Jordan Will Prevail Because His Desire Matches His Talent

He is not only the best player, but he is the most ambitious player, and in this regard, it is not even close. To quote the sound-bite people broadcasting these NBA Finals in two dozen languages to 175 countries and assorted unchartered frontiers, Michael Jordan wants it more.

That is obvious to everyone, even stubborn old Celtics raised on classic, 1980s propaganda that nobody - I mean nobody - wanted it more than Larry Bird.

“I always thought that Larry worked harder than any player, getting the absolute most from his skills,” said Boston loyalist Danny Ainge. “And back then, I never thought that Michael, or anyone, could ever be as intense as Larry in terms of winning. But Michael is at least his equal in all those categories, besides being the superior athlete.”

Besides going for his fourth championship - one more than Bird won - against the likes of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, instead of the five-time champion Magic Johnson.

One fourth-quarter play Friday night illustrated the difference of the competing principals in Chicago’s 92-88 victory for a 2-0 lead in the series that resumes today in Seattle. The Bulls were leading 84-78 when Toni Kukoc missed a 3-pointer, rebounded by Jordan.

Shadowed by Payton, Jordan turned toward the lane into a crowd and had the ball stripped by Payton from behind. He grabbed it back, then lost control. The ball rolled away. Jordan dived, like a fullback smelling the goal line, pounced on the ball and called timeout. All around him, players in green shirts - Payton and Kemp included - stood and watched as if they couldn’t believe what a spectacle Jordan was making of himself. Which he was.

This wasn’t exactly a performance of Rare Air; there were two Jordan air balls among 13 missed shots in 22 attempts, plus six clanked free throws. But in the last 5 minutes of a game, the Bulls flirted with losing after blowing much of a 13-point lead, and Jordan’s fingerprints were everywhere.

Sonics close to 85-81? Jordan takes Hersey Hawkins off the dribble, makes two free throws. Detlef Schrempf misses a jumper at 87-81? Jordan soars for the rebound. Ron Harper clanks a jumper? Jordan muscles in on the right side, gets fouled, makes 1 of 2. Kemp brings the Sonics within 88-84 with a three-point play? Jordan isolates Schrempf on the right side, resulting in two more free throws.

I know Dennis Rodman had 20 rebounds, a record-tying 11 on the offensive end, and that he somehow forged a jump ball with Sam Perkins, which he won, after Scottie Pippen gagged a second free throw with 8.9 seconds left. But check the tape. That white jersey with red trim slipping a shoulder around Perkins’ flawed box-out on the right side as Pippen’s free throw came up woefully short was No. 23. The ball ricocheted off Jordan, up for grabs.

“I don’t know if the right word is desperation, but sometimes that’s how it seems with Michael and winning,” said John Paxson, the Bulls assistant coach who has been with Jordan for a decade.

If the Sonics are going to beat the Bulls in a close game, much less the series, their All-Star players must match Jordan’s triumphant will, not merely settle for, as Payton has, getting in his face.

Jordan only uses confrontation to help his team, as when he cornered a passive Kukoc and said: “Are you scared? If you’re scared, then go sit down.” The enigmatic Croat soon after scored eight points in a 1-minute, 25-second third-quarter burst as the Bulls took control.

Jordan, the scoring guard, had eight assists in 43 minutes. Payton, the point guard, had three in 43.

Ainge, in town for the league’s predraft camp, watched this unfold and decided, without even checking with Bird, that “Michael’s the best player, without question, of all time.” He wasn’t calling the Bulls the best team of all time, mind you, because he claimed the 67-victory Celtics of 1985-86 would have had the better of every matchup except with Jordan. Bird. Parish. McHale. Walton off the bench.

“Too much up front,” he said. “But because they have Michael, we only win in seven.” Provided Game 7 is in Boston, and isn’t close at the end.