Extra Point
By Mike Fitzgerald
Friday, May 3, 1996
OK, tell him we'll save a good seat for the rest of the playoffs.
Yes, Mourning and the Heat are in mourning after getting squashed and silenced by the running of the Bulls.
I thought Miami would win at least one game in the best-of-five set, but it wasn't even close - especially the last two games, which were pretty much over by halftime.
Now the focus is on Michael Jordan's strained back. Two words of advice for Bulls fans: Don't worry. Jordan plays better when he's hurt and the three days of rest before taking on the Knicks Sunday will help.
The injury actually gave Scottie Pippen a chance to step up and he certainly did on Wednesday with the 17th triple-double of his career. Plus, the rest of the team is playing extremely well, which is bad news for the aging New York guys.
The Knicks looked good against the Cavaliers, though, closing that series out in a surprising three games - even winning the first two at Cleveland.
Patrick Ewing played at both ends of the court against the Cavs. And the Knicks' 3-point shooters were exceptionally hot. But how do you stop a team that just destroyed Miami, which isn't as bad as it looked against the Bulls?
It will be almost impossible, especially with Chicago holding home-court advantage.
The Knicks won't get to fire up the open 3-pointers like they did against the soft Cleveland defense. Chicago's defenders will push them out a step further and have a hand in their face at release.
Ewing will be especially psyched up for this old and sometimes ugly playoff rivalry, but he isn't getting any younger and the quicker Bulls will double-team him down low.
There is always the chance that Dennis Rodman will blast off to the moon at any minute, but he stayed under control for the third game against Miami. And he's smart enough to realize that the referees are targeting him after the head-butt incident, so he better just accept it.
Toni Kukoc has been playing with a nice balance, which is more bad news for the inconsistent Knicks.
So I like the Bulls in five games, maybe in four straight.
In fact, Chicago could possibly win the rest of their games on the way to the title, which would be a measly 12 straight victories.
Yes, they are that good.
Orlando made short work of the overmatched Pistons and will have little trouble with either Atlanta or Indiana.
Then it will be time for the big return grudge match with Chicago. And we'll really get to see how much of a difference Rodman will make this year.
Jordan will make sure the Bulls don't get stopped by the Magic this time, though, on their way to the NBA Finals.
Again, the 3-point shots won't come so easily against the Bulls and Shaquille O'Neal will get his points, but he'll have to work much harder for them against Chicago's quick, yet, strong inside defense.
In other words - barring major injury - the Bulls will roll to the finals.
ON the other side of the playoff brackets, the West is still up for grabs.
But a bunch of familiar faces, the defending champion Houston Rockets, are starting to look like the team to beat again in the West.
I thought Seattle might finally get it together, but the Sonics have struggled to stay alive against the Kings, whom they should have put away in three games.
A Bulls-Rockets final showdown would be a fitting finish: The two-time defending champs playing what could be the best NBA team ever.
But there is still a lot more wild basketball to go before then.