Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is not a very reflective guy as a rule. He'd almost always rather look ahead -- with caution -- than remember back with any sort of fondness toward past coaching glories.
"You can't coach backwards," Sloan is known to say.But he allowed himself just a little satisfaction last week when he reflected on the first half of this abbreviated 50-game 1999 regular season.
"We've done some good things in the first half of season," he said. "Our record is probably better than I thought it would be at this point."
But then it was back to the future, of course.
"It will be much more difficult during the second half," said Sloan. "We have a lot of games in not a very long period of time. It will be interesting to see how we deal with it."
Right from their 6-0 start -- which included four straight wins on the road -- the Jazz served notice that they would be among the top teams in the league again. They held the NBA's best record through most of the first half of the season, although consecutive losses for the first time in more than a year in the 24th and 25th games allowed Portland to sneak one game ahead of them in the standings at present.
Still, a 19-6 mark at the midterm (20-6 now after a key win over Miami on Tuesday) is nothing to sneeze at. By comparison, last year's Jazz team, which finished with the best record in the league, was 15-10 after 25. In 1996-97, when Utah finished with a franchise record 64-18 mark, the Jazz were 20-5 through 25.
Overall the Jazz have been solid this season, certainly earning passing marks. As always, however, the final grade will be heavily weighted upon postseason performance. Anything less than another trip to the Finals -- make that an NBA title now that Michael's gone -- will be a disappointment to many.
So how is each Jazz player doing at the midterm? Glad you asked (in descending order of scoring average):
KARL MALONE
Per Game Averages -- 23.5 points; 9.6 rebounds; 4.0 assists, 37.8 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field and 9-of-11 from the line with 12 rebounds to boot in Utah's win over Golden State on Feb. 12.
Hard Times -- Has been mired in perhaps the longest shooting slump of his career. Is 32-for-96 shooting from the field in his last five games, for 33.3 percent.
The Skinny -- Most NBA players would be having a career year with Malone's numbers, even with his 44.9 percent overall shooting from the field. Fairly or unfairly, however, the Mailman is held to a higher standard.
Grade -- B plus
JEFF HORNACEK
Per Game Averages -- 13.0 points, 4.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 29.5 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored 23 points on 10-of-13 from the field with eight assists on March 3 in Portland.
Hard Times -- Because of the death of a close family friend he missed the Feb. 16 game in Seattle in which the Jazz scored just 56 points.
The Skinny -- He's simply the most accurate guard, percentage wise, in the NBA this year. But his scoring is only one aspect of his game. He's also an outstanding passer and ball handler, a team leader and a deceptively good defender.
Grade -- A
BRYON RUSSELL
Per Game Averages -- 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 34.0 minutes.
Good Times -- Went off for 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting with nine boards in a Feb. 15 win over Sacramento.
Hard Times -- Was called "Byron" by the P.A. announcer during player introductions at the MCI Center and then went out and scored just four points against the Wizards on March 15.
The Skinny -- Having, by far, the best season of his career. Sloan has even allowed him to go one-on-one at times. When he has his 3-point shooting touch going, like it was against Miami on Tuesday, it makes life much easier for the Jazz.
Grade -- A minus
JOHN STOCKTON
Per Game Averages -- 11.0 points, 7.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 3.2 rebounds, 28.7 minutes.
Good Times -- Took control of the Feb. 7 game against the Lakers in L.A. Scored 26 points with 11 assists to lead the Jazz to the win over NBC's darlings.
Hard Times -- Struggled, like everyone else, in the Feb. 16 loss to the Sonics when he scored three points on 1-for-7 shooting with just four assists.
The Skinny -- With the emergence of Howard Eisley, Stockton doesn't have to play 40 minutes per game anymore. Shows signs of age at times, but is still an incredible passer and floor leader. Sloan wants the ball in Stockton's hands at the end of close games.
Grade -- A minus
HOWARD EISLEY
Per Game Averages -- 8.5 points, 3.8 assists, 20.8 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored 17 points and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range with five assists and 10 rebounds -- that's right, 10 boards -- against Washington on March 18.
Hard Times -- Had numerous friends of family in attendance in his hometown on Sunday when he played one of his worst games of the year against the Pistons, turning the ball over five times.
The Skinny -- He's the best backup point guard the Jazz have had since John Stockton was Ricky Green's caddie his first couple of years in the league. Eisley is confident in his own abilities and the Jazz have confidence in him. He would be starting on many NBA teams.
Grade -- A minus
SHANDON ANDERSON
Per Game Averages -- 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 20.9 minutes.
Good Times -- Had four consecutive games scoring in double figures from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26. His scoring average after the first 12 games of the year was 10.8 points.
Hard Times -- Went eight consecutive games from Feb. 28 to March 12 without reaching double digits -- including a zero-point game in 21 minutes against Cleveland on March 9. His scoring average for games 13 through 25 was 6.2 points.
The Skinny -- Teams seem to have learned how to defend him better -- by not trying to front him when he posts up. He needs to develop a better outside jumper so that he can still be a threat even when they are taking away his inside game.
Grade -- B
ADAM KEEFE
Per Game Averages -- 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 16.7 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field with eight boards against the Cavaliers on March 9.
Hard Times -- Was limited to a season-low six minutes -- and none in the second half -- in Utah's loss to the Trail Blazers on March 2.
The Skinny -- After starting 75 regular season games last year, Keefe has had to accept his role off the bench this season. He's been slowed by back and leg injuries but still gives a good effort every time he's out there.
Grade -- B
GREG OSTERTAG
Per Game Averages -- 5.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 26.6 minutes.
Good Times -- Had a three-game stretch from March 13 to 18 when he averaged 13 rebounds and four blocked shots per game.
Hard Times -- Missed the fourth and fifth games of the season with the flu and struggled for the next two weeks upon his return, including a one-rebound, one-point game against Seattle on Feb. 16.
The Skinny -- Played 37 strong minutes in San Antonio on Feb. 28 which seemed to mark a turning point. Since then he's been a solid defense and rebounding force. He's still yet to score double figures in a single game this year, but scoring is not what he's asked to do. There is no question that he's in better physical shape than in the past, as he's able to routinely play 30-plus minutes this year without a drop off in performance.
Grade -- B plus
THURL BAILEY
Per Game Averages -- 4.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 13.7 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored 11 points in 19 minutes against the Nuggets on March 11.
Hard Times -- Missed seven games from Feb. 16 to Feb. 28 with strained left quadriceps after taking a key charge on Chris Webber in an overtime win over the Kings on Feb. 15.
The Skinny -- He's certainly not the "Big T." he was in the mid 1980s, but he's been surprisingly solid for a guy who's been in Europe for the past four years. He's been every bit as good as Antoine Carr was over the past few seasons in a similar role.
Grade -- C plus
TODD FULLER
Per Game Averages -- 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 12.4 minutes.
Good Times -- Started and scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field against Phoenix in just his fourth game in a Jazz uniform.
Hard Times -- From March 5 to March 18, a span of eight games, he played a grand total of 10 minutes. He didn't get off the bench at all in four of those games.
The Skinny -- Despite some early success, he's yet to find a role on this team or favor with Sloan. He's young, bright and can shoot the ball. If he doesn't get discouraged, he may eventually become more of a contributor.
Grade -- C
GREG FOSTER
Per Game Averages -- 2.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 9.9 minutes.
Good Times -- Had a solid game in Utah's win at Portland on March 12 with six points in 15 minutes.
Hard Times -- Was the goat in Utah's March 2 double-overtime loss in Portland when he traveled under the basket -- instead of dunking the ball -- in the final seconds.
The Skinny -- Another starter last season who has had to face a much reduced role this year. Was hampered by a left ankle injury that kept him out of training camp and he has never really gotten back into the swing of things.
Grade -- D
JACQUE VAUGHN
Per Game Averages -- 2.0 points, 0.7 assists, 5.1 minutes.
Good Times -- Scored four points in five minutes with an assist in a March 9 game against Cleveland in which he was forced into action when the other point guards got into foul trouble.
Hard Times -- Has not played at all in 17 games this year.
The Skinny -- Playing behind Stockton and Eisley has left this former Kansas star nothing but scrap as far as playing time in concerned. Does he have what it takes to become a contributing NBA point guard? Who knows? As long as Stockton and Eisley are in Utah, he won't likely get that chance to prove he can play with the Jazz.
Grade -- I