in ways he probably wouldn't have been able to endure. Guys really did not like being taken to the hole all night by a guy who played so far below the basket.

The only other game I remember John doing something similar (I'm sure there were others though), was about 6-7 years before that night in the playoff series the Jazz nearly stole the opening series against the Lakers. John was EASILY the best player on the court that night - in ALL FACETS. Even in a (barely) losing effort.

Magic said as much afterwards.

Everyone around the country knew the Jazz were the better team in that series. The refs simply did not allow the Lakers to lose at home. (That was the series I became a Jazz - Stockton/Malone fan. Two years before I ever stepped foot in Utah.)