THE NBA / MARK HEISLER : Shark’s Fall Into Tank Hastened

Shark swimming upstream: San Antonio is billed as the honeymoon capital of Texas but Jerry Tarkanian got one of the shorter ones.

Tark’s observation last week to The Times’ Thomas Bonk that “I would never quit during the year but at the end of the season, I can see myself doing that” was a thunderclap in San Antonio, where the prevailing sentiment was:

Why wait?

Tarkanian was a popular figure, like your dotty uncle. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the transition from college to the NBA--Dick Vitale did it, after all--but Tark struggled with such arcane subjects as taking fouls, mandatory timeouts and illegal defense rules.

Said David Robinson last week, “The coaching staff is still learning.”

And Robinson was on Tarkanian’s side. Other Spurs were less supportive, including Dale Ellis, who refused to enter a game, and Antoine Carr, who told teammates he needed more shots to trigger a $400,000 incentive clause. The veterans were upset that Tarkanian coddled rookie Lloyd Daniels. Not to be left out of the mainstream, Daniels, whom Tark pulled off the junk heap, had begun mouthing off to his mentor.

Meanwhile, Tarkanian lamented his lack of options. His favorite sentence started, “If I had a point guard . . . “

During the first meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers, Tark murmured to former Spur point Rod Strickland, “I wanted you, Rod. I wanted you.”

To which a surprised Strickland responded, “I wanted you, too, Coach.”

As diplomacy goes, this was no master stroke, either. Owner Red McCombs and General Manager Bob Bass let Strickland walk. Friday, 20 games into Tark’s NBA career, they speeded up his retirement plan.

Of course, this goes on McComb’s record, too. Hiring a 62-year-old coach, then paying him $1 million to disappear after six weeks doesn’t make him the front-runner for executive of the year.

Before last week’s game with the Lakers, McCombs walked up to his coach.

“Oh good, thank goodness you’re still here,” McCombs said, smiling. “I was afraid you’d be gone.”

You know how frustrating it is when an employee leaves before you can let him know how much he meant to you.

BIG D, AS IN DIVIDED

That line Dallas Maverick owner Donald Carter drew in the sand goes right through his front office.

Carter won’t extend No. 1 pick Jim Jackson anything longer than a four-year contract when this year’s average lottery pick got a six-year deal. Several rookies like Shaquille O’Neal and Tom Gugliotta got long-term deals that also make them restricted free agents after three seasons.

Carter took over negotiations from General Manager Norm Sonju, adding that he lacks the confidence to offer a long-term deal because of his basketball advisers’ track record, a slap at personnel director Rick Sund.

Sonju and Sund are so upset, they have begun arguing with their boss through the newspapers.

“What is absolutely killing me is that there are 35 minutes a night that is not being invested in the right Homo sapien,” Sonju said. “We need to get it in our No. 1 pick. If you’re going to go through a tough season like we are . . . by George, let’s make sure we have our No. 1 pick here.”

Carter is given to grandstand plays in the name of principle. When the Mavericks started out, they did a big number about how they were going after good people, after which they built the franchise around Mark Aguirre and Roy Tarpley. Maybe this is Carter’s way of apologizing.

Last week, Sonju and Sund had to try to convince Carter to trade Jackson if they can’t sign him, rather than let him go back in the draft and get nothing.

Carter said yes, which is as far as they’ve gotten.

Said Sonju, feeling less than victorious: “I don’t want to get 30 cents on the dollar and watch this guy playing for someone else.”

FEARLESS FORECASTER CLEANS UP THE RECORD

Things I can’t actually say I predicted:

--The Phoenix Suns compiling the best record in the NBA without Kevin Johnson.

Matter of fact, I had questions about their prospects with K.J.

Matter of fact, I still do.

--The Houston Rockets discovering chemistry.

Even before the Hakeem Olajuwon-Charlie Thomas feud, no team squandered as much talent as systematically as these guys who never seemed to grasp one fundamental: Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe should shoot more than Vern Maxwell and Sleepy Floyd do. Let’s see how long they remember it this time.

--The Utah Jazz, notorious homers, starting 6-4 in the Delta Center, 7-2 on the road. Maybe they’re confused.

--The Charlotte Hornets competing for the playoffs at their tender age.

--The Orlando Magic competing for the playoffs at their tender age.

--The Lakers doing as well as they are at their advanced age.

--The Clippers doing as well as they are at their advanced weight.

--Oliver Miller, the rookie Sun center who is--laughingly--estimated at 310 pounds and is jigglier than Stanley Roberts or John Williams, going behind his back on the dribble while leading the fast break.

--Gary Payton growing up.

--The Indiana Pacers continuing to hold a team meeting every two weeks. I guess we can’t blame Chuck Person for their bad chemistry anymore. Sorry, Chuck.

FACES AND FIGURES

New Celtic Alaa Abdelnaby, whose chief distinction remains his position as No. 1 player in the game, alphabetically, on Boston’s work ethic: “In Portland, we didn’t work. When practice was over, everybody was gone--coaches, players, everybody. I’m not talking bad about them. It was just the way it was.” . . . Celtic assistant Don Casey on the talkative A.A.: “He’s the Egyptian Kevin McHale.”

Have all my shots, will travel: The 76ers’ Armon Gilliam, a former Sun and Hornet, has made it into Coach Doug Moe’s doghouse and is available, should anyone else want him. 76er Coach Moe is also down on Tim Perry and Ron Anderson. “Guys get in, walk around and they expect to keep playing,” grumbled Moe. “It’s tough to find enough guys who want to give an effort.”

Hopeful note of the week: The Nets hated it when Meadowlands crowds at Knick-Net games split 90-10 for the New Yorkers. Said Net General Manager Willis Reed of last week’s game: “It was about 50-50.” . . . Minnesota General Manager Jack McCloskey has been trailing the team on the road, prompting speculation that Coach Jimmie Rodgers is on his way out. Early nominee to replace him on an interim basis: assistant Sidney Lowe. Early nominee if the Timberwolves want a big-timer: Mike Fratello.

Sherman’s march: After a victory at Minnesota, deposed Boston point guard Sherman Douglas pulled his bags off the bus and left the team. The Celtics gave him two games off to resolve “personal problems,” which Boston insiders say consist of the playing time he lost to Dee Brown. Meanwhile, the Celtics wonder how they’re going to put up with him for another six guaranteed years and the Lakers thank their lucky stars that Miami matched their offer sheet to Douglas last year.

Ex-dynasty’s low point of the week: the Laker loss at Dallas. . . . Ex-dynasty’s low point, runner-up: the Celtics trailed by 30 at halftime in a rout at Indianapolis. Robert Parish air-balled a free throw. The Pacer mascot stood behind the Boston bench dressed as the Grim Reaper. . . . Forget that rumor about Lionel Simmons plus a lottery pick for Jim Jackson. The Kings might give up one or the other, not both. However, Sacramento is interested. Before the ’91 draft, General Manager Jerry Reynolds said if he had a choice of Jackson or Kenny Anderson, he would take Jackson.

Their point, exactly: Bulls’ guard B.J. Armstrong, under fire from Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen for being selfish, had 20 points and an assist in a victory over Cleveland. Coach Phil Jackson, noting that neither Jordan or Pippen had said anything to him yet: “I haven’t had anybody ‘fess up. Until they’re man enough to do that, I don’t have anything to say.”

‘Zo Bettah Blues: Charlotte’s Alonzo Mourning cursed at the Atlanta Constitution’s Ailene Voisin, who was interviewing Larry Johnson and refused Mourning’s request that she leave the locker room so he could dress. The Hornets, fearful of a Lisa Olson scandal, reported the incident to the NBA and read Mourning the riot act. Charlotte observers say it’s a blessing in disguise because it finally forced Hornet officials to rein in their high-strung prodigy.

Benoit Benjamin cursed at Seattle Coach George Karl for quick-hooking him in Boston. Said Karl afterward: “Let’s see, what kind of numbers did Ben put up tonight (10 points, seven rebounds)? Sounds familiar.” . . . Washington Coach Wes Unseld on the comparisons of rookie Tom Gugliotta to Larry Bird: “I tell him Big Bird is more like it.”