Karl Malone and Brian Grant (of the TrailBlazers) go on a fishing-trip

[akirac73]

Not only was dominated too strong a word, it's nowhere in the vicinity of describing the matchup. Cowhide said your memory is foggy - he was being kind.

During the regular season, in the three years that Grant was with Portland, Malone averaged 23 and 10 in games against Portland, while Grant averaged 10 and 8 against the Jazz.

During the playoffs, the Jazz played Portland in 2 of the 3 years Grant was with the Blazers. In 98-99, Malone averaged 20 and 12, while Grant averaged 13 and 9. In 99-00, Malone averaged 24 and 8, while Grant averaged 7 and 8. Don't forget during these years, Malone was a geezer at an age when a lot of guys are retired, while Grant was in his prime. Grant wasn't in Malone's league let alone dominated him. Malone had plenty of highlights while he was averaging double figure rebounds and scoring in the mid-20s every game against Grant. Give Grant credit for playing hard like Jarron Collins used to do, but Malone absolutely killed him, as he should a player of Grant's caliber despite Malone being in his mid 30s and Grant being in his mid 20s.

Thanks for the research...good job. Correct me if I'm wrong on this...but I recall Malone having his worst playoff performance ever vs. the Blazers with Grant guarding him (snapping a long playoff double digit scoring streak) and what made it worse was that it was an elimination game and Malone looked like complete garbage. Maybe that just stuck in my mind more than anything else.

 

[kabenac]

I just realized that Karl Malone now looks like a bulked-up Gordon from Sesame Street.

 

[infection]

I remember their little altercation in the playoffs. I can't remember if that was before or after we played Sacramento. Man I hated Divac then. And then Sabonis.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Thanks for the research...good job. Correct me if I'm wrong on this...but I recall Malone having his worst playoff performance ever vs. the Blazers with Grant guarding him (snapping a long playoff double digit scoring streak) and what made it worse was that it was an elimination game and Malone looked like complete garbage. Maybe that just stuck in my mind more than anything else.

Malone did have a game where he went 3-16 FGs and scored 8 points, so that could be what you remember.

 

[reignman40]

That Blazers team was SOO deep... honestly I can't believe they came out of the later 90's early 00's without a ring

They should have beat the Lakers in game 7 but they somehow went about as ice cold as you can get in the 4th quarter. I knew Grant was a big fisherman I thought the Mailman was too but I guess he is mostly hunting. I wonder If he will ever get Chuck to go hunting.

 

[colton]

Doesn't Grant have parkinsons?

Yes. They talk about that in the video--the trip was a fund raiser for Grant's foundation.

 

[vj_74]

Cool video.

No, Grant didnt dominate Malone. Not even close. He played Karl tough just like Oakley or Dale Davis used to do. That Porty team was deep. I believe at one point they had Rasheed, Dale Davis and Grant together, correct me if I am wrong. It was Malone all alone going up against those guys and he more than held his own despite the age/energy difference. And like someone mentioned earlier, after the lockout intense schedule and the crazy Kings series, the Jazz were gassed out. Between 99-03, Malone had to shoulder a lot more and he already shouldered a lot up until then. I think Duncan was the only guy who might have won more individual matchups with Malone between 99-03, nobody else.