If recent history has shown anything, it's that a grumpy Utah Jazz player is a good Utah Jazz player.
Hand them a beating or otherwise make them mad, and they're going to respond.At Friday's practice session at the Forum, the Jazz were big-time grumps. Center Greg Ostertag got impatient with media types who kept making the same inquiry about his knee. John Stockton gave even terser-than-usual answers to questions. Karl Malone, asked why he'd made two of 20 shots in Game 3, looked sidelong at the questioner and said, "Don't ask me a dumb (bleep) question like that. Why do you write (bleep) stories sometimes?"
"Because I'm human," the guy on the spot said.
"Thank you," Malone retorted. "You answered your own question."
The media session was cut shorter than usual as the Jazz took the floor to prepare for today's Game 4 here (1:30 p.m. MST, televised on NBC). They lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.
Though the Jazz offered no explanation for the brief media session, the reason was clear: They aren't in the mood. After watching films of the Game 3 debacle, in which they still lost by 20 points and still couldn't make a shot, they are looking forward to some sort of payback - or at least a return to respectability - in Game 4.
"It can only get better," said forward Bryon Russell. "It's forgotten about. That was definitely our worst game of the season. We got it out of the way and we still lead the series."
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Jazz bounce back with a vengeance. They haven't lost two games in a row since the second week of January, more than 50 gamesago. In a league where everything seems to balance out over the long haul, it makes sense that if a 50-percent shooting team has a 28-percent night, they'll make that up eventually.
The Lakers, of course, think they have the Jazz figured out now. They came out whacking the Jazz, literally, on Thursday, especially Stockton, who was the victim of two flagrant fouls in the early going.
Asked if he expects more of the same physical play from the Lakers today, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "Sure. That's what you should do in that situation."
What you shouldn't do in response to such treatment is back off, and Sloan thinks that's what his team did.
"You have to stand up to it and we didn't," he said. "When we went in to shoot a layup they made sure we were on the floor. I thought we bailed out."
Asked if the Lakers' rough play was targeted primarily at the Jazz guards, Sloan smiled and said, "I didn't see them go after the big guys."
Stockton said he didn't notice anymore physical play than usual, which is what he always says, but his backcourt mate, Jeff Hornacek, said there definitely was a difference.
"That was their whole game plan, to push and knock guys down and see what happened," he said. "The refs can't call everything."
The Lakers' point of view, however, was that they were just responding in they way they had been treated in the first two games.
"We decided that as long as they keep on screening and pushing and holding and getting away with it, they're going to keep tasting that wood," Laker guard Nick Van Exel said. "That's what it's all about. After a while, those picks got softer. If they keep holding us, we're going to come in with elbows."
"If you don't come out and play in the face of their guards, you're in trouble," L.A.'s Eddie Jones said. "Their guards run that team. If you let Stockton dribble around free, he's going to find somebody - you're letting him be at his best."
"We didn't want to be held on the picks like we felt we were in Utah," said Laker coach Del Harris. "You can't just stand in there and let guys grab you and lay on you and ride with you."
Harris also lauded his players' defensive effort, though he stopped just shy of attributing all of Malone's off-night to the Laker D.
"Our guys did a good job of limiting his position, where he likes to get the ball," Harris said. "On the other hand, he missed some shots I've seen him make."
As for Malone, he expects the Lakers to tempt him to take outside shots, until he shows he can make them.
"The shots are going to be there for me," he said. "And I'm not going to hesitate to take them."
Ostertag was suited up but didn't participate in practice Friday. Whether he plays today is expected to be a game-time decision.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Jazz vs. Lakers
Game 1 Utah 93, L.A. Lakers 77
Game 2 Utah 103, L.A. Lakers 101
Game 3 L.A. Lakers 104, Utah 84
Game 4 Today, Utah at L.A., 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 Monday, L.A. at Utah, 8:30 p.m.
Game 6* Wednesday, Utah at L.A., TBA
Game 7* Saturday, L.A. at Utah, TBA
*-if necessary