Past Karl-Sloan clash
Colleague Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News has a good story online this morning about the 20-year rivalry between Denver coach George Karl and Utah's Jerry Sloan.
It brought back a lot of memories for me, including one from the best-played, most dramatic NBA game I have ever covered.
In 1996, Seattle and Utah met in the Western Conference finals.
The Sonics won Games 1 and 2 by a total of nine points. The Jazz scored a 96-76 win in Game 3. But two nights later they lost at the Delta Center, 88-86, to fall behind in the series, 3-1.
Everyone assumed Seattle would close out the Jazz in Game 5 at KeyArena, but Karl Malone scored 31 points and Antoine Carr played a pivotal role as Utah survived in overtime, 98-95.
The Jazz evened the series with lopsided 118-83 victory in Game 6, which sent the teams back to Seattle for a game that would determined which one would face Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA Finals.
Game 7 was a classic -- full of huge plays and outstanding performances. But one moment stands out.
In the closing minutes of a seesaw battle, John Stockton came off a high screen by Karl Malone. As he raised for a 12-foot jump shot, Shawn Kemp jumped at him.
Stockton had to lean backward and shoot the ball almost straight into the air to prevent Kemp from blocking it. Somehow, the ball got over Kemp and still settled into the basket, keeping the Jazz in the game until the final seconds.
For Jazz fans, the most famous shot in Stockton's career would come almost a year later, when his three-pointer beat Houston in Game 6 of the conference finals and put Utah into its first NBA Final.
But I'm telling you: Stockton's greatest shot -- from an athletic standpoint and a clutch standpoint -- happened on June 2, 1996 against Seattle.
Because Stockton had just turned 34 and Malone was about to turn 33, everybody assumed their last chance to reach an NBA Finals had just been shattered that day by the Sonics.
I remember interviewing Malone after the game, however, and he said something like, "I don't think this is the end. I think we'll back back. I have a good feeling about this team. I don't see any reason why we won't be back here next year."
I was among those who scoffed at the notion that Jazz's aging superstars -- Stockton and Malone -- could ever again get so close to the NBA Finals. Not after they threw such a powerful punch at Seattle in 1996.
Of course, Malone was right and I was wrong.
---
In Sunday morning's Tribune, I will name my midseason MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Do you have any thoughts?
If so, e-mail me at luhm@sltrib.com.
I would be interested in hearing some of your ideas and comparing them to mine.
-- Steve Luhm
It brought back a lot of memories for me, including one from the best-played, most dramatic NBA game I have ever covered.
In 1996, Seattle and Utah met in the Western Conference finals.
The Sonics won Games 1 and 2 by a total of nine points. The Jazz scored a 96-76 win in Game 3. But two nights later they lost at the Delta Center, 88-86, to fall behind in the series, 3-1.
Everyone assumed Seattle would close out the Jazz in Game 5 at KeyArena, but Karl Malone scored 31 points and Antoine Carr played a pivotal role as Utah survived in overtime, 98-95.
The Jazz evened the series with lopsided 118-83 victory in Game 6, which sent the teams back to Seattle for a game that would determined which one would face Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the NBA Finals.
Game 7 was a classic -- full of huge plays and outstanding performances. But one moment stands out.
In the closing minutes of a seesaw battle, John Stockton came off a high screen by Karl Malone. As he raised for a 12-foot jump shot, Shawn Kemp jumped at him.
Stockton had to lean backward and shoot the ball almost straight into the air to prevent Kemp from blocking it. Somehow, the ball got over Kemp and still settled into the basket, keeping the Jazz in the game until the final seconds.
For Jazz fans, the most famous shot in Stockton's career would come almost a year later, when his three-pointer beat Houston in Game 6 of the conference finals and put Utah into its first NBA Final.
But I'm telling you: Stockton's greatest shot -- from an athletic standpoint and a clutch standpoint -- happened on June 2, 1996 against Seattle.
Because Stockton had just turned 34 and Malone was about to turn 33, everybody assumed their last chance to reach an NBA Finals had just been shattered that day by the Sonics.
I remember interviewing Malone after the game, however, and he said something like, "I don't think this is the end. I think we'll back back. I have a good feeling about this team. I don't see any reason why we won't be back here next year."
I was among those who scoffed at the notion that Jazz's aging superstars -- Stockton and Malone -- could ever again get so close to the NBA Finals. Not after they threw such a powerful punch at Seattle in 1996.
Of course, Malone was right and I was wrong.
---
In Sunday morning's Tribune, I will name my midseason MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Do you have any thoughts?
If so, e-mail me at luhm@sltrib.com.
I would be interested in hearing some of your ideas and comparing them to mine.
-- Steve Luhm
10:49 AM
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