Michael and the Bulls Should Continue Dominance

by Wayne Chang

It is popular to point to the weaknesses of and the questions surrounding the Chicago Bulls. Common targets include the deficiency of a great center, the unpredictable behavior of Dennis Rodman, and the weak bench. Chicago is considered a three man team composed of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Rodman, and these three men are all over 30. One has to wonder if the quest for 70 wins will tire them out for the playoffs.

These shortcomings are the only things that will provide the other championhip contenders hope for their own playoff success. Leading the list of championship contenders are the Orlando Magic. With the best starting five in the NBA, they provide the Bulls with the biggest challenge. Center Shaquille O'Neal and forward Horace Grant provide a strong frontcourt, while the backcourt of Anfernee Hardaway and Nick Anderson and forward Dennis Scott provide the Magic with consistent outside shooting. Hardaway can also post up smaller guards and add more strength to the Magic's inside game.

The San Antonio Spurs will also prove a formidable challenger to any team this year. More stable, maybe even more talented, this year than last, the Spurs will once again rely on David Robinson to lead them to victories. With his quickness, strength, and shot-blocking abilitly, Robinson may be the most gifted center in the NBA, and this season he has proven himself more valuable than in his MVP year. Besides Robinson, the keys will be forward Sean Elliott and point guard Avery Johnson.

Elliott has proven himself to be an excellent finisher and outside shooter. This season has been his best, and he will take a great deal of the offensive load off Robinson's hands. Johnson may be the Spurs' MVP this season. His improved penetrating ability, decision making, and outside shot have guided San Antonio throughout the year. Point guard strength, especially in the Western Conference, will be one of the main reasons for a team to advance far into the playoffs. Johnson, this year, has provided the Spurs with strong point guard play, and may enable the Spurs to get past the Western Conference final.

After two straight first-round playoff defeats, the older, wiser Seattle Sonics will not have to worry about a first-round exit this year. Led by Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and Detlef Schrempf, the Sonics have too much experienced talent to be disappointed this year.

Payton provides leadership ability and good distribution of the ball, as well as excellent defense in the backcourt. Kemp has improved every part of his game this year. He is a better rebounder, better defender, and better outside shooter than he ever was. The Seattle frontcourt of Kemp and the consistent Schrmpf is one of the best in the league, and the improved chemistry and play of Seattle's main three will push them into the second round.

The play of Hersey Hawkins and the rest of the Sonics' supporting cast will determine how far past the semi-final the Sonics will go. One problem for the Sonics, however, may be their satisfaction of improving upon their previous disappointments the past two years. This satisfaction may cause them to lose focus on the next opponent, and may once again result in an earlier than expected exit from the post-season.

Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers will be an exciting team to watch in the playoffs. After last year's fun run through the first round and a half, this year's Lakers will be tempered by the old and wise Johnson. This more restrained temperment, however, will only be in the emotional side of basketball. The same high scoring team can be expected to show up to this year's playoffs.

With both Nick Van Exel and Johnson on the court at the same time, ball handling and distibrution of the ball will be unmatched. Eddie Jones and Cedric Ceballos will provide a great deal of points, and center Vlade Divac always played his best with Magic Johnson. Johnson also brings a greater emphasis on defense, and this focus plus the Lakers' high powered offense, may combine to bring Los Angeles an exciting playoff run.

Two teams that will make things difficult for their oppnents are the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets. The Jazz are once again the Karl Malone-John Stockton team. They are one of the best duos in the league, and maybe in history. Because Malone and Stockton have been together so long and both are supremely talented, the two could prove a challenge by themselves. Fortunately for the Jazz, Jeff Hornacek, Felton Spencer, and Chris Morris are also on the team. The Jazz have not won a championship because of the annually weak supporting cast of Malone and Stockton, and this year's, although stronger, is not strong enough. They may provide a scare to some team, but they will not win.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are defending champions, and it is precisely this fact that will make them a formidable challenger to any contender. The Rockets will have to rely on pride this year because most of their team has been injured this year. For many of the games, the Rockets resembled a CBA team more than defending champions. Hakeem Olaujowon, Clyde Drexler, Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, and Mario Elie have all been out this season. It will take a long time to regain the chemistry they had last year, and if they gain only a fraction of this championship mix, they also may give a scare. A chance to three-peat, however, are slim to none, and the Rockets will definitely not see the Western Conference finals.

These challengers all have a chance to beat the Bulls in the playoffs. This chance, however, is almost non-existent. There is a reason the Chicago Bulls will win 70 games this year. Chicago may be a three man team, but this is the best threesome in the basketball. The supreme talent of Jordan and Pippen along with the rebounding ability of Rodman will prove too much for any team to handle.

Chicago also has revealed how to handle the dominant center. All year, they have lost only three games to the teams with five best centers (O'Neal and the Magic, Olaujowon and the Rockets, Robinson and the Spurs, Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks, and Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat). They do not double team and allow centers to beat them with jump shots and turn-arounds. Therefore, jump-shooters can not beat them with the three-pointer and the center does not beat them with dunks and lay-ups.

Chicago may not be the most well-rounded team, but they do have the most talented core. Anytime Michael Jordan has two great players and a semi-decent support staff, the Bulls can win an NBA Championship. The Bulls have won 70 games, and in the playoffs, they should win 15 more and bring a fourth title to Chicago.