Malone Takes MVP Outcome in Stride

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player last season, failed to repeat, the honor going to the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan on Monday.

If Malone was disappointed, he hid his feelings well.

“I was let down early,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders after Monday’s Western Conference game. “I knew in the second half of the season that I probably wasn’t going to win it.

“I wanted to switch with Michael last year. I won it, but he won the big one [the NBA title]. Maybe it will be that way for me this time.”

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When Antoine Carr was told after Game 1 that Shaquille O’Neal was threatening to do harm with his elbows in Game 2, Carr responded by saying, “Everybody has two elbows.”

But few are as imposing as O’Neal’s, as Carr was reminded Monday when O’Neal dug an elbow into Carr’s chest during a shot attempt, flattening the 6-9, 270-pounder. Carr implored the referees to give him a call, a plea that went ignored.

But after the game, Carr’s anger had subsided and he was again speaking with relish of going head-to-head with O’Neal.

“I like playing against Shaq,” Carr said. “I know he likes to work hard and I like to work hard.”

“But he goes 320 to 350 pounds (O’Neal is actually listed at 315) and I’m 260 to 270. I do everything I can to keep him out of there, but he still pushes me around like I’m a little kid.”

Carr, however, got a measure of revenge,

With a minute to play and the Lakers only one point ahead, O’Neal left Carr alone, sliding over to guard John Stockton.

With that huge obstacle removed from his vision and an open shot at the basket, Carr took it, making a crucial 18-foot jumper.

“If I’m that wide open,” Carr said, “I’m going to hit it every time.”

It proved to be the only shot Carr made all night.

“If it’s going to be the big one,” Carr said, “it’s the only one I want.”

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Utah Coach Jerry Sloan, trying to avoid an emotional letdown, pointed out all the things his team had done wrong in Game 1, a game they won by only 35 points.

But after the Jazz won again Monday, Sloan let up, giving his team today off.

“I’m trying to get out of here quick,” Jazz forward Adam Keefe said as he exited the locker room, “before he changes his mind.”