Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 20, 1993                   TAG: 9306200165
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By SAM SMITH KNIGHT RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: PHOENIX, ARIZ.                                LENGTH: Medium

PHOENIX IS GOING TO BE HOT AS SERIES MOVES BACK

And now the problem for the Bulls, up 3-2 as they face the Suns today in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, is avoiding becoming the answer to the future trivia question: What team won the first two games on the road and then lost the series?

"The frustrating thing about this series is we know we're the better team," said Danny Ainge, who casually rippled a big 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter of the 108-98 Suns victory in Game 5 on Friday night. "That game is the team we are. But, the fact we've been able to play badly in Games 1, 2 and 4 and still have a chance tells you how good a team we are.

"But there's no celebrating yet. We know they need only one and we need two, that we haven't accomplished anything yet. All we've done is save the city of Chicago."

And sadden its citizens, who were looking to uncork some champagne. Promoted by the calls for calm in Chicago the last few days because of the ugly rioting after last season's championship victory, the Suns' pregame message board - uncharacteristically covered so the media could not see - read "SAVE THE CITY" in big, block letters.

"It was our goal," said Suns coach Paul Westphal, who came up with the mocking slogan. "We wanted to step forward and repay all the hospitality. We didn't want to see Chicago burned."

Only perhaps its basketball team burning over the lost opportunity.

"I guess you can take all the plywood off the windows now," gloated Charles Barkley, who had 24 points and six rebounds, but whose postup threat badly compromised the Bulls' defense. His threat allowed Richard Dumas to sneak inside repeatedly for 25 points and Kevin Johnson to operate free of big men for 25 points and eight assists. "We're civilized in Phoenix.

"Hey, we still have two more to go," said Barkley. "It's going to be a tough series, but not this tough. I was walking down Michigan Avenue and saw all these windows being boarded up. I thought I was back in the neighborhood."

Which was not a pretty place for big-city folks, as the Suns neighborhood is becoming uncomfortable for the Bulls. Is that the ship of destiny, or just a mirage? It was 112 degrees in Phoenix on Friday. But not any hotter than the heat suddenly being turned up on the Bulls.

"I believe we're the best team," said Westphal, "and if we are, we should be able to win two games at home. Despite losing two on our home court, we played the whole season to get that home-court advantage, and we feel good about going home. If we cannot win two, we don't deserve to be the world champions."

And, right now, perhaps because they know they outplayed the Bulls the past three games, the Suns are the arrogant and cocky bunch, laughing all the way home.

"We were motivated to keep Phil Jackson from the Grateful Dead concert [in Chicago]," offered Ainge.

"Michael [Jordan] said [before Game 5] he wasn't coming to Phoenix," noted Kevin Johnson. "Well, if he's not coming, the series is over. That's for sure."

Nah, said Barkley, who added he knew the Bulls were coming.

"I told Scottie [Pippen during the game]," said Barkley, "that I'd be seeing him for dinner Saturday. In Phoenix.

"People never want to give our team credit," Barkley said. "People say, `The Bulls are uptight,' or something else to make an excuse for them. But, we're pretty good. We did have the best record in the league. But we're not here to prove anything. We're just here to win."

The Suns took Game 5 away from the Bulls with an aggressive defense in which they double-teamed Jordan more, and battled hard on the boards in winning a commanding 45-35 rebounding edge, their largest and first since Game 1. They also stepped in as Jordan drove, not allowing him the penetration he had in Game 4, and mostly did a good job on the Bulls shooters.

"It's a different mentality now," said Barkley. "We know we can beat them. We just have to come out and play aggressive. Other than Game 1, I'm happy with our performance. I've said all along, we'll only go as far as me and Kevin take us. If both of us play well, we'll beat anybody.

"And now we're going to the Valley. It could be real hot."