Notes on a Scorecard - June 22, 1993

If this is June 22, it must be baseball season. . . .

However, the topic of the day is where the Chicago Bulls rank among NBA teams in history. . . .

For sure, they rank No. 1 in 1993, the same as in ’92 and ’91. They were better than the Phoenix Suns this year, the Portland Trail Blazers last year and the Lakers two years ago. . . .

That is all that really matters, because Chicago wasn’t asked to play the 1965 Boston Celtics, the ’67 Philadelphia 76ers, the ’85 Lakers, the ’86 Celtics or the ’90 Detroit Pistons. . . .

It could be said with some degree of confidence, though, that all of the above teams had better and deeper rosters than these Bulls. . . .

But none of them had Michael Jordan, and he would make the Bulls at least competitive against any team ever. . . .

Overshadowed by John Paxson’s three-pointer and Horace Grant’s block of Kevin Johnson’s shot Sunday was Jordan’s rebound, coast-to-coast dash and layup that took only five seconds and brought the Bulls to within two points of the Suns with 38 seconds remaining. . . .

Oddity: Each team scored 640 points during the six-game series. . . .

Occasionally, free-throw shooting is overrated. The Bulls shot only 63% from the line during the series and made 43 fewer free throws than the Suns. . . .

Laker forward A.C. Green was the leading rebounder in the playoffs, at least per game, averaging 14.6. . . .

The game is in pretty good shape, but I would like to see the NBA crack down on trash talk and traveling. Also, a player fouled while missing a three-point attempt should get three free throws. . . .

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Benoit Benjamin for Sam Bowie and a second-round draft choice? Benoit Benjamin for a player never to be named would have been a bargain for the Lakers. . . .

If Don Nelson can’t work a trade with the Orlando Magic for the No. 1 pick and the opportunity to select Shawn Bradley, the Golden State Warriors might try to deal for Washington Bullet center Pervis Ellison. . . .

Note to Clipper owner Donald Sterling: Rick Barry and Rick Majerus are still available to fill the coaching vacancy. . . .

As a gag, Chris Webber’s father purchased this vanity license plate: “Timeout.” . . .

Colorado’s Andres Galarraga, who injured the Dodgers’ Jody Reed with a reckless slide, should have gotten the longest suspension instead of none at all. . . .

If you don’t think expansion has diluted pitching staffs, consider that 58 players--31 in the National League, 27 in the American--were batting at least .300 in the Sunday newspaper averages. . . .

Nine of the 14 American League teams began the week with earned-run averages of 4.00 or higher. . . .

The best little-known catcher in baseball is Chad Kreuter of the Detroit Tigers. . . .

Be sure to include the managing of rookie Dusty Baker among the prime reasons for the Giants’ best start since they arrived in San Francisco. . . .

Baker’s handling of the bullpen, among other things, has been exceptional. . . .

The Giants are the most surprising team in baseball and the Cincinnati Reds the most disappointing. . . .

Update on the 3,000-hit club: George Brett overtook Robin Yount the other day in hits. . . .

What Dave Winfield was to the Toronto Blue Jays last season, Paul Molitor is to them this season--and more. . . .

Veteran pitchers, such as Frank Viola of Boston and Dennis Martinez of Montreal, probably will be traded to pennant-contending teams. . . .

The Norfolk Tides of the International League were fined $8,000 by the FCC for using an unlicensed radar gun. . . .

The recent Lennox Lewis-Tony Tucker fight at Las Vegas supposedly was the biggest money loser ever, to the tune of $6 million. . . .

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First prize in the U.S. Open--$290,000 to Lee Janzen--was double the check awarded runner-up Payne Stewart. . . .

Saturday will be the third and last time that the Kings won’t have a first-round draft choice because of the Wayne Gretzky trade with the Edmonton Oilers. . . .

How much longer is the NBA season than the NCAA season? The NBA finals ended the same day as the U.S. Open. The NCAA championship game was played at the start of the week of the Masters.