Having beaten up the L.A. Clippers Friday at the Delta Center, the Utah Jazz went back to working behind closed doors on Saturday. Then again, Saturday was a closed-door kind of day all around. While the Jazz practiced in private, the Clippers spent 21/2 hours in a private film session, breaking down what happened in the Jazz's 115-97 rout in Game 1.
The teams resume their first-round playoff series Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Delta Center, in what both teams say will be a different type game. "I expect a more physical team against us," said Karl Malone, who took care of nearly all the physical aspects of Friday's game, scoring 32 points. "I understand they thought they were a little soft, and they won't be doing that again. They're going to be very physical."The Jazz held Saturday's practice session minus the press and public - as they have since Wednesday. They worked out lightly and attempted to put themselves in a mindset to avoid saying anything that would shake the Clippers out of their doldrums. "The Clippers are a talented team and they will come out ready to play," said the Mailman dutifully. "The next game's going to be very physical."
While the Jazz carefully avoided saying anything bordering on overconfidence, the Clippers sat through one of the longest films of the year - a Friday Night Video special of the Jazz win. Coach Larry Brown kept his team at a Salt Lake hotel, watching the film through part of the morning and into the afternoon. They arrived about 11/2 hours late at Westminster College for practice.
It wasn't a movie the Clippers enjoyed much. "We let them do everything they wanted to do," said Clippers guard Doc Rivers.
"Films don't lie, guys," said Brown. "They tell when you do good and they tell you when you do bad. I kept hoping it (the film) was going to break."
No such luck. The evidence was there in living Technicolor. The Jazz played harder on defense, scrambled for loose balls and generally came on like a team with high playoff aspirations. "It (the film) was about what we saw yesterday," said Rivers. "Probably a little worse."
After arriving Saturday afternoon for practice, the Clippers appeared simply glad to get out of the film room. Seeing a bad movie twice isn't fun. "I'd give it a thumbs down," continued Rivers. "R-rated. Not X, but it was an R."
"Siskel and Ebert would not quite give us the thumbs up," said center Charles Smith. "It's not even in the ratings."
The Clippers hope that for Game 2 they will be more ready to muscle with the Mailman inside. Though Smith, James Edwards and Olden Polynice each tried their hand against the Mailman at some point Friday, nobody was effective. John Stockton was in playoff form, with 21 assists, most of them to Malone. Jeff Malone made 12 of 19 shots and totaled 29 points.
"You've got to contain John and Karl," said Smith, "and you're just trying to limit Karl. Then when the other guys are on, it seems they're that much more effective. Then you've really got to bear down or you're in for a long night."
As the Clippers talked about being more physical, the Jazz took up their usual cause: defense. "There were stretches where we played well defensively," said coach Jerry Sloan. "But you saw what happens when we don't defend."
The Jazz lead was at 27 points, but was cut to 13 in the final period.
Two Jazz players didn't practice Saturday, but were expected to be ready for Sunday's game. John Stockton, who has been bothered by tendinitis in the ankle, didn't practice. However, he has been sitting on the sidelines during practices regularly this month. Mark Eaton sat out due to a hyperextended knee.
Said trainer Don Sparks, "He'll be all right. I think he'll be ready to play."
Lastly, the Mailman said he twisted his ankle Friday, but indicated it won't keep him out of Sunday's game. He did practice on Saturday.
With the Jazz holding the homecourt advantage, both teams know a Jazz win on Sunday would nearly wrap things up. But the Clippers are hoping they present a more imposing challenge this time.
"It's like being a parent when your kid is in his first fight, and they don't fight back," said Brown. "You can't fight for him. You just kinda hope he gets back up and fights his own fight."