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"They're very different players and very different people in temperament, but Christian gives us many of the advantages Danny gave us. Danny did it from the forward position. Christian does it from the center position."
Manning, a free agent, turned down a seven-year $35 million offer from the Hawks to jump to Phoenix only months after the Hawks acquired him for Dominique Wilkins. Laettner is signed through 1997-98 and that gives Wilkens the time he needs to run an offense around him.
"Christian does a lot of the things we need," Wilkens said. "That's because he knows how to play the game. He moves. He steps through. He doesn't stand around. He's a good passer. He sees the floor."
The coach said the subtlety of Laettner's game, reminiscent of Manning's, allows deception and allows teammates Steve Smith and Stacey Augmon, who move so well without the ball, to thrive.
As though to remind his new coach that he is not a natural center, Laettner describes himself as a power forward and a center. Wilkens said he is not concerned that Laettner is not a true center "because he presents a lot of problems for the other team."
He dismisses warnings by some coaches (the Bulls' Phil Jackson for one) that the Hawks need to beef up inside to compete with the best in the East. "Hey, I remember the Celtics winning with Dave Cowens, the Bullets with Wes Unseld. They weren't true centers. They weren't low post guys.
"Christian can shoot from outside or drive to the basket. He's a good rebounder. I look at the fact that he makes us much more versatile. Plus, with Sean Rooks as our backup center, we're a much deeper team than we were up front."
Rampaging Herd
The Bulls achieved 50 victories last week with the fewest defeats -- six -- of any major league sports team to hit that plateau.
Now 52-6, the Bulls have surpassed the 1982-83 76ers who were 50-7. The '71-72 Lakers were 50-8 on the way to an NBA record 69-13.
For comparisons, the NFL Miami Dolphins were 50-7-1 over four years, the 1912 New York baseball Giants 50-11, the 1939 Yankees 50-14, the 1976-77 Montreal Canadians 50-7-10. Those are best starts according to Elias Sports Bureau. George Karl's 1990-91 Albany Patroons of the CBA finished season 50-6 with 28-0 at home led by Mario Elie and Vincent Askew.
Having won 11 of 13 road games in February, the Bulls play 10 of 14 at home in March. Away from the United Center they visit New York, New Jersey, Toronto and Philadelphia, hardly a daunting assignment, but Michael Jordan doesn't want his teammates getting too comfortable.
"You have a lot of family and friends coming in. You have a lot of distractions. On the road you're kind of united and banded together and you don't have a many distractions. When you're at home you have all sorts of obligations off the court that take up a lot of time. You try to appease everyone. Those are some of the challenges we're going to have to deal with for two weeks. Everyone wants to come and see Dennis's hair or see myself or Scottie or whatever. That's part of the whole phenomenon."
The ref hates me, Part I
In Chicago's loss to the Heat, Dennis Rodman was so upset with referee Terry Durham he played only 28 minutes. Phil Jackson said, "Dennis was getting tackled on the backside of the boards, there were no calls and it was infuriating him. There were a lot of situations irritating him. Because of that I didn't feel he was a participant in the game and couldn't play with full energy."
While that sort of thing would have driven the Spurs' Bob Hill to a lecture on the subject, Jackson let it go. That's why Rodman thrives in Chicago.
Rodman said, "I should put a target on the back of my head and say, 'Here you go. Now nail me.' I've been having problems with (Durham) since I've been in the league. If I had bad breath he would call a foul on that."
The ref hates me, Part II
When Charlotte's furious overtime rally fell short against Boston, the Hornets lost point guard Kenny Anderson, ejected by Bennett Salvatore with 17 seconds left. Anderson believed he was fouled at the end of regulation. When Todd Day slapped him in the act of calling a time out, Anderson threw the ball at Day.
Generally, players aren't ejected on one technical and Anderson is convinced Salvatore was out to get him.
"I got fouled (at the end of regulation) and they didn't call it,'' Anderson said. "When I said that to (Salvatore) at the start of the overtime, he said, '(Expletive) you, I don't want to hear it.'
"So, when he called that technical, I said, 'I guess you're blowing your whistle now, huh?' That must be why he threw me out.''
Charlotte coach Allan Bristow wasn't noticeably upset about either call as the Hornets again failed to get over .500 for the first time this season. Captain Larry Johnson agreed with Anderson, but only to a point.
"I thought Kenny did get hit when he went up (at the end of regulation),'' Johnson said. "But when you're playing a good game like that, the refs aren't going to decide it."
The coach hates me
The subject of several tirades by coach Doug Collins, things got so bad for Pistons forward Terry Mills that agent Harold MacDonald received permission to canvas the league for possible trades. Houston and Indiana showed some interest, but nothing came out it.
Mills acknowledged that life with Collins has been difficult. "But I'm not going anywhere, and I want to go out there and help us get into the playoffs,'' he said. "I think he's starting to get some confidence in me. I'm starting to play defense, and I think that showed tonight.''
Mills was referring to a 93-81 victory over the Blazers when his triple started a winning 13-point run at game's end. Saturday in Phoenix, Mills was 1-for-7 when he sank a three-pointer with two minutes left to ice the game.
Inside stuff
The Bulls reportedly will over Jordan $15 million per season this summer. Jordan says, "That's a good start. But there haven't been any conversations. Until I hear it from Jerry Reinsdorf it's meaningless." Jordan continues to say he'll wait for all free agents to sign and then wants more ... Bob Bass announced he would be returning next season as Charlotte vice president of basketball operations. Bass, 66, had come out of retirement last summer to accept the position under a one-year deal. Bass, who will decide the fate of Bristow as coach, responds to the question by asking a question. "Is it proper to discuss that right now? The team's winning. There's no reason to address that right now? ... When Muggsy Bogues announced he would return to the injured list (sore surgical knee) attention centered on free agent John Salley, who bought out his contract in Toronto. However, Salley rejected a 10-day offer. Now it appears he will come up roses and sign with the Bulls ... It was written in this space recently that Sen. Herb Kohl, owner of the Bucks, was standing for re-election this year. Wisconsin voters are well aware that Kohl was re-elected to a six-year term in 1994 ... Of the 14 players selected by the Raptors in the expansion draft, only three remain on the active roster: Acie Earl, Oliver Miller and Zan Tabak. One more, B.J. Tyler, is on the injured list. Isiah Thomas says, "Normally, you might expect it to take several years to upgrade your roster after expansion," said Thomas. "We've been able to do it in one season."
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, writes a weekly Central Division notebook for ESPNET SportsZone.