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Show Halt be Section C jCake ribunr I ( in K. i in all 1 Tuesday, May 7, 1985 Page 1 -- (li 1 si in HOO Mi2- ... al l i i'. lll Is ..II -- t ( llll.ltlll.lllllll 237-200- 1 237-2(2- 'i 1 Ifs Now or Never (Not in ?85 Anyway) For Jazz By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer DENVER All the Jazz have to do now is put together a three-gam- e winning streak. They do have a somewhat foggy idea of how to do that After all, they've done it all of twice this sea The first time was early in March, when they beat Houston, Detroit, and Chicago on the road The second time was early in April, when they beat Phoenix, the Clippers, and Portland at home Now, it's early in May, and the Jazz no have no choice but to do it again choice, that is, if they want their season to extend to the conference finals, which has been one of their goals this season Down 1 in the Western Conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets, the Jazz must beat rivals three their Intermountain here Tuesday night, times in a row son at Salt Lake best-of-sev- 3-- City Thursday night, and back here again Saturday afternoon Lose one, and the long season is over for the Jazz Winning all three is a tall task even against a Denver team that has experienced five three-gam- e losing streaks this season and that's why Jazz Coach Frank Layden isn't thinking about winning three He's going back to that old coaching axiom of taking them one at a time. See, I don't think in terms of three games, I'm thinking in terms of one game, said Layden Monday after running his team through a light practice at the Salt Palace. I dont like to think in terms of three games. We can't worry about Thursday night until we play tomorrow That would be like them worrying about the Lakers. Just take it one game at a time See, as it was, we had to beat em one game in Denver anyway Now we got to beat em two. I can't tell you what we're going to do from one half to the other, let alone four days ahead. If that last comment seemed to have some sting in it, it did. Layden is still mystified at how his team could play so poorly, in front of such an enthusiastic and partisan audience, in the first half of Game 4 Sunday at the Salt Palace. The Jazz got into a hole, couldnt get out, and find themselves now facing a 1 deficit. Layden made his players watch films of that atrocious half Monday morning, and he said that, after watching the film, were lucky we didnt get killed by more than we did Among the Jazzs sins, according to Layden, were no intensity on defense, the rebounding was poor, and on the other end, we were taking bad shots, quick shots. That about covers everything. After Mondays practice, Layden called his players together and, related Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, he was just saying that we have to be ready to come to play. And those who arent ready to come and play and have confidence that we can go and win there, stay home. This is no time to be hurt, no time to be tired, because we have all summer to rest. And what did Bailey think of the coachs proddings? Its totally right, said Bailey. We can either go and try to win this thing or pack it in. Its not too late, until that buzzer goes off at the end of the game tomorrow night. If we lose it and play hard, we can go out saying we played real hard. But if we go there and dog it, then its going to be a long summer. While the Jazz are resigned to believing in miracles at this point, one has to wonder how the Lakers keep getting all the breaks. The Lakers are nt 3-- so powerful that very few doubled hey could move through the West into the NBA finals with ease But the path just keeps getting clearer for a team-hig- 4-- A, points in Game 33 h 4 Sunday, Jazz-Denv- Jazz Tonight KSL-T- ) Jan Glance The Jazz are in what appears be a hopeless situation They are facing three straight wln-o- r situations However, they have done pretty well In those situations in the playoffs In toct, they are 4 In such games The victories were Games 4 and 5 ogalnst Denvei lost year, Game 5 ogalnst Phoenix last year, and Game 5 against Houston this year The loss was Game 6 at Phoenix last year So the Jazz have saved match point at least once In each ct their previous hiree playoff series. They have played 100 games this season nine each In the pre season ana In he ond 82 In the regular season - The Nuggets are looking to Nuggets Glance wrap up this series and advance to the Western Conference finals for the Orsttime since 1976, when mey lost to Seattle 4 2 They ore also trying to win two playoff series In the same year for the first time The Nuggets since they loined the NBA In 1976-7are beating the Jazz badly on the boards, where they've outrebounded Utah by 8 5 per gome over the four gomes. The Nuggets have now won seven out of 10 games from the Jazz this season, and they have won 13 out of the last 14 from them at McNichols (Including playoffs). The Nuggets are 38-- at mark in the playhome this season, counting a offs i.mijfi li goes to boards with Nuggets Calvin Natt to secure an important offensive rebound. Brighton Shoots Out Oly By Joe Baird Tribune Sports Writer It was the goal that was, then wasn't. And much to the everlasting dismay of the Olympus Titans, it was the latter which would hold up in the end, as Brighton escaped with 5 shootout victory over Oly in the opening round of the state soccer tournament at The Titans went up 1 when halfback Wid Davidson boomed a rocket through in the 15th minute of the second half, but Brighton rallied and put it into overtime Chris Bricker bounced a header in from close range with five minutes left in regulation. 2-- afternoon. Monday The goal in question was Titan for- ward Javier Torrescasanas, who punched the ball past Brighten goalie Jason Boe on a header that gave Olympus a 2 lead in the first overtime of what was a physical battle. The goal was counted, put on the scoreboard, but then disallowed moments later after an inadverdent whistle ruling by referee Dave who blew the ball dead Rickers just before Torrescasanas shot "The referees took it away from said an anguished Olympus us, Coach Bill Wiersdorf. He Wickers said it was an inadverdent whistle, that he made a mistake and that was that. I'm just sick about it. I didnt hear it the whistle," Brighton Coach Gus Budginas said of Wickers crucial call. But I know he didnt make it up either. Hes one of our better leferees, and if he said he blew the whistle then Im sure he ot 3-- hard-fough- t, did." With the score again knotted at the two teams finished the first overtime deadlocked, then stalemate in the second, setting up the penalty shootout And the Bengals won it here when senior halfback Mike Maurice blasted a shot past Titan goalie Kevin Zaba to aquire a one goal edge after Torrescasanas attempt two shots earlier went high over the post securing the victory lead on Olympus took the euily a pentaltv shot by Dan Egan midway through the first half, but watched that advantage disappear when the Bengal s Gary Allen answered in kind 15 minutes later 0 Woods Cross 4, Cottonwood 0: The defending champions had an easy time of it against the Colts in their tournament opener, as junior Chris Bingman scored two first half goals off a header in the 12th minute and a breakaway in the 16th minute, and Henry Ihrig added one more just before intermission. Todd Benson finished things up for the Wildcats in the second half, with a picture-prett- y side volley off a crossing pass from the right side. Viewmont 7, Hillcrest 0: in the tournament opener, the Region 4- A Four Vikings made their presence as a tournament favorite felt immediately with their thrashing of the shocked Huskies. A four goal barrage in the first half put it out of reach, and three more in the second concluded the mop-u- p activities. It was senior forward Dennis Smith who made the big difference in the Viking victory. Shelved for the past two seasons at tournament time with pneumonia, Smith is healthy this time around and showed his vigor with a four-goperformance. 2-- fought to a another Tournament 40-fo- 6-- Westminster College 3-- A Skyline 2, Bonneville 1: The Eagles came out agressive m the first half against the Lakers, popped two goals past the Bonneville defense and then used a stout defense of their own to stem a ferocious Laker rally late in the game. The Eagles got on the board for the fpst time in the 17th minute on a shot by sophomore Jeff Hadloek, then made it just before the half on a goal by senior forward Brett Hopkins The two teams fought to a stalemate in the second half until Cody Ross nailed a shot past the Eawith just gle defense to make it four minutes remaining in the contest. 2-- 0 1 Ben Lomond 4, Jordan 1: The Scots put themselves in the drivers seat in the tournament with a big win over the Beetdiggers. Kevin Chase and Cory Jones combined for two quick first half goals and Rich Jackson added a third to make it 0 at the half. Ken Stock then added an insurance goal to keep the Diggers at arms length in the final 40 minutes. I felt like the team to control the d would win the game, and that was our game plan, Scot Coach Ger-og- e Duke said. We struggled with it at first, but eventually it worked. 3-- 3-- mid-fiel- Judge 4f Pleasant Grove 2: The Bulldogs drew first blood on an early goal by Kelly Terrill, watched the Vikings rampage back to grab a 1 halftime lead, then took control in the second half to seal the verdict. Chris Sonne scored two second half Judge goals, and the Bulldogs got a gimme off an own goal on a botched pass between a PG defender and the goalkeeper that went into the net. Troy 2-- Crossley and Ikka Lehmusvirta scored one goal apiece for the Vikings. American Fork Cavemen Saturday Bulldogs with Ben 1, Provo 0: The bounced back from their loss to Jordan to edge the and set up a confrontation Lomond Wednesday. Monday z Soccer 3-- A return However the arthroscopic surgery night means that, even them though it was determined that Lever As the Lakers look to wrap up their is O K he will be out 10 days to two series with Portland Tuesday night, weeks, which means the rest of the look what they see in the conference Nuggets-Jazseries, however long it either a Jazz team without lasts It also means that he would finals its giant center, Mark Eaton, or possiprobably miss the first couple of Western games of a Nuggets-Laker- s bly a Nugget team without its point guard, Fat Lever It almost makes final, which wouldnt begin until Saturday if both Denver and L A should you wonder what the Jazz and Nugof for. even are wrap up their series at home Tuesday playing except gets course, the extra $30,000 that goes to night the winner The fact that the Nuggets, by winning Tuesday night would get three On The Mr, Screen days off before facing the Lakers is enough for them to close The Utah Nugget incentive out the Jazz immediately After all, NBA playoff game will be televised KSL-Athey have muie injured players than by Channel 5 and broadcast by just Lever to get well, theres also (1160) Tuesday at 7:30 p m Calvin Natt s left knee, Dan Issels The case of Lever became more seshooting hand, and Elston Turner's left hamstring vere Monday evening, when he underwent arthroscopic surgery in Denver But if the Nuggets ate to close it to examine whatever structural damout in five games, they're going to age may have occurred to his left have to do it once again with rookie knee, winch, it turns out, was none Willie White starting in Levers The Lever, who was the leadplace. White, who was the least-use- d ing rebounder in the series through Nugget in the playoffs prior to Sunthe first three games, was injured day nights game, responded well to when he fell to the Salt Palace floor the pressure of his first playoff start, in the waning moments of Game 3 but now he'll have to back it up, and Saturday afternoon He was not able he'll have to do it against an oppoto play in Game 4 Sunday night, but nent, Rickey Green, who has a lot of incentive to bounce back from a poor game Sunday So the Nuggets have some reasons to be concerned But they also have DENVER NUGGETS the comfort of knowing that, in four Western Semitinols, Gome 5 games, the Jazz basically havent At McNichols Arena, 7 30 p m stopped them from doing what they Denver Leads Series, 3 do well (Channel 5), KSL radio (160 AM) Probable Starters (Playoff Avgs For instance, two problems that Pos. Nuggets, 3 Ja:z, 13 faced the Jazz from the first game of F Calvin Natt, 22 3 Adrian Dantiev, 26 2 this series were still problems after F Ale, English, 30 2 Thurl Bailey, 16 7 C Rich Kelley, 4 7 Wayne Cooper, 10 9 the reboundGame 4 Sunday night G Wilue White, 4 0 Rickey Green, 14 2 of the Denver guards and the peing 3 R 5 T 17 2 G Darrell Griffith, Dunn, rimeter shooting of the Denver to Tribune Staff Photos by Poul Fraughton Jazzs Adrian Dantley (left), who scored he w as expected to be able to to act. on Tuesday night Sti wi Utahs Darrell Griffith, who will be important figure in fifth game Tuesday, soars over Denvers Mike Evans for easy two. ' More Jazz, C-- 2 Even though Lever wasnt around to contribute his rebounding skills, the Nuggets' guards still outboarded those of the Jazz by a margin inSunday night, and those 17 caroms cluded six off the offensive boards. Through the four games, the Nugget guards have outrebounded the Jazzs an average of 14.3 per game. As for the perimeter shooting of Nugget centers Wayne Cooper and Dan Issel, that was supposed to be less of a factor because Eatons injury allowed the Jazz to employ more mobile centers to challenge the Nuggets outside. But it hasnt worked than way. Issel and Cooper have combined to shoot 51 6 percent (48 of 93), much of it from outside, and their combined scoring average is 28.3. Thats great production from one position. Then, of course, there was the theory that the more the Jazz saw of the offense, the Nuggets passing-gam- e better prepared they would be to stop it. That hasnt happened either. After giving up 73 and 70 points in the first halves of the first two games in Denver, Layden said the Jazz couldnt afford to give up halves to the Nuggets So they gave up 69 Sunday night If I was coaching the Lakers and we were playing the Nuggets, Id say you cant let them score 70 points in a half, said Layden, who, of course, doesnt coach the Lakers. No, the Jazz havent figured out the passing game, not if Sunday night is any evidence. They just keep moving and moving and they just dont stop until somebody gets open, said Bailey "They do it very well. The one Nugget strength that the Jazz have begun to counter is Denver's propensity to force turnovers The Jazz committed only 13 Sunday night to the Nuggets' 24, and that can probably be directly attributed to the absence of Lever and the presence, in his place, oi a raw rookie like White With Lever out the rest of the series, maybe the Jazz can continue to have success in that area But there were still enough Nugget strengths intact Sunday night to prove theyre not lost without Lever And when a team keeps doing the things it wants to do through four straight games, you get the idea that it is establishing its superiority The Jazz have to start showing they can counter the Nuggets' strengths Can the Jazz do that well enough to pull out this series yet "I believe we can, said Bailey But we need everybody to think that and to play like we can 17-1- 0 91-3- Will USFL Gold Be Sold or Compete With NFL ? - Time is runDENVER (AP) ning out for Denver Gold owner Doug Speddmg to decide whether to keep his United States Football League team in Denver, jump to an as yet unformed new league or sell the club Spedding balked at going along with the USFLs other 12 club owners who voted for a fall schedule. His options. Keep the Gold in Denver and - face terrific competition from the National Football Leagues popu lar Denver Broncos. Sell or merge the club he purchased a year ago for $8 5 million. Abandon the USFL for the new league proposed by Tampa Bay owner John Bassett. Its a challenge, the biggest one Ive had in my life," the 5(Fyear-ol- d Spedding said in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News "I'm not going to make my mind up until after the seasons over because theres no reason for me to rush to a decision I am serious as a heart attack about this I want to keep this team here in Denver if the people want it. What Im doing now is trying to find that out " he said. Spedding says he plans meetings with political and business figures, and may hire a marketing firm to conduct a survey to gauge what the Gold's support would be in Denver. The Gold lost $2 million last year and is losing $250, 000 for each home game so far this season which could mean a $2 5 million loss for the season Atund.nu e lias been just over 13 0011 for home games so far this year Spedding derisively refers to New Jersey owner Donald Trump, Baltimores Myles Tannenbaum and Oaklands A! In. Oman, who led the push fur ttio full schedule, as the T league he T league is coriv meed that s re eventuby go.ng to the fall, ally f ing to get themselves in the NFL Bl; I'm convin ed the NFL is going to pick and choose its owners and its new teams 1 |