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The Morning Line
Sports Illustrated staff writer Marty Burns checks in after each game of the NBA finals
Posted: Saturday June 06, 1998 12:18 PM
GAME 2: BULLS 93, JAZZ 88
Utah guard John Stockton's
youngest son, David, a lad of about six or seven, was sitting in the
dead-quiet Jazz locker room, eating M&Ms after Utah's tough loss to the
Bulls on Friday night.
Forward Adam
Keefe, getting dressed neaby, gently leaned over and asked David if he
would be so kind as to share his candy. "OK," David said, before perfectly
lobbing a single M&M into Keefe's cupped palms. Like father, like son.
Unfortunately for Utah, Stockton Sr. didn't get much of a chance to show
off his amazing passing skills in Game 2. Nearly every time he tried to run
the vaunted pick-and-roll with Karl Malone,
Stockton found himself running into double-teams from long-armed Chicago
defenders such as Ron Harper, Scottie Pippen
and Toni Kukoc.
Stockton finished with seven assists -- but only one in the pivotal
fourth quarter when the Bulls turned the defensive screws and outscored
Utah 23-15. In addition Chicago limited Stockton to just five field-goal
attempts all night.
The Jazz need to get Stockton more involved in Game 3, as a scorer as well
as a distributor. Look for them to counter Chicago's double-teams by
hesitating a secon before initiating the pick-and-roll, thereby trying to
disrupt the Bulls or lure them into illegal defense violations. In theory,
it's as easy as taking candy from a baby. In practice, it's much tougher --
which could be why Stockton Sr. didn't look too happy as he walked out of
the Jazz locker room with young David at his side.
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NBA Finals
