9101200900
DETROIT FREE PRESS
910522
Wednesday, May 22, 1991
METRO FINAL
1D
MITCH ALBOM
SEE ALSO METRO FINAL CHASER PAGE 1D
Copyright (c) 1991, Detroit Free Press
PISTONS KEEP FAITH; BULLS KEEP WINNING
CHICAGO -- Scared yet?
You ought to be. The Bulls now have done half of what they need to do to
win this Eastern Conference final, and the Pistons haven't done anything,
except turn a bunch of stiffs into cult heroes here in Chicago. Anytime the
press is interviewing Will Perdue after a playoff game, something is seriously
wrong.
The Pistons, naturally, are not scared. But then, the Pistons are
different. The Pistons could be on the Titanic, after it hit the iceberg, and
their reaction would be: "Someone call the restaurant. We're gonna be a little
late."
To the mortal eye -- meaning yours and mine -- the sight of Mark Aguirre
slapping helplessly at the ball as the Bulls steal it for another lay-up, or
the sight of Joe Dumars tossing a pass smack into the hands of Scottie
Pippen, who does not play for Detroit, or the sight of Tree Rollins starting
the second half because James Edwards and Bill Laimbeer have been as effective
as a used postage stamp this series -- or the fact that Detroit has been
outplayed twice and is now down, 2-0, in a playoff series, which hasn't
happened since Boston four years ago -- I don't know, to us, these things
suggest . . . concern? Worry? Chewed fingernails?
Of course, we are not basketball players. We have never been through the
NBA Finals, we have never been out there on the floor, sweating, screaming,
heart pumping, blood racing. "You do not know the championship attitude," the
Pistons will say.
Fine. No argument.
Except this isn't only about the Pistons anymore. This is about Chicago,
too. Champions never admit fear. But champions do get dethroned. And when it
happens, it is usually at the hands of a hungry challenger, a team with
players playing way over their heads, a team with a geek like Will Perdue
scoring more points in one night than Laimbeer and Edwards combined, a team
like . . . . . . the Bulls?
Daly wants one victory
"How do you feel about the prospect of having to win four out of five games
to reach the Finals now?" someone asked coach Chuck Daly, after the Pistons
went down, 105-97, to the Bulls.
"I don't even think about four of five," he moaned. "I just want to win
one."
Now, I still believe, the Pistons are the more talented team. And they
could win the next two, at the Palace, and easily tie this up. But here's the
problem: With each defeat, they are giving the Bulls something they should
have locked in a treasure chest inside Roundball One. They are giving them
confidence. Deep down, Detroit feels it is superior, and cannot lose four
times in seven games. But I am sure the Celtics felt that way in 1988 --
until the Pistons knocked their green ego out. Champions never worry. They do
get dethroned.
It's not like the Pistons are putting forth their best effort. Laimbeer,
Edwards and John Salley totaled five points Tuesday night. The Pistons drew
whistles like raw meat draws flies. For those who missed it, let me sum up
Game 2:
1) Pistons miss, Bulls rebound.
2) Pistons drive, no foul.
3) Bulls drive -- whistle! whistle!
4) Will Perdue comes in. Detroit fans giggle.
5) Bulls take 17-point lead.
Kind of depressing, huh? It might not be so bad if Detroit was losing to
the Bulls. But they are losing to the sub-Bulls, previously known as the
TerriBulls, or the LaughaBulls. The bench? The Chicago bench? Yes. Here comes
Perdue, Cliff Levingston, B.J. Armstrong and Craig Hodges to start the second
quarter, with Chicago up by five -- and by the time they sit down, Chicago is
up by 16. You'll notice I did not mention Michael Jordan. He was sitting the
whole time, no doubt thinking of how to market himself on Mars if he wins this
series.
Before the game, I asked several Pistons how they would feel if they
were down 3-0 in this series, forced to win four games in a row? Would they
still be confident?
"Absolutely," said Joe Dumars. "This team has had the ultimate defeats and
the ultimate victories. Once you've gone through those extremes, you can
overcome any obstacle."
Why the Bulls lead
Well, when Joe says it, it makes sense. So let's be optimistic. Here are a
few theories for what has happened so far:
1) The Pistons still aren't finished with the Celtics series. Last
year, Detroit played the first two games of the NBA Finals against Portland
before realizing it wasn't Chicago out there anymore. When Saturday comes,
with three full days rest, the Pistons will be focused on the Bulls and ready
to win.
2) The Pistons must feel their backs against the wall. Coming home with
the series tied 1-1 is no big deal. Where's the drama in that?
3) Laimbeer, who just celebrated his 34th birthday, is going through
a midlife crisis.
4) The moon is in the seventh house.
Take your pick. Yes, the Pistons could simply follow the home- court
advantage thing until Game 5, or Game 7, win, and advance to the Finals. They
are that confident. And maybe that's how far they need to be pushed.
But has it occurred to anyone else that while the Pistons are spending
their time not worrying, so, perhaps, are the Bulls?
Hmmm?
NBA; PLAYOFFS; BASKETBALL; GAME 2; CHICAGO BULLS; DPISTONS; COLUMN;Pistons