Once Again, Bulls Are Fine With Rodman

Dennis Rodman, looking cool and casual in red-checked warmup pants, was back at the Chicago Bulls’ practice Saturday. He’ll be a poorer man for missing Friday’s drills after arriving late.

“We had everybody here and everybody is on the same page so everybody knows that there are no problems,” Bull Coach Phil Jackson said after Saturday’s workout in preparation for today’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the Indiana Pacers.

“Dennis will be a little shorter in the pocket, that’s about all.”

How much of a fine?

“I haven’t figured that out, but I’ll get back to you when I do figure it out. It will be substantial,” Jackson said with a smile.

Rodman has been on his best behavior most of the season, the result of an incentive-heavy contract.

He was sent home Jan. 23 from New Jersey after missing a shootaround following a late night out. He missed two practices in February--one because he said he misplaced his car keys.

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Indiana’s Reggie Miller averaged 23 points, shooting 50% against the Bulls in four regular-season games. But he had one subpar performance at Market Square Arena, making only four of 14 shots for 12 points as the Bulls won, 90-84.

“He’s had some great games against us and stinko games against us,” Jackson said.

Jackson reiterated that the Bulls are just as concerned with containing Rik Smits and controlling Pacer point guard Mark Jackson.

“Our focus is not on Reggie, it’s on the team,” Jackson said.

Ron Harper will get the nod against Mark Jackson because he is strong enough to keep him from backing into the lane or posting up and creating opportunities for his teammates.

Mark Jackson’s presence could mean reduced playing time for Steve Kerr, who does not defend Jackson well.

“Harper’s a bigger guy, longer, better defensive guard,” Mark Jackson said Saturday.

“Once they put in a smaller guard, then I can do the things that I can take advantage of as far as posting. With Harper, I’ve got to be a more traditional guy, getting into the seam and creating shots for myself and my teammates.”

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Good luck is the last thing Golden State General Manager Garry St. Jean wants in the NBA draft lottery today.

The reasons are complicated, but--barring a couple of longshot chances involving Orlando and Washington--the Warriors don’t want to win the right to pick first overall in the draft June 24.

In this season where they won 19 games and got more attention for Latrell Sprewell’s attack on Coach P.J. Carlesimo than their accomplishments on the court, winning the lottery would be equivalent to losing.

“I am coming there, probably one of the few in the history of the lottery wishing for bad luck,” St. Jean said. “We don’t want one, two or three. If you are going to be there, you can bring a black cat for me.”

If one of the Warriors’ 105 four-number combinations is drawn when the ping-pong balls pop up, the real winner will be Orlando. The Magic holds the rights to Golden State’s pick as part of the 1993 trade in which Orlando shipped Chris Webber--the No. 1 pick overall--to Golden State for Penny Hardaway--the No. 3 pick--and three first-round draft choices, including 1998.

So if one of the Warriors’ numbers is selected to pick first, second or third in the draft--and Orlando and Washington also don’t get a top pick--then the Magic gets Golden State’s pick.

Denver (11-71) has the best chance at winning the No. 1 pick, followed by the Clippers.

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Turner Sports is the latest reported to be interested in hiring Marv Albert to broadcast NBA games, according to the New York Times.

“There have been preliminary indications of interest from Turner, although its NBA announcing crew on TNT and TBS is complete,” the newspaper reported Saturday. No source was cited for the report.

“Marv is certainly a talent, and I think it remains to be seen about his return,” said Harvey Schiller, the president of Turner Sports.