Labeled by many as the NBA's most dominant player of late, Los Angeles center Shaquille O'Neal obviously struggled Saturday afternoon in L.A.'s 112-77 loss to the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
To wit:- O'Neal didn't score until almost two minutes into the second quarter. Fouled on a jump hook that dropped, he scored with 10:19 remaining in the first half - and then in somewhat-typical Shaq fashion, he promptly missed the ensuing free throw. Seven Jazz players had already scored by then, including substitutes Howard Eisley, Chris Morris and Greg Ostertag.
- Shaq was whistled for traveling violations in the next two Laker possessions, which resulted in a technical foul on protesting L.A. coach Del Harris.
- At one point in the second period, Morris had the upperhand over O'Neal in the scoring battle of the two players sporting No. 34 jerseys, by a 10-2 margin.
- O'Neal didn't throw down a dunk until four minutes in the third period.
- He finished with a respectable 19 points and eight rebounds, but he shot 6-of-16 from the field and 7-of-16 from the line and committed seven turnovers.
Utah coach Jerry Sloan figured O'Neal's problems were a Shaq attack of a different sort - anxiety. "I think he mishandled the ball early - I don't know if it was our defense at all," said Sloan. "It was his anxiety as much as anything."
CRYIN' FOUL: For several days preceding the conference finals, Laker supporters decried the Jazz tactics of grabbing, holding, picking and bumping on the court. All sorts of adjectives were used to describe Utah's play - ranging from "cheap" and "dirty" to "aggressive" and "hard-nosed."
However, it was the Lakers who delivered the stiffest licks in Game 1 Saturday.
Corie Blount lowered a shoulder into Bryon Russell, sending the Jazz forward to the locker room for a few minutes with a "stinger." Nick Van Exel leveled a driving Adam Keefe on a fast-break opportunity and picked up a flagrant foul. Eddie Jones also picked up a flagrant personal while dropping John Stockton to the floor.
HEADS UP: Move over, Cheeseheads. The Jazz have their own personalized foam headwear that rivals the wedge-shaped, cheese-looking styles sported by Green Bay Packer fans.
A handful of Jazz fans took to wearing headgear in the form of mailboxes, saluting Jazz forward Karl Malone. And the Mailman delivered Saturday, with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
HOW'S THAT AGAIN? The most memorable comment to come from the NBC broadcast team on Saturday is one that analyst Steve Jones would no doubt like to be able to take back. In the opening moments of the game, Jones told viewers how "Everybody expects the Lakers to blow right through the Jazz" on their way to the NBA Finals.
Much to his credit, fellow analyst Bill Walton retorted, "Who have you been talking to?"
(Jones' comments may explain why, once the rout was on, he spent an inordinate amount of time telling viewers it would be a long series and they'd see a different Lakers team in Game 2.)
Jones' early timing was more than a bit off. He called Utah's Greg Foster a "bit player" - just before Foster scored four of the first six Jazz points. By the time Foster left the game with 10 points, Walton was talking about the Jazzman's "magnificent performance."
SCOUT'S MOTTO - `BE PREPARED': Perhaps one of the busiest bodies in the upper press section of the Delta Center belonged not to a media member but to Indiana Pacers scout Tom Perrin.
The Pacers open their Eastern Conference finals today against the Chicago Bulls, and Perrin admits they have "a pretty tall order" in defeating the defending champions. "But you've got to be prepared," Perrin said.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hack-a-Shaq
On occasion, the Jazz have successfully employed a "Hack-Shaq" defensive strategy to contain L.A.'s big man. Here's how the trio of Jazz centers utilized their fouls on the Lakers' center of attention Saturday afternoon.
Players Min. Fouls Foul/Min. Ratio
Foster 19 3 6.3
Ostertag 13 4 3.3
Carr 21 5 4.2
O'Neal's line
Min. 35
FTA 16
FTM 6
Pts. 19
*****
Shaq O'Neal's Rump Bump!
Number of times the Diesel used his gluteus maximus to clear the paint.
Game 1: 2
*****
Karl Malone's Kick Count!
Number of times the Mailman raised his leg with intent to maim.
Game 1: 1