Hey, it's playoff time; of course it gets physical

It is the second quarter and Jazz forward Paul Millsap has the ball beneath the basket. It looks like a sure score until two Houston players send him stumbling toward the row of photographers along the baseline.

Moments later, Andrei Kirilenko flashes inside. He's open, but wait! Shane Battier charges in and collapses Kirilenko like a matchstick figure. It's no better on the other end. Matt Harpring gropes, bumps and shoves Tracy McGrady from the moment he crosses the time line. Carlos Boozer clobbers Luis Scola with a forearm as he enters the paint. Houston coach Rick Adelman complains that the Jazz's nefarious game plan is to abuse McGrady at every turn.

"I really have a hard time understanding some of the things they can do to him out on the floor," Adelman says.

Oh, you mean that slap upside the head? The two-handed shoves? The hip-checks and hand-checks?

Those are just letting people know they're there.

Thing is, the Jazz don't deny it. Williams admits that since McGrady is one of the league's best scorers, the Jazz have to "meet him at half court and try not to let him get anywhere free. Wear him down, make things difficult for him."

Jerry Sloan said after Game 3 that his team needed to get even more physical.

And that was the game Carl Landry lost a tooth, compliments of Boozer's elbow.

In this series, there are few uncontested shots and nobody who doesn't have bruises.

Welcome to the Abrasion, Contusion, Laceration and Head Trauma Clinic. Take a seat in the wheelchair on your left. The doctor will see you in a moment.

You thought the playoffs were basketball? Heavens no, they're roller derby in gym shoes.

"It's not pretty," said Williams, referring to the lack of offense, "and it's not the way we're accustomed to playing, but if you want to win, that's how it's going to be."

Williams has an aching backside, as well as a tender calf, compliments of a knee by Rafer Alston. But those are nothing worse than others endure. As Jerry Sloan points out, "everyone plays with injuries."

Said Williams: "This is the playoffs, man. You gotta suck it up and try to fight through it."

The playoffs are always more physical than the regular season. Officials tend to let them play, rather than have whistles determine outcomes. Meanwhile, defense is a priority as coaches school their players to rabidly contest every possession.

But this series is more physical than most. That's because both coaches believe you make people pay for going inside. The Jazz succeeded in the first two games, holding the Rockets to 41- and 37-percent shooting. But they were out-muscled and out-hustled in Game 3.

Saturday the Jazz came back with a vengeance, as Houston shot an anemic 37 percent, thanks to the constant pestering.