Being something of a philosopher, Bulls coach Phil Jackson took the opportunity of Tuesday`s 122-97 victory over the Washington Bullets to consider one of Murphy`s Laws.
”Nothing,” said Jackson, ”is as easy as it looks.
”Everyone`s going to look at the score and say ho-hum, but this was not an easy game for us,” Jackson said. ”The pressure they put on a team to cover the style they play hurt us for 2 1/2 quarters, but we were able to solve it.”
That was after Washington led from the outset, by as much as 12 in the second quarter, and was down just 80-77 with two minutes left in the third period.
That was about the time the Bullets (24-42), started invoking some of Murphy`s Laws, which enabled the Bulls to go to 42-22 in winning for the 13th time in the last 15 games.
Like, ”Never step in anything soft.”
That was a Bullets` problem, apparently underestimating rookie Stacey King, who triggered an 11-2 Bulls` run with two driving baskets, a block that led to a Scottie Pippen slam and an inside layup on a flash pass from B.J. Armstrong.
”Tonight I got out on the run and my teammates got me the ball,” said King, who tied Pippen for game scoring honors with 24 points. Michael Jordan had 21.
And during that streak, which effectively ended the game, Washington assistant Bill Blair drew two technical fouls, apparently proving another of Murphy`s Laws: That the number of people watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your action.
Blair`s actions didn`t help the Bullets, playing without injured Jeff Malone and John Williams and with Harvey Grant leaving late in the game with a leg injury.
”(The Bulls` 11-2 run) was the way it was supposed to be done on paper,” Jackson said. ”We got some turnovers and scores on Stacey`s baskets, and that in combination with the two technicals, which was after our foul, nullified them on the free throw line.”
But even more important for the Bulls, with Craig Hodges now out at least several weeks with a back injury, was the inspired play of King and fellow rookie Armstrong, who hit King for baskets with several of his six assists.
The Bulls received a hearty cheer from the sellout crowd almost four minutes into the game, but not for a Jordan slam, a John Paxson three-point field goal or a Pippen full-court dash.
No, it was for Horace Grant`s free throw, which bounced around the rim and fell through, giving the Bulls their first point after seven missed shots and eight Bullets points.
The Bullets then got a jumper from Bernard King, who had 19 in the half, to take a 10-1 lead.
The second quarter was a royal affair as Washington`s King and the Bulls` King both went for the scoring throne. Stacey hit early with four baskets in under three minutes to keep the Bulls close, but Chicago was unable to stop, Ledell Eackles, who equaled Bernard King`s 11 points in the quarter.
But it wasn`t until Jordan returned to the game with 5:37 left and Washington ahead 45-35 that the Bulls started cutting into the Bullets` lead with a 65 percent shooting quarter.
Still trailing 49-41 with under four minutes left, Jordan hit a jumper and then hooked in a missed Bill Cartwright free throw to help get the Bulls within 51-46.
Bernard King held Jordan off down the stretch in the second quarter, hitting a short hook, a drive and a jumper. Jordan, meanwhile, slammed on a drive and added two free throws to bring the Bulls within 57-52 at halftime.
The Bulls quickly took the lead to start the second half as Cartwright put back a Paxson miss and hit a short bank shot. And when Horace Grant was fouled after hitting a short jumper on the baseline, the Bulls were ahead 63-61.
But Chicago couldn`t take advantage of its 11-4 run. Eackles hit four straight baskets and five of his team`s next six to keep the Bulls from pulling away.
Washington came back with the next six points to tie at 75 and was within 80-77 when Stacey King propelled the Bulls to a 92-79 margin after three quarters by hitting two driving layups.
