Sweeping Statements Replace Bulls’ Sweep

The day after dawned with the predictable headlines--”Sweepless in Seattle” was one--and the predictable fallout from Michael Jordan, who conceded nothing to the Seattle SuperSonics’ defense, even though he had missed 13 of 19 shots Wednesday night and just maybe was well into plotting revenge.

Not that Jordan was dropping hints or anything. Like when a reporter noted after practice Thursday that Seattle, coming off the 21-point victory, might be expecting him to respond with something along the lines of 45 points for the Chicago Bulls tonight in Game 5 of the NBA finals.

“Why stop there?” he responded, straight-faced.

Or when someone asked Jordan whether the resounding win may have awakened the SuperSonics, just in time.

“They may have awakened us too,” he said.

This is the side of Jordan that opponents--at least the smart ones--would rather not see. The one who has been challenged. The one whose frustration level had been bumped up a notch or four by scrapes with officials, one of which led to a technical and another that easily could have meant an ejection.

The only thing worse than Jordan at the speed limit is Jordan with something to prove, and that’s him today, down to 42.7% shooting in the series the Bulls lead, 3-1, and facing questions about the great defensive job by Seattle’s Gary Payton et al. in Game 4. Consider him challenged.

“You sure he was a part of my frustration?” Jordan responded when asked about Payton’s work, much more of a statement than a question.

“I had good shots. I had good post-up positions. The one call where [referee] Mike Mathis called an offensive foul, I didn’t think I did, but I know it’s one of his favorite calls.

“But I don’t think Gary’s defense on me really dictated the way I played or the frustration I had. I missed some shots. I missed some easy shots.”

“I’m not saying he can’t guard me. He can guard me at any point in time because he’s going to have games where he’s going to do his job, and I’m going to do my job.”

But . . .

“I can only stop myself,” Jordan said. “If I miss my jump shots, I miss my jump shots. That’s more confidence for the defense. But if I’m hitting my jump shots or my post-ups or any of my offense, I feel confident.”

Said Payton, the league’s defensive player of the year who has also done a commendable job on Scottie Pippen despite giving away three inches: “What we’re going to do is try and give a good shot to help him stop himself. We’re going to be fine with it. If he’s the only one that’s going to stop himself, I’m going to give him a good chance to try and stop him.”

The SuperSonics know better than to expect much help from the officials, Jordan having probably dodged an ejection Wednesday because of his name and his stature. His actions certainly could have resulted in one when he went face to face with Bill Oakes over a double-dribble call in the fourth quarter.

“If he’s not Michael Jordan, I think he would have got thrown out of the basketball game,” Seattle Coach George Karl said. “But I have no problem giving that hypocrisy respect because I think Michael’s earned that.”

So Jordan survived.

“Everyone who knows Michael knows he loves a challenge,” teammate Randy Brown said. “And this is it.”