Poll Picks Knicks

Once again, the naysayers abound in a poll of NBA reporters andcelebrities regarding the Bulls' chances of winning a thirdconsecutive title.

In a poll of 18 beat writers and one celebrity fan, seven pickthe Knicks to win the championship and six pick the Suns. Only fourpick the Bulls. The Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers eachgot one vote. Tim Povtak, Orlando Sentinel and The Sporting News - The Suns: "Thisis Charles Barkley's year." Ira Winderman, Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel - The Knicks: "Thuggeryis in vogue." Joe Menzer, Willoughby (Ohio) News Herald - The Suns: "Simplybecause I don't want to pick the Bulls." Corky Meinecke, Detroit Free Press - The Bulls: "Because I pickedthem at the beginning of the season." Fred Kerber, New York Post - The Knicks: "Bill Cartwright is nolonger as effective defensively as he used to be defending againstPatrick Ewing." Bob Burns, Sacramento Bee - The Suns: "Charles Barkley!" Mike Fine, Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.) - The Suns: "CharlesBarkley!" Lee Shappell, The Arizona Republic - The Rockets: "They are thehottest team going into the playoffs and the Suns are hurting." Steve Brunner, Indianapolis News - The Trail Blazers: "They arebeing seriously overlooked, but their experience will finally payoff." Spike Lee, movie director and native New Yorker - The Knicks: "Ilove Michael Jordan. He's my man. But the three-peat will beimpossible because of a weaker bench without Cliff Levingston." Bob Ryan, Boston Globe - The Knicks: "I picked them at the beginningof the season and see no need to back down now." Cliff Brown, New York Times - The Suns: "They've been the best teamall season and they have enough offensive weapons to offset theirdefensive deficiencies." Sam Goldaper, retired NBA writer - The Knicks: "If they are allowedto play their game, nobody can beat them." Ahmad Rashad, NBC-TV reporter - The Bulls: "I believe in miracles." Jan Hubbard, Newsday - The Bulls: "Michael Jordan!" Barry Cooper, Orlando Sentinel - The Knicks: "They will find a wayto keep Barkley in check." Marty McNeal, Sacramento Bee - The Knicks: "I don't think you'veseen the real Rolando Blackman that you're going to see in theplayoffs." John Peoples, Seattle Times - The Bulls: "Michael Jordan wants threechampionships." Scott Howard-Cooper, Los Angeles Times - The Suns: "They're the bestteam right now with Charles Barkley."