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Out of the doghouse
Rodman redeems himself in Game 4
Posted: Thursday June 11, 1998 01:59 AM
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Rodman (left) pulled down 14 rebounds and scored six crucial points at the free throw line (AP) |
CHICAGO (AP) -- Bad boy Dennis Rodman
is wreaking havoc again. This time, he's doing his damage on the court, not
off.
Rodman made up for his disruptions of the past two days by grabbing 14
rebounds and scoring six points, including four free throws in the last
2:53, as the Chicago
Bulls beat the Utah
Jazz 86-82 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
"The much-maligned Dennis Rodman had a wonderful game for us," coach Phil
Jackson said. "As usual, he takes himself out of the hole and finds a way
to redeem himself."
In perhaps the play of the game, Rodman and Karl Malone
wrestled, appropriately enough, for a rebound with 44 seconds left. Malone
was the one called for the foul as the two fell to the floor with their
arms wrapped around each other. Rodman made both foul shots to give the
Bulls an 81-77 lead, and all but clinch the game.
The five-time champions lead the best-of-7 series 3-1. Game 5 is Friday at
the United Center.
Scottie Pippen came through for the Bulls, too, scoring 28 points, grabbing
nine rebounds and making a general nuisance of himself on defense. But it
was Rodman who really shone.
"The guy steps up and makes four free throws in the closing minutes. What
more can you say?" Michael Jordan
said. "I can never figure this guy out, I don't even start. One day he's
wrestling, the next day he's defending. We have come to live with it and
move forward, and not really try to dissect this individual.
"I don't even know if he is an individual."
Rodman blew off a film session and a mandatory question-and-answer session
Monday, eating a leisurely lunch at Hooters and then jetting off to Detroit
for a wrestling match. His no-show cost him $10,000 from the NBA, and it
cast a glaring, hot spotlight on the tattooed and multihued poster boy for
bad behavior.
Again.
"All the media and the TV people here made it more than what it was. It
wasn't all about that," Rodman said. "I didn't do that to embarrass my team
or try to get in spotlight. I can do that any day."
Rodman was on his best behavior from the start Wednesday night. He arrived
at the United Center at 6:43 p.m., only 13 minutes late instead of his
usual 30 or 35, close on the heels of Scott Burrell.
"He beat me," Burrell said. "He was sitting in the parking lot waiting for
me."
And though he retreated to the Bulls locker room at the start of the game,
he was back on the floor as soon as Jackson called for him. He made an
impact from the time he entered the game, grabbing six rebounds in the
first half, including four on the offensive glass.
His defense on Malone was key. Guarded mainly by Luc Longley,
Malone scored 11 points in the first half. But when Jackson put Rodman on
Malone in the second half, Malone struggled. He couldn't break free from
Rodman's long, wiry arms, which seemed to be everywhere.
"I'm more mobile and my agility is a lot better than Luc Longley's," Rodman
said. "Things that he works on against Luc, against me he can't. I got too
much heart to let him beat me down there."
Rodman's biggest plays came at a very unusual place -- the free throw line.
He was a 55 percent free-throw shooter in the regular season, but he made
his shots when they counted the most.
With the score 72-72 with 2:53 left, Rodman was fouled by Shandon
Anderson. His first shot bounced around the rim five times before
dropping through the net, with Rodman grimacing the whole time as he
watched the ball roll. When it finally dropped, he grinned in relief,
shaking his head. After he made the second one, he hugged Pippen.
"He was really our most reliable free throw shooter tonight," Jackson said,
smiling.
Now the big question is what will Rodman do for an encore. Fly to Las Vegas
for another overnight gambling junket? Dye his hair a new color? Show up
for practice?
Who knows, Jordan said. And after his game Wednesday, he doesn't really
care.
"He may go and wrestle tomorrow. I don't know. He may not show up for
practice. I don't know," Jordan said. "But he seems to excel in diversity
and we've come to grips with that."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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NBA Finals
