Utah pries win from the Jazz of defeat

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Rodman figures the key to turning around his play is a Tone Loc lyric.
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Phil Jackson explains why Rodman may need to dance a little.
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But then, flopping was a standard Rodman practice in Game 4.

Dennis Rodman, right, was no match for the bigger, stronger Karl Malone.

Mired in a series-long slump, Rodman failed to respond to the change in his defensive assignment and played a fairly listless 25 minutes. He didn't score for the second consecutive game and grabbed only six rebounds, including a mere one on the offensive glass.

The Worm's inability to approach his regular-season average of 16.1 boards per game helps explain why Chicago was beaten on the glass (48-44) and on the scoreboard (78-73).

Rodman spent his entire night matched up with Malone, picking up the Mailman on 31 of the 34 possessions during which he was in the game.

The numbers show that Malone thrived in the matchup with Rodman -- much more than he did against either Brian Williams or Luc Longley.

In the first half, Malone hit three of six shots against Rodman and missed both his tries when Williams was his primary defender.

Rodman's struggles against Malone started early. On the Jazz's fifth possession of the game, the Bulls forward left Malone to help double-team Utah point guard John Stockton. Malone then received a pass and buried a wide-open 19-footer.

Rodman reacts to a technical called against him during the third quarter.

Over the course of the next six minutes, Rodman would shoot an airball, mishandle a pass on what should been a sure layup and watch Malone score seven points and grab two rebounds.

The Worm left the court briefly near the end of the first quarter because of what the team said was a stomach problem.

When he returned to the game late in the second period, Rodman's struggles continued -- and his flopping began.

On a Malone drive to the hoop with 2:11 remaining, Rodman went down at the first hint of contact. He was whistled for his third personal foul and removed from the game as Malone sank both free throws.

Midway through the third quarter, Rodman's second flop of the night led to his first technical of the series. Again the Worm went to the ground when Malone spun toward the hoop in the low post. No call was made, and the Mailman hit an easy layup over the strewn Rodman.

When the Bulls' bad boy put his hands to his face as Malone attempted to jump back over him, Rodman was hit with his 14th technical of the playoffs. The Bulls contended Rodman was only trying to protect himself from the leaping Malone, but the officials felt he was trying to trip the Mailman.

Rodman would play only four minutes in the fourth period and pull down only two rebounds.

Despite those paltry stats, Chicago coach Phil Jackson said Rodman showed some improvement.

Rodman grabbed six rebounds, 10 less than his season average.

"I thought Dennis was much more involved," Jackson said. "Offensively, he didn't contribute. But defensively, he did a fine job. There were some situations that he got overexcited about. We like that."

Rodman didn't talk much about his performance. His teammates didn't seem to want to discuss it, either.

"What is there to talk about?" Scottie Pippen asked when queried about his teammate's play.

After more prodding, Pippen, who grabbed 12 rebounds, answered, "I think they're doing a job on Dennis. He's not getting to the boards, but other guys are able to get to the boards."

Michael Jordan said Rodman's struggles can be summed up in two words: Karl Malone.

"He's going against one of the 50 greatest players in the game. Karl Malone is not lunchmeat," Jordan said. "You've got to come ready to play against this guy. No matter what you try to do tactically -- if you try to get into his head -- this guy knows how to play."

Jordan says that Rodman -- who dominated last year's Finals at times with his head games against the Seattle SuperSonics -- might actually have an opponent in his head this year.

"If you're going to play Karl Malone, you've got to play him well with the physical skills you have and the energy you bring to the game," Jordan said. "Karl is not going to fall for a lot of those different tactics that (Dennis) pulls."