Bell gets hit below the belt

INDIANAPOLIS — The first time Indiana vet Reggie Miller pivoted on defender Raja Bell with his lead leg swinging high, he caught nothing but air.

The next time, on the very same second-quarter play Sunday, Raja was on the receiving end of a real Bell-ringer.

Below the belt.

"He caught me pretty good," Bell said. "It wasn't as bad as I made it look, but I wanted to make sure the refs knew he was doing that.

"It was very intentional," the Jazz swingman added. "He missed me the first time, and I stayed up on him, and then he did it again to make sure he got me."

Miller left Conseco Fieldhouse without comment following Indiana's 94-80 win over Utah.

But Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who flipped after Miller was called for an offensive foul, did say something.

"I understand officials have tough calls to make, but we had two players, Reggie Miller and Jermaine O'Neal, who weren't getting the respect they deserve out there," said Carlisle, who was ejected with two quick technicals called by referee Jim Clark. "That's why I did what I did."

Bell, meanwhile, did not know why Carlisle was so riled.

"The ref made the right call," he said. "And that's all I can ask for as a defender — that if somebody kicks me, they call an offensive foul."

HOCKEY PLAYER: After playing just two minutes in his Jazz debut Friday at New York, swingman Gordan Giricek — acquired Thursday from Orlando — had eight rebounds and nine points on 4-of-8 field shooting in 22 off-the-bench minutes Sunday.

Still, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan suggested that after just one practice — Saturday in Indiana — it is evident Giricek has lots to learn about how Utah plays.

Said Sloan: "He's running on ice out there, the way he's trying to . . . understand what we're doing.

Sloan, though, said it's "not fair" to judge Giricek so soon.

Giricek admits he hasn't had time to memorize the Jazz offense. "I know some plays," he said.

Meanwhile, forward Tom Gugliotta, acquired Thursday from Phoenix, joins the Jazz at practice this morning. No explanation was available as to why he did not travel to Indiana.

AFTER THE DEADLINE: Now that the NBA trade deadline has passed, all sorts of talk is surfacing about what was discussed — but never materialized.