The bus that was supposed to be carrying the New York Knicks was pretty empty, too.
Oh, they did arrive at the Stadium Friday evening with a full complement of bodies, but if they brought any spirit with them, it was broken early and often.
When the door to this great old madhouse opened two hours before jump ball-perhaps for the final time-several Knicks were on the floor practicing. Free throws, not leg whips.
The players were spotted by a group of balcony fans who would not sit down before hurling every insult imaginable, though unprintable. The customers, even from a distance, were in good throat. The Knicks, with no choice, were in good humor. They looked up and laughed.
That’s as friendly and hospitable as it got for the Knicks. They were destroyed 93-79 by the Bulls. The tournament, tied at three falls each, ends Sunday in New York. And hold your tickets for the Indiana Pacers. The Stadium isn’t closed yet.
It was as easy as NBC to see a Game 7 on the horizon. The Knicks led for about a minute Friday night. The Bulls’ clinic lasted for nearly 48. It was over even before Scottie Pippen ran over Patrick Ewing midway through the third quarter. Pippen got a technical foul for taking indecent liberties with a legend from New York, but it wasn’t an altogether bad time to deliver a message. When it comes to being sparring partners for the Knicks, the Bulls make better defending NBA champions.
Instead of going away easily, the Bulls are again going to New York, where the Knicks will discover whether they can punch with pianos on their backs. The pressure was all on the Bulls Friday night, until they applied it to the Knicks. The Bulls can play defense, too. When Ewing showered following the rout, the only surprise was that Bill Cartwright didn’t hand him the towel. There is no communication whatsoever between the ancient warrior’s birth certificate and his heart.
The Knicks had Derek Harper, and when John Starks wasn’t tripping Pippen, he was hacking Pete Myers. But the Bulls played through the chop shop, hearing whistles while they worked. They went to the foul line more times in Friday night’s first quarter than they did all Wednesday night in New York. Funny how this happens when judgment calls impact TV schedules.
But this is big business, and the Bulls are still on duty. How big have they become, win or lose, with or without Michael Jordan? More evidence of their larger-than-life profile occurred at Thursday’s practice, when Pippen walked out early, claiming to have been “dismissed” by coach Phil Jackson.
Local broadcast outlets, even ESPN, ran with the story. Right into a wall. It was a ruse and Pippen, a lightning rod for controversy, milked the moment. Touche. It was not a shining example of accountability by the media. But not too long ago, the Bulls were happy just to have sportscasts “cut in” for their scores.
Yes, this was the last season for the Bulls in the Stadium. In their first, the Bulls averaged 3,975 per game and drew 2,234 for their opener. That’s about the waiting list for tickets next season at the United Center, but this season isn’t over just yet. The Bulls were up to the occasion Friday night, an attitude confirmed early in the second quarter when Anthony Mason’s clear path to a stuff was rejected by Luc Longley.
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Mason, of course, is the very symbol of what the ornery Knicks are all about. He was cleared for this series by his own coach, Pat Riley, at the last minute after being suspended during the final week of the regular schedule. Mason shares Jordan’s love of baseball, though Mason claims his next career might be in criminal justice. If successful, Mason might pull a rare triple double. He could break the law, handcuff himself, then call police for a citizen’s arrest.
By Monday, if the Knicks continue to unravel, Mason could have all sorts of free time.