A few weeks ago, Horace Grant was hungry to be traded.
Tuesday night, after helping the Bulls turn back the Golden State Warriors 115-106, he had the smile of a man well fed.
”I love it,” said Grant, revealing his new-found affection for the Bulls` new-found secret recipe-Michael Jordan at point guard.
Indeed, all the Bulls are finding it a pleasure to be fed off Jordan`s generous dishes from the point.
The Bulls` fifth straight victory made their record 8-2 since Jordan made the switch to point guard. Tuesday, Jordan netted his sixth triple double of the year with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
”I`m still learning,” he confessed after the game.
The victory moved the Bulls two full games ahead of fifth-place Atlanta in the NBA`s Central Division.
Tuesday night, it was a case of the big guys picking on the little guys, as the undersized Warriors watched rebounds disappear over their heads into the Bulls` hands.
Grant (20 points) had 13 rebounds, Scottie Pippen had 12 and Bill Cartwright had a game-high 15 for the Bulls. Overall, the Bulls had 61 rebounds, a season high, to the Warriors` 47.
”I thought the best way to win tonight was with a small lineup,” said Golden State coach Don Nelson, who apparently thought wrong.
”Our big thing is that we wanted to hammer the offensive boards,” said Bulls coach Doug Collins. ”They have a small team, and Horace did a good job at that tonight.”
Grant has been one of the big beneficiaries of the Bulls` new lineup.
”Jordan really pushes the ball up,” said Grant. ”I`m not the strongest power forward out there, so I just stay out in the lane.”
Grant`s earlier discontent was nowhere to be seen.
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”Since I talked to the coach we are 5-0, so everything is great,” said Grant. ”When you`re angry, you don`t think. But I made my point. I just wanted to get everything straight. Now I feel comfortable out there.”
The only sour note of the night for the Bulls was the possibility that Craig Hodges might have to sit out Wednesday`s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Hodges twisted his ankle and bruised his calf when Golden State`s Rod Higgins fell on him in the second half.
The Bulls, never behind in the second half, put the game away at 8:46 of the fourth quarter, when John Paxson peeled the ball from the Warriors and fed a well-rested Sam Vincent, who took off for an easy layup to put the score at 99-88.
The play followed consecutive Jordan jumpers that took the last breath from the running Warriors, and the Bulls held on to something close to a 10-point lead for the remainder of the game.
As they did out West, the Bulls came out running. Jordan and Grant combined for 13 of the Bulls` first 15 points on the way to a 17-12 lead. Jordan assisted on all four of Grant`s baskets.
The Bulls were never behind in the first quarter, but did fall behind in the second when Chris Mullin, the Warriors All-Star ”point forward,”
really got going. Mullin started hitting his quick jumper and led the break as Golden State scored eight straight points to open a 52-47 lead with about five minutes left in the half.
But the Bulls mustered their strength and went on a 10-point run, putting the score at 57-52 with 2:33 left in the first half. Six of those 10 points were supplied by Grant, who hit an 8-foot jumper on a feed from Jordan, a layup, and a dunk, where he also ate off a Jordan dish.
The Warriors never caught up again.
”It`s quite an advantage they found,” said Nelson, envious of the Bulls` ability to make Jordan the playmaker. ”There are a few of us coaches who have asked about it for years, but were glad they didn`t make the move. It`s a tremendous advantage to have him with the ball all the time.”
Mused Jordan: ”They haven`t figured out how to beat it yet.”