Randy Brown says he is baffled and a bit miffed by his lack of playing time in the NBA Finals–in the entire postseason, for that matter.
Brown is averaging just 5 minutes a game in the playoffs, 2 minutes against the Jazz. He played in the second quarter of Game 1 in Salt Lake City, but coach Phil Jackson quickly yanked him after he turned the ball over on two straight possessions.
Brown didn’t play at all in the Bulls’ victory in Game 2, and Game 3 was well into its blowout stage before Brown entered with 5 minutes 22 seconds left and the Bulls leading by 31 points.
“One reporter went as far as to ask me if I was in Phil’s doghouse,” Brown said before Game 3. “Maybe I am, but I don’t know why. I just have to wait and see what happens. I hear that I’m not a favorite of his because of Jerry Krause (who signed Brown as a free agent three years ago). I don’t know. I just have to wait and see what happens.”
Jackson has indicated he prefers using Steve Kerr in most situations because of his superior offense in close games. Jackson has used Kerr against Indiana’s Travis Best and Utah’s John Stockton.
“I’ve just been frustrated as hell sitting on the bench watching,” Brown said. “The last couple of years I’ve been talking about how much I want to contribute to winning. It’s a tough situation. I haven’t talked to Phil about it because I don’t know what to say.”
Brick city: After shooting 14 for 41 in the first two games of the series, Karl Malone regained his shooting eye, making his first six shots and finishing 8 for 11 for 22 points.
But the rest of the Jazz shot a combined 13 for 59 (22 percent), with Howard Eisley (0 for 6), Bryon Russell and Greg Ostertag (1 for 7 each), Chris Morris (2 for 9) and Jacque Vaughn (0 for 6) among the worst offenders.
“We just didn’t come ready to play,” Malone said. “We just got an old fashioned butt-kicking. If this one doesn’t wake us up, nothing will.”
The Jazz also continued to play uncharacteristically sloppy basketball, turning the ball over 26 times after 19 turnovers in Game 2 and 13 in Game 1. Malone had seven turnovers, and the normally sure-handed John Stockton had five.
Stockton, the hero of Game 1, had more turnovers (three) and fouls (three) than points (two).
Reserve role: The blowout result led to increased playing time for the Bulls’ reserves, who responded with a series-high 30 points, 10 by Scott Burrell in 25 minutes and six each by Kerr and Jud Buechler. All 12 Bulls played, and all 12 scored.
And for the first time in the series the Bulls’ bench outscored Utah’s reserves, 30-17. If it’s possible, the Jazz subs shot worse than the starters, hitting 7 of 33 shots for 21.2 percent. The starters were 14 for 37, or 37.8 percent.
New man: Ostertag started at center instead of Greg Foster and matched Foster’s scoring output for the first two games. But that’s not saying much: Ostertag scored just two points.
“I thought I started out all right,” Ostertag said. “I started out aggressive. Then I missed a couple of layups. I can’t do that. I have to finish (the shots) or at least draw a foul.”
Ostertag missed the pregame introductions after being poked in the eye during warmups. But he would not use blurry vision as an excuse for his performance.
Sloan extended: NBC reported before Game 3 that Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and team owner Larry Miller have agreed to a three-year contract extension. An announcement will come after the Finals, the report said.
That eliminates Sloan as a candidate to replace Jackson if the Bulls coach leaves as expected this summer. Sloan coached the Bulls for almost three seasons before being fired in 1982. He also played most of his career for the Bulls, making the All-Star team twice and the all-defensive team six times.
That might make this an emotional week for some coaches, but Sloan isn’t much for sentimentality. He treated his return to Chicago, where his retired No. 4 hangs in the United Center rafters, as just another trip.
“It’s not a big deal,” Sloan said. “When you get fired, it can’t be too big of a deal.”
Sloan returned to Chicago for last year’s Finals, which may be why he’s treating this year as no big deal. In real estate parlance, there’s also the matter of location–Sloan played for and coached the Bulls in the Chicago Stadium, and says he has “no attachment” to the United Center.
“The Stadium is where I played,” Sloan said. “If there are any memories, they are in the Stadium.”
Stats and stuff: Utah’s starters committed 19 turnovers and had 14 baskets, half by Malone. . . . The Jazz said one of the reasons the Bulls won the game was their offensive rebounding, but the Bulls had only an 11-9 advantage there. More telling was the Bulls’ overall 50-38 advantage on the boards. . . . The blowout meant major minutes for forgotten Jazz players Adam Keefe and Jacque Vaughn. Keefe played 12 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds, while Vaughn played 7 minutes and pulled down two rebounds.
The `y’ is for yuks: Nets comedian/power forward Jayson Williams was at the United Center, working for “NBA International in 175 countries, Inside Stuff, NBA Entertainment,” he said.
Williams’ opinion of Michael Jordan?
“He’s Jesus in tennis shoes. You know how you know where you were when Elvis died? That’s how you’ll remember when Michael Jordan retires.”
