Two Sundays ago, Tribune Bulls beat writer Terry Armour and Tribune movie columnist and Bulls fanatic Gene Siskel debated the merits of Karl Malone (Terry’s choice) and Michael Jordan (Gene’s pick) as the NBA’s most valuable player; an award Malone narrowly won over Jordan. In this second installment of “Siskel & Armour,”the bickering roundball experts debate the outcome of this year’s NBA finals.
Terry Armour: Somewhere in this particular section of the paper, I have picked the Bulls to win the franchise’s fifth title in seven years by getting past the Jazz in six games. But some reason, I don’t feel confident in my pick. Something is troubling me.
Gene Siskel: Gee, I wonder why you’re not confident. You’re the guy who picked the Bulls over Miami in seven!!!!, C’mon, ‘Zo didn’t even show up for Game 5. And as for your pick of Malone over Jordan, I have it on good authority-namely, from you-that your own mother told you that in our last article, “Gene made some good points.” But relax, Terry, you know the old saying, “Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.” And this will make you feel even better: I agree. Bulls in six.
Armour: Picky, picky. As I was trying to say before you interrupted me (how does Ebert work with you anyway?) I’m a little worried about your beloved Bullies. Scottie Pippen’s foot is hurting, and I think the soft-tissue injury might be more serious than the team is letting on. Toni Kukoc will have to step up and and with his foot still hurting, that’s been hard for him to do so far during your team’s playoff run. And let’s face it: The Bulls haven’t played that well, particularly on offense. Even your guy Michael is slumping. Guess he should have stayed off the golf course for a while.
Siskel: Ebert works with me because I interrupt him. Jordan wasn’t tired from golf; he played his best fourth quarter. The entire Bulls team was over-confident against Miami; that’s why they lost Game 4. But back to the real wild card in this year’s Finals-Scottie’s role in the NBA’s version of “My left foot.” I think the Bulls will win because Michael and Scottie together can beat Stockton & Malone in a three-legged race, if it comes to that. There is no way MJ will allow the Bulls to beatan at home in a sixth or seventh game for the title. Utah has to win in either four or five games to beat the Bulls. No way that’s going to happen. And if you are going to point out a major Bulls weakness-Scottie’s bad wheel-how about the Jazz’s entire bench? Quick, who are they?
Armour: OK. There’s Greg Foster, a former Bull, and there’s Antoine Carr. Hmmm. Did I mention Greg Foster?
Siskel: See, aren’t you feeling better already? And look at the Bulls bench by comparison, because that’s where I suspect the margin of victory will come from this year. Brian Williams is playing with Finals intensity going into his first Finals. As he told the press Friday, He could have signed for $1 million contract to run with the Jazz during these playoffs but chose to accept $27,000 to get a ring with the Bulls. He’s hungry. Jud Buechler is showing a defensive strength like never before, and he knows he can nail the three from his favorite spot on the floor-the right hand corner. Steve Kerr’s playoff shooting percentage will improve if only he remembers what he said after winning the All-Star Game’s three-point contest: “The best advice I ever got on shooting? Don’t think; just shoot.” Our bench will outscore theirs by an average of 10 points per game.
Armour: Wow. I guess you really have been paying attention to what’s going on while sitting in those courtside seats. Put them on your Tribune expense account. That’s what I would do. But since you have been paying attention, maybe you also have noticed that the Bulls bench, which was a key in last year’s title, didn’t really step up in the Miami series until they socred 22 points in the series-clinching victory in Game 5. Before then, Williams was the only guy they could really count on. Kerr has been expending so much energy with his help-defense thus far, maybe he’s just too exhausted to score, let alone think about it. Jud has played well in spots. But where is Randy Brown? Where is Jason Caffey? Why did Robert Parish even make the playoff roster? It’s true that the Utah bench isn’t necessarily one of the NBA’s strongest. But if Toni Kukoc si moved into the startin lineup at any point, the Bulls bench is going to be that much weaker. Not that Kukoc has done anything this postseason.
Siskel: Toni? Look on the bright side: As long as he’s wearing a Bulls uniform, he isn’t wearing one of those god-awful sharkskin suits without lapels. And don’t get me started on his two-toned shoes!
Armour: You’re right. But can we just stick to basketball, please?
Siskel: OK, we haven’t even mentioned the big guns yet. I think the key to stopping the Jazz is pushing John Stockton to the edges of the court, to the corners, and away from the top of the circle, thus limiting his playmaking options. To do that Ron Harper must continue to come up big, and I know of no reason he won’t. He is peaking for the Finals as he did last year. And Michael Jordan, the first-team all-defensive player that he is, will stop the recently hot-shooting Jeff Hornacek. So why am I not predicting a Bulls sweep? Scottie’s foot, and Dennis Rodman’s bad track record against Malone. Karl plays farther away from the basket than the guys Dennis usually guards, and that means fewer rebounds and more frustration for Dennis. And when Dennis gets frustrated…
Armour: Bingo-when Dennis gets frustrated. That’s exactly what happened the first time the Bulls faced the Jazz in Utah this season when Dennis was thouroughly outplayed by Malone-which happens a lot-and ended up committing a stupid flagrant foul on Hornacek that ultimately got him tossed from the game. That happened during a crucial stretch when the Bulls were making a comeback on the Jazz. Dennis’ irritating ways won’t work on Malone like they did on Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Christian Laettner. Plus, Dennis might be the guy complaining to the refs since he thinks John Stockton is an even dirtier player than he is. Harper will be key, again, with his defense on Stockton. But the way the Bulls will defend Stockton, as well as Malone, is with help. This is where Pippen could be missed. Because Utah’s Bryon Russell is such a streaky shooter, Pippen can sag off him and help out at times on Stockton to disrupt the offense enough to make it harder for Malone to get into his spots down low. And if Jordan continues to slump, Pippen’s offense could be crucial. He was having an MVP-type postseason until his foot started bothering him.
Siskel: Double bingo. He was playing the most glorious, big-money basketball of his career, nailing game-winning shots and strolling the entire court at will. If it would help, I am prepared to become the first foot soft-tissue donor in medical history. I can hobble to my seat. By the way, I’m taking your mother to Game 1. Can I lean on her?
Armour: Why not? My dad has for years.
Siskel: You know which game concerns me the most besides today’s-when we’ll learn just how mobile Scottie is? Game 3, the first in swinging Salt Lake City. The altitude (4,390 feet) has caused problems for the Bulls in the past. When I asked Michael about that Friday, he said that was more of a problem during the regular season when the first western road trip comes early in the year. Presumably, their conditioning will take care of it. I hope no one tells MJ that golf balls travel farther in higher altitudes. And I know how Phil can get the team to sleep early. Have a private screening of Dennis in “Double Team.”
Armour: Zzzz. Oh, I’m sorry. Good thing you mentioned Phil because if anybody can handle all the negatives and turn them into a positive, it’s him. And when all is said and done, nobody can adjust in a series like the Bulls can. That’s why they’re going for their fifth title.
Siskel: Triple bingo. Can a coach get the MVP award? Wouldn’t it be a gas if Michael, when he wins the Finals MVP trophy, takes it from David Stern, hands it to Phil and says something like, “Here’s to most valuable Bull, for me. Let’s do it again next year.” And I think they can. Heal, Scottie, heal. I know Shirley McClaine’s phone number at her Malibu home. I’m asking her to put a crystal on the barbie for you, Pip. Go Bulls!
