Jazz, Sonics Exchange Accusations

There has been plenty of simmering bitterness in the SuperSonics-Jazz series, particularly on the Utah side after Seattle coach George Karl prompted Sonics fans to count when Karl Malone shoots free throws. Karl said Malone took longer than the allowed 10 seconds, and that the Jazz played illegally.

“I think they cheat a lot,” said Karl, whose SuperSonics were penalized more than any team in the league this season for use of illegal defenses. “They abuse the free-throw line rules as much as any team in the league. Utah’s defense is as illegal as anyone’s.”

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has been privately furious about Karl’s allegations.

As for his team, Karl pointed out the term “zone” does not appear in the NBA rule book. “There’s nothing that says you can’t play a zone,” Karl argued.

Through the first five games, there were 30 illegal defense calls, 16 on the Jazz.

Houston effect

Seattle faces a daunting statistic entering Game Seven: The SuperSonics, who defeated the Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, never have won a playoff series after beating Houston. After playoff series wins over Houston, Seattle lost to San Antonio in 1982, to the Lakers in 1987 and 1989, and to the Suns in 1993.

Local hero

The real star for the Jazz in this series was Lyons Township’s Jeff Hornacek, averaging 21.4 points with 10 of 19 threes going into Game Six.

Sloan said: “When he lets go the jump shot from 15-18 feet, he’s one of the few guys in the league, if you’re playing against him, that you feel the shots are going in the basket.”

Karl added, “He shoots them so quick. Ninety-five percent of the time our players think they’ve got him covered, and he’s not covered. He’s clever and has a great knack for getting open. He, Stockton and Malone work so well it’s scary.”

Hornacek has often been matched against Hersey Hawkins, who was his teammate for one season in Philadelphia.

Off his game

You can’t get the Jazz to admit there’s anything wrong with Stockton. But the member of the Olympic “Dream Team,” an 83 percent free-throw shooter in the regular season, was shooting 41.7 percent from the line against Seattle going into Game Six.