His Airness Outshines Mailman In The Crunch

Did somebody say, “Recount?”

Doesn’t matter. Somebody will.

The Utah Jazz lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals in perhaps the worst possible way Sunday … no, wait. The worst possible way is to lose the seventh game of the previous series. Take it from the Jazz.

But when the league’s Debatable MVP of the Moment misses two free throws that could win the game, and the Undisputed Exalted Omnipotent MVP for Life fires a silver bullet at the buzzer to beat you well, sometimes a blowout can seem like a mercy killing.

Then again, the Jazz has never been a team to ask for mercy.

So any new doubts, insults and insecurities arising from Sunday’s 84-82 loss to the Chicago Bulls will be filed away with all the old ones and a rather bulging file it is. A two-point reversal could have allowed the Jazz to pare it down considerably.

“We’re a team that’s been through a lot,” said Karl Malone, the MVP of the first part, “and we’ll just have to get through this.”

Yeah. But this time there’s a statute of limitations.

“We had an opportunity to win this game, and against a great team you’re not going to have a ton of opportunities,” said John Stockton, who kept Jazz hope alive with a 3-pointer in the last minute. “So you have to take advantage of the ones you do get.”

Because great teams not only make great plays, but great adjustments.

And because with only six games remaining in which to win four, the odds are even greater against the Jazz.

“Defensively, I think we play better after we’ve seen a team once or twice,” said Michael Jordan, the MVP of the second part. “I’d like to think our defense is going to catch on to some of the things they’re doing. I’d like to give us the edge - I won’t yet, but I’d like to.”

Now, the Jazz did manage to make a statement Sunday night, something to the effect that these underdogs mean business and have enough will to postpone the inevitable Phil Jackson-Jordan-Jerry Reinsdorf uglython a few days anyway.

But the onus on Utah to succeed will be twice as great come Game 2, because Jordan did what he can do.

It’s what MVPs do - taking the ball in the final seconds, outfoxing the other team’s best defender, rising, rising, rising and burying the shot that must be buried.

It’s what Malone twice didn’t do just nine seconds earlier, sent to the foul line with no defender to distract him - never mind that he had made a great hustle play to get there.

“I missed a free throw, Karl missed two,” noted Jordan, who had bricked one moments before that could have pulled the Bulls into a lead. “MVPs don’t do that.”

Malone offered his finest shrug, but no excuses.

“I just didn’t make them,” he said. “I will say this: they were big free throws, but it shouldn’t have come down to that. We had a lot of opportunities. Even just before that, we’re up two and let them get an offensive rebound and Scottie (Pippen) hits a 3.”

Well, yes. By the same token, perhaps it shouldn’t have come down to Jordan with the ball in his hands just before the buzzer. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan elected to play the Bulls straight up Jordan one-on-one with Bryon Russell, who now must join Craig Ehlo in His Airness’ toasted hall of fame.

“Probably made a mistake,” said Sloan.

Given the history and the fact that a doubleteam could have forced Jordan to pass to, say, Jud Buechler - uh, yes.

But as Malone suggested, the Jazz didn’t necessarily lose this one in the last 10 seconds, though Utah led maybe 75 percent of the way. Maybe the Jazz didn’t lose it at all.

Having just experienced Houston’s rather token defense, the Jazz will need some getting used to Chicago’s sensational brand. Eight turnovers in the third quarter - and 18 for the night, a season-high seven for Stockton - is evidence enough.

“A lot of times, they turned it over first and we gave it right back,” said Stockton, who with 16 points and 12 assists otherwise had a routinely excellent night. “Maybe that’s a sign of overanxiousness, trying to make things happen too quickly. Guilty as charged.”

And, statistically if not emotionally, the Bulls just got more from their Dream Teamers - though it could be said that Jordan and Pippen had to step it up more because their teammates stepped back farther.

Pippen, questionable until game time with a foot injury, was particularly huge - 27 points, nine rebounds. Even had the best line of the night, which he uttered to Malone before the crucial free throws.

“Mailmen,” Pippen said, “don’t deliver on Sunday.”

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Blanchette The Spokesman-Review