ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606100092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SEATTLE
SOURCE: Associated Press
Start sewing the championship banner, start casting the rings. The NBA Finals are over, folks, except for the formality of Game 4.
Michael Jordan imposed his will on Seattle and the Chicago Bulls simply steamrolled the SuperSonics on Sunday, putting on as mighty a performance as they've given all postseason.
They led by 22 before the first quarter was over, got 15 consecutive points from Jordan in the second, withstood a Seattle run in the third and cruised through the fourth for a 108-86 victory and a 3-0 lead in the series.
``It's probably the best we've played in the postseason, especially the first half,'' Scottie Pippen said.
``It was [a] spectacular game for our team, and Michael carried us in the first half,'' Bulls coach Phil Jackson said.
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in any playoff round, and the Sonics don't look like much of a candidate to be the first - especially after what they saw in Game 3.
The Bulls quieted Key Arena right from the start, kept their lead in double digits for the final 421/2 minutes and walked off the court looking as proud as the champions they seem certain to become.
``In the first half we basically took the crowd out of the game,'' Jordan said. ``We pretty much wanted to control things, and that's what we did. ... When we get on the road, we become a little more focused.''
Game 4 is Wednesday night, and a victory by the Bulls would give them a sweep of the series and the best postseason record in playoff history: 15-1. The current record is 12-1 by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.
It was the ninth victory in a row for Chicago, tying the 1982 Los Angeles Lakers for the second-most consecutive wins in a single postseason.
The record is 11, which the Bulls won't be able to match, but it's about the only great thing that can't be said about them.
Jordan led Chicago with 36 points, Luc Longley had 19 and Toni Kukoc 14. Chicago, which had struggled from the field in the first two games, finished at 50 percent from the field and forced 21 turnovers from a thoroughly overmatched Seattle team.
``They won 72 games in the regular season, and it's showing why now,'' Hersey Hawkins said. ``We haven't played a good game for three games. It's a shame.''
After a pair of mediocre yet effective performances at home in the first two games, the Bulls seemed determined to make themselves click as the series moved West.
They started the game precise and nearly perfect, taking a 7-0 lead on a lefty hook by Longley, a side jumper by Kukoc and a 3-pointer by Jordan before the game was two minutes gone.
Just two minutes later, the lead was up to 13-2 on a jumper from the lane by Jordan, and after five straight points by Kukoc and a free throw by Pippen, it was 19-4 with 6:07 left.
``It was the first time in the series I've seen the Bulls come out with killer eyes,'' Seattle coach George Karl said.
And they didn't let up.
Longley had consecutive shots inside, Jordan hit a jumper and a 3-pointer and then made a steal, feeding Pippen for a fastbreak dunk that was followed by yet another, this one by Rodman off an assist by Pippen, for a 34-12 lead.
It was 34-16 after one period, two points off the record lead of 20 by the 1970 Los Angeles Lakers.
The second quarter belonged to Jordan, who took over the show with a display uniquely his. He made four free throws, hit a high-arching fadeaway from 14 feet, buried a wide open jumper from the side and swished a 3-pointer from straightaway for a 56-35 lead.
His next shot was another long jumper with his foot on the 3-point line, again nothing but net, and he then bounced around on one foot and did a sort of backpedal strut downcourt.
``Michael was feeling this team out in the first two games,'' Pippen said. ``You knew he was going to have a big game sooner or later.''
Jordan's 15-point burst ended with a pair of free throws, and Pippen scored the last two points of the half on a pretty driving bank shot from six feet away.
It made the score 62-38, and a smattering of boos were heard as the Sonics sulked off the court.
``Michael was borderline unstoppable,'' Karl said. ``We got hit with a lot of hammers tonight, he was the first.''
Longley scored the first basket of the second half, and Seattle responded with a 16-2 run to draw to 66-54.
``I thought we were going to give it away in the third,'' Jordan said.
But Steve Kerr ended the run with a 3-pointer and Chicago opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run ending with a three-point play by Jordan.
``Yes! Yes!'' Pippen said from the bench.
The threat was over and so, pretty much, was the game.
As is the series.
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. 1. Shawn Kemp (40) of the Sonics and Dennis Rodmanby CNBof the Bulls are up in arms during the second quarter Sunday night.
Chicago won 108-86 and can wrap up the series Wednesday night with a
win in Game 4. color. 2. Michael Jordan (left) looks for an open
teammate while heading out of bounds as Sam Perkins defends.
Graphic: logo. color.