Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993 TAG: 9305200027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gone are the Pacers and Hornets. Gone are the Hawks and Cavaliers. Chicago and New York finally get each other, with a shot at the NBA Finals at stake in a series that should set basketball juices flowing in both cities.
"Since last September and October the questions have been about how to play the Knicks; now is the time," Chicago coach Phil Jackson said Wednesday.
The best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals open Sunday in New York. Last year, the Bulls beat the Knicks in a seven-game second round series en route to their second straight NBA championship.
"Obviously they're hungry, but we're going for a third title and that weighs heavily," Michael Jordan said. "It's there, it can be accomplished."
The Bulls, who have won all seven of their playoff games in sweeps of Atlanta and Cleveland, are seeking to become the third NBA team to win three straight titles and the first since the Boston Celtics in 1966.
"I'm glad it's New York," forward Scottie Pippen said. "The rivalry has been building and I'm glad we didn't let anybody down."
The Knicks made it to their first conference final in 19 years.
While the Bulls were sweeping Atlanta in three games and Cleveland in four, the Knicks had a tougher time with both Indiana and Charlotte, losing once in each series and often struggling in the games they won. The wrapup victory over the Hornets was no exception with New York blowing most of a 14-point fourth quarter lead before nailing down the 105-101 victory.
It was New York's 25th straight home court triumph. "We worked hard to get the home court and now we have to take advantage of it," coach Pat Riley said.
"It's a great feeling to get through the first two rounds. I really felt we were playing very tight."
Jackson said the keys to beating the Knicks are stopping Patrick Ewing and John Starks. He plans to rotate Bill Cartwright, Will Perdue, Stacey King and Scott Williams against Ewing.
"We have to deny Patrick the ball and make him work on the other end of the court," Jackson said. "We have to limit his catches and his shots."
Only five current Knicks - Anthony Mason, Starks, Ewing, Charles Oakley and Greg Anthony - were with the team a year ago.
The reconstructed team made the home-court advantage a primary goal during the regular season and earned that edge with a conference-best 60 wins, three more than the Bulls.
Opening a series on the road will be strange to the Bulls. They had the home-court advantage in all series the past two years.
"Opening on the road gives us good focus," Jordan said. "The pressure is not on us, the pressure is on them having to win the first two at home. If it takes us seven games to get to the next round, so what?"
by CNB