Jazz star Karl Malone responded Monday to comments by Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson suggesting the Jazz "manipulate referees so well with their flops and all that stuff. They abuse the rules, and it's frustrating to play against that type of team."
Said Malone: "I hate soaps. I don't watch soaps, so I have no desire to talk about soap operas."
Asked if he found Nelson's comments ironic in light of the defensive tactics employed by Mav Mark Bryant, who grabbed and held Malone often while guarding him in Saturday's Game 1 of the opening-round NBA Western Conference playoff series between the two teams, Malone said, "It's kind of amazing, but nothing surprises me in this league."
Malone, who had 26 points Saturday, also avoided a straightforward response to the query of which Mav defends him best.
"All of them do a tremendous job. They're the toughest team for me to play against," Malone, the NBA's No. 2 all-time scoring leader, said with a playful smirk the day before Tuesday night's Game 2. "Their whole team (does) a great job. I'm surprised I'm scoring any points. I don't know if I belong on the same floor."