If it wasn't for the 10-2 Spurs' run in the first quarter, it may have been different. Or maybe the 16-2 run in the second. Did somebody mention the 14-2 run that stretched across halftime and into the third quarter? Never mind.
The Jazz opened the NBA playoffs Thursday night at the Alamodome, and for their part, it was a good time to take two aspirin - make that four - and call the doctor in the morning. David Benoit had two straight layups rejected in the second quarter, and both were turned into baskets at the other end. Playoff veteran Tom Chambers missed all six shot attempts, All-Star guard John Stockton was outscored by - gulp! - Jack Haley, five points to three. And coach Jerry Sloan was finally put out of his misery by being thrown out of the game in the fourth period, sparing himself the anguish of watching the rest.The Spurs built a 25-point lead in the third quarter and put it on cruise control the rest of the way, smashing the Jazz 106-89 in Game One. The teams resume play in a Saturday 11 a.m. (MDT) contest.
"We got our butts kicked," said Sloan.
By any measure, the Jazz bore little resemblance to the team that had beaten the Spurs seven straight times, dating back to last season. Only one player scored in double figures, that being Karl Malone with 36 points. For his part, the Mailman had to be wondering exactly how many of his teammates missed the plane to San Antonio Wednesday afternoon. Twenty-two of Malone's points came in the first half.
"It kind of shocked me at the beginning," said Benoit. "I thought we'd come out with a little more enthusiasm."
Considering how quickly the Jazz were out of the game, it had to be a shock to more than Benoit. Jeff Hornacek turned in a 3-11 night. Stockton made just one of four shots. The Jazz shot only 41 percent for the night. Excluding Malone's 13-21 night, the rest of the Jazz made just 17 of 51 attempts (.333).
"They dominated us right from the beginning of the game," said Sloan. "They were the aggressors and put us back on our heels. We were very reluctant to play against them."
Despite being dominated by the Jazz during the regular season, the Spurs made full use of playing at home on the first night of post-season play. Dennis Rodman arrived courtside on cue, a full 27 seconds before tipoff, to the roar of the crowd. Willie Anderson, who made only 18 of 46 shots during the regular season against the Jazz, had eight points before the first period was over.
Already the Jazz's problems were mounting. San Antonio led 12-2, after which the Jazz cut the lead back to four. Soon to follow was a 16-2 run in the early second quarter, leading to a 19-point lead.
Having already weathered two Spurs runs, the Jazz went on a 15-2 run of their own, closing San Antonio's lead to six with 2:44 to go in the half. But the San Antonio lead was back to 15 before the half.
"We got back in the game and then made three or four mistakes," said Sloan. "We just didn't feel it was there."
Shortly after halftime, the matter was over. San Antonio's lead was up to 80-55 with 1:31 left in the third quarter.
While the game was over early, the excitement wasn't. Sloan was thrown out in the final period, protesting a foul on Stockton. He charged official Ronnie Nunn when Stockton was knocked to the floor and called for an offensive foul.
"I just got kicked out. I guess I just said something wrong," said Sloan."We ran the same play two times in a row because of what happened on the first. They knocked Stockton down on the floor, and we ran it again to see if we could get an offensive foul. John encouraged me to run the play again, and he thought he could get the guy open."
Later, the Jazz's Bryon Russell was hit with a technical for mixing it up with the Spurs' Rodman.
Unfortunately for the Jazz, that was as much fire as they showed all night. The rest of the time they were covering their heads and looking for cover.
"They played a heck of a game, and they smoked us. It's as simple as that," said Stockton.
Robinson's 25 points led the Spurs, who had every player score.
Trailing 1-0 in the playoffs, with their long streak over the Spurs emphatically over, the Jazz left the dressing room with shrugs and sighs, while the Spurs sighed too - with relief.
"This is a new season and a new time," said Robinson. "There's no question we had to come out and establish ourselves. Winning is always fun."