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Game 5: Jazz-Blazers Preview
Posted: Tuesday May 16, 2000 02:55 PM
After watching the first three games of this series, I didn't expect to have to write anything about Game 5, but the Jazz won what Karl Malone called "a pride game" Sunday to send the series back to Portland. It'll take more than pride Tuesday night, I'm afraid. Utah needed every ounce of every thing everybody could give 'em to win Game 4, and that includes 12 points and 11 boards from Olden Polynice. When you're counting on double doubles from OP to keep you afloat, it's not long before your ship is taking on just a tad too much water. The feeling here is that the Rose Garden will be the site of Utah's last stand Tuesday night. Playing by far their worst game of the series, the Blazers still nearly pulled out Game 4. Portland dominated the Jazz in the first two games on their home floor, winning by 19 and 18, controlling the tempo, throwing a defensive blanket on the pick and roll, and forcing a bunch of 20-foot clangers from Utah. I don't expect Mike Dunleavy will go away from what's given his troops a 3-1 lead. I expect we'll see a more assertive Scottie Pippen on Thursday night. In the series' opener, he picked up right where he left off, after a sensational Minnesota series. He scored 20 in the first game, but has totalled just 15 in the next three. His only impact in Game 4 was to go jaw-to-jaw with Polynice, and then deliver the postgame summation that OP shocked everybody with his Sunday performance, including himself. Should be interesting to see what Bonzi Wells will do Thursday night. He was huge in Game 3 ... only got 11 minutes in Game 4, and then was reportedly overheard in the locker room afterwards saying something about roughing up Jeff Hornacek. When a Utah reporter overheard it and asked him for details, Bonzi threatened him. Given the league's $50,000 fine to the Sixers for Matt Geiger's rough stuff against Reggie Miller, does Bonzi dare walk the walk after talking the talk meant only for the ears of a teammate. Just a thought. Ernie Johnson is in his 10th year as the studio host for TNT and TBS Superstation's NBA telecasts, as well as TNT's live coverage of the NBA Draft every June.
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