Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Sonics-Jazz
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
No. 7 Sonics (45-37) vs. No. 2 Jazz (55-27)
 Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2000 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
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BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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| Gary Payton vs. John Stockton. It's a great matchup, but Payton will post up Stockton and should score off him. That will force Utah to double-team. The Sonics will try to get some 3-point shots as a result of the double team, and they can hit the three, especially Brent Barry. Vernon Maxwell is always a threat, but he is erratic. The Sonics will have their hands full defending Stockton, Jeff Hornacek and Howard Eisley.
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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Utah has the experience with Karl Malone, still one of the league's best players, and Bryon Russell. Both players are good defenders. Olden Polynice had a solid season and is a banger inside. The Sonics have used a lot of different front-court players, including Vin Baker, who has had an up-and-down season; Rashard Lewis, an energetic youngster; Horace Grant, who plays the middle; and Ruben Patterson, who gives the Sonics a spark. The Jazz, though, don't make a lot of mistakes.
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BENCH
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EDGE
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The Jazz use Eisley and get help from Jacque Vaughn and Greg Ostertag. But the Sonics have a much deeper bench. Depending on how they start, they have Jelani McCoy and Patterson. But if Patterson starts, Lewis comes off the bench and provides fresh legs. The Sonics are young and athletic, which will keep them competitive with the Jazz.
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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This is the last chance for Stockton, Malone and Hornacek to win a title together because Hornacek is retiring and Malone and Stockton can't be too far behind. The Jazz should play with a sense of urgency and focus.
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PREDICTION
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Jazz in five. Payton is capable of carrying the Sonics, but Utah will win because of experience and the home-court advantage.
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