A Big Sweep, or Is That a Lot of Bull?

Is this series really necessary?

Can’t we do this by a show of hands? How many think the Chicago Bulls will sweep? OK, now everyone who thinks they’ll win in five. Anyone left?

For the Seattle SuperSonics, who haven’t been here before and thought Sunday’s inspirational, heart-warming victory meant anything, this has been a cruel lesson, indeed. They arrived as proud representatives of their conference only to find they were being taken as seriously as the Washington Generals on a Globetrotter tour.

While they were in the fight of their lives last week, developing their new character and maturity, everyone else seems to have been making plans for their quick demise and the ensuing celebration and parade.

Last week, the day after the Utah Jazz staved off elimination in Game 5, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced plans to beef up his police presence in order to avoid the annual post-championship riot.

Get it? Whatever happened out West was of little note, like finding out who was going to be the flower girl at the wedding.

“Enjoy the great victory and celebration of your team but don’t go out and beat somebody up,” said Daley, one servant of the people who’s in touch with his constituents’ mood.

Chicago cops, it turns out, had been training for this contingency for months, showing what they think, not only of the SuperSonics, but the 27 other teams as well.

Chicago players, killing eight days, were asked if they wanted to sweep (whomever) to make a statement, win a place in history, finish the playoffs 15-1, which would be the best ever. How did 87-11 sound?

It wasn’t just Bulls’ fans. NBC’s Bob Costas, necessarily adept at playing it straight down the middle lest Seattle fans burn out the switchboard, noted that the Bulls are so popular, the network could expect good ratings even in a short series.

No, the ever-so-sensitive SuperSonics still can’t find their respect.

“I’m a little disappointed with the tone in the Chicago series,” said Karl, not one to overlook an insult, however predictable.

“ ‘We don’t have a chance, we’ll do OK, we might win one’--yeah, I think we’re going to win the series.”

More likely, he doesn’t but can imagine a scenario--we hit all our shots, they miss all theirs--that would do it. At the moment, it is shared only by SuperSonic fans, Karl’s assistant coaches, players and blood relatives, and perhaps not many of them.

It would have been different if they had ended the Western finals in five, bringing them here with the momentum of an 11-2 postseason showing but that little problem they had with the Jazz ended that.

Through Game 4, the SuperSonics, who made 36% of their three-pointers during the season, were firing away at 41% in the playoffs. In Games 5, 6 and 7, they cooled off to a more Sonic-like 30%. Nate McMillan, who had been on the greatest three-point binge of his career, hurt his back and went from 56% in the first two rounds to 8%. If the Western finals are an indication, the Bulls have only two 40% long-range bombers to worry about, Gary Payton and Sam Perkins.

Payton and Shawn Kemp, of course, carry Seattle’s hopes. Either could play wonderfully or blow sky high. The Bulls, however, have a fine low-post defender, Dennis Rodman, to play Kemp, assuming the moon doesn’t change phases and Rodman doesn’t head-butt a referee, grow fangs or run off with Madonna.

Meanwhile, Bull Coach Phil Jackson seems to be looking for the cocky, trash-talking Payton’s button.

A week ago, he observed that Payton, the league defensive player of the year, was, indeed, a “very fine defensive player but he’s not in Michael Jordan’s class.”

Then Jackson dared Karl to let his defensive player of the year guard Jordan.

“We like that matchup,” said Jackson, “because [Payton] will get in foul trouble.”

For good measure, Jackson also called Karl’s defense a zone, adding he especially liked “the box and one on Michael.”

And the SuperSonics are supposed to be the talkers? At this elevation, their “You can’t guard me!” taunts and primal screams after dunks are kid stuff, compared to the mind games and sneering the arrogant Bulls are about to whip out on them.

Of course, a Seattle victory isn’t impossible, merely improbable. The Bulls are vulnerable if Scottie Pippen doesn’t play well and he’s been in a slump so long, even Jackson expects it to continue. When Pippen played his one good game against Orlando, Jackson was asked if he thought Pippen’s slump was over.

“No,” he said.

If the SuperSonics don’t get blown out, they might actually do something. The Bulls are old and show their age when they have to play a lot of games. The SuperSonics are younger and deeper.

On the bright side, the SuperSonics aren’t likely to have to worry about choking in this series. However, sinking like a stone in a pond, without a ripple, seems an option.