Trying to get comparisons of the replacement officials and the regular referees from the Utah Jazz can make one feel as welcome as an IRS agent.
Players and coaches alike seem to have this idea that any comments they make will get back to the officials, perhaps resulting in some questionable calls. Gee, what would make them think that? On the record, this is what could be pried out of them:Coach Jerry Sloan - "They're like players, too. They have to get back in condition."
Adam Keefe - "I haven't seen any difference, good or bad."
Antoine Carr - "I'm going to be real diplomatic. I'm not going to say anything bad about them. My mom always told me if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything. The guys are working hard. I'll leave it at that."
Jeff Hornacek - "We hope these officials that are back now are kind of like us, going through training camp. We hope they'll get it after a while."
Asked to evaluate the replacements, Sloan said he liked the way they weren't afraid to call some things the regular refs rarely call, such as traveling and three seconds.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: It wasn't mere coincidence that in the Jazz's first encounter with the "real" officials, Sloan got just his second technical foul of the season, Stockton got his first and Carr also got one. A noticeable difference between the regulars and replacements was the lack of hidden agendas and paybacks on the part of the latter. An example: Against Orlando, Karl Malone complains to Mike Callahan about a foul call on the defensive end. On the other end, Malone gets the ball under the basket, goes up, is hammered, gets the ball back, goes up again, is hammered again. Callahan watches the entire play impassively and doesn't blow the whistle. Sloan storms onto the court to complain and is hit with a T. To the casual observer it looked like simple, unadulterated payback, and it wasn't the only occurrence in that game.
BRADLEY SPEAKS: Shawn Bradley heard the rumors that the Jazz were interested in trading for him, both last season and this. And he liked the idea.
"I grew up in Utah my whole life and followed the Jazz my whole life," he said. "If someone trades me there, am I going to be happy? Of course, I'm going to be happy."
On the other hand, said Bradley, "I know the business well enough not to get my hopes up to go anywhere. I also know it well enough not to be disappointed to go somewhere else."
"Somewhere else" turned out to be New Jersey, and so far, Bradley said he has no complaints.
"The fans have been great," he said. "They've been really supportive. They've welcomed me. It helps me relax and go out and work hard."
During Monday's game, Bradley and Karl Malone locked arms once and shoved off each other, and a New Jersey media type jumped on the very minor incident, trying to get Bradley to slam the Mailman.
"I've known Karl since I was in junior high," Bradley said. "I went to a lot of Jazz camps. We're not buddies, we don't talk a whole lot, but I don't have anything bad to say about Karl."
PERSONNEL UPDATE: The revised outlook on Jamie Watson's return from an ankle injury is eight to 10 weeks from the date of surgery, which puts him out until at least the second week in February. Considering the way Howard Eisley continues to improve, Watson - still home in South Carolina - might want to start worrying about his job.
Eisley played his best game yet against the Nets, making three of four shots for nine points in 11 minutes. Sloan praised him, saying, "He plays under control. He tries to get you in the offense."
As for rookie center Greg Ostertag, he was hoping for a Dec. 26 return from a right-hand injury, but he says team officials want him to stay out until closer to New Year's.
When Ostertag does return, someone has to go, either to the injured list or . . . elsewhere. A week ago it seemed obvious that it would be seldom-used Andy Toolson, but suddenly it appears less clear. Bryon Russell, who has started the last nine games, has seen his minutes dwindle from 16 to 13 to seven the past three games. Sloan said Tuesday he's considering a lineup change, which could mean a return of David Benoit to starting status. If that happens, it will put Russell back on the bubble with Toolson.