In one sense, it is disconcerting to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan that two of his starters are shooting terribly so far in the NBA playoffs. In another sense, it could be a good sign.
Forward Tyrone Corbin and guard Jeff Hornacek have been throwing shots all over the arena. Hornacek went 0-4 in Game 1 and 3-11 in Game 2, for a composite 3-15. Corbin is 0-for-6 in the two games.So that either means they are heading into slumps just when the Jazz can least afford it, or they are due to break out.
"As far as myself goes, I'm disappointed, but we have won one game," said Corbin. "You can't take shots just to take them. I'd love to score some points, but you've got to wait and just take the shots when they come."
The percentages are far below their normal playoff averages. Hornacek is a career .494 field goal shooter in the playoffs, Corbin .498. This year, Hornack is shooting .200 and Corbin, well, zippo.
"You've got to let the shots come to you," said Corbin. "You've got to let the game come to you and not try to force things."
Said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, "They're not going to miss shots like they did the other day. Obviously we need everyone to play well."
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Now that the Jazz are home and tied in the series, the coveted home court advantage belongs to them. But as soon as the Jazz had the advantage, they stopped calling it that.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, always wary of overconfidence, says playing at home has its problems. "It all depends on how you handle things at home," said Sloan, referring to the distractions that come when relatives and friends are in town for the playoffs. "A lot of people are at your house sometimes. It depends on how the individual handles it. Players know what it takes to get ready. They have to eat right and sleep right."
He continued, "You can't follow them around. They've got to decide what's important. Everybody talks about it, but it comes to the point where you have to decide what's important every time."
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What is the difference between dirty play and physical play? Some suggest Dennis Rodman doesn't know.
But most players say it is fine line between the two. Jazz forward Karl Malone insisted Monday that he wants to play physically but not dirty. "It's a fine line," he said. "But you don't want to get kicked out."
If anyone could sympathize with Rodman, it's Malone. The Mailman was tossed from a game in November 1991 when he hit Detroit's Isiah Thomas with an elbow, splitting Thomas' forehead. Malone was suspended and fined $10,000 - the same as Rodman.
But at a Monday practice, Malone wasn't cutting Rodman any slack. "I'm going to play like I always play," he said. "I don't play for revenge. I'm not into that. I want to play hard but I'm into doing it the right way."
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Corbin is (surprise!) in agreement with his teammates on the matter of Rodman. He claims the Worm has gone over the proverbial line.
"I think he goes over on some things," said Corbin. "He has the reputation of doing things to get your mind off the game. But the things he does, a number of times he takes them to extremes."
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In case you missed it, Rodman has gone on record as saying the Spurs will win the NBA title if they get out of the second round.
In an interview with NBC's Ahmad Rashad, he said, "I told them, if we get out of the second round we can win the NBA Championship. If we get out of the second round we will win the championship. And that's a promise."