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Show The Salt Lake Tribune NBA PLAYOFFS Tuesday, May 25 1999 cs Knicks Safe for Another Round; But Their Coach? NEW YORK — To a chorus of nearly 20,000 people chanting Jeff Van Gundy’s name, the New York Knicks madeit to the Eastern Conference finals Monday night — even if they didn’t necessarily save their coach’s job “I don’t think they've eyer done that for any coach,” Patrick Ewing said after a full house at Madison Square Garden gotup onits feet and voted with its collective voice while the Knicks GAME SUMMARY P ATIANTA Ms CA MA OT APF Pu Crawford 20-268 0 03 2 2 Mutombo 34 mith Blaylock 40 Wet it Mohan 12 Coma” Melaed Toa in 2h bt Percentages ~ FG 2 Taree-Poat Goals Blank 15, Gray 1 “Team Rebound Bleed Shu 2 Mut Turvover, bo 4 Bla Jock 2. Long2 Corbin. Crawford Me Sea ng 8 sau} Bas Mlagrant fouls — A Joh ‘ %( S.VORK Ma MA wh OT AerPe Liohmos 3103 00 14 ° were completing a 4-0 They move on to a conference finals matchup gie’’ in reference to Knicks nemesis Reggie beginning next Sunday, a series that Van Gundy quarter, a much louder third round. with the Indiana Pacers will enter without knowing whether his job is safe for next season. With the Knicks safely ahead in the third quarter, tne fans started chanting “We Want Reg- With sevenminutes to go in the second quarterof the Trail Blazers’ 81-75 victory, Jim Jackson missed postseason for the fifth a three-point shot. While jockeying for rebounding time this decade, including two conferencefin- als The last time they position, Portland's Rasheed Wallace and Utah's Thurl Bailey got their arms tangled NBAFinals at stake was 1994 when New York the Jazz bench season, Indiana ousted the Knicks 4-1 in the sec- stepped between Wal- met with a trip to the They staggered Miller of Indiana. Late in the fourth chant was given to Van Sprewell added 11 Defensively, ovation — lace and Bailey, who were assessed double I thought therewas going to be afight... With referee Ronnie Nunn standing between them, Sloan shouted at Wallace, who shouted back The exchangecould end up costing Sloan ‘I yelled something at Wallace that I probably shouldn't haveyelled,” Sloan said. “But it looked to melike he had thrownapunch at Thur! I told the NBApeoplethey probably should fine me because it's against therulestotalk to anotherplayer “Tm very proud of my teammates. They've done a fabulous job, and hopefully they can get me a Wallace denied he threw a punch, which would lead to an automaticone-game suspension. Portland Coach Mike Dunleavyagreed Nothing,” said Wallace. “We just got locked up andI was trying to free my arm. Look at the tape. I'm not sweating it ring,” Ewing said. “As I've said before, there's no team in the NBA I fear. If we play the way Wallace, whois averaging 10points andfive re- ve been playing, the boundsin theseries, suggestedSloan used Baileyto eve calling Wallace's attemptto get awayfrom Baileya roundhouse” punch instigatejust suchan altercation helimit Smith had Meanwhile. Dunleavy seemed to criticize Sloan for 14 year coach. I've already stated their chances against the first at the Garden for whoseshortenedrotation the beleaguered fourth- due to injuries doomed much deeper Knicks. ErehmThe Associated Press New York's Latrell Sprewell throws down a dunk during thefirst half of the Knicks’ 79-66 playoff win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night Checketts Offers an Apology,Little Else A victory put the Knicks into the Eastern Conferencefinals for thefirst timesince 1994, but even that might not be enough to save NEW YORK — Jeff Van Gundy Van Gundy’s job received an apologybut no Jackson. I regret that I lied about it. said Dave Checketts, who denied for two days that he had met with Jackson before abruptly changing his story Sunday during thesec- ond half of Game3 in the Hawks Knicks series. The Knicks won 79-66 on Monday night to sweep the best-ofseven series. We'renot going to makedeci- sions about an vthing — players to trade, who st. whogoesor the status of the coaches — until after the season is over and we've had a chance to review. That status hasn't change said Checketts, a former Jazz ext utive. After Sunday's victory, Van whentheteampresidenttold him there been no contact with Jackson On Monday afternoon, howeyer, Checketts was in the coach’s office apologizing “For misleading Jeff I feel that and he’s comfortable with Spurs Coach’s Choice THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN ANTONIO — TheSpurs’ sweepof the Los Angeles Lakers earned San Antonio a rareday off Monday With nopractice scheduled, Spurs players rested and waited to learn whether they'll face Portland or longtime nemesis Utah in the NBA's Western Con ferencefinals Whoever comes, we don't have much control and we can't do anything about it Spurs Coach Gregg Popovichsaid I don't want to play either oneof them The Trail Blazers lead the Jazz 3-1 lead in their semifinal series. San Antonio beat the Lakers 118-107 Sunday to win their semifinal series 4-0 and advance to a con ference final for the fifth time in franchise history The jast time was 1995 when the eventual NBA champion Houston Rockets beat the Spurs in six games San Antonio never has won an NBA championship Thousands of cheering fans hungry for atitle crowded aroundaprivate airport terminal to greet the team’s charter plane whenit arrived Sunday night fromLos Angeles. I've been here off andon for sevenyears. They're @ Continued from C-1 The Blazers have the luxury of three shots to win one, but that doesn’t play well in the mindof 6-foot-9 Blazer powerforwardBrian Grant, who waslimitedto seven points Sunday. “We don't wantit to go three more games. Wewantto[winit] in Utah. If we play like we did [Sunday], we will not win there,” he said after his foul-plagued Game 4 Checketts sai Van Gundy is in his fourth season as coach of the Knicks. the through the fourth quarter. After Bryon Russell's Portland displayed a rare, homecourt mental lapse Sunday infrittering away a six-point lead midway three-point basketfinishedoff an 8-2 runwith 5:46 to head coach. Van Gundy. with aca reer record of 141-97 including play, the Jazz actually had a chance to take the lead before Todd Fuller missed a short jumper. “We didn’t play with a sense of urgency most of the game and it 21-16in the playoffs, has one remainingonathree-year, $6 lion contract In fact, the Blazers committedaseries-high17 turn overs in Game4, including three inside thelast four decade with as an assistant and % minu' 6 sat ay, May 22 $94 Sunday May 23 welcome in David Robinsor Antonio has “We had alot of fight in us anddidn't fold eventhough westruggled a bit,” Utahvs. Portland wzers lead series, 3-1) Tuesday, May 18 “trata, May 20 Saturday, May 22 Sunday Moy n Portes Today, May 25 ON Of “Thursday, May 27 Saturday, May 29 Portions fon. 1B “ second time at allowed the Jazz to close to within a point cent and win. they were n so much more enthusiastic Spurs point guard Avery Johnson said of the airy 10-year NBA career that San almost cost us.” said Anthony with 16 secondsleft. Dunleavy was amazedhis team could coughuptheball that much, shootonly 34 per. NBA PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE ta vs. New York (Knicks win series, 4.0) , 18 New Yor: 100, Atari92 20 New York 77, Allanta 70 Su inday, May a 2. New ork 90, Atonta 78 New You T? Wonte 60. Philadelphia vs Indiana (Pacers win series, 40 Monday, May 17 xdkana 94, Prlodalpnia90 inesday, caren 8, PrceoetG 82 24 Inckana 97, Prikaaelphuc ts Sunday, May 23 Indiana 89, Priladelpnic 86 WESTERN CONFERENCE son Antonio ve LA Lakers (Spurs win series, 40) This is only the Won't Take Casual Approach deeplysorry, and I told himthat,” ganization based on oneserie: one shot or onewin. Checketts said. Van Gundy“hi s agreed to advanced past the second round It's great,” Robinson said. “I like this group It special We work all season to put ourselve position It is not lucky that anice job playing together But, he cautioned, the Spurs have muc That's out of line,” Dunleavy told The Orego- nian. “That would belike metrying to comeout and say, ‘Malone and Stocktonare real cheap-shot artists with the elbows and things they do. Askedif he thought Bailey was intentionallysent after Wallace, Dunleavysaid, “. . Peoplesaid to me ‘Thurl went in with that intention — to get under Gundysaid he believed Checketts team he has spent more than a on what should happenin the or- Blazers that It’s not fair to make an evaluation on somebodyor a judgment For Next Foe: Neither and I've got a right to protect my player.” said Sloan the ing to lead the Hawks. of the New York Knicks, who was caught lying about the team’s interest in former Bulls Coach Phil Sloan so he JAZZ NOTES personal fouls in addi tion to double techni‘als. Knicksheld Atlanta to 29 percent shooting from the field for the second timein theseries. a ances Mondayfromthe president y aside punch lace threw Bai saw what hecalled a roundhouse Gundy, along with a points on 5-for-20 shoot standing backward andendedup infront of At that point woninseven games. Last his highes! of the series and Latrell seeded to advance to the came the first eighth- e 4 of the Western Conference semifinal se nst Portland. Sloanexpects tobefined The Knicks and Indi- ana will be meeting in the 19 poit.ts, including 12 in the first quarter when locked Shots — 5 Dudley 2 Camby st — 18 (Sprewell 4, 1.Jobnean Houston’"Tomas Childs 2, Camby 2, Ewing Steals \LJobnsan 2, Houston 2 Cal, ving, Sprewel hnkealFouls ~Chulds 433second Ane oO New York wg - 4 =) 3) T— 21 Officials — Dan Crawford. Derrick Stafford Ken Maver won with ease and be- Coach JerrySloantalked to NBA representa: londay about his part in an on-courtincident cerned about now is getting myself and the team readyto playagainst the Pacers.” the Kn cks took the lead for good. Ewing had 17 in them,verynice. I appre- first sweep of a sevengame series in 30 years. As they did in thefirst three games, the Knicks BY STEVE LUHM HE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE hire him. “All I’m con- Allan Houston scored Hawks with a 79-66 vic- ended with New York's said Ewing, who has vowed not to play for Jackson if the Knicks ona round sweep of the Atlanta tory “It was very kind of ciated it very much,” Van Gundysaid after another day of politicking off the court and precision on it what myposition is on Jeff and Phil Jackson, > BY CHRIS SHERIDAN Sloan Expects Fine After Altercation Involving Wallace Sloan? He's still angry about the $10,000 fine levied by the NBAagainst Karl Malonefor throwing an elbow at Brian Grant in Game1, plus the fact Wallacees- caped afine for his nasty flagrant foul on Bryon Russell in Game 2. Immediately after Game4, a frustrated Sloan said, I have a problem with us coming to Portland and hearing how our guys are alwaysthe ones who knock people down. if that’s the case, how come our guys are always the ones who end uponthe floor?” BRIEFLY The Jazz are5-1 in their last six playoff elimination games. The last two timestheyhavetrailed 3-1 ina best-of-seven series, the Jazz have won Game 5. In the 1996 Western Conferencefinals, Utah stayed alive with a 98-95 overtime win at Seattle Duringlast year’s NBAFinals, the Jazz postponed Michael Jordan's going-away party with an 83-81 win at the United Center. Home-Cooking Depart ment: In two gamesat theDelta Center, Karl Malone shot 29 freethrowsand Isaiah Rider shot six. In two games at the Rose Garden, Rider shot22 free throws and Maloneshot 16 hesaid Portland, as 3-1 lead would suggest, is brimmi with confidence, if for no other reason than havi history onits side Only six NBA teams have ever ¢ backfroma 3-1 deficit to win a series. And the odds Portland do not bode well for the Rasheed’s skin, to try and takehimout of our game. If that’s the c: that’s fine. That’s part of it. {But] we'regetting better at not taking thebait.’ Jazz, ev force a Game 6. The Blazers are now 11-1 offs at home against Utah t Thursday, the Blazers Jazz Face an Uncertain Future @ Continued from C-1 Center by winning Game five-point fourth quarte hot at winning Game 1. In other tripped away any semblance ant says it is of Jaz play with (the Jazz] or not.” He e to remain confident We just have the crowd, not get rattled and play er know how the [officials ust have to We ve had some open looks But we aren't making many shots In the last two games, three important Jazz scorers mnvineibilit »mbined for 11-for-43 shooting. Bryon Russell “not a matter cals flat out beat [the in. our are game battle Ye going to ge J. ny's observation that the J me afte Blazers “with every physica ‘ trick « book” in Game 5 ts proba rion Portland has used its own ane f poychologic mess up the Jazz's cor © for instance, drawing the Ja personal fouls and 42 times ir Game 4 ame hh 1 130 free ilar season, the , heir oppc Late Nights, Long Trips Too Much, So Daly Quits ), Shandon Anderson (3-of-13) and Howard 3-0f-10) have struggled, leaving too much of a burden on the Big Three of Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Horna We ve got to play better,” said Russell We've ott out fighting ain't no holdingback now Sloar he will use his regular starting lineup in Game 5 That means Greg Ostertagwill get back on the \fter a slow start in the fourth game, Ostertag went to the bench in the final seconds of the first quarter did not return 1 don't know, I thought I did OK Ostertag said But he's the coachand I didn’t apparently Apparently Durin arance, Ostertag missed three and a pair of freethrows, threw a bad 4 wascalled for an illegal-defenseviolation Worse. he was caught flat-footed on aspin and drive by Portland's bulldozer of a center, Arvydas Sabonis. i of Ostertag. Sloan went with Thurl Baile id Fuller and Adam Keefe in Game 4. Bailey and BY MIKE SCHNEIDER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a. — All thoseroadtrips, ORLANDO, Bate nights at hotels and airports Chuck Daly has hi id enough all those The 68-year-old coachquit the Drlando Magic on Monday, nine @ays after his team was upset in first roundofthe playoffs Daly, whose coaching career panned two de des andinclud. two NBA titles in Detroit, was thefinal ye r of a three-year pntract worth$5 million I've had a great rus reer he said at a news on rence. “This is a fir le for me Chuck Daly coaching. ’ his wi 1 conclude y coaching areer Daly said th Magic's playoff elimination by Phila jons with star Penny Iphiain four games ardaway didn't play 3 e in his decision. Hardaway’'s future with the team is anclear and he plans to beco a free agent this summer ‘ It's time. It's as simpleas that.” Dal. 1. mind is willingbut the flesh is weak Daly said all the travel and games had t ake and he decided it was time to leave coa tol Hewill stay as a consultant to Magic General Mar ager John Gabriel What that amounts to, I don't know,” he said Gabriel said he would begin his search for a new coach in weeks. Orlando missed the playoffs in his first year. but this season tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference Daly coached the 1992 Olympic team to a medai in Barcelona. He and Lenny Wilkens are th only coaches to have won NBA and Olympic char onships rt Daly who led the Pistons to title 1990. was hired by the Magic on e had a 74-58 regular easonrec i He was inducted into the Hall of Fame worked as a television analyst for th ree year joining the Magic ly has a 13 yea Keefe. in particular, gave the Jazz a badly needed spark Thurl came inandset some screens — thekind we Th Monson: Jd Are Questionable @ Continued from C-1 Malone. why not? 7 Is there still a lot have the players be ach other out Vill ockton and Malone. en for a while,” said Sloan. “He gave our e to make somedecisions. That partI looked to melike rried over. Our energyle | picked upafter that Still, Sloan plans to start Os rtag tonight We'll see how we do,” he explained. “Hopefully we'll get the kind of effort we need. That's the bottom line. We need everybody to play well to have a chance. ng and Hornacek. too. I'd lik to see us get a w and takeit fromthere, because it’s amazing how fast things can turn around, if you maketheeffort The Blazers? They're thinking about finishingthe Jazz quickly, so they can get some rest beforestarting a Western Conference their j history t ne back from hopes of an NBA title alive. Just asking final series against San Antonio that seems inevitable Wedon't want to give Utahthe opportunityto start feeling good about themselves.” said Portland guard Greg Anthony It feels good to be up3-1, but we can't be satisfied to play like with that.” said the Blazers’ Damon Stoudamire. “We haveto close the deal now |
