Harris Puts His Foot Down on Malone

The debate over whether the Utah Jazz, specifically John Stockton and Karl Malone, is a dirty team moved into Laker camp right on schedule Wednesday as Coach Del Harris accused Malone of intentionally kicking defenders as he shoots inside.

This is sure to become a hot issue when the Western Conference finals begin Saturday in Salt Lake City with two games at the Delta Center before the best-of-seven series switches to the Great Western Forum. Harris’ comments came on the heels of similar complaints from San Antonio’s David Robinson last week, that Malone intentionally puts a foot on opponents while going up for a jumper or driving to the basket.

“I’ve been watching Utah tape,” Harris said. “It’s getting blatant. I don’t think it’s good for the integrity of the game.

“It’s developed into a habit and he doesn’t need it. Somebody’s going to get hurt. Even he could, because when you extend your leg up like that and somebody else is jumping, all of the sudden he might end up on the back of his neck, snap his neck off. Could happen. It’s a dangerous play, both for him and for the opponent, and he doesn’t need it.

“It’ll be important for us to keep our composure. They do a lot of veteran tricks. They know how to grab your arm, pin it next to them and start to flop around like a chicken. You’re just trying to get free, and somehow they end up at the foul line.

“I’m more concerned about the potential injury factor to Malone’s kicking technique, how when he shoots the ball he tries to kick people. I think that anybody’s who’s done a little bit of martial arts, which I have, could usually inflict more pain with a kick than with the elbow. And, of course, it’s well documented Karl is handy with the elbows.

“Now he’s going with the kick. He really flattened [Tim] Duncan [Tuesday]. He put a foot right in his chest.

“He’s doing it with the intent to intimidate. And if you happen to get hurt in the process, why, he will pay you a visit in the hospital.

“This is as far as I’m going to go with this. But I’m concerned about that kind of technique. I think it’s a flagrant foul and it risks injury to players and is totally unnecessary. Karl Malone is a Hall of Fame player that doesn’t need to resort to trying to kick somebody while he’s shooting.”

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Harris, asked if the Jazz is a dirty team:

“I don’t want to get into that.”

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Laker players expected the outcome of the second-round series against the Seattle SuperSonics, but they couldn’t contain their surprise over the relative ease in which it came, with four consecutive victories, including two at KeyArena, and only a five-game series.

“That team is so good, offensively and defensively,” Eddie Jones said. “A team like that, you’d think it would be a six- or seven-game series with them. But we came out and showed guts. Desire.”

Added Rick Fox: “I was a little surprised how we dominated them. I thought we’d beat them.”