Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said his contract status isn't newsworthy.

"It's not an issue," he said, after winning his 400th career game as an NBA head coach Monday. "I still have time left on my contract. They don't have to do anything. It's entirely up to them."Sloan's situation has become an issue, whether the coach likes it or not, on the call-in shows. Some fans apparently perceive that because his contract is in its final year and he hasn't been given an extension, it means his job is in jeopardy. With the Jazz loudly proclaiming they've put together their best team ever, some may feel that the pressure is on the 52-year-old Sloan to produce - or else.

Jazz general manager Tim Howells says that's silly.

"I don't see how anyone could feel Jerry should be under pressure to produce," Howells said. "He won 53 games last year under some pretty adverse conditions."

Utah players, for instance, missed 166 games due to injury or illness last season, including Mark Eaton's absence for the entire campaign. In the two previous seasons, the Jazz had missed a total of 48 games.

"We're working on it (a contract) right now with Jerry," Howells said. "We're probably late getting to it, but we're getting to it."

"They've talked to me about it," Sloan said. "I've never been in a situation where they haven't treated me fair."

SAME OLD STUFF: Former Jazz player Tyrone Corbin, now with the Hawks, couldn't understand all the hoopla about Utah's purported effort to play more up-tempo this season. Asked if he noticed any difference during Monday's loss to the Jazz, he said, "Not really. It's the same old team. They ran a little more, but they still execute the halfcourt offense most of the time."

STRETCHING A POINT: In the category of reaching for an angle, a writer up in Washington tried to tie Sloan's offseason weight loss to the Jazz's (alleged) increased up-tempo style of play.

Sloan, of course, disagreed. "I wouldn't say that's the reason," the coach said. "But I figured after all this time, a little change wouldn't hurt. At least I think that's the way we're going. Who knows?"

Sloan did acknowledge that he shed 30 pounds during the summer.

"My wife said she had to extend her arms twice to get around me," he said. "I worked on the farm all day, cut back on my eating and drinking beer. I feel a lot better."

DEEP BENCH: The most obvious difference in the Jazz after three games is not the way they run, but who is doing the running. For the first time, Sloan has shown some willingness to go to his bench, even if it means giving prolonged rests to superstars Karl Malone and John Stockton.

"Everybody keeps saying how old we are, so I figured I'd better play more players and run the floor," Sloan said. "Instead of counting on them all the time, it takes the pressure off and gives confidence to the other players."

After sitting out the entire fourth quarter of Monday's game, Malone said, "I think coach Sloan is trying to prolong my career. But I was content. As long as we were winning, I didn't care."

STAT STUFF: Stockton now needs 509 assists to equal Magic Johnson's NBA career record of 9,921. At 11 per game, he should reach it in the 50th game of the season, which would be a contest against the Spurs Feb. 16 at the Delta Center . . . Sloan's 400th win puts him 23rd on the all-time list. If the Jazz win 50 games again this year, he'll pass John Kundla, Tom Heinsohn and Larry Costello. With 57 wins, he'll surpass Billy Cunningham.

Felton Spencer's free-throw percentage has decreased every year he's been in the NBA, from 72.2 his rookie season to 69.1, 65.4 and, last year, 60.7. In the preseason, he shot 60.0 . . . David Benoit's field-goal percentage has decreased every year, from .467 as a rookie to .436 and .385. Expect improvement this season.

*****

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Jerry Sloan's record

Season Team W L Pct. Finish

1979-80 Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 4th/Midwest

1980-81 Chicago Bulls 45 37 .549 2nd/Central

1981-82 Chicago Bulls 19 32 .373 no finish

1988-89 Utah Jazz 40 25 .615 1st/Midwest

1989-90 Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 2nd/Midwest

1990-91 Utah Jazz 54 28 .659 2nd/Midwest

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1991-92 Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 1st/Midwest

1992-93 Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 3rd/Midwest

1993-94 Utah Jazz 53 29 .646 3rd/Midwest

1994-95 Utah Jazz 2 1 .667 ??????

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