Bulls' Collins solid coach of year candidate

BOSTON Take away Michael Jordan and failure supplied moresurprise this season than did success.

Injuries clobbered Denver, New Jersey, New York and Milwaukeewhile drug problems ruined Houston's chances and Phoenix'sfranchise.

There were, however, some notable exceptions. And the evelopes,please. . . .

Most Valuable Player: Jordan has done more for his team than anyplayer since Wilt Chamberlain. But because of skewed criteria thatshould have nothing to do with the voting, Laker guard Magic Johnsonwill win.

Coach of the Year: Doug Collins did more with less than anycoach in the league, but three perennial winners might haveaccomplished just as much.

Pat Riley led the Lakers to the NBA's best record in a year theywere supposed to drop. Milwaukee's Don Nelson lost Sidney Moncriefand Paul Pressey to injury and still won 50 games. Atlanta's MikeFratello, last year's winner, took a 50-win team seven games higher.

Rookie of the Year: Indiana small forward Chuck Personestablished himself at the NBA's toughest position.

Executive of the Year: Indiana general manager Donnie Walsh. Hedrafted Person when others wanted William Bedford and hired coachJack Ramsay, a move that fit the situation. He also acquired KyleMacy and John Long for a pittance to improve an otherwise loathesomebackcourt.

Sixth Man: Give it to Detroit's Vinnie Johnson only becauseMilwaukee's Ricky Pierce started more than 30 games.

Most Improved Player: New York makes a strong case for GeraldWilkins, but no one moved up faster than Seattle's Dale Ellis.

All-NBA Team: Jordan and Johnson at guard; Boston's KevinMcHale and Larry Bird at forward; Houston's Akeem Olajuwon atcenter.

All Rookie Team: Person, Cleveland's Brad Daugherty, Ron Harperand John "Hot Rod" Williams and Dallas' Roy Tarpley.

All-Rookie Flop Team: Golden State's Chris Washburn, Denver'sMaurice Martin, Phoenix William Bedford, New Jersey's PearlWashington and Washington's John Williams.

All-NBA Defensive Team: Jordan and Philadelphia's MauriceCheeks, Washington's Manute Bol, McHale and the Lakers' MichaelCooper.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan. He is the first playerever to have more than 100 blocks and 200 steals and he was the bestdefender on the league's second best defensive unit. At least twocoaches, Dallas' Dick Motta and Atlanta's Fratello, voted Jordan totheir all-defensive team.

"Michael Jordan's enthusiasm for the game carries over for thedefense," Motta said. "Plus, his scoring ability wears down hisdefender who is therefore unable to score on the other end."

GENTLE BEN: Benoit Benjamin couldn't resist a parting shot in aseason full of wasted talent and overgrown expectation.

The Clipper center was fined $250 last week for screaming anobscenity at a home gathering - there aren't enough fans at Clippershome games to call it a crowd.

Yelled one fan, "Ben, blink your eyes so we know you're alive.At least break a sweat so we know you're out there."

Another looked at Benjamin's uniform number and shouted, "Doublezero. That's for zero points, zero rebounds and zero effort."

COMEDY STORE: At least Jerry Reynolds left 'em laughing, whichis more than be said of his Kings.

The self-depreciating Sacramento coach, who is expected to bereplaced, got a standing ovation and a groundswell of support fromfans in the Kings final home game.

Reggie Theus and LaSalle Thompson even carried Reynolds, theleague's freshest personality in years, around the arena after theteam's victory over Denver Thursday.

"I'm probably the heaviest thing Reggie's lifted in a longtime," deadpanned Reynolds. "If he had thought I was a rebound, hewould have dropped me."

KING IS I: Bernard King made a triumphant, if not thunderingreturn and declared himself fit for a brand new salary.

After missing more than two years after major knee surgery, Kingreturned to the Knicks and scored seven, 20, 19 and 30 points. "Idon't need to convince Knicks management about anything," said King,who will be a free agent. "The bottom line is that I've alreadyestablished the fact I can play.

"I'm a tremendous player, no question about it. I have a futureon this ballclub. I couldn't be more pleased with the way I'mplaying."

WAR ZONE: The battle in Florida for the final NBA expansionfranchise has gotten ugly. With the NBA Board of Governors set tovote this week, the Orlando Sentinel has decided to take the low roadin defense of its city over Miami.

A supposedly objective Page 1 Sentinel story began, "In Orlando,community leaders often spit out the name as a curse: Miami. Toomuch traffic, cocaine, cowboy shootouts and of course, riots."

A recent headline read, "A look at the enemy: It's Miami not sonice."

These are tidbits of a sports columnist written by Jerry Greene:

"Truthfully Miami is not a bad place to live at least comparedto other South American cities."

"NBA players will like it (Miami) if you're plane doesn't gethighjacked to Cuba."

"Miami is known to be found of NBA souvenirs. The most popularitems include official NBA hubcaps and official NBA wallets."

RIM JOB: Utah's Karl Malone, one of the league's worst freethrow shooters, showed why last week. Denver led 101-100 with lessthan a minute to play when Malone went the line for two shots. Thefirst missed the rim by a foot, which was a foot closer than thesecond air ball.

The stunned Jazz crowd was silent when Malone went to the linemoments later with Denver ahead 103-100. He made them both.

"I thought, `If I shoot another airball they're going to run meout of Utah and nobody would every want me back.' "