Tip-offs

FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 17-23

THE QUOTE

"I've been to three county fairs, four dog shows and three tractor pulls, and I ain't never seen anything like this."—Denver trainer Jim Gillen, on the pregame scramble after two Nuggets were swapped for two Pacers three hours before the teams played in Indianapolis on Feb. 20.

THE MOVE
BY turning down a trade to Utah for center Greg Foster, guard Jamie Watson and possibly a No. 1 draft pick, Mavericks point guard Derek Harper dealt a blow to the Jazz's bid for a title. Harper, 35, makes his home in Dallas and has been promised a job with the Mavericks when he retires. He would have been the ideal back-court complement to John Stockton and Jeff Homacek.

THE STAT
With an 85-79 loss to the Pistons on Sunday, the Bullets are 0-17 against teams currently in first or second place in their divisions.

THE QUESTION

Why did G.M. Ernie Grunfeld boast to the New York Post that his Knicks can dethrone Chicago? When shown the tabloid's headline last Friday—BEATABULL—Michael Jordan, who has used far less provocative remarks for motivation, promised that he will keep Grunfeld's words in mind when the teams meet on March 9.