAL INTE\RLUDE Jazz fe thelead.” Thursday night. in the third quarter. Utah went up, 41-34. bu’ lowedthe Blazerstorip off 15st ight points, setting uptheloss sth Instead, the Jazz fumbled around like playoff neophytes, shooting the ball as though they were heaving squares of § passing it though they wer in th night The same thing happenedin the Sa s, when the Jazz won Game1 by a rousing 30 points, then warbled through Game at the Delta ‘ ‘enter. hy. I suckily y come back after a @ Continued from B-1 road winding We don t pose” he sa at its crossroads ay throughthe ad, turns onto the dirt over the mountains yiel From the ‘ The Jazz playred up. the J down, Rather than crushing t ers, the Jazz's poor p turnovers, encouraged them °F body did their 5 Rasheed Wallace ¢ locker room “Including the Jaz It's happenedin [p and it's happened in games,” Ande son says. "We get ahead, but thenlose “Faith in Your Heart,” at the ZCMI Mall in downtown Salt Lake ity. Hundreds of ple lined up outside Deseret Boo k to have Bailey sign a copyof the CD which is a blend of original songs like “On the Up and aa ard Thu ri Baileytook time out Friday betweer) practice and f ing to Portland to promotehis new CD, Monson: Jazz Are DoingIt The Hard Way unique stylings ofhits like “You Are So Beautiful” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth MaybeBailey could help the Jazz winthe next two gamesin Portland by exemplifying one ofthe songs, “Love Saved the Day.” STA.°F AND WIRE REPORTS ~The Way Love Goes.” with BAD MEMORIES Portland's five-point fourth quarter in Game 1 was an NBA playoff record. The Jazz haveties to similar league records: @ Sacramento scored four points in the first quarter against the Los Ange. les Lakers in February1987. That was Phil Johnson's last gameas the Kings coach; he’s now a Jazz assistant @ TheJazz scoredfive points in the second quarter against the Lakers in December 1981, in one of TomNis salke’s last gamesas the Jazz coach EARLY ENTRIES Forward star of Weber s me splash YCAA Tournament, is among try candidatesfor the NBAdraft ‘Thebiggest names on the pase elton Brand, college player of the year as a sophomore, and Rhode Island's Lamar Odern Thedraft is June 30 at the MCI Cen: ter in Washington. Players who have filed for early entry can withdraw fromconsideration by notifying the NBAatleast one week prior to the draft. Arceneaux has said hewill re turn to WSU if hedetermines he’s not likely to be one of the top five picks Arceneaux totaled 68 points in the NCA Tournament. as the Wildcats upset North Carolina before losingto Floridain overtime PHILA. i ach Iverson 4, Hughes 3, alld 8 fromtheir fourth tripto the conferencefinals in five years. The Sixers face the task of coming back from a 3O deficit, which noteam has ever done in a seven-game NBAplayoff series WESTERN CONFERENCE EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlanta vs. New York (Knicks lead series, 2-0) May ursday, New York 77, Atlanta 70 ‘Sunday, May 23, ‘Atlanta at New York, 4 p.m. londay, May 24 Atlanta at New York, 6 pm. “Wed iday, Alaniot NowYor TAA ‘Sunday, May 30 New York at Atanta, TBA Philadelphia vs. indiana (Pacers lead series, 0) , May 47 Indiona 94 rmioses 0 inesday, May 19 Indiana 85, Philadelphia 82 Friday, May 24 Indiona 97, Phiiadelphia 86 Sunday, May 2: Indiono at Philadelphia, 10:30 am “Wednesday, May 26 Philodelphic atindiana. TBA , May 28 indiana at Prdadlphia TBA Prodetohio oninakene a Saturday, SanAntonio at LA, Lakers, 3:30 p.m, Sunday, May 23 Son Antonio at LA Lakers, 330 p.m. Tu 25 LA LokeratSanAntonio, BA wursday, May 27 Son Antonio:2LA kes, TBA ese, Mar99 LAtokens atSonA Utah vs. (Series tied, 4-1) fuesday, May Utah 93, Portiand 83 Thuwursday, May 20 Portland 84, Utah 84 Saturday, May 22 Sunday, Wah at Poin,a par 25 Portond of Woh,“ene wursday, May 27 Utah at Portland, TBA jurday, May 29 Portland at Utah, TBA ( —Htnecessary) Sleepless Sloan Complains That MailmanIs Being Treated Unfairly BY STEVE LI HM Because we're dealing E SALT AKE TRIBUNE PORTLAND — Coacl Jerry Sle n't beengetting much restlately d. ye his recent inso mnia has ev thing to do with Games 1 and 2 of the Jaz Trail Blazers sev ic Before his team’s light \workout Fri day at the Franklin Covey complex Sloan said, “After those last two. | haven't slept hardly at all Why with some. thing other thanbasketball.” he said Asked to explain, Sloanreferred to the $10,000 fine Karl Malone got from the NBAfor elbowing the Blaz ers’ Brian Grant inthe series opener A jas columnist suggested the fine “was another indication that the NBAoffice. long accusedof coddl Malone and encouraging his re less marchto the free-throw lin finally cracking downon his unaabash edly aggressive p Naturally, Sloan d nded Maloi and so complained about a double ul cal led on M and Grant just four minutes into Game 2 In Sloan's view, Grant grabbed himby the shoulders while he's trying to come out of there andthey call a uble foul | don't know pw they | that Obviously, they didn't see the first part Sloan didn't alone for pushing Grant andtryingto free him self I'd knock the guy off me, too,” he said You can call it floppingor whatev er “ each at least eight times Midwa throughthe season. Clark re froma le ones more often league's eight-game quota. the wore purple for the ast three F games, losing two of them The guys like the black because they'rea little bit lighter.” says Clark ke the black uniforms, the purple outsold division ‘SAULAKE CITY If | hadto pick on the black looks little nto and to purple for Gan AIRTOUCH Cellular MURRAY 3355 South State Street 5318 South State Street 1400 South Foothill #106 484.3663 288-2240 $83-2293 PROV.) TOWN CENTER LOGAN OREM OGDEN 1200 Town Center Bivd. 350 North Main 317 East 1300 South 4390 $ Washington Bivd. #8 852.3023 753-6508 229-1300 479-1300 ALSO AT NEWGATE MALL (801) 612.1232 + AND CACHE VALLEY MALLS (435) 787.1296 Offering AirTouch know « lark n If the Jazz the team me 4 “But I'm The thing that uses problems for guys ar Kar! Malone him andhold himandpull him down d. if heretaliates just a little bit that's what theysee play suchthings I show up said Sloan the floor but it’s true,” say Anythingthat doesn't you stronger for that rea on or other Why a: of their shorts sn't matter to me at the locker r you want,” callingit a guy who ts going to get beat downthe floor grabbinj y shoulders so he doesn’t get beat down Uniforms Could Be Ke) To Jazz Winning @ Continued fromB-1 1H FT Reb Min MASA OT APE Pte 156422 1 NBA PLAYOFFS Despite Missing Out on Honor rebound anda steal. The only draw- off for 11 points, too. Hornacek “made somecraftyshots,” said Rider. The bottom line was that the Blaz- @ Continued from B-1 Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune Utai‘s Karl Malonebattles for position against Portland's Brian Graritin Game 2 on Thursday. The Jazz and Blazersaretied 1-1. ——_—_________— GAME auMMARY FE Reb INDIANA, Mi fh MA OT APrru PHILADELPHIA — Different building, same result. The Indiana Pacers are just as calm, serious and devastatingly effective no matter wherethey play With 29 points from Reggie Miller and a meticulous attack befitting their playoff experience, the Pacers moved one game away from sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers with a 97-86 victory in the Eastern Conference semifinals Fridaynight Miller, whothrived once again on taunts from the crowd and bounced right upfroma coupleof hard fouls buried theSixers with a three-pointer that gave Indiana a 93-77 lead with 3:11 left after Philadelphia got within four points The Pacers, who survived late runs bytheSixersin Games1 and 2, did the ame for the final three quarters of Game3. This time,they nevergave up the lead and can sweepPhiladelphia with a victory in Game 4 on Sunday “It's beautiful, [oveit,” Miller said of the fans whospitefully chanted his name. “I can't playat home. I play muchbetter onthe road.” Allen Iverson led the Sixers with 32 points, but needed 33 shots to doit After he cut Indiana’s lead to 77-73 with a three-pointplay with 9:38 left the Pacers picked Philadelphia apart with a 16-4 run that gave themtheir biggest lead. 16 points “| got caught upin the gameand I tried to do too much,” said Iverson Iverson was 13-for-33 from the field. Matt Geiger, Philadelphia’ starting center at 7-foot-1, had 1i points but did not havea reboundin 27 minutes. Asa result, Indianais one win away |
