Taps not a Jazz tune

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Posted: Friday May 28, 1999 04:01 PM

Wiped out: Karl Malone had a career playoff-low eight points in Game 6. AP

By Tom Heitz, Turner Sports

The Utah Jazz have been eliminated from the playoffs. Portland beat 'em up real good Thursday night. Start constructing the eulogies.

That's the initial reaction when a veteran team is knocked out of the postseason, right? It doesn't matter what sport, an early playoff exit must mean the team is too old and any chance at a title has vanished like Cliff Robinson's jumpshot in May.

But I don't think the Utah Jazz are done. Not yet, anyway.

After all, Utah's 37-13 record this season was, along with San Antonio, the league's best. By the time the season ended for the Jazz on Thursday night, they had played a total of 61 games in 112 days -- a brutal stretch considering that the Jazz's average age is 30 years old. And Utah received no production from Karl Malone (a career playoff-low eight points) in Game 6, yet only trailed by three entering the final quarter.

Despite all that, the Jazz still experienced their earliest postseason elimination since 1995 and failed to score 100 points in all but one of their playoff games. Couple that with the fact four of its top five players -- Malone, John Stockton, Shandon Anderson and Jeff Hornacek -- can become free agents on July 1 and Utah's future success is in serious doubt.

But I'm not ready to crank up Taps (the street-mixed version) and wax poetic on how great a run the Utah Jazz have had. No, Malone has that handshake agreement with Jazz owner Larry Miller and Stockton is not going anywhere. The team will have its $2-million exception available for next season and if it can sign another frontcourt scorer to come off the bench (shockingly, Thurl Bailey and Todd Fuller didn't pan out) the Jazz will be in the thick of things again next year.

The Jazz lost to a younger and better Portland team. There's no shame in that. It doesn't mean Utah should pull a Jerry Krause and start rebuilding. Remember, the Jazz tripped in the first round last season but kept its balance and marched into the NBA Finals. They tripped again this season, only to fall this time.

The Jazz will be solid again next season. No one should be singing the blues in Utah. They should go with something a little more upbeat ... something like jazz (I'm sorry; I couldn't resist).

Just a thought, but if the Blazers went sans their collective jerseys when they win the conference semifinals, what then, would they take off should they win the West finals? And what about the NBA Finals?

Go Spurs, go...

Lesser role for Ewing

Throughout his career, Patrick Ewing wanted to be (and was) "The Man" in New York. The fans at Madison Square Garden both praised and buried the Knicks' center during his 14-year career. And Ewing wouldn't have it any other way.

He wanted to take the shot with the game on the line and if he made it, great and if he didn't (which happened a lot more than the former), then so be it. It was Ewing's team, and New York would live and die with him.

This postseason, Ewing, who's been limited to only 31 minutes a game with injuries (Achilles', calf and ribs) has taken a lesser role for the Knicks and the team is playing its best ball in years.

"I am very proud of my teammates," Ewing said Wednesday. "They've been doing a fabulous job. I hope they get me a ring."

Get me a ring. Before this season, Ewing would have said, "I hope I get them a ring." He can still be the man without having to prove it all the time on the court. For the Knicks this season, less is more. The hobbling center is no longer carrying the team. The team is carrying him.

Goings-on in Golden State

The rumors about Washington's Mitch Richmond heading to Golden State once teams are allowed to begin signing players August 1 makes a lot of sense. Richmond's wife is from the Bay area, and he's still immensely popular with the fans who rooted for him during his three years with the Warriors.

"We need a two very bad," Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo said Friday while being sure not to mention any specific players. "We need guards, period."

John Starks and Bimbo Coles are the only guards who are signed for next season, and the Warriors were the second-worst three-point shooting team in the league this season.

Another player who would immediately address the Warriors backcourt shortage is Terrell Brandon. The free-agent point guard says that he doesn't want to play in his hometown of Portland -- "too much pressure with friends and family" -- and he doesn't see himself in Seattle either.

"It doesn't make sense...their whole offense revolves around Gary Payton, and he posts up a lot," Brandon said. "I don't see myself fitting into that kind of offense."

When asked about playing for the Warriors, Brandon just smiled and gave a slow nod.

In order to have any chance at signing two major free agents, the Warriors would have to renounce the rights to most of their free agents, including Tony Delk, Tyrone Bogues and Erick Dampier.

The Warriors do have the No. 10 pick in the NBA Draft (June 30 at 7 p.m. on TNT) and any free-agent moves they make will be determined by whom they select.

"We need scorers. There's no doubting that," Carlesimo said. "We were one of the worst scoring teams in the league, so any kind of scoring we get will be a help."

How times have chaged. Wasn't it only last year when no player would even consider going to Golden State?

Tom Heitz has been involved with Turner Sports production for four years, and currently provides behind-the-scenes analysis for the NBA on TNT.

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