In the wake of the Bulls’ 109-93 victory over the Washington Bullets Friday night in Chicago Stadium, there’s sure to be a measure of loose talk about Jordan’s mediocre shooting performance, though he wound up with 16 points and seven assists in his debut.
Bulls’ coach Kevin Loughery wasn’t charmed by the rookie’s showing, characterizing it as, well, a rookie’s showing.
“I didn’t think Michael played very well tonight,” said Loughery, who saw a bunch of bad basketball in his first season with the franchise. “He certainly didn’t play as well as he’s capable of playing. He’s going to have much better nights, particularly with his jump shot.”
By the numbers, Jordan’s offensive work away from the basket was as lame as the boundless parade of hokey promotions trotted out by your “new Chicago Bulls.”
Jordan was 5 of 16 from the field, and the crowd of 13,913 was treated to the specter of small children pulling dollar bills off a cloth mascot. Better days and nights ought to be coming for all concerned.
“I wasn’t nervous,” said Jordan, who logged 40 minutes his first time out. “It was more like being overintense. I wanted to do well, for the team and for myself, so I maybe forced things a little.”
The Stadium ovation when Jordan was introduced wasn’t forced. Basketball fans in Chicago are as happy with the new kid from North Carolina as Hawks’ loyalists are with Ed Olcyzk and — dare I say it? ? Cub fans are with Ryne Sandberg.
Suddenly, as fast as you can say, “Wait ’til next year,” the sporting scene is crowded with talented young ballplayers of all descriptions. And don’t be surprised if Jordan’s presence has a salubrious effect on his mates.
Friday night, guard Quintin Dailey was simply inspired coming off the bench, converting 12 of 18 shots for 25 points, 14 of them in the second half.
When the Bulls gave every indication that they would just as soon hand the game over to the Bullets and the Chicken in the fourth quarter, it was Dailey, not Jordan, who rallied the offense.
Orlando Woolridge had 28 points and nine rebounds, which is just what the experts say the Bulls will require to stave off extinction. And if there was a moment when it became clear the Bulls would not throw this one away, the moment came from Woolridge, not Jordan.
With the Bulls holding a tenuous 81-74 lead and events headed in the wrong direction, Woolridge soared over veteran Gus Williams and batted his jumper into the $15 seats.
“Michael’s presence has helped the whole club,” Loughery said. “Everybody knows we wouldn’t have this crowd tonight or all this media attention if he weren’t with the club.
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“The home crowd is very important in this league, and we all understand who people are coming out to see. That isn’t a reflection on any of the rest of our players. It’s a fact.
“All that can be a tough thing for a young man who ought to be a senior in college, but Michael seems capable of handling it all.”
Whatever the difference between being nervous and being “overintense” on opening night, Jordan didn’t waste a moment in making his presence felt.
“I knew I could compete at this level,” he said. “It was about what I expected, I guess. I didn’t think they’d double-team me as much as they did, but if I have to be a decoy, that’s okay.”
Not with the Bulls. When the rookie hit the flooring in the third period on the receiving end of a Jeff Ruland elbow-and-hip maneuver, you could hear the air rush out of the front office.
“I didn’t move because I was trying to see if everything was functioning,” Jordan said. “It wasn’t dirty or anything like that. Just shocked me, and I wanted to see if everything was still working.”
Everything was except the outside shot, and Jordan simply didn’t bring that with him.
“That’s where Quintin is crucial to this team,” Loughery insisted. “We’re going to be tested by teams to see if we can make the outside shot. That’s what Dailey can do for us as the sixth man.”
In time, you have to figure that Michael Jordan will be the main man. Even in his weakest moments, he swops about the court, harassing the man with the ball, crowding the passing lanes, tipping the ball away from guards and forwards and playing the game with great enthusiasm.
“He makes a lot of things happen, doesn’t he?” Loughery wondered aloud, and no answer was required. Jordan is a force, and he’s a lot more fun than anything the promotion department can heave at us.
If you give him a little time, you might see him move the rest of the franchise in the right direction.