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Show BBusiness BS * @ Financial Markets BG rh age ee The Dally Heraid Maturity puts Super in Sonics SEATTLE— There's something about these SuperSonics that's different, It's not just the new uniforms. It’s more thanjust the refur- bished KeyArena. It's not theirstyle ofplay, which still embraces an aggressive, trapping, bal!l-hawking defense that leads to an uptempo, 3-point launching offense. It’s their maturity level. In years past, the Sonics were Jazz duo will seek redemption tonigfit By DOUG FOX The Daily Herald Executive ‘Sports Editor SEATTLE — Seattle clearly won the batile of the All-Star duos in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. something the Utah Jazz hope to reverse in Game 2 tonight. fn the series opener Saturday, the SuperSonic tandem of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton outperformed their’ Jazz counterparts, Dream Teamers Karl Malone and John Stockton, as Seattle raced toa 102-72 victory. The Jazz will need a better effort out of their twoleaders if they hope to earn a split before sending the series back to Salt Lake City Tonight's game in KeyArena tips off at 7 p.m. (MDT). The Kemp-Malone matchup at power forward finished fairly even, with both scoring 2! points Kemp outrebounded Malone 11-8 and had two fewer turnovers, although Malonehad five assists to Kemp's two. Kemp, however, did most of his damagein thefirst half when the game was sull in contention, scoriag 19 poirts on 9-of9 shooting from the floor. “Ya playoff basketball you win games with big-time perfor mances,” said Sonics coach George Karl, referring to Kemp. “And sometimes you only need one half of them.” Payton completely dominated Stockton, outscoring him 21-4 and evening him in assists, with each dishing out seven. Payton was 8- oi-16 fromthe floor while Stockton was a miserable 2-10. “I don’t think the dominance of John Stockton is something you can ever expect consistently,” said Karl at a team practice Sunday “Stock’s going to have a great game. He’s probably going to have three or four great games in this series. Gary won the matchup last night. Shawn won the matchup fast night, butit’s all even at 0-0 tomor- ow" Stockton's poor performance in Game | has fueted: jon that the eight-time Alf-Star's hamstring injury is worse he’s willing to admit. Which it is since at present he's not even admitting to having an injury “There’s nothing wrong with me,”said Stockton, who rated his leg at 100 percent. “I’mfine, 1 did- n't play well. We'll see tomorrow.” Maione likewise wouldn't com(See JAZZ, Page B2) Murphy turns up heat to win NFL Golf Classic immensely talentedto be sure, butself-destruction always lurked right around the comer, if not on the next trip up the court. In 1994, the Sonics had the league's best record at 63-19. By HANK GOLA New York Daily News They went up 2-0 on the Denver UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ. — The Cadillac NFL Golf Classic title went to the player who could stand the heat on Sunday. Jay Sigel wilted and Bob Murphy cooked up a 3-under-par 69, conquering the temperatures and the demons that once dogged him on the regular tour. “I'm a Southern boy, raised in Florida.” said Murphy, whofinished with a two-stroke victory Nuggetsin the first round of the playoffs — then they went three and out, becomingthe first top seed to lose to an eighth-seeded squad. Doug Fox Executive Sports Editor after Ree anid Sige! were tied after 11 holes. “Heat's always good for me because it loosens me up. I'm in trouble whenit’s cold like (Saturday). The heat’s my thing.” Murphy won the Thunderbird at Upper Montclair in 1968 and had iwo second-place finishes in the Cadillac, including last year when he felt he “gave the tournament away,” gambling on hitting a Last year the Sonics again posted oneofthe best records in the league. They alsolost in the first round for the second straight year, this time tothe Los Angeles Lakers. Sothere were skeptics when the Sonics again ran away with not only the Pacific Division, but the Western Conferenceas well The Sonics’ 64-18 mark was the best in the league since the Lakers went 65-17 in 1987, But ebodynoticed because the rampaging ChicagoBulls set the tough shot out of the rough “My goal this year was to not make any dumb mistakes,” he said. “That's not always easy for me to do. But this week I was undercontrol.” Sigel’s second-place finish was his best of the year. But unlike Murphy, Sigei couldn't keep it NBArecord with a 72-10ledger. Se when the Sonics lost Game 2 oftheirfirst round series with Sacramento, everybody thought, going on the hottest day of the “Here we goagain.” Everybody except the Sonics. that is. who have reeled off seven straight vie- year. Starting with the 11th hole, he missed four straight fairways and fell a stroke behind Murphy with a bogey on 12. Murphy added a birdie on 14 and coasted. “There's no other reason other than the heat got to me.” said Sigel, tories since that setback It’s time to wake up and smell the cafe latte “Ws a very serious focus I've never seen this teamhave. Sonic coach George Karl. feally believe whatever happens this year, this team is going ” be who looked spent after the round. “I started reaily drying up. I didn’t get enough liquids going and | stopped. perspiring and got real hot.” Sigel pulled his tee shot at 1 an indication his legs were starting to go. He popped uphis tee shot on 12, couldn't risk an approachover the waterandlaid up for the bogey Murphy, who set the course record with a 62 Friday, kept playing steadily “He (Sigel) is an intimidating factor off the tee,” Murphy said, “but the way 10. play this game is fairways greens and putts.” Murphy sewed up the tournament on 16, where he holed out for an eagle Friday. Sunday, he put another 8-iron a few inches from the pin for another birdie. “It was a good day. | was in control,” Murphy said. “I controlled my emotions: That's something I did today that I had trouble doing on the regular tour.” Murphy saidthat after a poor shot on No. 4, he may have blown up in his younger years. But whert he needed it most, he was able to-save par with putts on 9 and 10. putting the pressure back in Sigel’s ls Patience, he said, is something he learned in the broadcast booth whenhe saw the same players who made mistakes the first two gays vying for championships Sunday “Tm the luckiest guy out here,” he said. “To be able to play again with the emotional control that I do . the good Lord gave me my hands back and Ircount my lucky: stars all the time.” give me everythingthe They're going to be fhciesa they're going to be mentally tough. And whatever happens, _ happens. They've got a different mental focus.” Mental focus. Those are two words that haven't been used to describe the Sonics muchin the “It don’take you long, ifyou got your headin the gs ketball, to mature, Karl Malone. “You don’t have to play this business 10-15 years to mature. You can mature a lot in ‘one or two years. These guys have matureda lot.” Shawn Kemp (seventh season) and Gary Payton (sixth season) are the two main reasons for the Sonics’ boom. The pair, unstable at times on and offthe court. took a lot of heat for past playoff flameouts. They must also be credited for this year's Sonic successes. “E think the most important thing is they're trusting each ott er.” said Malone ofthe Sonic don’t seem like oneparticular person is looking for the spotlight anymore. That's like a cancer. Anytime you get that out of the vay and guys start thinking about the ultimate goal, and that's win- ning, you got 2 different ballclub. All it takes is one or two guys to be vocal about that commitment to win and ifthe others take it to beart, they're going to be just tine. That's the attitude they hav Kempand Payton have actually tatked this year about becom- ing a dynamic duo, muchlike their Jazz counterparts Malorne and Stockton. The Sonic sturs have been up-front about their tespett for the two Jazz leaders: ane this oyandage of AP Photo Ortando center Shaquille O'Neai tries to shoot w between Chicago's Toni Kul koc, left, and Dennis Rodman during the fourth quar- day. The Bulls beat the Magic 121-83 to take a 1- 0 lead in the best of seven series. Bulls’ stampede leaves Magic with questions By DAVID MOORE Dallas Morning News CHICAGO The air of excitement surrounding this matchup between Chicago and Orlando hasn't vanished. But the Bulls’ 121-83 victory Sunday afternoon at the United Center served notice that the Magic has a lot of work to doif the Eastern Conference Finals is to live up to tthype. ~We were pretty surprised,” conceded Chicago's Michael Jordan, who watchedmest ofthe fourth quarter from the benchas the Bulls’ backups padded an already huge lead, “The game turned lopsided, which we never anticipated.” There were several aspects to Sunday's game that no one antic- ipated. The first is what happened to Orlandoon the boards. The Bulls held a staggering 2-28 advantage in the rebound- ing department. Dennis Rodman. Chicago’s twttooed twister, pulled down 21 rebounds, which was four more than) Orlando's entire starting . Roxirtian’s seven’ offensive was one more than the entire Magic here.” Win or lose this Western CoaFinals series withthe Jazz, 1996 may go down as the year these particular Sonics actus ally became Supes. ter of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals Sun- team managed to scrape togeth- er “We knewthat handling them would wind up with this kind of disparity. [t's something that we have to correct Another alarming aspect to the loss from Orlando's perspective is that no one stepped up to help Anfernee Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal Hardaway and O'Neal combined to score 65 ofthe team’s 83 points. Orlando's other three starters — Horace Grant, Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson — combined to score just two points and go Q-of-1) from the field. This played right: into Chicago's defensive hands Most teams double- am O'Neal. in the low post, opens up the floor for his team- mates, But Chicago coach Phil Jackson has decided to cover O'Neal with a single defender for most of the series. The Bulls shooting 3-pointers.” They didn’t. “This game hurt our pride,” said Hardaway, who was brilliart in defeat with 38 points. “We have to look in the mirror and come back.” When the Magic come back Tuesday for Game 2, it will probably be forced to do so with- out Grant. The forwand-hurt his left elbow in the third quarter after he bumped elbows with O'Neal. After the game, he had the armimmobilizedin a sting, “ht hurts fike hell.” said Grant, whofailed to score and had just one rebound in the 28 minutes he di to know if Pl be s aE. attcomestwith manirity: P day. Hill said it is unlikely Grant will be ready and that his team want Grani, Sout and Anderson will prepare as if Grant won't to work for their points instead play. Hill's initial thought is to stat Jon K al power of deing given open jumpers, al in an “We're not ving to come in ward next to to improve on boards. and double-team and let this Grant's should drateam play and have the rhythm othat they had for 82 games dur- maticallyalter the complexion of ing the regular season,” said the series. Grant entered SanChicago's Scottie Pippen, who day's game averaging 16.9 had 18 points and eight points, 11.6 rebounds and shootrebounds. “If you doublespe Ing 65.6 percent from the field in them, they we up their 3these playoffs, Grant's ability to shooters and get you bac cunteae knock down the on the boards was going to be a your heels. We came inte the Open jumper was a major factor a torus,” ake Magic coach Briar game today with the idea thai inthe. Magic eliminating the MI never thought we they. were not going to. beat as Bulls in last year’s playoffs. to claim Colonial PHIL ROGERS News title It was all he could do to hold on by the 5-foot-9 one : |