European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                T \ tuesday May 12, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 21 Aba playoffs astonished bulls Are in a Battle by Ira Berkove the new York times on two straight Days for two very different reasons Michael Jordan had the same extraordinary look on his very famous face. It was not the look of Radiant Confidence you see on the wheaties Box or the brimming Confidence portrayed in one of his soft drink commercials or even the Cool superiority witnessed at the ends of most games. This was none of those. This was a look of utter disbelief. On saturday afternoon in the second period Jordan the flying Man broke away and was All alone from Hal court on and went up to slam in the Mother of All slam dunks and missed unheard of the Ball rebounded past half court. It was like Nureyev doing a twirl and Landing in the orchestra. Like Houdini not being Able to pick the locks on the Box that contained him underwater. Like the Genie finding he was All out of magic carpets. It was a look of Shock. The poor Man was stunned. Sunday night there was that look again and it came with 19.4 seconds to go in the game. Anthony Mason had just pulled Down an offensive rebound a one of thousands of offensive rebounds it surely seemed to the bulls that the kicks had grabbed a and he stepped to the line to make a free throw that gave the kicks an 8-Point Lead 92-84. Jordan knew the Case was closed. Before the second half began on saturday Spike Lee the film director who was seated at court Side said to Jordan a i was shocked at that  a you saw my face a said Jordan sheepishly. Same face sunday night. It meant the playoff series was tied at 2-2, and that the bulls As Jordan would say after the game a Are in a  a i know some people expected us to sweep the kicks a he said a but we knew it probably  go that Way. We knew the kicks were Tough. They beat Detroit. We did no to underestimate  somehow that met with some disbelief too. The kicks had been in a virtual shambles at seasons end although they seemed to regroup in the first round of the playoffs to beat a fading and Loose ends pistons team. The bulls meanwhile had won 67 games one of the Best records in Aba history. They were the defending commentary ended a said Scott Williams a Bull Forward. A it was a it was the roughest basketball in be Ever experienced. It was forearms hips hands in the Back. Anything for position in the Lane. It was like they say in wrestling a no holds barred. But if these Are the rules according to the referees now then we be got to learn to play by  a by Iima of nerd Scott will Lumc champions. They had just knocked off Miami in three straight in the first round of the playoffs and Why  they do likewise to new York a team obviously less talented less cohesive and less experienced than the bulls. And then go sailing right through to the finals and beyond. What they did no to quite figure on was the muscle of the kicks. The bulls Are taking a battering under the boards. The numbers that most influenced the numbers on the scoreboard were these 52 rebounds for the kicks and 33 for the bulls 20 offensive rebounds for the kicks and 12 for the bulls. A it Wasny to a basketball game a said Jim Cleamons the assistant who took Over the bulls when Phil Jackson was ejected from the game in the third period. A it was a mugging. But then the whole series has been that  a it was the roughest basketball in be Ever expert a Man Marks the spot where bulls went Down by Harvey Araton the new York times Xavier Mcdaniel cannot guard Scottie Pippen and that a a fact of National basketball association life. He needs help from at least one of two sources his teammates or the officials. He got it in abundance sunday night from both. That is not to detract from the 24 Points the 7 rebounds the Patrick Ewing less stretch in the third Quarter when Mcdaniel simply carried the new York kicks on their Way to a series evening 93-86 Victory Over the Chicago bulls. The Man known As x was excellent but he still can to guard Pippen and this supposed mismatch that Wasny to is what drove bulls coach Phil Jackson to the Edge of the court and Over the line according to Lead official Dick Bavetta. It began Early in the first Quarter with the kicks holding a 5-2 Lead with Pippen near the top of the key attempting to beat Mcdaniel off the dribble with the elongated first step that often leaves his defender staring at the Back of his no. 33 Jersey. With Pippen about to blow by him into the Lane Mcdaniel instinctively took both hands and shoved him Back. Knocked off balance Pippen lost his dribble and the kicks were soon breaking the other Way. Up popped Jackson screaming for a foul growing More incredulous As John Paxson was called for nudging Mark Jackson near mid court. That brought Jackson a first technical foul with 9 minutes 16 seconds left in the Quarter. The bulls coach finally ejected by Bavetta 4.4 seconds from the end of the third Quarter after much Raspy whining. A a they re shoving our dribbles with two hands and that a against the rules a Jackson snorted. But what Jackson said was indisputably True at least the first part. The second part the line about shoving being against Aba rules that seems to depend on the game the night the Moon and the stars a and not the ones who Are going to Barcelona next summer As the great american patriots. For As Long As the kicks can keep Michael Jordan and Pippen in that order out of the Lane they Are going to be believe it or not stride for stride shove for shove with the defending champions. The bulls Are not a championship team perhaps not an Eastern conference finals team with Jordan and Pippen shooting jumpers from 15 feet. A jump shot after jump shot a said John Starks describing the bulls offence especially in the second half. A coach Riley told us before the game a done to let them get into the  that a their whole game Michael and Scottie penetrating breaking you Down dunking and dishing off to Guys like Horace Grant for layups. It worked. The majority of Jordan a 26 shots came from outside. Pippen 4 for 13, never really got into the flow. When he Wasny to being bumped by Mcdaniel or someone else and wondering aloud Why no foul was being called Pippen was being chased by two defenders and being forced to surrender the Ball. A a a really can to stay with Scottie because scotties too Quick a said Gerald Wilkins. A we tried to help run a double team and make him dribble wide. Some of the hard fouling in the paint by the kicks is dirty unnecessary a danger for players and the sport. The rest of their defense is hard work sunday night benefiting by the officials letting them go bump bump bump. Detroit a Bill Laimbeer thought the kicks would strongly compete if they were allowed to play this Way but doubted a the league would let them. To the contrary Phil Jackson said of the Aba a i think they like this  forearms hips hands in the Back. Anything for position in the Lane. It was like they say in wrestling a no holds barred. But if these Are the rules according to the referees now then we be got to learn to play by  once upon a time in the basketball playoffs height was a determining Factor. Now it is biceps. The backcourt is comprised of running backs. The Center is the Middle linebacker. The forwards Block for everybody. Intimidation is a Factor. Before saturdays game Scottie Pippen of the bulls stood outside his locker room when a Man wearing a Knick Jersey with no. 34 happened by. A a in a going to the Hole today a said Pippen to his old Friend and onetime teammate. A you ainu to going to no Hole Quot said Charles Oakley. A a that a Why 34 s in the  a thirty four a got but six fouls to give like anybody else a explained Pippen. On saturday Pippen did go to the Hole or penetrated to the Basket to translate basketball trashing and the bulls went up 2-1 in the series. But he did not do much sunday. It Wasny to just Oakley who closed the Hole to him and to Jordan and Horace Grant among others but Xavier Mcdaniel and Patrick Ewing and Mason among others. Now As it is said it is Down to a Best of three series with the bulls getting the first and if necessary third games in their ear splitting Home Arena. Teams Are supposed to win at Home. This is Wisdom of the Ages. But the kicks seem not to have paid attention to some of their lessons. Maybe they were on lunch break. They did no to let the pistons beat them up but instead gave them Welt for Welt and they did not collapse with Awe at the sight of the rings on the fingers of the bulls. Not Only have the kicks out rebounded and out pummel cd the bulls but they be also out hustled them with players like Jackson and Starks and Anthony diving around the court like Pete Rose going into second base. A the Ball a Jordan said last evening a just bounced away from us. We weren to getting the Loose  the kicks however had something to do with this which like that Ball that Wasny to slam dunked saturday was the True cause for the look of Complete astonishment on Michael Jordan a famous face. A rated defense pays off for Xavier Mcdaniel kicks