"The Running of the Bulls and the Larry Legend..." (March 19, 1998)

I was watching the Bulls versus the Pacers a couple of days back, yes, the Bulls won, there was no surprise there. What was there, was two of the better coached teams in the NBA. Chicago is led by Phil Jackson and Indiana by Larry Bird. Both teams are veteran. Both teams know what it takes to win. The difference, Chicago has a legend on the court, while the other has their legend on the bench.

Chicago has been short handed for the past week or so, since Luc Longley got injured. He was put in the injured list and Phil Jackson has been reluctant to play Bill Wennington and Joe Kleine for more than 5 minutes each. I can understand, though. Both are basically the same player, a banger who gives up 6 fouls and has a decent 15-17 foot jumper. Longley gave some low post scoring, a decent defensive presence and good passing ability. Jackson had decided on a really small lineup. Instead of inserting one of his extra centers into the lineup, Jackson moved Dennis Rodman to center and inserted Toni Kukoc into the starting lineup at power forward. This has caused some serious problems for opposing teams. Rodman is capable of defending any big man in the NBA. Sure he gives away sometimes 50-100 pounds, but he takes pride in his low post defense and rebounding. He knows how to use his legs for leverage and can take a charge better than anyone else in the NBA. He truly is remarkable, or maybe that's a freak. Either way. Kukoc is a defensively liability at the power forward position. He is plenty quick to guard the four-spot, but it is rare for a power forward to play face up 20 feet from the basket and take it too the hoop one-on-one, especially against someone like Kukoc. The power forwards that have been playing against Kukoc like to bang down low, pound on him and make him work hard. This is not his game defensively. He's a gambler, better suited to guard small forwards, but since Scottie Pippen is probably the best defensive small forward in the NBA, that position has been filled. Kukoc has been doing a good job, and the Bulls are one of the best double-teaming teams in the NBA. They really move fast to help their team mates. Rodman, Jordan, Pippen, Harper and even Kerr, move super quick, even as the ball is being passed, to help Kukoc. Jackson realizes this is a team game and with the help of his assistant coaches, have devised a brilliant defensive scheme to minimize Kukoc's liabilities.

Offensively, without Longley, or another big man who shoots that 15 foot jumper, the Bulls have had to rely on Ron Harper more, which is fine by men, since I'm a huge Harper fan. As well, Toni Kukoc has been getting 35 minutes a game. Between the two, they have more than picked up the slack. It seems to me that Kukoc has taken to the pivot position on offense at times because of his passing ability, as has Rodman. The Bulls are a well oiled machine and are getting ready for their playoff run. When the Bulls get back Randy Brown and Luc Longley, the Bulls will be awesome one again. They are playing right now, with a shortened bench. They play the starting five over 30 minutes a game, closer to 40, with Steve Kerr getting the bulk of the minutes as the sixth man. Don't you think Jerry Krause feels stupid for unloaded Jason Caffey? They do have Dickie Simpkins, but he's not any real help. Like Wennington and Kleine, he offers a big body and 6 fouls. Bucheller and Burrell are capable backups, but only get limited action, right now.

Let's face it, the Bulls will win it all.

I don't get to see the Pacers too much. But they do have one of my favorite players in Reggie Miller. Reggie is brother of the greatest female basketball player, Cheryl Miller. You might know Cheryl as a) coach/GM of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA or b) telecaster for NBC and TNT. Either way, you know her. But that's not the point, I'm talking about Reggie and the Pacers. Larry Bird has done an excellent job with this club. He's using his bench more than any other coach. But then again, most coaches don't have a bench this deep. We're talking about a team that is two starters deep at every position, except center. He's got Best/Jackson at point, Miller/Rose at two, Mullin/McKey at three, Davis/Davis at four and Smits at center. He even uses little known Fred Hoiberg, who can score in bunches. Bird also knows how to coach. He's a minimalist coach though. He doesn't call plays on every possession like certain egomaniacal coaches. He knows what it is like to be a player and treats his players the way he liked to be treated. But to be fair, he does have a veteran team, a team which he can relate to. If he had a team like the 76ers, then he might have to change his tune. Naw, no Larry Legend. The Pacers a great defensive team, without any great defensive players. They play good team defense and all the players play hard and are superbly conditioned. The key to me, is they play hard for as long as they are out there and can be pulled for a damn good bench player. There is no leaving anything for later. Everything is left on the court. I love that mentality. There is no 40 minute man on Indiana. It's more like 25-32 minutes for a starter, depending on the hot hand, play your ass off and you're on the bench to get a rest. Then back on the court to play hard. It's a good way to play and would only work with a coach the team trusts and respects, like Larry, and a veteran team who wants to win and is secure enough with themselves and their contracts that they wouldn't gripe for playing time. In fact, I have heard not a peep from anyone on the Pacers. They are very happy with Mr. Bird. As am I.

Do I think Indiana is going to win it all? Nope. Not with Chicago, but I do think they can give them a decent run. I think they could take Chicago to six games. Larry has brought the best out in his players. Rik Smits is playing at an all-star level. Reggie Miller, is well, Reggie Miller. Chris Mullin is at his sharp shooting best and since he's not the number one or number two option on the team, is getting a lot of open looks. He's playing great. Jalen Rose is showing the promise he did at Michigan. The Davis boys are cleaning the glass. And Mark Jackson is running the team adroitly. I think Indiana will give any team they run into a handful.