Calling all NBA title contenders: Jordan's exit leaves the door open for other teams to end the Bulls' championship run

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 1993 by Shaun Powell

Jordan's exit leaves the door open for other teams to end the Bulls' championship run

Pssst, NBA title contenders: Michael Jordan has left. You can come out now.

Jordan's retirement just made it easier for everyone to get a ring. Made it easier for the Knicks. For the Suns. For the Trail Blazers. For the Cavaliers. For the . . . well, the Mavericks are a step closer, at least.

"No question," Orlando General Manager Pat Williams says. "After the initial shock of Michael leaving wore off, the next round of emotion came in a lot of cities.

"All over America, NBA teams are sitting up and saying, |Hey, we have a chance.

Just the day before Jordan's announcement, the Bulls stood several Sears Tower-levels above the rest of the NBA. Oh, sure, some will question that. They will argue that the Knicks were four missed Charles Smith layups from forcing a seventh game against Chicago in the Eastern Conference finals last season.

And some will say Phoenix simply self-destructed in the championship series against Chicago.

Fine. But the 1993-94 edition of the Bulls was going to be better than any of Chicago's three championship teams.

How so? Consider that the Bulls' sturdy core of Jordan, guard/forward Scottie Pippen and forward Horace Grant was still intact and in its prime. Toss in emerging guard B.J. Armstrong, whose game, unlike his face, finally grew some peach fuzz last season.

Then introduce the newest addition, European import Toni Kukoc, to deepen the rotation. He'll be better than any sixth man who owns a Bulls championship ring.

"To see Michael, Scottie and Toni together . . . for a basketball purist, that would've been something to behold," Bulls G.M. Jerry Krause sighs.

Since Krause's dream has fizzled, the dreams of others are slowly becoming realistic.

The Knicks head the list of championship contenders in the East. The roughneck renegades have perfected the half-court technique required for playoff prosperity. Plus, they have 7-foot center Patrick Ewing, who's restless and must win now, before his pair of time bombs - his aching knees - detonate.

And then there is Cleveland. Was any team more jubilant over Jordan's departure? Eliminated by the Bulls in playoff series each of the last two seasons, the Cavaliers realize the Central Division title - and maybe more - can be theirs.

"It obviously opens the door," Cavs guard Gerald Wilkins says. "The opportunity is there."

Should the Cavs or Knicks stumble, others in the East will gladly step forward. Charlotte and Orlando no longer are expansion pups. They are real, certifiable challengers.

In their playoff debut last season, the Hornets beat Boston 3 games to 1 in the first round and put a scare into the Knicks although they were ousted, 4-1, in the conference semifinals. Their center-power forward combo of Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson is the best in the East. This year, they should have more room to roam inside, because the Hornets will benefit from guard Hersey Hawkins' jumpers.

At the least, the Magic figure to make a similar first-time playoff splash this season because rookie guard Anfernee Hardaway has arrived to complement 7-1 center Shaquille O'Neal.

Jordan's retirement directly affects the East. But it also gives the West, a conference which hasn't produced a champion since the 1988 Lakers, a reason for optimism.

The six teams with realistic title hopes - Phoenix, Portland, Houston, San Antonio, Seattle and Golden State - are more content today, knowing Jordan won't spoil their summer.

Maybe Jordan's absence is just what the West needs to lend balance to the league. For so long, the only advantage Western teams had over the East was style, not substance. Their wide-open play was fun to watch, but useless in the playoffs, when brawn rules.

But look what transpired this summer. New Jersey's Chris Dudley, one of the league's most underrated rebounders, defected to Portland. Detroit's Dennis Rodman took his rebounds to San Antonio. And the Suns became more physical by adding ex-Celtic Joe Kleine and ex-Laker A.C. Green.

So where do the Bulls stand, exactly? Obviously, the dynasty's over. They're now a team grasping for an identity. Adjustments must be made.

Now, guard John Paxson will have to work himself free for open jumpers; before, his opponent often helped double-team Jordan. Now, Pippen will face the opponent's toughest defender. And he'll be asked to tone down his fourth-quarter disappearing act. Now, Grant will have to create his own shots.

For years, Jordan's supporting cast bristled at the notion of the Bulls being a one-man team. "Now I guess it's put-up-or-shut-up time, huh?" Grant says.

Precisely. Jordan covered up lots of warts on this team with his bail-out defense and attention-grabbing offense. Now we'll see what we suspect of a team that struggled (1-6 since 1988-89) when Jordan didn't play.

Kukoc was a great player on the other side of the Atlantic; he'll have to prove himself on this side. The Bulls originally planned to bring Kukoc along slowly. Now, they'll probably have to start him right away.