Notes on a Scorecard - June 10, 1991

When Michael Jordan accepts the series most valuable player award Wednesday at the Forum--or, at the very latest, Friday at Chicago Stadium--he should thank his wonderful supporting cast for helping to make it all possible. . . . Jordan is getting more help than Magic Johnson and that is the difference in the NBA finals. . . .

I mean, that five-on-three matchup Sunday made it rather difficult on the Lakers. . . .

“They’re relying solely on Magic,” Bill Walton said. . . .

The Lakers were in big trouble as early as the first quarter when the Bulls led, 19-13, despite the fact Jordan had scored only two points. . . .

It got about as ugly as it ever gets at the Forum when dozens of fans booed the Lakers off the court after the buzzer ending the third quarter. . . .

The Western Conference has lost seven consecutive home games in the NBA finals. . . .

The Bulls have held their opponents to fewer than 100 points in 14 of 16 playoff games. . . .

“When all five of our starters are in double figures in field goal attempts, we usually win,” John Paxson said. . . .

Guys such as Paxson helped Jordan to out-assist Magic, 13-11. . . .

Chicago is patient. Portland wasn’t. . . .

The Jordan Hustle: With 2:12 left and the Bulls leading by 12 points, Michael leaped into the front row trying to retrieve a loose ball. . . .

All the fancy stuff he does sometimes makes you forget what an exceptional outside shooter Jordan is. . . .

A representative of Placido Domingo called the Forum last week to ask if Domingo could sing the national anthem Friday. Rhonda Windham, the former USC point guard who picks the singers for Laker games, wisely granted the request. . . .

CBS no longer telecasts NBA games, but KCBS got into the spirit by showing a repeat of that hoop classic, “Laker Girls” Saturday night. . . .

Because of TV, Laker home games have started at 12:30 p.m., 4, 6, and 7:30 this year. . . .

The late-afternoon tipoff and the L.A. loss in Game 3 lowered ticket scalpers’ prices Sunday. . . .

And you can probably get a decent pair for Wednesday at a very reasonable rate. . . .

The Lakers are 0 for 13 from three-point territory the past two games. . . . Grafitti on a Harbor Freeway wall that rapidly became outdated: “Lakers In Five.” . . .

The last time the Lakers trailed 3-1 in a playoff series, they were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns, 106-103, at the Forum last year. . . .

Jack McDowell, the White Sox pitcher who had his bid for a perfect game in Kansas City ruined in the seventh inning Sunday, shouldn’t feel too bad. He wouldn’t have made the banner headlines in Chicago today, anyway. . . .

The only thing bush league about the Forum is the antiquated scoreboard, which is supposed to be replaced next season. . . .

Celebrity count: Jack, Don Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Daryl Hannah, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson, Susan St. James, James Brown, Jesse Jackson, FloJo and Al Davis. My sincere apologies to anyone I may have missed. . . .

There is so much international interest in the series that the overflow press is sitting in a special section high above the south basket. . . .

I wish all those L.A. bashers from Chicago would stop moving here. . . .

The Lakers look tired. The Bulls look fresh. . . .

Thumbs up to Ed T. Rush, Dick Bavetta, Hugh Evans, Darell Garretson, Joe Crawford, Bill Oakes, Jess Kersey, Mike Mathis, Jake O’Donnell, Hue Hollins, and Jack Madden for a well-officiated series.