Bulls vs. Bullets

Priority No. 1: Get Kukoc (7) and Rodman (91) back on the court.

It's a long way from Invinci-Bull.

Three hundred sixty-five days, in fact.

Last year, the Bulls were locks to win the title after smashing the all-time record for wins in a season with 72. Proving everyone right, they steamrolled through the playoffs, going 15-3 for their fourth title in six seasons.

This week, as they start their drive for No. 5, cracks have appeared in their armor.

The Bulls ended the season losing three of their last four games. They dropped their home finale to New York. They fell short of winning 70 games, despite having two shots at it. They finished April with a 7-4 record, marking their worst month since February 1995, when Michael Jordan was off playing baseball.

It has caused more panic among Second City citizens than the day Mrs. O'Leary cow drop-kicked that lantern.

The forecast in the Windy City calls for a loooooong playoff run, meaning a few more L's than last season. But as Miami coach Pat Riley cautioned everyone recently: "If Chicago is playing with a full deck, they're gonna be very, very tough to beat. You'll have to play very, very, well just to stay with them."

The worst-case scenario for the rest of the league is that Dennis Rodman comes back with his head screwed on straight, grabbing every rebound in sight, providing tenacious defense and inspiration every time he bolts down the court. That scenario also includes Toni Kukoc returning from a foot injury and showing the same form that won him the Sixth Man award last season.

POINT OF CONCERN

Chicago has matchup problems against quick point guards. It's possible the Bulls might face three good ones before the Finals:   Pts. Ast. Rod Strickland 17.2 8.9 Mookie Blaylock 17.6 6.0 Tim Hardaway 20.3 8.6

Indeed, part of the reason the Bulls lost games down the stretch to the Pistons, Heat and Knicks was because Rodman and Kukoc were injured.

"Our team was undermanned and understaffed for most of the season," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. "And it catches up to you in certain situations."

It says something about Jordan and Scottie Pippen that the Bulls, despite missing Rodman and Kukoc each for more than a quarter of the season, still ripped through the league for 69 wins. That raised their record over the past two seasons, including playoffs, to an astounding 156-26.

Jordan, of course, is mainly responsible.When he's at the top of his game -- and usually that means all of May and June -- he's what separates the Bulls from everybody else.

"When we're at full strength," Jordan said, "everyone knows how well we can play together. I can't wait. If we go out and play our game, I'm not worried about anyone else."

The rest of the league shudders at the thought.

But Chicago is not there now. Not close, even. Who's to say Rodman doesn't do something stupid, warranting an inopportune ejection?

"Now it's time to play," said Rodman, who missed the final 13 games while recovering from a knee injury, during which time the Bulls went 9-4. "We just need to stay focused."

CENTRAL ISSUE

The Bulls are considered suspect when it comes to post defense. That's OK as long as they don't have to frequently double-team inside, which weakens their outstanding perimeter defense. None of the Eastern centers will require constant double-teams. Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon or the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal could pose a problem in the Finals. Of course, Chicago swept Shaq's Orlando Magic in last year's playoffs ...

Famous last words? Perhaps.

Who's to say that Kukoc, upon his return, isn't hampered by his foot and haunted by his horrid shooting performance in last year's postseason?

When the Bulls open defense of their crown against Washington on Friday, don't be surprised by a rocky start.

"We've got to work on getting our rhythm back and our chemistry back," Jordan said. "It might not come together in one practice or one game. It's gonna take some time. Hopefully, it won't take too much time. These guys haven't missed a whole season. Just a portion of it."

Because of suspensions and the injury, Rodman ended up missing 27 games. Because his game is predicated on hustle and desire and conditioning, one good sweat in practice should get him back to form.

Kukoc is another story. Having missed 25 games, it could take him a few games to remove a thick coat of rust from his offensive skills.

Then there are other factors to watch that could make the Bulls more vulnerable than ever in their reign. Jordan, 34, played 3,100 minutes, his most in the '90s. Pippen played just five minutes short of 3,100 minutes, his most since '93. Neither missed a game. Now we'll find out if it costs the Bulls as they advance.

"Their health will be key for the playoffs," said Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, whose team lost three times to the Bulls by a combined seven points. "They are a great team, and the best team until someone else beats them."

NO REST FOR THE WARRIORS

The injury-depleted Bulls didn't have a chance to cut Jordan and Pippen's minutes:   Gm. Min. Avg. Jordan 82 3,106 37.9 Pippen 82 3,095 37.7

Or until they break down. You never know.

"With the injuries we had to endure, Scottie and I had to extend and expend ourselves a little bit," Jordan said. "But that's what championship teams are made of. If those guys come back, maybe not 100 percent, I still think we can win."

With their home-court advantage guaranteed throughout the playoffs, it's hard to argue with Jordan. Counting last year's record season and playoffs, the Bulls are 88-4 in the United Center. Considering how many teams win road games these days, that is an astounding record.

"They're as dominant at home as any of the truly great teams of recent years," said Riley, who experienced a victory in Chicago this season and has two wins over the Bulls this season. "What they've done is like what the '86 Celtics did."

By losing at home to the Knicks, the Bulls fell just shy of tying that legendary Celtic team's NBA-record 40-1 home mark. And don't forget, the Bulls were 10-0 in the United Center in the playoffs last season.

But home-court edge or not, the Bulls have two main flaws. They have all kinds of trouble with small quick point guards who can break down their defense. That could be a key factor when they open against Rod Strickland of the Bullets and if they advance to meet Miami's Tim Hardaway in a seven-game series.

"If Chicago is playing with a full deck, they're gonna be very, very tough to beat. You'll have to play very, very, well just to stay with them." --Miami coach Pat Riley

The Bulls just don't have a small point to match up, having to rely on creaky Ron Harper and Randy Brown, neither of whom have the foot speed to equal a Strickland or Hardaway.

The Bulls also are considered suspect when it comes to post defense. But so far during their reign, they have yet to meet a dominant center who would force them to constantly double-team inside, thus weakening their outstanding perimeter defense.

This deficiency doesn't figure to hurt the Bulls in the Eastern Conference playoffs. None of the best centers -- Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning or Dikembe Mutombo -- are so potent down low that the Bulls have to give them special attention. This issue might not arise unless they end up meeting Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille O'Neal in the Finals.

Jordan looks at all the potential obstacles and shrugs his shoulders. For one thing, he knows every contender has more flaws than the Bulls.

"My job is not to go into a situation concerned or worried," he said. "If we have to go in with what we have, then I think we can win it all with what we have."

Even if they're more vulner-a-Bull than ever.

Mitch Lawrence, NBA columnist for the New York Daily News, is a regular contributor to ESPNET SportsZone.