Entering the Western Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers played with great aggression, especially in backcourt defense, putting heavy pressure on Stockton with frequent double-teams.
Stockton appeared overwhelmed against the Trail Blazers' solid backcourt.
Jeff Malone is an outstanding scorer, but besides scoring, his other contributions are minimal.
Organizing and defense are mediocre at best, and not being a liability is already fortunate.
The Trail Blazers' strategy is clear: defend Jeff Malone one-on-one, as his firepower is limited.
Sternly guard Stockton, the Jazz's engine, constantly disrupting him when he has the ball.
Three turnovers in the first quarter, and by the second quarter, Stockton made consecutive mistakes under double-teams again.
Porter, Lewis, and Kossie took turns using their speed to assault the Jazz, quickly widening the gap to over 10 points.
The Jazz couldn't initiate fast breaks and could only rely on half-court offenses to grind slowly.
