Magic Doesn’t Work Against Bulls’ Power

That was it?

The NBA playoff series everybody was waiting for got off to a one-sided start Sunday when one of the elite teams scheduled to participate turned into a pumpkin long before the ball started and the clock struck 12. That was the Orlando Magic, routed by the Chicago Bulls, 121-83, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

“It’s not quite the physical brute-ness of the New York Knicks,” said Michael Jordan, called on for only a token appearance--21 points--and trying to be diplomatic.

“They don’t try to attack you physically, leave bruises on you or broken bones or whatever. It’s different. I think it’s more of a mental attack than a physical.”

Knicks and stones may break their bones, but who cares about mental attacks? The Bulls rolled over the Magic in shuddering fashion. Three Orlando starters--Dennis Scott, Horace Grant and Nick Anderson--failed to score from the field.

Scottie Pippen, mired in a slump during the Knick series, made one jump shot all game. Fortunately for him, the Magic let him in for six layups and dunks and he scored 18 points.

After three quarters, Dennis Rodman had as many rebounds in 29 minutes (19) as the entire Magic team.

Rodman outscored Grant, 13-0, and outrebounded him, 21-1.

The final rebound margin was 62-28.

“Rebounding is concentration and effort,” Magic Coach Brian Hill said. “ . . . If we can’t bring the rebounding edge closer, we won’t have a chance on Tuesday either.”

While the Bulls were wrestling the Knicks, the Magic was polishing off smaller fry, the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, both of whom have three-guard lineups and small centers. The Magic is an offensive power and the Bulls could tell the difference right away.

On the other hand, the Magic had never played a postseason series without home-court advantage. Never having opened on the road, they proceeded to conduct a clinic in how not to.

They let the Bulls jump to a 10-0 lead, without Jordan even shooting.

They gave up second shots.

They let the struggling Pippen get easy shots, easing his wounded confidence.

The Bulls went up by 16 in the first quarter. The Magic--led by Penny Hardaway, who would finish with 38 points, and Shaquille O’Neal, who would score 27--cut it to four in the second period, but that was their lone challenge of the day.

Hardaway and O’Neal were on their own in this one. Last spring, the Magic beat the Bulls in a six-game series as Coach Phil Jackson double-teamed O’Neal, as most teams do, and Scott and Grant shot his team to pieces.

This season, the Bulls started playing O’Neal one-on-one and keeping their other defenders at home. Anderson went 0 for 7 Sunday, Scott 0 for 3 and Grant 0 for 1, so you could mark down Round 1 for Jackson.

“Last time we were here,” Scott said, “they said they were going to let Shaq and Penny go one-on-one and pretty much get theirs and always keep a guy facing me.

“So if that’s what they want to do, they see that’s the best way to beat the Magic. If they double, Horace is going to knock down that free-throw-line jump shot all game. If not, he’s going to swing it to me on the wing and I’m going to knock down threes all game.

“Of course, transition’s where a lot of the time I get most of my points. Soon as I cross halfcourt, there’s Ron Harper.”

No, it wasn’t the Magic’s day and unless they think of something quick, the rest of them might not be too rosy either. Hill said that was “what I’m going to have to figure out in the next 48 hours,” but it won’t be easy.

The thing to do would be to punch the ball into O’Neal until the Bulls have to double-team him. However, with O’Neal a basket case at the free-throw line, the Bulls have only to grab him and send him there.

O’Neal, shooting 40% on free throws in the postseason, missed his first six Sunday before making one. His form was grisly, resembling a shot-putter’s. His shots went from right to left and there are major league pitchers who might have envied his velocity.

Then there was Grant, who left in the third quarter because of an elbow injury. X-rays were negative, but Hill said Grant is “doubtful” for Game 2. Coaches customarily give out gloomy injury forecasts during the playoffs. However, if Grant doesn’t make it back, Jon Koncak will play power forward, which would be truly gloomy news in Orlando. Unless something changes, whoever suits up for the Magic on Tuesday is in trouble, and that’s not doubtful at all.