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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SPORTS MNHL PLAYOFFS B-3. MEBASEBALL B-4,5 BIAUTORACINGB-7 MTENNISB-9 B SaBAY i PRO BASKETBALL B-40 MAY30, 1999 OK, Now What? Tiny Guard Might Have Big Impact Miller vowsto take ‘hard look’ at who should stay with Jazz Baderfighting to become Starzz’s safetynet at point BYLYA WODRASKA ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The time whena pro basketball team comes together before the seasonstarts is innocently called “training camp.” For most players, it isn't training,it’s a battle. Right now, guard Tricia Bader is embroiledin one of the biggest battles surrounding the Utah free agents this summer, in- Jazz owner LarryMiller did cluding the Big Three of 37year-old John Stockton, 36year-old Jeff Hornacek and 35- and he wasnotlookingstrictly “Without sounding like I'm taking those guys for granted,” notlike what he saw during his team’s abbreviatedplayoff run, at the scoreboard. 1 can handle losing,” said. Starzz of the WNBA. A fourth-round draft pick in 1998, Bader is one of four point guards fighting for roster spot. Miller “But losing when guys to 11 before the season begins Stockton would have returned up sporadically, and we had a couple of guys not show up at angry about that.” As the sole ownerof the Jazz Lay- since 1986, Miller has had hundreds of discussions with his players overthe last 13 years. den has all but pronounced Deb- “T have never asked themto bie Black, the win,” he said. “But I have al- Starzz’s second-round ways asked them, ‘Give us what pick in the 1999 draft, as didn’t see that from some of the starter. you've A Laydenis willing to carry three point guards, which means Bader, Chantel Tremitiere and Dalma Ivanyi are battling for the last se- quired in a trade with Sacramento for Lady Hardmon, has been hampered by a torn hamstring and hasn’t practiced in more than STAT SHEET PPG REB AST 1999Season 85 26 1.1 Career 76. 27 19 He is loking for Herinjury has put more focus on Ivanyi and Bader. Bader is making the most of her chance. A 5-foot-4 graduate of Boise TYEARLEFT 26 years old STAT SHEET . Rodman. 7A 19 54 18S Black's quick hands coax oppo- “You never know whatwill happen,” Stocktonsaid. “ButI expect to come back and be I can this with some confidence,” Miller said. “We will take a hard look this year — gest payday of his Hall-of- playingagain.” Malone, in line for the big- Famecareer, might be a tough- ersell for Miller. See JAZZ, Page B-6 there's nothing left. The Jazz are out. Done. Kaput. What are we gonna do, watch Portland play San Antonio? our annual post-postseason FREE AGENT 30 years old STAT SHEET 1999Season 37 39 | Career slide show, a look back at Utah's latest playoff run — or PPG REB AST 28 20 06 28 27 05 FUTURE: sattheJz ;. Don't expect him back while her feet let her breeze past defenders. Bader, however, has often beat- short stroll, or stumble, or face plant, whatever — truncated as This is a pictureof Sacramentoassistant coach Pete Carril, the legendary former Princeton hoop professor, checking the scoreboard late in en Black at her own game “It’s fun to go against someone as quick as I am,” Black said. “I think I have quicker hands, that is whatI live off, but she has quicker feet. It's making us both work 24 years old STAT SHEET GENT 36 years old STAT SHEET PPG REB AST 1999Season 122 33 40 “7 33 «51 As tough as they come, our butts off.” Layden has noticed. “Trish is the ultimate pro, because she gives you everything he will likely return. she has and I love that,” Layden said. “She's short, so she has to playtwice as hard, but she does. If Kari Malone we had 11 Tricias, we'd be small, 35 years old STAT SHEET %& but we'd still win some games because she is the type of player STAT SHEET Layden might be exaggerating. but the point is well taken. After all, it isn't likely Bader would be 1999Season = 40 32 06 Career 67 45 07 » He has some versatility, who won't let you lose “S. ~~ =. “I 5 YEARS LEFT 26 years old STAT SHEET against Debbie because here is someonewhois shorter than | am who has been very successful. I 1999Sesson Career look up to her and want to watch and learn how she plays.” While understanding how diffi- 1999Seasem Career 238 AST «94 21 107 FATE: esces , He's to CP Ostertag didn't believe it. One of the best things about playing here is going PPG REB PPG REB AST FUTURE: ich ne Jar ack playing basketball if not for her determination. “T've always heard | was too PPG 57 55 Russell 3 YEARS 73 60 28 years old STAT SHEET REB AST 05 03 the roster, Bader nonetheless is John Stockton FREE AGENT 37 years old STAT SHEET Starzz, saw sporadic timelast season under former coach Denise Taylor, who was fired with 11 games remaining. Under Taylor. 1999Season PPG 111 44 He won't sign anywhere etae: expect hin back Bader often played 20 minutes one gamethen only 20 seconds of 30. being carved up bya vin- tagepick-and-roll offense as dusty as the one he favored with his schoolboys back in the day l 24 years old STAT SHEET One PPG REB AST «23 06 O08 28 08 15 backup FINE: Stson thon toe agency NHLPlayoffs Buffalo 5. Toronto 2 PCL Edmonton 2, Salt Lake 1 i onhis face. “I planned it,” Webber bragged later. Still, Stockton recovered from this hit. It was the blindside pick See MONSON, Page B-10 whistle for good It’s just not the time, because they still have it in themto another run — maybe a chance at Je when they were eliminated from the play offs in the Western Conference semifinals by the brash Port land Trail Blazers. It would have been onething flood of free throwsto finish out Game6. Two Blazer vietories were by six and three points If there was any embarrassment, it was the inexplicable Game 6 disappearance of Kari MVP) Malonefrom what should have been one of the biggest games of his illustrious career. The Mailman will have had the Blazers embarrassed to live with that one, but it, The Blazers outscored the Jazz by four points over six games en just as his harangue toward the Jazz out of the playoffs — 12 of them coming in a See BADER, Page B-2 \ SCORE,LIN standing over him with a smirk Jazz oneof the most formida. ble — albeit ring-less — teams in the NBAin this decadeto hang uptheir sneakers and at his side It’s pure foolishness to con: the Jazz blew their last 1999Season Career sprawled all over the court. And there's Chris Webber, who bumped thelittle guy down, It's just not time for the quartet that has made the Utah coach for these guys, with faithful sidekick Phil Johnson 1 mere nine seconds into Game 2, a Kings win. Look, he’s Premature Playoff Exit Is No Reason To Think Jazz Title Hopes Are Gone It's just not time yet, John DICK ROSETTA Jeff and Jerry. Youtoo, Karl And Jerry Sloanis the only a 29 «#27 Notice the exasperated look on his face, his young Kings, down Click Ahh, here’s John Stockton getting his bell rung — a harbinger of things to come — a couple — at the championship Career more encouraged than last year when she walked into the exit interview expecting to be cut Bader. whoplayed two years in Australia before joining the Game of the Jazz's first round series against the Kings. make 1999 Season Are Jazz growing weary FUTURE: his inconaintency? cult it is to earn a final place on t Miller said offs. As result, expect changes the showmust go on because PPG REB “AST nents into numerous turnovers, ‘ centive for him to come back,” Pppphhhffww. It’s time for reer of being the most irritating player in basketball shorts, with the exception of maybe Dennis NBA Playoffs San Antonio 80, Portland 76 John is, I think there's more in- know,it's still only May, but VM ar@ ie surprises in training camp. She's giving Black, a two-time ABLAllStar, all she can handle. The 5-3 Black has made a ca- Knowing the way it ended and the kind of competitor Dim the lights, will ya, Charlie, the season's over. I know, I PUI x rem State, Bader has been one ofthe championship. But after Utah's 4-2 loss to Portland in the Western Conference semifinals, when Stockton played like he was a decade younger, Miller is convinced he will return for his 16th season. Turn Offthe Lights on Postseason — This Slide ShowSays It All for Jazz GORDON MONSON | 38 years old STAT SHEET FREE AGENT 25 years old a week. ZF, I if the Jazz had gone backto the NBAFinals for the third team.” Seven Jazz players become eliad tee REE ee SPECTS lection. Tremitiere, whom the Starzz ac- Bader said. Frankly, maybeharder than ever before — at who should be on this to makethefinalroster. short to play,” got.” our players’ during the play- Anotherpoint Tricia Bader guard, Poland's Krystyna Lara, arrives the second week of June and also is expected Miller said, “I expect them back Miller wondered whether straight year and wontheir first all. I'm frustrated and little June 10. Utah Coach year-old Karl Malone aren't giving their best effort. I have a hardtime with that Wehad a coupleof guys show Utah mustcutits roster from 19 Frank BY STEVE LUHM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, too. will go away and be forgivSee ROSETTA, Page B-10. A quick look at keyfinal results in the world of sports American League Boston 4. Cleveland 2 Texas 4, Minnesota 3 (10) Seattle 11. Tampa Bay 5 National League Arizona 8, New York Chicago 7. Detroit 1 Baltimore 7, Oakland 5 Chicago 4. St I New York 8. Toront Anabeim 4. Kansas City 3 Montreal 7. Sa ’ | Philadelphia Cincinnati 8, Florida 1 Pittsburgh 5, Houston 1 os Angeles 2, 04 ) i, Atlanta 1 % San Diego 12. Milwaukee 3 ; x |
