SportsLine.com Report
May 19, 2000

1999-2000 in review

To outsiders, the Jazz's too-quick elimination from the playoffs was a statement -- and a sad one at that -- on the team's decline and likely struggles in the seasons to come. After hearing themselves pronounced as too old for several years now, the Jazz, in losing to Portland in five games, seemed as if the calendar finally had caught up with the criticism.

But to those inside the Utah locker room, the Jazz's performances in Games 4 and 5 against the deeper, younger Blazers provided optimism for the 2000-01 season.

The Jazz won the fourth game to send the series back to Portland and were in command for much of what proved to be the finale before losing, 81-79. They lost a four-point lead in the final minute, but the Jazz preferred to focus on the things they did well to survive to that point in the Rose Garden.

So it's possible that the team's string of postseason appearances -- now at 17 -- could be extended with Karl Malone and John Stockton again as the roster's anchors. Bryon Russell, who had played so well in the final game (until the bitter end), should have an even bigger role next season and the Jazz is hopeful about young players such as Quincy Lewis and Jacque Vaughn.

All of which, of course, doesn't erase questions left by the two All-Stars' advancing age, Jeff Hornacek's retirement, Greg Ostertag's unreliable play, a lack of depth and the shortage of athleticism in the lineup.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Many preseason experts had written Utah off before the season even had begun. Yet the Jazz won 55 games in the regular season, captured their third Midwest Division title in four years and did it all with a starting lineup that featured four players over age 35 (Malone, Stockton, Hornacek and Olden Polynice). "Our season was better than a lot of people expected,'' Malone said. "Nobody gave us a chance to do much of anything, because of our age and whatever.''

SEASON LOWLIGHT: The first three games against Portland were discouraging, hard-to-ignore evidence of the team's decline from consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. But even they couldn't surpass the heartbreak of the final 47 seconds against the Blazers. With visions of a Game 6 at Delta Center dancing in the Jazz fans' heads, Scottie Pippen hit a 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds left to give Portland its first lead since the second quarter. Then, with three seconds left, Bryon Russell bricked two free throws that could have given his club a one-point lead.

Finally, Russell tried to hoist a desperate 3-pointer with time running out but collided with Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace. No foul was called, and that was that. Said Russell: "It was a foul. The ref just didn't have enough hair on his you-know-what to make the call,'' Russell said.

KEY STAT: Russell's missed free throws were a symptom of a problem for Utah in the Portland series. They made only 70 percent of their foul shots, including 15-of-23 in the decisive Game 5. During the regular season, the Jazz hit 77.3 percent from the line.

The Personnel File

MVP: Karl Malone had one of his best overall seasons, averaging 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 35.9 minutes, while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor. He played in every game, of course, and showed few signs of slowing down. In the final playoff game, he scored 27 points with 11 rebounds, the 114th double-double of his postseason career. Malone ranks fifth in playoff rebounds with 1,769 and sounds eager to add to his total next spring.

"We talked about training camp and I'm excited about that already,'' Malone said after a wrap-up meeting with coach Jerry Sloan. "With what he told me, I'm fired up for training camp. Even though it's four or five months away, it put my mind at ease.''

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Stockton, at an age when some of his peers (Scott Skiles, Glenn Rivers) are stalking the NBA sidelines in suits, still was an effective floor general for the Jazz. At 38, he played in all 82 games and averaged 12.1 points, 8.6 assists and 29.6 minutes, while shooting 50.1 percent.

Runner-up in the surprise category goes to Polynice, who seemed like a desperate personnel move when the Jazz added him to their list of big men. But Polynice finished strong, making the most of Greg Ostertag's disappointing play and playing 80 minutes over the two final playoff games.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Ostertag spent the final 96 minutes of the Jazz's postseason life on the bench, providing nothing in Games 4 and 5. The team has been beyond patient with the lumbering big man, but Ostertag -- whether he's in shape or not -- simply doesn't produce with the kind of consistency the team needs.

Ostertag's assessment of his season was typical of his on-again, off-again play. "It could have been better,'' Ostertag said of his 1999-2000 performance. "I had some good games and some bad games.''

COACH: One of the fans' deeper fears in Salt Lake City has been that Jerry Sloan might ride off into the sunset -- on a tractor, of course -- at the same time the team's core of Malone, Stockton and Hornacek breaks up. But Sloan seemed invigorated at the end, a good sign. It goes without saying that Sloan is welcome to stay as long as he likes.

Said the veteran coach: "I'm looking forward to coming back because I was really proud of this team (in Game 5), probably as proud as I've ever been of a basketball team,'' Sloan said.

Offseason tinkering

THE DRAFT: The draft has not been kind to the Jazz -- at least over the last decade or so. Consider the names of some Utah first-round picks, dating back to 1990: Luther Wright (1993), Ostertag (1995), Martin Muursepp (1996), Nazr Mohammed (1998), as well as three years in which the Jazz didn't have a first-round selection at all.

That explains the lack of enthusiasm in Salt Lake City over the Jazz's draft position this time. The team holds two first-round picks -- No. 23 and No. 26 -- thanks to a four-year-old trade with Miami. But the prospect of adding quality players, much less instant help, is small that deep in the first round.

FREE-AGENT MARKET: Even with Hornacek's retirement, the Jazz will be over the salary cap next season. That will limit their hopes of improving from without to the standard exceptions, as well as any sign-and-trade arrangements they might be able to pursue. Then, of course, there is the aversion that many NBA players seem to have to living in Salt Lake City.

They have a handful of their own free agents to deal with: guards Howard Eisley and Jacque Vaughn and forward Armen Gilliam. Both guards would have to accept ongoing backup status to Stockton, although it figures that the veteran starter might slip to half-time status or less next season. It is unclear whether the open market would offer them any juicier roles with other teams. Vaughn might have the better potential to start for another team, although Eisley has a better track record and experience.

Oh, and they do have one ace in the hole: Hornacek doesn't plan on signing his retirement papers any time soon, just in case the Jazz find themselves in need of an emergency replacement -- the way Kevin Johnson returned to the Phoenix Suns' lineup late this season.