Jazz Apr 2003 Archive

• Duo's days near end

  Denver Post | Apr 30, 2003

  Ernie Hewlett stared solemnly ahead as he held two signs of appreciation within a few feet of the Utah Jazz's bench.

• Duo has heard all this Jazz before

  San Francisco Chronicle | Apr 30, 2003

  It seems safe to view tonight's NBA playoff game in Sacramento as the end of an era.

• Tougher Kings ready to move on

  Modesto Bee | Apr 30, 2003

  The Sacramento Kings believe their training for the second round of the playoffs is nearly complete.

• Still a factor

  Stockton Record | Apr 30, 2003

  Scot Pollard had the same number of field-goal attempts during Monday's fourth game as he did throughout April 19th's playoff opener against the Utah Jazz -- zero.

• Ending is always tough part

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 30, 2003

  The core of Kings' merry men has been here and done it -- and the group also has failed to do it.

• Jazz must find a way to stop Stojakovic

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 30, 2003

  As Peja Stojakovic continues to prove, the only way to stop him is with the "hope and pray" defense.

• Kings and Jazz put up quotes

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  A collection of quotes from the Jazz and Kings camps, looking back at Game 4 and ahead to Game 5.

• Sloan says his players have failed to focus

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  Throughout the Jazz's first-round playoff series with Sacramento, Utah coach Jerry Sloan has questioned if his club can concentrate on its task at hand.

• Test your Stockton-Malone-Sloan knowledge

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  Brace yourselves, Beehive State basketball fans.

• Coach says it isn't over

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman says the series is far from over, while his players think it will be tough for any team to beat them three straight times.

• Opinions vary on Jazz's future

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  Sometimes, it takes an outsider's eyes to see the reality, and his voice to lend it perspective.

• Jazz win? Odds are super thin

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 30, 2003

  Forty minutes after the final horn had sounded Monday night, Karl Malone emerged from the training room.

• History Not on Jazz's Side

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 30, 2003

  Videotape might be in order tonight for Jazz fans, and not just to avoid staying up until midnight.

• Let's Play 20 Questions With Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 30, 2003

  Twenty questions for the Jazz to answer now that the postseason is on the brink of blurring into a summer of transition .

• Duo's days near end

  Denver Post writer Marc Spears | Apr 30, 2003

  Ernie Hewlett stared solemnly ahead as he held two signs of appreciation within a few feet of the Utah Jazz's bench.

• Duo has heard all this Jazz before

  San Francisco Chronicle | Apr 30, 2003

  It seems safe to view tonight's NBA playoff game in Sacramento as the end of an era.

• Jackson's radio topic: Malone

  | Apr 29, 2003

  Even while Karl Malone is still playing for the Jazz in the playoffs, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is publicly discussing the Mailman's pending free agency and the Lakers' potential interest in him.

• End of series, era looms in Utah

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  Now, this is really it, one last game for the Utah Jazz to keep the season going.

• Jackson fined for his tirade about referees

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  Kings guard Bobby Jackson said Sunday he didn't care if he heard from the NBA after lambasting the Game 3 officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Ted Bernhardt and Leroy Richardson.

• Jackson is the NBA's No. 1 sixth man

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  Kings guard Bobby Jackson will be named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year today, according to league sources.

• Stojakovic makes it look easy

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  It looks exactly this easy when it's right.

• Bibby puts on artful display in 3rd quarter

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  The court was his canvas, the game in that deciding third quarter played at his speed, his pace, his teammates responding to his every stroke.

• Smelling ... like a rose

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 29, 2003

  All that needs to be known about the Kings is that Peja Stojakovic was just like the rest of his teammates in the first half, throwing up an airball or two, rushing shots and making only 2 of 5 attempts.

• Malone's achy, breaky back

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 29, 2003

  As the playoff series gets more physical, Karl Malone is feeling more of a toll on his aching back.

• Thanks for the memories

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 29, 2003

  There are a few, special things in this life which deserve more than simple enjoyment.

• In a deep hole

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 29, 2003

  The Jazz had the tempo they wanted Monday night, the lead they desperately needed, but they threw it all away.

• Harpring gets hot — then things turn foul

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 29, 2003

  Matt Harpring finally finds his shot, and he can't stay in the game.

• Kings capitalize on opportunities

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 29, 2003

  It's a classic case of stating what was fairly obvious, but the Sacramento Kings did a whole lot of things better in Game 4 than they did in Game 3.

• For Jazz, it's just a matter of time

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 29, 2003

  The dreaming is almost over now for the Jazz, the hopes subdued.

• Utah 1 loss from season being over

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 29, 2003

  If Monday night's late-ending Game 4 of the Utah-Sacramento NBA playoff series really was John Stockton or Karl Malone's final appearance together at the Delta Center, or Jerry Sloan's, for that matter — no one really knows what the future holds for any of the three franchise stalwarts — Jazz fans will be best-served remembering the evening's first two quarters.

• Near Future Looks Dim for Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 29, 2003

  Jerry Sloan made famous around here the phrase, "You can't play backwards.

• Stockton Shows No Signs of Feeling Nostalgic

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 29, 2003

  Just like every night, John Stockton walked alone down the cavernous hallway toward the locker room about an hour before the Jazz played the Sacramento Kings in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series Monday night.

• Slipping Away

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 29, 2003

  The Sacramento Kings have a lot in common with the Thunderstix the Jazz handed out in the Delta Center on Monday: Whack them and they will make a lot of annoying noise.

• Near Future Looks Dim for Jazz

  The Salt Lake Tribune writer Gordon Monson | Apr 29, 2003

  Jerry Sloan made famous around here the phrase, "You can't play backwards.

• Stockton Shows No Signs of Feeling Nostalgic

  The Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 29, 2003

  Just like every night, John Stockton walked alone down the cavernous hallway toward the locker room about an hour before the Jazz played the Sacramento Kings in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series Monday night.

• Tonight Could Be the Night

  | Apr 28, 2003

  This is just like John Stockton and Karl Malone, keeping everybody wondering right to the end.

• Waiting in vain for new blood

  International Herald Tribune, France | Apr 28, 2003

  They're the lucky ones.

• Utah ready to give Sacramento a tough series

  USA Today | Apr 28, 2003

  The celebration at the Delta Center before the start of Saturday's playoff game between the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings was so dizzying and lengthy, complete with fireworks and cascades of balloons, it almost seemed to be planned around a pessimistic presumption.

• Jazz duo at the end

  USA Today | Apr 28, 2003

  So much of it has been unsaid, because John Stockton and Karl Malone are not about making noise.

• Jazz Triumvirate Nears End

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 28, 2003

  Karl Malone thinks about it.

• Jazz have faith vs. Kings

  Fresno Bee | Apr 28, 2003

  A sweep by Sacramento is no longer a possibility.

• His idea of silence is a touch unusual

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 28, 2003

  Asking Kings guard Bobby Jackson to withhold his opinion is akin to asking the ultra-competitive one to back down from a challenge.

• Refs aren't the Kings' problems

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 28, 2003

  So here they are, the once and mighty Kings, staring again at the sharpened teeth and muscular elbows of that forever dangerous, two-headed dinosaur known as Stockton and Malone.

• Divac must answer force with force

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 28, 2003

  There's always this possibility: You are looking for a gear that Vlade Divac simply doesn't possess.

• Kings' focus is simple: Defense

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 28, 2003

  If the Kings are to attain their goal of winning the 2003 NBA championship, they'll have to defend considerably better than they did in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz.

• Ostertag's playoff high

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 28, 2003

  The Sacramento Kings were as surprised as anyone by Greg Ostertag's performance Saturday night.

• They said it

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  A collection of weekend quotes from the Jazz and Kings camps in the aftermath of Saturday night's Game 3.

• Malone hurt, but should play

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  The Jazz practiced Sunday without power forward Karl Malone, who is listed as "probable" with a strained lower back for tonight's Game 4 of Utah's first-round NBA playoff series against the Sacramento Kings.

• Notes: Kings aren't impressed

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  The Kings didn't have many kind things to say about either the Jazz or the officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Ted Bernhardt and Leroy Richardson following their Game 3 playoff loss to Utah on Saturday night at the Delta Center.

• Kings are still confident

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  In a nutshell, these were the primary thoughts going through the minds of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday: They recognize that they were outplayed in some ways by the Jazz in Saturday's Game 3, they think the officials allowed the Jazz to be more physical, and they plan to raise their own level of aggression for today's Game 4 at the Delta Center.

• Even Ostertag can't understand

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  Greg Ostertag has made it clear he has no idea what's going on.

• Win? What win? Jazz look forward

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  There was no dancing at Jazz practice Sunday.

• Jazz stars grow old together

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 28, 2003

  (via NY Times) They're the lucky ones.

• Some Kings Say Refs Helped Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 28, 2003

  After looking at the tape of the Jazz's 107-104 victory in Game 3, Rick Adelman decided his irate players were right: The referees were the reason the Kings lost.

• Adelman Sees Changes Ahead for Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 28, 2003

  Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman has led the Kings into a playoff series against the Jazz three times in the last five years, but if John Stockton and Karl Malone don't return next season, he doesn't expect to see Utah in the postseason for awhile.

• Sloan: Forget Game 3

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 28, 2003

  Whether the principals involved like it or not -- and they don't -- tonight will be Turn Back the Clock Night for a majority of the expected sellout crowd in the Delta Center.

• Push comes to shove, Jazz fights for survival

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 27, 2003

  Man, the postgame chatter is just so predictable.

• Still the same old Jazz

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 27, 2003

  We should have known.

• Divac sprinkle, sprinkles little star

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 27, 2003

  There is a water battle inside the Kings' inner circle.

• Jazz gets into Kings' heads again

  Sacramento Kings | Apr 27, 2003

  A few more details emerged Saturday night about the Kings' walk through the park to the second round.

• Kings battered, beaten

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 27, 2003

  Rick Adelman warned his team that the Utah Jazz would take physical play to another level.

• Cheaney's early play key

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 27, 2003

  It took a while, but Calbert Cheaney finally arrived in this playoff series.

• Fire in their eyes

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 27, 2003

  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

• Ostertag leads Utah to victory

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 27, 2003

  Like an unwanted houseguest who refuses to leave, the Sacramento Kings had been making themselves at home in the Delta Center in recent years.

• Jazz show more aggression

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 27, 2003

  In Kings coach Rick Adelman's opinion, Saturday's playoff game was won by the more aggressive team.

• Big O credits teammates

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 27, 2003

  To beat Sacramento Saturday, the Jazz knew they would need more than their usual heroes Karl Malone and John Stockon or even Matt Harpring, the team's second-leading scorer.

• Notes and Officiating Whiners

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 27, 2003

  The question posed to Kings guard Bobby Jackson focused on the influence of the Delta Center crowd in the Jazz's Game 3 playoff win over Sacramento on Saturday night.

• Ostertag plays big

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 27, 2003

  There were plot lines aplenty in Game 3 of the Jazz's first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings.

• Desperation Brings Out Fans' Best

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 27, 2003

  Desperation works.

• Fading Jazz Era Refusing to Fade Out

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 27, 2003

  It wasn't the end of the world, but from where the Jazz were standing in the closing minutes of Game 3 on Saturday night, they could see it.

• Ostertag helps pump life back into Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 27, 2003

  Conventional wisdom took a heck of a beating on Saturday night.

• Webber practices before road trip

  | Apr 26, 2003

  It wasn't exactly Willis Reed dragging his right leg onto the court in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, which Reed's New York Knicks won over the Los Angeles Lakers.

• Coming Home May Mean Going Home

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 26, 2003

  So this was the playoff series that was supposed to be close, right? The one that the Jazz actually had a chance to win, despite their poor playoff seed? Yeah, well .

• For the Jazz, tonight's a 'meating'

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 26, 2003

  The one thing you can be absolutely sure of tonight is finding at least one lost tooth on the Delta Center floor, the result of a facility-rattling rumble between openly hostile opponents.

• Momentum in motion

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 26, 2003

  The Kings have the Utah Jazz figured out all right, and it boils down to one simple premise.

• Jazz staring at must-win situation

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 26, 2003

  The situation is simple: If the Jazz lose tonight, they won't have to pack up immediately for the summer - but they can start ordering the moving vans.

• Malone's back won't keep him out

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 26, 2003

  He hasn't practiced all week, but he will play tonight.

• Stock remains a Jazz enigma

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 26, 2003

  JOHN STOCKTON IS nearing the end of his great basketball career having accomplished almost everything short of winning a championship.

• Jazz want back at it

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 26, 2003

  With a month — er, week — or so to dwell on what they did not do in Monday's Game 2, the Jazz have all sorts of ideas as to what they want to accomplish in tonight's Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series with the Sacramento Kings.

• Jazz Notes - Draft and Malone

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 26, 2003

  Eighteen years after a dozen teams passed up a chance to draft Karl Malone, his daughter was selected with the third pick in the WNBA draft on Friday.

• Long Series Improves Jazz's Odds

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 26, 2003

  Those complaints about how lengthening the first round to best-of-seven puts underdogs like the Jazz at a disadvantage? Never mind.

• Delta Center a Sell Out, Almost

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 25, 2003

  Check out the latest.

• Malone jazzed about WNBA draft

  Record-Searchlight | Apr 25, 2003

  Karl Malone will have a nice diversion today from questions about his future and his team's 2-0 deficit to Sacramento.

• It takes two for this series to stop

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 25, 2003

  Rick Adelman doesn't confess to being a math major.

• More than able assistance

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 25, 2003

  For an assistant coach, it's not enough to know what the opposing team has done.

• Injuries slowing Jazz's transition

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 25, 2003

  The future is coming fast, all right, but only because it's on gurneys.

• Guard play too passive

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 25, 2003

  Two games into the Utah-Sacramento playoff series, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has already thought about shaking up his lineup.

• Adelman stirs up a feast of talent

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 25, 2003

  Standing in the press room dessert line at Arco Arena Monday night, it occurred to me I had a dilemma.

• -2 Jazz must take sting out of Stojakovic

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 25, 2003

  The Jazz did a decent job on him early in Game 1, swatting and zapping the pesky Peja Stojakovic just enough that for a while you didn't even notice him.

• Playoff History Offers Some Hope

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 25, 2003

  Having determined that the Jazz are not the only team trailing 2-0 in a first-round series, the NBA authorized the team to go ahead with plans to stage two games at the Delta Center.

• Can Jazz Elevate Their Intensity?

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 25, 2003

  It's too late to make a trade, too early to sign a free agent, too shortsighted to dump the offense or shuffle the lineup.

• Stevenson Apologizes to Sloan

  | Apr 24, 2003

  He still would prefer to play, but DeShawn Stevenson discovered Monday that watching the Jazz play from 800 miles away is even worse than watching from the bench.

• If you think Peja is good now...

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 24, 2003

  There are times when Peja Stojakovic is frighteningly good.

• Christie not defensive about lack of offense

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 24, 2003

  Doug Christie on Wednesday was named once again as one of the elite defensive players in the NBA.

• Era of Jazz is being quickly rocked away

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 24, 2003

  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

• Stevenson patches wounds with Jazz

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 24, 2003

  DeShawn Stevenson made perhaps his wisest career move on Tuesday when he picked up the phone and called coach Jerry Sloan.

• Rest wasn't goal of time on bench

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 24, 2003

  With four full days off until Saturday's Game 3 of the Jazz-Kings series, one must wonder why all of Utah's starters — including John Stockton and Karl Malone — sat on the bench throughout the entire final 12 minutes of Monday's Game 2.

• Stevenson, Sloan resolve differences

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 24, 2003

  If there was a lesson to be learned from the past few days for shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, it probably would go something like this: "Next time," Stevenson said, "keep my mouth shut.

• Sluggish Cheaney likely to stay put

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 24, 2003

  After getting too little in two games from the starting 2 spot, including only two points two outings into the Jazz's opening-round NBA playoff series with Sacramento, Jerry Sloan — his team down 0-2 — has pondered making a change.

• Jazz Find Hope in Minnesota

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 24, 2003

  Calbert Cheaney says he never had any doubts, but he didn't mind the reminder, either.

• Webber's status is listed 'day to day'

  | Apr 23, 2003

  They played most of the final three quarters of Game 2 without him due to a bad back, but the Sacramento Kings hope to have their All-Star power forward back for Saturday's Game 3 of their opening-round NBA playoff series with the Jazz.

• Jazz coach stays true, even in defeat

  Fairfield Daily Republic | Apr 23, 2003

  Jerry Sloan hasn't kept his job through parts of three decades by viewing the world through rose-colored glasses and saying only the things people want to hear.

• Jazz on the skids, bemoans Malone

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 23, 2003

  Karl Malone has been around long enough, 18 seasons to be exact, to recognize a sputtering wreck when he sees one.

• Webber's MRI is negative

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 23, 2003

  The Kings and Chris Webber received good news Tuesday afternoon regarding the power forward's lower back strain.

• Players shake off 'onlooker' roles

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 23, 2003

  The Kings should experience these memory lapses more often.

• Dude and a rube meet again

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 23, 2003

  Really, they couldn't be more opposite, Scot Pollard and Greg Ostertag.

• Four long days to regroup

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 23, 2003

  Both sides were grumbling when the schedule first came out for the Utah-Sacramento playoff series, but they've developed a new appreciation for their four-day hiatus.

• Rock on . . .

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 23, 2003

  Jerry Sloan will likely never become Coach of the Year.

• No answers to Jazz woes

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 23, 2003

  Jazz coach Jerry Sloan started off his postgame address to media members asking for questions Monday night.

• Stevenson to Meet Sloan

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 23, 2003

  DeShawn Stevenson called Jerry Sloan on Tuesday, and the Jazz duo, who had a "confrontation" at Sunday's practice, arranged to meet this morning to talk.

• No more Mr. Nice Guys

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 23, 2003

  Tony Soprano would know what the Jazz need to do now.

• Webber being treated

  ESPN | Apr 23, 2003

  Sacramento forward Chris Webber had an MRI on his back at UC Davis medical center which came up negative according to the associated press.

• End of a Jazz Era Is Near

  | Apr 22, 2003

  Stockton drills a pass into the low post to Malone, who turns across the lane for a baby hook off the glass .

• Jazz goes soft

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 22, 2003

  They were reaching deep into the thesaurus after this one, after Utah had gone from credible in defeat to incredibly pliant, after the Kings had taken a 2-0 series lead.

• Big win, little bit of history

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 22, 2003

  Breaking news! This actually has not happened before.

• Is this the night Peja came of age?

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 22, 2003

  Turn your head, look away for a fleeting moment, and Peja Stojakovic will fool you.

• Two victories and then this...

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 22, 2003

  Yes, absolutely, there's room for concern.

• Dominant from the start

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 22, 2003

  The Kings wanted to use aggression to ensure the Utah Jazz would have to play an excellent game Monday night to leave Arco Arena with a victory.

• Long break could benefit Kings' Webber

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 22, 2003

  When the NBA announced its schedule for league's opening-round playoff series between the Jazz and Kings, players from both sides bemoaned the fact Game 2 was scheduled for Monday night at Arco Arena in Sacramento and Game 3 is not until Saturday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

• Jazz unable to stay close

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 22, 2003

  In case I appear to be suffering from dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and especially severe memory loss, let me make this perfectly clear: I know exactly what I wrote on Sunday.

• Stevenson gets sent home

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 22, 2003

  The Jazz played Monday's Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against Sacramento without reserve shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson, who was sent home by the team Sunday night.

• 2 for the road

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 22, 2003

  Perhaps it would be best if the Jazz held off for now on booking that return flight to Sacramento.

• Jazz send Stevenson home early

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 22, 2003

  The irony is, DeShawn Stevenson probably would have found some significant playing time on Monday if he had been in town.

• Kings play Jazz

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 22, 2003

  About the time Carlos Arroyo checked into the game late in the second quarter Monday night, it was clear Jerry Sloan was running out of answers.

• Sloan Sends Stevenson Back to SLC

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 22, 2003

  After a "confrontation" with coach Jerry Sloan, third-year guard DeShawn Stevenson was sent home before Monday's Game 2 of the Utah-Sacramento playoff series.

• Even Without Webber, Kings Roll

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 22, 2003

  Even without Chris Webber, the Sacramento Kings were too much for the Jazz on Monday night.

• Halfway Gone

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 22, 2003

  The home team's victory over the Jazz long since presumed -- heck, their eventual NBA title practically engraved on the Larry O'Brien Trophy -- Kings' fans have taken to quibbling with the margins, to demanding heads on a platter.

• Stevenson gets sent home

  | Apr 22, 2003

  Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports: Jazz guard DeShawn Stevenson was sent home before Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings after a spat with coach Jerry Sloan.

• Tough Jazz bump Kings, set the pace

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 21, 2003

  Jerry Sloan said his club didn't play mean enough Saturday night, that it was "soft.

• Kings aren't in giving mood

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 21, 2003

  It's not likely to be easy for the Kings tonight.

• Ostertag disrespected?

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 21, 2003

  To anyone who has paid attention over the past eight years, there was no big surprise watching the Sacramento Kings show so little respect to Greg Ostertag on Saturday night.

• Bench play separates Kings, Jazz

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 21, 2003

  Utah is known to have beautiful benches along the Wasatch Front.

• Harpring: No excuses, no changes

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 21, 2003

  Matt Harpring is no postseason neophyte.

• 'Tag a star? It's a mystery

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 21, 2003

  Saturday night after the Jazz's first playoff game of 2003, Greg Ostertag was engulfed by reporters.

• Utah looks to frustrate Sacramento

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 21, 2003

  They play their game, keep it close, and lose anyway.

• Ostertag's as Surprised as You Are

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 21, 2003

  The apocalypse is here.

• 2-0 Has Nice Ring to Kings

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 21, 2003

  In their seven playoff series since 1999, the Sacramento Kings have never enjoyed a 2-0 lead.

• Padgett Stumped by Shooting Woes

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 21, 2003

  These are the worst of times for Jazz forward Scott Padgett, a good shooter who suddenly can't make a shot.

• Stirred, Not Shaken

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 21, 2003

  The way the Jazz are trying to look at it, the Kings are just making a run.

• Jazz overmatched by depth

  San Francisco Chronicle | Apr 20, 2003

  The numbers did in the Utah Jazz Saturday night.

• Sights and Sounds

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  In any language? Kings coach Rick Adelman said he continually stresses to his bunch the Jazz are to be taken quite seriously, going over film, hammering home the point in practices and timeouts with pained expressions.

• Jazz tempo leaves Kings off-beat for a bit

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  Still Utah, after all these years.

• Handing out the hardware

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  The ballot that was returned for Thursday's deadline for the NBA postseason awards.

• Deciding factor is the Kings' bench

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  The Jazz players, they leave scars, they leave bruises.

• It's no beauty contest

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  It was all so perfectly, hideously representative.

• Winning the tough way

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 20, 2003

  If the Kings even momentarily think about their struggle to win Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series against the Utah Jazz, perspective provides San Antonio and Indiana.

• Malone off to hot start from outside

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 20, 2003

  Karl Malone from 19 feet, good.

• Kings learned their lessons

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 20, 2003

  If the Sacramento Kings go on to win the NBA championship this year, it won't be without a big, earnest push by the Utah Jazz.

• Old story: Jazz fall short

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 20, 2003

  The Jazz knew what they wanted going into Game 1 of their first-round, best-of-seven NBA playoff series with the Sacramento Kings.

• Sloan tinkers with plan

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 20, 2003

  Over the final two weeks of the regular season, Jerry Sloan saw a tired team that had trouble concentrating on basketball.

• Same old story

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 20, 2003

  Karl Malone did his part Saturday night, and so did Greg Ostertag, but they didn't get much support.

• Polynice Fined $450...

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 20, 2003

  Former NBA center Olden Polynice was fined $450 and ordered to get anger management therapy for yelling obscenities at a prosecutor.

• Harpring Struggles

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 20, 2003

  Matt Harpring will remember his first playoff game with the Jazz.

• Time Is Running Out on Jazz

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 20, 2003

  The constant tick of the clock, like the drip of an annoying leaky faucet, revealed most of what needed to be known, and a lot that didn't, about Saturday night's Game 1 of the Jazz-Kings first-round playoff series in Sacramento's Arco Arena.

• Like Old Times

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 20, 2003

  The winner of the Jazz's first-round series with the Kings, according to Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, will be the team that "imposes its will on the other.

• Familiar foes

  Stockton Record | Apr 19, 2003

  In the past five seasons, few teams in the NBA have been on opposites sides of the court more than the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz.

• Watch out for 'Whack a Webber'

  Contra Coast Times | Apr 19, 2003

  ANOTHER NBA POSTSEASON BEGINS today, and you know what that means: The big fella gets the ball in the low post, and as he readies to make his move, here comes the hack.

• Collective turmoil

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  And now, just in from a thrilling extended visit to Planet Fracas, we bring you the members of the Utah Jazz.

• Too many major malfunctions

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  Not that any of the Kings players really believed in hexes, voodoo or jinxes, but, yeah, it was starting to get a little weird this season on the injury front.

• Both sides upgrade talent

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  The Utah Jazz and the Kings are meeting in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, but many of the players in each team's core have changed.

• Never underestimate your opponent

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  Four years ago, it was the other way around.

• What is to become of all that's Jazz?

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  So who's in charge of picking the new name? The incomprehensible notion of there being a Utah Jazz without John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan standing watch together is one thing, except that now it comes with the possibility they could hit the door in one concussive offseason, sending a city running to make sure the Great Salt Lake hasn't also been drained.

• Can physical series jump-start Kings?

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  And coming up next on the Kings' Short Attention Span Network: The "Punch In Your Face Hour," brought to you by the Utah Jazz (new motto: If nothing else, we can still make you bleed).

• 'Champion' has a ring to it

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 19, 2003

  As the Kings prepare to open the 2003 NBA playoffs today at Arco Arena against the Utah Jazz, Chris Webber knows one thing for certain.

• Margin of victory shrinks between Jazz, Kings

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 19, 2003

  If the Jazz didn't have confidence in their playoff series against the Sacramento Kings a year ago, that was understandable.

• Kings play pressure defense too

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 19, 2003

  The most explosive offensive team the past few seasons has quietly become one of the best defensive teams as well.

• Jazz not among the West's best anymore

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 19, 2003

  Once upon a time, not so long ago, this was absolutely the best time of year for Utah Jazz fans.

• Jazz tackle Kings, history

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 19, 2003

  When the Jazz franchise arrived in Utah from New Orleans in 1979, the playoffs were something that could only be dreamt off.

• Jazz-Kings matchup

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  Forgive Jerry Sloan, but on the eve of yet another first-round NBA playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, the Jazz coach has that deja vu feeling.

• Webber praises Malone, Stock

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  With a best-of-seven opening-round playoff series against Utah about to get under way with Game 1 tonight, Chris Webber knows better than to say something that might rile up Karl Malone or John Stockton.

• 7 things the Jazz must do

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  By all accounts, the Utah Jazz are hefty underdogs in their first-round playoff matchup with the Sacramento Kings.

• Polynice pleads guilty to charge

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  Former Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice admitted in court Friday that he had a confrontation with a prosecutor last year but said she offended him by making what he described as racist comments.

• Sacramento suits franchise just fine

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  Arco Arena is on the outskirts of town, surrounded by fields.

• We meet again

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 19, 2003

  The Jazz claim they went into last season's first-round NBA playoff series against Sacramento with supreme confidence.

• Jazz-Killer Gives Lessons to Kings

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 19, 2003

  Peja Stojakovic stayed late after the Kings' practice on Friday, working on his three-point shooting with a Sacramento assistant coach.

• Jazz Have Come Full Circle

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 19, 2003

  By this time next year, the Sports section could be filled with stories of ping-pong balls, lottery mathematics, the history of teams that earned the first pick in the NBA Draft and the ranking of the top college -- and high school -- prospects of 2004.

• Jazz Want Series Lived in Slow Lane

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 19, 2003

  It may be hard to hear amid all the cowbells and foot-stomping in Arco Arena, but the sound to listen for in tonight's playoff opener (8:30 p.

• Jazz face Kings as big underdogs

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 19, 2003

  The Jazz and Kings open their first-round Western Conference playoff series tonight at Arco Arena.

• Jazz opposed to a break

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 18, 2003

  The playoff schedule isn't so popular on the side that supposedly will benefit from the extended layoff, although maybe it's just the Utah Jazz being realistic that everyone will be old by the time Game 3 gets here.

• First up, Utah

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 18, 2003

  Enough already on the Kings bracing for the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs or beloved Los Angeles Lakers.

• Kings need a sense of immediacy

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 18, 2003

  On the eve of what figures to be an unusually contentious postseason, a mere glance around the Kings' locker room suggests that something is amiss.

• Jazz can rebound, which is trouble

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 18, 2003

  The Kings have won 10 of their last 12 regular-season meetings with the Jazz and defeated Utah in a hard-fought, best-of-five playoff series last year.

• Hardly automatic

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 18, 2003

  There's a stark contrast to the jovial Kings when it comes to free-throw shooting.

• Long gaps in schedule puzzle Jazz

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 18, 2003

  The Jazz were left scratching their heads on Thursday, trying to find logic in the schedule for their playoff series with Sacramento.

• Sloan seeks best effort

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 18, 2003

  Of all the disappointments Jerry Sloan has endured in his coaching career, from the first-round upsets to the heartbreaking losses in the NBA Finals, none have been as bitter as last season"s playoff loss to top-seeded Sacramento.

• Confident Kings try to keep their focus

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 18, 2003

  They swear they are not looking past the Jazz.

• Playoff pause rankles players

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 18, 2003

  The long break between Monday night's Game 2 and the following Saturday's Game 3 of the Jazz-Kings playoff series isn't a real popular topic for many involved.

• Tasting 'Chocolate Thunder'

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 18, 2003

  Chocolate Thunder is more than a nickname.

• Playoffs are now routine

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 18, 2003

  The Jazz move quietly into the playoffs, Saturday, with no fanfare whatsoever.

• Playoff time

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 18, 2003

  They are familiar foes.

• Jazz's Lasting Impressions Approaching

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 18, 2003

  Five years after Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls staged the Last Dance, the Jazz are preparing to launch the Last Gasp.

• Series With Sacramento Not the Rematch It Appears to Be

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 18, 2003

  The Jazz may be facing the same playoff opponent they did a year ago, but this is no rematch.

• Kings Like Sloan for COY

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 18, 2003

  The Kings don't get a vote, but they can certainly endorse a candidate for Coach of the Year.

• Focus Will Be Important

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 18, 2003

  Nobody can predict how injury, illness, an official's call or a lucky bounce of the basketball will impact the Jazz's first-round Western Conference playoffs series against Sacramento.

• Easy Path for Kings?

  San Francisco Chronicle | Apr 17, 2003

  It's easy for Sacramento fans to get excited about this turn of events, but the Kings refused to look that far ahead after a film session on Thursday at their training complex.

• One-on-One with the Mailman

  UtahJazz.com | Apr 17, 2003

  Malone has participated in 13 All-Star Games during his career and was voted as a starter eight times.

• Playoffs bring fearless predictions

  Cincinnatti Enquirer | Apr 17, 2003

  Is this the final dance for Karl Malone and John Stockton in Utah? All signs seem to point to yes.

• Utah Jazz Team Report - April 17th

  Sports Network | Apr 17, 2003

  The game itself didn't mean much, as both the Kings and Jazz were already locked in to a first round matchup with each other, but Chris Webber scored 15 to lead Sacramento to a 95-84 victory Wednesday night at ARCO Arena.

• Home edge a big deal?

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 17, 2003

  Right, let's go ahead and take the quiz.

• Kings roll by Jazz in finale

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 17, 2003

  Not long into their game Wednesday night, the Kings knew there was not much to gain from either victory or defeat.

• Jazz lose lax finale

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 17, 2003

  Chris Webber scored 15 points, and Bobby Jackson had nine points in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz 95-84 on Wednesday night in a low-key preview of their upcoming playoff.

• Jazz, Kings face long playoff gap

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 17, 2003

  The loser of Game 2 in the NBA's first-round playoff series between the Jazz and Kings sure will have an awful long time to ponder their unsuccessful ways.

• Jazz stumble in finale

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 17, 2003

  If the real deal goes anything like the dress rehearsal, the Jazz will be bowing out of the NBA playoffs long before the curtain closes on the Sacramento Kings.

• Polynice Sentenced

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 17, 2003

  Ordered by a West Valley City judge on Tuesday to serve two days in jail, former Jazz center Olden Polynice appeared Wednesday in Holladay City's justice court shackled and wearing a red Salt Lake County Jail jumper.

• Loss Winds Up Turning Into a Draft Victory

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 17, 2003

  OK, so the Jazz had something to play for after all.

• Fizzle Finish

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 17, 2003

  Players with such a proud past resolutely kept their focus on the future on Wednesday.

• Jordan's top 10 countdown

  USAToday | Apr 16, 2003

  Michael Jordan has just one game left in his storied NBA career with his matchup Wednesday at Philadelphia.

• Don's Dandy New Deal

  New York Newsday | Apr 16, 2003

  The New York environment isn't quite as placid and predictable as in Utah, but Knicks president and general manager Scott Layden is doing everything in his power to emulate that model of franchise stability.

• Kings of the NBA, why not?

  Tahoe Daily Tribune | Apr 16, 2003

  The Kings will conclude the regular season tonight against the Jazz in Sacramento.

• Scouting the Jazz

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 16, 2003

  Utah is in the playoffs for the 20th consecutive season, the third-longest run in league history.

• Kings may have an incentive

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 16, 2003

  Exactly what is at stake, if anything, for the Kings tonight will not be known until after they begin their 7 p.

• Team health on Jazz mindset

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 16, 2003

  If the Jazz can make it through tonight's game injury-free, they're likely to consider it a victory.

• Polynice violates probation, is jailed

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 16, 2003

  After a handful of run-ins with the law, former Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice is in jail for the first time.

• Jazz-Kings: Round none

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 16, 2003

  When the Jazz meet the Sacramento Kings this coming weekend, the cowbells at Arco Arena will clang with playoff-like intensity.

• Ex-Jazz Center Polynice Begins 2-Day Jail Term

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 16, 2003

  Former Utah Jazz center Olden Polynice began a two-day jail term Tuesday for violating his probation in a three-year-old case in which he had pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer.

• Jazz Finale Is Playoff Preview

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 16, 2003

  The playoffs are always good theater, so perhaps it's appropriate that the NBA has arranged for a dress rehearsal.

• Veterans Hand Out 5000 Flags At Jazz Game

  KSL | Apr 15, 2003

  Although the war appears to be winding down, support for U-S troops continues to grow.

• Owner & Malone reach apparent peace

  | Apr 15, 2003

  Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller is at peace with Karl Malone again.

• And the winner is..

  Toronto Sun | Apr 15, 2003

  Many Jazz faces could take home post season awards according to this report including Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, and Jerry Sloan.

• U.S. national team adds Malone, Bibby

  Oakland Tribune | Apr 15, 2003

  Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz and Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings were officially added Monday to the national team that will compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament in August.

• Spurs beat Jazz to snare valued No. 1 seed

  San Antonio Express-News | Apr 15, 2003

  Two hours before Monday night's tipoff, Tony Parker was already on the Delta Center court.

• Robinson bids Utah farewell

  San Antonio Express-News | Apr 15, 2003

  David Robinson may have played his final game against Karl Malone on Monday night.

• Malone's Olympic invitation is now official

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 15, 2003

  One day after he made amends with Jazz owner Larry H.

• Admiral sailing off with grace

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 15, 2003

  Quietly, David Robinson made his final appearance in the Delta Center, Monday night.

• All is well in Jazzland

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 15, 2003

  All is well in Jazzland again — Karl Malone and team owner Larry H.

• Jazz assured a playoff foe

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 15, 2003

  In one fell swoop Monday night, the Jazz learned the identity of their first-round playoff opponent, were reminded why they cannot beat the San Antonio Spurs and ridded themselves of a longtime thorn in their collective behind.

• Admiral's last game forgettable

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 15, 2003

  David Robinson's final game at the Delta Center wasn't a memorable one.

• Parker paying off for Spurs

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 15, 2003

  Just think, Jazz fans.

• Spurs, Jazz locked in

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 15, 2003

  The inevitable became official on Monday when the Jazz once again lost to the San Antonio Spurs and in the process, were locked into the seventh seed in the playoffs.

• Unlucky 13

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 15, 2003

  The Jazz finally controlled Tim Duncan on Monday, preventing the once-and-future MVP from having much effect in the fourth quarter.

• Malone and Bibby officially added

  ESPN | Apr 15, 2003

  ESPN.

• Cold-shooting Domercant shows other skills

  Charleston Journal Gazette | Apr 14, 2003

  A year after putting his name on the NBA's early eligibility draft list before deciding to return to college when a first-round draft selection looked doubtful, Domercant is now hoping he has raised his stock so he can go to the Chicago predraft camp that did not invite him last year.

• Malone says Mavs on list

  | Apr 14, 2003

  Rich Evans of the Salt Lake Desert News reports: Karl Malone got in the last shot in last Friday's war of words with team owner Larry H.

• SI article is being ignored

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 14, 2003

  If ever there were a time when the Utah Jazz didn't need additional distractions, it's now.

• Mr. Robinson on farewell tour

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 14, 2003

  Someday, John Stockton is going to admire David Robinson for their 14 years of head-to-head competition, for the two Olympic gold medals they won together, for the eight times they were All-Star teammates.

• Admiral Sails Into Utah for Final Visit

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 14, 2003

  Jazz fans can say farewell to a future Hall of Famer tonight.

• Poetic Justice for Sloan

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 13, 2003

  Jerry Sloan is certain to be included among the group of candidates for NBA's coach of the year, mostly because the Jazz once again postponed the Great Collapse that so many have been predicting since John Stockton and Karl Malone celebrated their 35th birthdays.

• Hopefully this ending will turn out to be happy

  Provo Daily Herald | Apr 13, 2003

  I guess if you keep driving on an old, worn tire, it'll eventually burst on you.

• Send Malone packing

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 13, 2003

  Miller and Malone, Utah's longest-running sideshow, is at it again.

• Malone's timing isn't about team

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 13, 2003

  This was going to be a column about readers' best and worst e-mails of the season, until Karl Malone forced a change in plans.

• The envelope please...

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 13, 2003

  Coach of the Year Chief criterion here has to be what a coach's team did compared to what was expected of them.

• Malone looks forward to free-agent decision

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 13, 2003

  It may be a while before we've heard the last of the fallout from a story on the Jazz in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.

• Maybe Malone should depart

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 13, 2003

  Larry H.

• Good Ship Headed Way of Titanic

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 13, 2003

  Deep within the bowels of the Delta Center, the Jazz, after reading the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, huddle up for a secret emergency meeting to balm hurt feelings aboard the badly listing Good Ship Lollipop .

• Jackson: Allegations Untrue

  salt lake tribune | Apr 12, 2003

  Phil Miller of the Salt Lake Tribune reports: Mark Jackson responded to allegations that he has turned his Jazz teammates against each other, he said Friday, because "my record speaks for itself.

• Jazz deny turmoil

  Provo Daily Herald | Apr 12, 2003

  When you get but two or three chances a year to make a Utah Jazz game and offer perspective on the state's lone major league team, you hope when one rolls around that you get to opine about something truly unusual, something rare.

• Jazz Owner Takes Issue With Star's 'Foray'

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 12, 2003

  The Jazz's most critical showdown of the season is still a ways off, but both sides are already staking out their positions, ratcheting up the rhetoric, daring the other side to make the first move.

• Malone, Jazz owner go public with feud

  ABS CBN News, Philippines | Apr 12, 2003

  Karl Malone walked out of the Utah locker room and cast a suspicious glance at Jazz owner Larry Miller, who was still giving interviews nearly an hour past the final buzzer.

• Familiar Story for Kings

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 12, 2003

  It's beginning to sound a little familiar, isn't it? Sacramento is looking at the same early-round playoff lineup it saw a year ago: Utah in the first round, Dallas in the second, assuming the Mavericks finish No.

• Andrei's game up and down

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 12, 2003

  Andrei Kirilenko had his greatest hits and his biggest bloopers, all in the same game.

• News flash: Jazz not a team divided

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 12, 2003

  News flash: Don't believe everything you read.

• Team turmoil?

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 12, 2003

  The Jazz brought their "A" game to the Delta Center Friday night, showing signs of a team ready for the playoffs.

• Jackson says he's a team player, not a whiner

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 12, 2003

  For his defense, Mark Jackson borrows a line from defense attorney Johnnie Cochran: "If the glove don't fit," Jackson said, "you must acquit.

• SI article gets Miller angry

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 12, 2003

  A Sports Illustrated article on Karl Malone and other Jazz topics has angered Jazz owner Larry H.

• Jazz dump Mavericks

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 12, 2003

  Behind the scenes, it may appear as if the Jazz are a team coming apart at the seams.

• Kirilenko Fetches a Jazz Win

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 12, 2003

  Andrei Kirilenko survived a quick trip to the doghouse Friday night at the Delta Center, just in time to put the bite on Dallas.

• Miller Fuming at Malone, Again

  desert news | Apr 12, 2003

  Miller fuming at Malone, again

• Sloan fires back

  salt lake tribune | Apr 11, 2003

  Phil Miller of the Salt Lake Tribune reports: On Thursday, Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan fired back at a sports Illustrated article that said hewas planning to call it quits at season's end.

• SI article should stir things up

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 11, 2003

  While Jazz coach Jerry Sloan would like his team to be fully focused on the last three games of the regular season, a Sports Illustrated story that hit newsstands on Wednesday should stir the pot.

• A formula for postseason preparation

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 11, 2003

  Since the Jazz aren't going to see another patsy until the Rocky Mountain Review, coach Jerry Sloan is getting his wish.

• Sloan quietly keeps winning

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 11, 2003

  His team has 46 victories with three games still to go in its regular season and is headed to the playoffs for the 20th consecutive time, 15 in a row under his watch.

• Jazz topple Rockets

  Provo Daily Herald | Apr 10, 2003

  The Utah Jazz picked the right time to end a three-game losing streak.

• Rockets go down without a fight

  Houston Chronicle | Apr 10, 2003

  This, the Rockets decided, would be their Game 7, a must-win elimination game to define themselves and their season.

• Jazz run away from Rockets

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 10, 2003

  Heading into the postseason on a seven-game losing streak would not be a good thing.

• Ostertag: This block is for Yao

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 10, 2003

  Anyone who came to see Yao got yawns instead.

• Jazz blast Rockets

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 10, 2003

  The Jazz opened up a little breathing room Wednesday night, and earned a little rest as well.

• Jazz Boot Rockets

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 10, 2003

  The Jazz clinched no worse than seventh place in the Western Conference on Wednesday, while the Rockets .

• A tale of two Jerrys

  CNNSI.com | Apr 9, 2003

  With the surprising retirement announcement of Chicago Bulls' general manager Jerry Krause, the NBA loses another of its old-timers.

• Rejuvenated Arenas scores 34 against Jazz

  Oakland Tribune | Apr 9, 2003

  There are no rumors about Gilbert Arenas going to Utah this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent.

• Arenas Jazzes up his game

  San Francisco Chronicle | Apr 9, 2003

  Gilbert Arenas is nothing if not unpredictable.

• Warriors run wild

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 9, 2003

  Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points, making a career-high six 3-pointers as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 128-102 on Tuesday night.

• Arenas-led Warriors blast flat Jazz

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 9, 2003

  Perhaps the Jazz would have been better off not knowing they had already clinched their 20th consecutive playoff appearance.

• Jazz Run on Empty

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 9, 2003

  Bring on the playoffs.

• Putting the 'free' in free agency

  Los Angeles Times | Apr 8, 2003

  Never before have so many good players chased so few bucks as will these 40-plus free agents, 13 of them former All-Stars, who go onto the open market this summer.

• Jazz secure 20th straight postseason

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 8, 2003

  As it turns out, the Jazz have clinched a playoff spot after all.

• Playoff Run Reaches 20 Years

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 8, 2003

  To a team that has now qualified for the postseason for two solid decades, clinching a playoff spot is understandably no longer a big deal.

• Seattle gets back to .500

  Tacoma News Tribune | Apr 7, 2003

  It took three months, three days and a very difficult game against the Utah Jazz, but the Seattle SuperSonics are finally back to .

• Sonics at .500

  Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Apr 7, 2003

  Reggie Evans' arm was curled around the basketball, his eyes on the referee as he called the timeout.

• Sonics reach .500, keep playoff hopes alive

  Seattle Times | Apr 7, 2003

  No word if Nate McMillan contacted Tony Robbins or sought advice from Dr.

• Playoff bid stalls

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 7, 2003

  Rashard Lewis connected again when it counts, keeping the Seattle SuperSonics surging into playoff contention.

• Ostertag says Jayhawks are due

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 7, 2003

  Roy Williams recruited Greg Ostertag, and coached the native Texan for four seasons at the University of Kansas.

• Jazz fall again

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 7, 2003

  Hold the confetti.

• Communication Breakdowns Upset Sloan

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 7, 2003

  What the Jazz have here, Jerry Sloan believes, is a failure to communicate.

• Chance to Clinch Playoff Berth Slips Away

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 7, 2003

  Maybe clinching is overrated.

• Jazz Likely to Stay Put in Playoff Standings

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 6, 2003

  Unlikely to fall back.

• Sloan Quietly Goes About His Business

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 6, 2003

  There's so much talk about the Jazz's uncertain future.

• Praise plenty of players - 6th Man

  Arizona Republic | Apr 6, 2003

  Sacramento's Bobby Jackson is probably a shoo-in for this award, but he missed 23 games and barely qualifies because a player must come off the bench in more games than he starts.

• Stockton-Malone future still in Utah

  Long Beach Press-Telegram | Apr 6, 2003

  No one knows for certain what will happen next season with John Stockton and Karl Malone.

• Standings leanings

  Sacramento Bee | Apr 6, 2003

  Old friends await at either turn.

• Utah's dynamic duo returns to KeyArena

  Seattle Times | Apr 6, 2003

  Who knows what John Stockton wished when the Utah Jazz guard blew out the candles on his 41st birthday cake in March, but across the league there's a common want.

• Time for Jazz to make move

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 6, 2003

  Time is running out for the Jazz to pad their win total.

• Avoid Spurs and the Jazz may advance

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 6, 2003

  QUESTION OF THE MOMENT: Is there any scenario in which the Jazz can advance beyond the first round of the playoffs? Answer: Yes, but it's a scenario only Hollywood would try to sell us.

• Jazz have little time

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 6, 2003

  It's probably not a good thing for the Jazz that this is the weekend our clocks spring forward one hour.

• Primed for Time

  | Apr 5, 2003

  Jeff Passan of the Fresno Bee reports: He fidgets.

• Knicks show spark

  New York Journal News | Apr 5, 2003

  There was a body on the floor nearly every possession.

• Knicks Still Fighting

  New York Post | Apr 5, 2003

  The Knicks still face mathematical playoff elimination tonight at the Staples Center against the Clippers, but at least they are going down with courage and fight.

• Jazz just miss on clinching playoffs

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 5, 2003

  The Jazz could have clinched a playoff spot for the 20th consecutive season with a victory over New York on Friday night.

• N.Y. stuffs Jazz

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 5, 2003

  The Delta Center floor should be squeaky clean this morning after the way the New York Knicks mopped up on Friday.

• Jazz Knicked

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 5, 2003

  Apparently there's more motivation in just wanting to make the playoffs than there is in trying to improve one's playoff seed.

• Forget OT, Early Play Was Difference in Loss

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 5, 2003

  Allan Houston's 15-footer with 4.

• Drive Stalls

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 5, 2003

  It could have been a Night to Remember.

• Jazz Notes

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 4, 2003

  John Stockton moved up another notch on the NBA's career scoring list Thursday, this time passing former Jazz forward Bernard King for 29th place.

• Blazers down for the count?

  Oregonian | Apr 4, 2003

  The smoke around this smoldering basketball team known as the Trail Blazers began to clear Thursday night, leaving all who gathered at the Rose Garden to gawk at the shiner on Ruben Patterson's left eye and begin wondering how this team would respond to its latest misdeed.

• Jazz steal key road win

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 4, 2003

  Karl Malone had 21 points and nine assists, and John Stockton had 15 points and 10 assists as the Utah Jazz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 93-88 Thursday night.

• Mass Steps Up

  Deseret News | Apr 4, 2003

  The Jazz got 12 key points off the bench from backup center Tony Massenburg, all in the first half.

• Aggressive Jazz earn win

  Deseret News | Apr 4, 2003

  It was on the floor, there for the having.

• Jazz Take Out Blazers

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 4, 2003

  It's clear the Jazz want to fight for their playoff fate.

• Jazz need to get down and dirty

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 3, 2003

  After praising his club for making the most of a few late-game possessions in a squeaky win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, Jerry Sloan struck again on a theme he has been touting throughout the week.

• DeShawn has yet to show his stuff

  | Apr 3, 2003

  Brad Rock of the Desert News writes: At a typical jazz game, you might see DeShawn Stevenson for a few minutes.

• The Opponent

  Oregonian | Apr 3, 2003

  The Jazz still hopes it can advance past the sixth playoff seed in the Western Conference and maybe catch Portland for the fourth seed, and the players know if they are going to do it, they need to adhere to their forte: offensive execution.

• Jazz take on revitalized Blazers

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 3, 2003

  It only took a week, but the Portland Trail Blazers appear to have turned things around.

• Blazers to Lose About $100 Million

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 3, 2003

  They're going to lose $100 million, give or take a buck or two.

• Brand is not enough

  Orange County Register | Apr 2, 2003

  Utah's future Hall of Fame tandem of guard John Stockton and Karl Malone, who have been running the pick and roll for nearly 20 years together, made it work in the game's pivotal moment.

• Blazers' Stealing Ideas

  Oregonian | Apr 2, 2003

  The Trail Blazers are a new team after stealing a page out of the Utah Jazz playbook.

• Utah Jazz owner pledges $250,000

  Casper Star Tribune | Apr 2, 2003

  Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller and his wife have pledged $250,000 to help save the Oneida Stake Academy.

• Clippers still have no solution to Jazz

  Pasadena Star | Apr 2, 2003

  In another annual sign that spring is here, the Utah Jazz visited Los Angeles, did nothing spectacular and walked away with a victory.

• Jazz edge Clippers

  Standard-Examiner | Apr 2, 2003

  Karl Malone scored 25 points and Matt Harpring had 17 as the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 95-89 Tuesday night.

• Clippers Miss Chance to Help Roommates

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 2, 2003

  It must really annoy the Lakers that they have to share their plush new home with Los Angeles' other, less-successful team.

• Jackson Doesn't Feel His Age

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 2, 2003

  Mark Jackson is still playing pro basketball on his 38th birthday, but the reason, he figures, has a lot more to do with his 21st birthday.

• Win Keeps Jazz Ahead of Lakers

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 2, 2003

  It must really annoy the Lakers that they have to share their plush new home with Los Angeles' other, less-successful team.

• Starks Steps Into Coaching

  Knicks.com | Apr 1, 2003

  On Patrick Ewing Night, four weeks ago, the mammoth Madison Square Garden crowd gave Starks an ovation second only to Ewing's.

• Lady Tigers rally to win

  Opelousas Daily World | Apr 1, 2003

  Karl Malone, Ford's famous father, made the trip during a two-day break in the Utah Jazz's season to support his alma mater and his daughter.

• Rock on . . .

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 1, 2003

  Aggravated over a foul call last week, Karl Malone upended a dish of hard candy on press row, banged a computer monitor, flung Hot Rod Hundley's sportcoat into the second row and spilled Ron Boone's coffee.

• Jazz trio on road to recovery

  Deseret Morning News | Apr 1, 2003

  While the Jazz prepare for what they hope will be yet another playoff run, three youngsters keep taking baby steps on the road to recovery.

• Jackson Hall-Worthy? Opinions Split

  Salt Lake Tribune | Apr 1, 2003

  Mark Jackson says Isiah Thomas' critique of his game is one of the nicest compliments he has ever received, but it sure doesn't sound like it.