Like you said.
THE WORD
Promise or not, Michael Jordan’s vow that “We’ll win Game 7” came off like everyone knew it would, an 88-83 ugly-off that sent the Pacers back to their double-wides in Indiana and sent the Bulls into the Finals against Utah.
Said Jordan of his prediction: “You have to have some positive thoughts to achieve your goals.”
Tell you what, a fallaway jumper that’s working wouldn’t hurt, either, against the Jazz.
NEW SHOOTER
Dennis Rodman played 27 minutes but grabbed only six rebounds and had nearly as many fouls, summing up his struggles in the series and becoming a concern for the Bulls as he came off the bench.
Said coach Phil Jackson: “He’ll have a different role in the next series.”
Yeah, croupier.
THE BITTER END
Payback. That’s what forward Antonio Davis believed Game 7 was all about for Indiana and the rest of the NBA.
“All the teams are kind of tired of things Chicago has done,” Davis said. “They’ve beaten teams–embarrassed teams.”
And they are going back to the NBA Finals against Utah because they did both to you guys last week alone.
SIGHT SEEN
Brian McIntyre, the NBA’s senior vice president of communication, wore a media credential that read: “Oliver Stone, Conspiracy Digest.”
HEY, LOOK!
Toni Kukoc!
JUST ASKING
Did Bulls hoops honcho Jerry Krause go nuclear when Phil Jackson played Kukoc only 29 minutes in a Game 4 loss?
HEY, LOOK!
Phil Jackson remembered Jud Buechler was still a Bull!
ON THE JOB
Unbelievably, Indiana coach Larry Bird will leave his coaching future to his players.
“They can tell me if they want someone else to lead them,” Bird said. “I don’t know if I’ll be back.”
Psst, Larry, this is all very hush-hush, but word is the Bulls are going to need someone new to scream about the officiating next year.
CLOTHES CALL
The Indiana Pacers showed up at the United Center with their warmup suits over their uniforms, having dressed at the hotel.
Then-Knicks coach Pat Riley tried that in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1993.
He went home after that too.
GOOD NIGHT,
REGGIE MILLER
And stay out!
