By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPNET SportsZone

Bullets-Bulls
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MULTIMEDIA

Chris Webber would've been devastated if the Bullets had missed the playoffs.
155k wav

With Juwan Howard and Scottie Pippen, that's a great matchup but I give the edge to Pippen. He has greater mobility, he's a very good defender and I think he'll take Howard's game away.

At center, the Bullets should have Gheorghe Muresan back playing full time, so that's a wash against Luc Longley.

SEASON SERIES

Jan. 14: Bulls 108, Bullets 107 Michael Jordan scored 39 points, including 10 of the final 15, and Scottie Pippen added 25 as the Bulls escaped. Feb. 21: Bulls 103, Bullets 99 Jordan threw in 36 points -- 15 straight in the fourth quarter -- and Pippen contributed 28 for Chicago. April 3: Bullets 110, Bulls 102 Rod Strickland had 26 points and 14 assists as the Bullets snapped an eight-game Bulls win streak.

Neither guy is going to score a lot, but you can't stop Muresan. Longley's a big guy, but Muresan is so big that he catches and, without jumping, can lay it in. He has great hands, he can shoot, he's a good passer.

Backcourt: Advantage Chicago
Calbert Cheaney's a very good defender, but nobody stops Michael Jordan.

Of course, Michael's also a very good defender. Michael might play Rod Strickland because, at some point, Strickland will have a big game going. But Strickland against Ron Harper is a big advantage for Washington. Strickland is a very good penetrator and they've given him the ball to control more.

Bench: Advantage Chicago
It depends on Toni Kukoc, who has been injured. If they don't have Kukoc, the Bulls are vulnerable.

But Kukoc, Steve Kerr and Jason Caffey (if Rodman is back) give you a pretty good bench. The Bullets use Harvey Grant and Tracy Murray.

Defense: Advantage Chicago
Pippen, Jordan and Rodman are excellent defenders. Longley is solid and the Bulls' team defense is among the NBA's best. They'll find a way to get it done.

Washington, on the other hand, allows teams to shoot one of the highest field-goal percentages. The Bullets don't have any real stoppers. Cheaney is their best defender, and after that it breaks down.

Three-point shooting: Advantage Chicago
Kerr is one of the best, and Jordan, Pippen, Harper and Kukoc can knock them down. For the Bullets, Tim Legler is playing, but he doesn't have his game together after missing so much time with a knee injury.

Overall: Chicago in four
Michael is the edge. He's the difference between the two teams -- and he'll be the difference in most matchups.

Bulls notes

The Bulls: Are 21-2 in first-round series' in the 1990s.