"(Sloan) can't even open his mouth or think about that the way Boozer pushes and shoves out there," Jackson said. "I mean, he got away with all of his pushes (Friday) night, which he was getting called on in L.A."

Jackson, however, didn't say anything to suggest he believes the NBA's premier players do not get some preferential treatment.

"In that regard," he said, "you just let it go and say, 'Well, the stars get to play their game and the other guys have to keep their hands to themselves."'

HE SAID IT: Boozer, on Bryant's pass-to-himself-off-the-backboard-out-of-a-trap dunk Friday: "I do it a couple times a summer — in pickup. But, I mean, this is the NBA playoffs. ... It's not like a charity event, or All-Star. I mean, that was a marvelous play. Even though I hated it was against us, as a fan, that was a great basketball play."

HE SAID IT II: Sloan, on Bryant: "He's a different kind of player than the guys I played against. ... I guess he's probably more comparable to Michael Jordan than anybody else — and I never played against him. I'm glad I didn't."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com