Just two games into this season, Karl Malone enthusiastically declared this Utah Jazz team the most talented ever.
Is he right?
Is this team as good as the two Jazz squads that reached the NBA Finals in '97 and '98?
"This is a different team," said Jazz assistant coach Gordon Chiesa. "But yes, potentially, it could be our best team ever."
From a team not given to hyperbole, that statement says a lot. Coaches are more than optimistic, they're hopeful.
Fortunately, we don't have to rely entirely on vague and fervent declarations. Having seen both those Jazz teams and the current edition, we can compare, make our own judgment. So here's a look at how those teams matched up with this season's:
KARL MALONE VS. KARL MALONE — Coaches say he's as good as ever, but the fact is his scoring, shooting percentage, rebounds, assists and steals were all down last season from those Finals years. This season he's averaging 23 points per game, which if it continues would be the lowest average since his second season. But he still averages a double-double and his numbers place him easily among the league's best power forwards. Chiesa also pointed out that Malone has tended in recent seasons to get even better in the second half. Edge: 97-98 Malone
JOHN STOCKTON VS. JOHN STOCKTON — Again, coaches proclaim him as good as ever. And again, the numbers indicate otherwise. Like Malone's, his numbers were down from the first Finals season (comparing the second Finals season is tough because he missed 18 games), with one exception — turnovers. His assist-to-turnover ratio last season was his best in years. And he still shot a remarkable 50 percent from the field. Edge: 97-98 Stockton
BRYON RUSSELL VS. BRYON RUSSELL — He's clearly better now. His shooting percentages were down last season, but they were still respectable, and his other numbers were up. He's playing more minutes, which is a plus. And he's off to the best start of his career. Edge: 2000 Russell
GREG OSTERTAG VS. GREG OSTERTAG — Coaches are encouraged by the way he's started this season. His body fat is down and he's looked more active. He's not playing as many minutes as he did in '97-98, but he's more productive in the minutes he plays. Last season was a bust, however, so you'd have to say the jury's still out. Edge: Even
JEFF HORNACEK VS. JOHN STARKS — Hornacek was the far better pure shooter. Defenses couldn't leave him alone, which opened things up for Malone inside. Starks is a streaky shooter whom defenders will cheat off sometimes but who also can explode for 10-12 points in a single quarter. Hornacek had better total stats but Starks is a much better defender and can fire up teammates and fans with wild-man attitude. Edge: Hornacek
ANTOINE CARR VS. DANNY MANNING — Carr's main job was to spell Malone at power forward and frequently play center in the fourth quarter. That's essentially Manning's job, and so far he's been terrific. He's shooting 57 percent from the field. He doesn't have Carr's bulk, but he's a better team defender, passer and rebounder and has a greater array of offensive moves. Edge: Manning
HOWARD EISLEY VS. JACQUE VAUGHN — Eisley had his best seasons in those two runs to the Finals. But if Vaughn keeps up his current pace, he'll shoot better than Eisley and produce better numbers across the board. Eisley was a good halfcourt player, Vaughn can push the ball up the floor better. Edge: Even
SHANDON ANDERSON VS. QUINCY LEWIS — Anderson was No. 2 offensive weapon off the bench in the two Finals seasons, a good shooter and adequate defender who didn't contribute much else statistically. Lewis is much improved this season, but it remains to be seen if he can be as effective as Anderson. Edge: Anderson
GREG FOSTER VS. OLDEN POLYNICE — Foster was better perimeter shooter, and that's it. Polynice is a vast improvement. Edge: Polynice
ADAM KEEFE VS. DONYELL MARSHALL — No contest. Keefe was good team-concept guy whom coaches didn't use in the Finals. Marshall has potential to be No. 1 or 2 scorer off the bench and is a strong rebounder. Edge: Marshall.
CHRIS MORRIS VS. DAVID BENOIT — Morris was a sporadically explosive offensive player who had problems remembering and executing plays. Benoit is a leaper who is working his tail off, grateful for second chance in the league. Edge: Even
12TH MAN VS. 12TH MAN— This was Stephen Howard in '97, Vaughn in '98, and neither contributed much. Rookie DeShawn Stevenson holds this position this season, and he should produce much more than both of those guys combined. Edge: Stevenson
FINAL RESULT: 5 votes for the Finals teams, 5 for this season's team, two toss-ups. A dead heat, in other words. The kicker, of course, is that it's a long season and anything can happen between now and the postseason. But there are enough signs of improvement — chiefly from Vaughn, Marshall and Lewis — that, if they continue, could make this team better.
That's why coaches and others associated with this team are optimistic that, given a season to learn to play together, this Jazz team could be something special.
E-mail: rich@desnews.com