Show "0'"S44"4"jr"-AKVS-e- i0P9IF-1- 4 0- 4w 1 - 04 1 SPORTS The Salt Lake Tribune D9 Sunday January 26 1992 MIA Award Winners Notebook if'sy2A Are Halfway 'There Predicting the outcome halfway through a race is a risky proposition Anything can happen With the NBA season reaching its midpoint however some opinions regardind the best and worst can be tossed out with the accuracy of a John Stockton pointer: ) 4 'Ifer I i t Two of Magic Johnson's closest friends Byron Scott and AC have mixed emotions on whether Johnson should play in r the Feb 9 Game Neither believes Johnson should be disqualified because of his health situation but both question whether it's right for someone who's retired to participate in the NBA's annual exhibition Commissioner David Stern on Thursday created a 13th spot on the Western Conference team for Johnson who technically is on the Lakers' injured list but has not played this season since announc- 2 Green all-wor- Observations: The Bulls are best Simple It will take a major upset a Michael Jordan injury to stop them from repeating The Blazers have overcome some early season disinterest to take their place among the West's best Any interstate to the NBA Finals will likely go through The Jazz? The Portland NBA's No 3 team? While questioning the objectivity of this lofty ranking please listen to the opinion of one NBA scout who boldly says Utah will win the West and beat Chicago in the Finals because "Jerry Sloan will make them think they can do it" Hey I didn't say anything about winning the world championship Or even the West The Suns' awful start is history The Warriors lead the West right now but can't keep it up Can The Pistons will bully they? their way into the spotlight by playoff time primarily because the East is without many beasts Cleveland is as deep as any team but in the playoffs that doesn't mean as much as it does in the regular season All-Sta- outof-co- ntrol - tif 1 ut Bill Fitch is still Nets' head man ending rumors for now Fitch May Go From Fired to Coach of Year son Chicago 2 Mike Dunleavy LA Lakers 3 Don Nelson Golden State 4 Jerry Sloan Utah 5 Bob Weiss Atlanta Observations: Jackson has Jordan but don't overlook the job he's doing Dunleavy has the Lakers in contention despite Ma's gic's retirement and Vlade Nelson could injury win if the surprising Warriors do Nobody picked the Jazz to win the Midwest Only a few picked them second Yet they've led the division for the last six d weeks despite a schedule Sloan is a viable candidate Weiss has the oncefree-wheeling Hawks playing toI love the gether job he's done Rookie of the Year: 1 Steve Smith (Miami) 2 Dikembe Mutombo (Denver) 3 Larry Johnson (Charlotte) 4 Stacy Augmon (Atlanta) 5 Terrell Brandon (Cleveland) Observations: Smith has been 2 Or- hurt but he's the best first-yea- All-St- Down player in the league the hne Mutombo is probably a superstar But that's what this award is about Johnson is great He makes the Hornets better Augmon would be a monster with an improved jump shot Brandon has made the Cavs' guard rotation one of the best d ar Orlando center Greg Kite: "It's not that big of a deal We're talking about an game No 60-wi- ar Observations: With Magic's re- - " two-yea- Mitchell-forChuc- n k aver-Johnso- P 1 the ball ("It's all about being unselfish" he says now) and Sam Bowie has been durable averaging 176 points and 91 rebounds w00-4- 4 t - i t - ' ''"I ' I- ell okay" my ft--- it anii All ---qt----1 -— i CD - - --- -- P- Am 0 Imo me (- — :-- ---- 464 i ss4P 11 - : - ' - - t - 0 0 1 rVitell 1A qil i 4 t ":41 L l I zr-A- I 1 a0 (t) OVER -- -- W:F 1310 - r— I t A En:) ir--m C- ‘ i LI ' - - - Ilia oglaw ' " — Ir - i " 4 - i -- s 12001M 4 1 1 ' — !I t t -- - LU 5 Y TV"'-- 1 VS AIR XL CONDITIONING CAPTAINS CHAIRS ALL 8811 ESCORT PONY 5 SPEED COOLING S I -- i 0k4 v :4 If 0 f el ro '4N 1 - 5 4 P - - I row 14 - - 14 ' 1 sr i ' ' V 1 tt f t '4 - -- - Z- - I' f 1 ? ' 1 f 0 lir' WAS 1 1 1S 11SWEEK Ttl - vs NEW YORK KNICKS SACRAMENTO KINGS PHOENIX i SUNS 1 John Stockton Poster Night Jazz Soup Mugs for the first Ail-St- ar courtesy of KSTU Fox 13 and the Cover Look Ewing and the come to town! 1 5000c faamnpsbceolmispsliomuepnts - r- - z A ONLIA r tVlifttA FOR 11116 A -- r- A I 1 ) BASKETBALL A( t1 t 161495y - 1' 2 '' St i - I 1 Z: t - -- - - I of I — In In r-- I !7)1qt'y 0100-t ' I vs f 0 I 4 ilfm Ati JAZZ I (1908) SALE PRICE i - - 18403 WARNER DISCOUNT I 4 s r — li PASRP SEASON TIRES SUPER ENGINE CLEARCOAT PAINT RADIO 'adi ? JAZZ Kantircikcsk (law A - I - 1- 4 A JAZZ vs - - Cirl 4 0 - Be on hand as oi STARTING AT to (1316) i JO I 1 ' 1 ' 1 r - m' - STARTING AT "I A SALE PRICE $ s 965itia1 -- - it - f -' ' 1 ' '- 3JAZZGAMES 1992 EXPLORERS 1992 ESCORTS MS RP WARNER DISCOUNT :it 'tIt a I TO CHOOSE FROM -— T it ‘ - '' t ' ' — IL S 44 i at the Delta Center 35399 STOCK 0 k I INownditt g' $E211C-V10Ls6i 1 wki ! U0 0 k I L OW' ' I 1 7t OVER K1 31092 ''' to-- ': 1 i TO CHOOSE FROM '' ' 4 s - 71 Ar -- --- — I - olk rilki N 1 i b - - Lkw 11E ma LEt - - - 'i' sr 14! t - STOCK 1 ) 1 IItiet 4r II ' —yr - ( )0 t 4 t 0 ' '!r : '4 t — t ' ' i 1 '''''''''"1"k' ' ' ' - 'I' - k' '4141C l' '— h c 4 ANIMEINIIIOV 0 ) ' -- 4 S - II 1 ''''' ' tk I J 4ff i V 04' e I 4 1 low i — 'Di ti 4 - g 4 7 i ov r 1i- ' k F il 1--- —1 n injection or firing squad t- ' n of bullets is ludicrous If Malone had chased down Battle and punched him after the the game Thorn probably would have given the Mailman his choice: lethal Jordan is the game's only reRobinson maining megastar is the league's best center No question Without him the Spurs Mawouldn't be dangcrous lone gets plenty of help from I experiment g tirement Most Valuable Player: I Michael Jordan 2 David Robinson 3 Karl Malone 4 Clyde Drexler 5 (tie) Tim Hardaway and Kevin I d n 70-wi- — starting point guard despite Ru- - meal Robinson's return because Wiley passes the ball more often Robinthan the offensive-mindeson But Wiley has taken time to figure out the offense "Hey Morlon that's when you trap me at half court" the Clippers' Doc Rivers instructed Wiley in a recent game when Wiley couldn't figure out Atlanta coach Bob Weiss' "three-upThe signal Pistons gave Orlando Woolridge r a new $48 million deal but have refused to renegotiate with Mark Aguirre who earns $125 million "They just bypassed me" said Aguirre Bernard King has not responded to preseason knee surgery and Washington has all but given up hope of having him return this year — maybe ever "His status has been somewhat uncertain for quite a while now" said general manager John Nash "He's not making any progress" If you need to reach Nash's office a receptionist will answer the phone in the following manner: "Washington Bullets You Minnesota gotta believe" continues to peddle Pooh Richardson feverishly and the Richardson and Sam Person and Micheal Williams deal is not dead On paper it looks like a steal for the Wolves but then you've got to wonder: How bad has Person become that the Pacers would be willing to make that deal? The Bulls may still have some pressure to contend with: talk that not only a season is season is possible but a reachable as well Naturally game t Scott Ski les torched the Pacer 41 points guard for a career-hig- h in Orlando's victory in Indianapolis The Hawks have been sticking with CBAer Morlon Wiley at BULLS removal of Johnson from the all-st- back-to-startin- Patrick Ewing is right up there with Larry Bird in terms of willingness to play hurt Ewing has had surgery in both knees and last time he was in Boston to play the Celtics they were bothering him so much he immersed himself in a full ice bath before the game Ewing has tendinitis in his knees and is now telling friends he has developed arthritis as well land Tribune "Like I said before k i ing Reggie Lewis who is on a hot streak averaging 281 in the So team's last nine games much for the Vern Fleming KNICKS he should do whatever makes him happy because he's going to have a lot of bad days down the road" No matter how the players feel about Johnson's status — whether he is active retired or injured — there is little chance that their opinions or protests will lead to a fourth guard "Kenny's time will come" says Fitch "but we were struggling to get some wins and I don't think that getting a lot of playing time in a losing situation makes you better" The players saw Fitch win that battle and Fitch went with a regular eight-marotation to ease confusion Now Drazen Petrovic is shooting 53 percent and aging almost 21 per game Der- - $10000 and suspended for one game after following Cleveland's John Battle to the locker room and slugging him Observation: This is the exact punishment Karl Malone received for his collision with Isiah Thomas Regardless of your opinion on Malone's intent at least that incident happened during the course of the game The fact NBA sheriff Rod Thorn gunned down Malone and ar Said Scott: "He is retired on the one hand On the other hand he was voted in But if they vote Kareem Abdul-Jabbain should he play? The way I see it he is retired and once you are retired you are retired" The all-stteam coach thinks he should play Golden State's Don Nelson who will lead the Western squad said he will be happy to abide with whatever wishes Johnson has regarding his status in the exhibition in Orlando "If he wants to start fine If he wants to come off the bench that's fine too" Nelson told the Oak- ar Biggest Miscarriage of Justice: Indiana's George McCloud is fined 7 I The Spurs and Pacers have had some talks about Terry Cummings and Antoine Carr The Bucks are exploring deals for Alvin Robertson who's shooting 32 percent and averaging eight points in his last seven The Hornets are lisgames tening to offers for Dell Curry but turned down the Knicks' offer of Mark Jackson The Celtics have made the latest big offer for Charles Barkley offer- How much more can Mike Schuler take? The latest episode of "As The Clippers Turn" had the players voting to call off practice in honor of Martin Luther King Day last Monday Danny Manning informed Schuler of the clubs decision four hours before the practice was to be held (they were on a road trip) and the coach was understandably furious So was veteran Doc Rivers who was back in LA with an injury "It's not fair to Schuler" he said "Here's a guy fighting for his job and he gets this? It's a tough situation because if he decides not to cancel practice they'll say he's a racist and he's not" Schuler did cancel practice then discovered later some of the players admitted the real reason they wanted off was because they had flown on an uncomfortable commercial flight the day before and were tired It's hard to imagine Schuler lasting much longer with this group but then again it's hard to imagine anyone surviving them Gary Grant is downright nasty and Manning and Charles Smith barely speak to each other on or off the floor respect" one-line- AROUND THE NBA CLIPPERS "I think if a player's retired that's the bottom line They've retired from basketball" Green said Friday "He shouldn't play in the He hasn't done anything game all year When he comes to practice and shows me he can beat me that's when I think he should be on team I will vote in his the favor if he can show me If he can't it's over He has to earn my And why not? A few weeks ago Fitch's Nets were 0 and he was being replaced by Rick Pitino Jim Valvano and perhaps even owner Joe Taub But going into the weekend the Nets had won 11 of 14 to move into a virtual tie with Miami and Philadelphia for the East's last playoff spot after knocking off teugh Phoenix And best of all Fitch did it his way without backing down He stood up to renegade owner Taub with a series of making light of his supposed fate ("They say Va lvano is coming next week — well we've got New York Cleveland and Chicago I say what about this week?") and taking his stand against mouthy rookie Kenny Anderson Fitch sat down the holdout point guard after he signea a deal $145 million five-yeand now plays him rarely as a r "retirement" on Nov ing his First it was Bill Fitch Coach Out on his Ear Now it's Bill Fitch Coach of the Year road-oriente- lando 3 Charlotte 4 Dallas 5 Sacramento 6 Washington Observations: The Timber-wolve- s are farther away from legitimacy now than they were In the prethree years ago season they were talking about the playoffs in Orlando Now the only talk you hear is from The Horunhappy players nets look better on paper but they still win about as often as a Memo to Utah democrat Mays' management: Wake up Start rebuilding Now This is a bad team Worse it's old The Kings aren't as sorry as you think Their win total won't show it however because they play in the rugged Pacific Division Washington and coach Wes Unseld don't deserve to be here In juries have cost them any chance of challenging STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS TRIBUNE John Stockton but the theory that he doesn't deserve MVP consideration because he's got an point guard is silly He is the game's best forward Drexler has shed the selfish reputation that haunted him early in his career Now he's somebody opponents fear in the final minutes That wasn't always the case Maybe it's a to not separate KJ and cop-oHardaway But who would pick one over the other? Coach of the Year 1 Phil Jack- The Elite Eight 1 Chicago 2 Portland 3 Utah 4 Phoenix 5 Golden State 6 San Antonio 7 Detroit 8 Cleveland Detroit visits Chicago Sunday and Chuck Daly is encouraged by the way his team has settled into its new rotation "I've kind of enjoyed this year" he said "It's been a challenge It was difficult early because of all the things swirling around us but now we've got them back together a bit and they've found out we've got to work from the bottom up" Still Daly flatly states his team is not of championship caliber and isn't sure whether it can be Among Players 7M1')"4"'"'- :"kk rootofr' A 4 either goal "When people talk about 70 wins I tell them it's out of the realm of possibility" he said "If we can win 60 then we'll do it but it's nonsense to drive a team to POI Then you are pushing them too hard to have them prepared for the kind of playoff conditioning that is necessary in this league" PISTONS Stirs Debate In 4 3- The Sad Six: I Minnesota - coach Phil Jackson is not interested in discussing the merits of touches anybody because if he touches anybody he gets fouled" Magic Selection Steve Lu rf body is going to play tight encugh defense to get close enough to catch anything" Laker Sam Perkins said much the same thing: "Magic rarely (4- I- 41 ) A- --- 1 I 1:-- X-- 7 ) - a)---- 1" ----- 1— t i z 1 1 — ' A -' ---'- 1") A' -- 1 d itI - F Aft:- 1 4 1 4 t 1 1 I I I t i L I I ii t I t t 1 t I I |