Asked if he thought some type of dramatics will mark the playoffs again, Sloan replied, "I hope not. Most of that stuff is not basketball related, but I hope everything that happens is basketball related. That's what the fans want to see. I hope nothing happens (to make) all the excitement be about something that's unnecessary."

You mean like last year when Golden State's Stephen Jackson accused the Jazz crowd of racial taunts?

Hype happens. When you get that many media and that many fans in one place, small stories become big ones.

All this is old news to Matt Harpring, a 10-year veteran who has been to the playoffs four other times. How do players handle the distractions?

"You deal with it," said Harpring.

He added that doing so is far better than sitting home.

"This is what you play for is the chance to win it all," said Harpring. "This is where the fun of basketball really starts. If you're in this league for the right reasons, this is what it's all about. The competition is great, the fans are great, the atmosphere is great. It's fun."

But what about all those other outside distractions?

"It's part of the whole thing, the whole atmosphere, the ambiance, that's what makes the playoffs so special," he added.

Sure, the playoffs are over the top and things get a little crazy.

So if you don't like drama, watch Animal Planet.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com