Armstrong growing up fast

Don't let B.J. "Babyface" Armstrong fool you.

He looks like a kid and even still has a baby tooth. But throughhard work, determination and patience, the 6-2 Iowa graduate israpidly maturing into NBA manhood.

Armstrong took another giant stride Thursday night when he cameoff the bench and had career playoff-high totals of 18 points and agame-high 10 assists in the Bulls' 126-85 rout of the New YorkKnicks. The victory gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead in the best-of-fivefirst-round series.

But Armstrong, reflecting his growing wisdom, said he's notabout to make a career out of Thursday's game.

"It was my best playoff game so far," Armstrong said. "But thatgame is history. We also have to go back out there (tomorrow) andstart all over again, fighting and playing as hard as we can."

Armstrong, a second-year man, backs up veteran point guard JohnPaxson. There are bigger, older and more experienced players on theBulls' bench, but nobody has progressed more than Armstrong.

"He's been our most consistent spark off the bench all year,"Bulls forward Scottie Pippen said. "He penetrates well and does agood job of getting the other guys involved. I like being on thefloor with him because his penetrating and passing helps make my gamebetter."

Pippen said he likes the fact Armstrong has become a"street-type, aggressive player." Armstrong lacked those qualitieslast season.

"He's a loose-limbed player," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said, "aRaggedy Ann-type who looks a little soft on the court. He lacks thatpower run and posture. But in his own quiet and graceful way, hegets things done."

Last season, Philadelphia 76ers bad boy Rick Mahorn knockedArmstrong down with a wicked forearm during the playoffs. Armstrongtook the licking and kept on ticking.

"He keeps getting back up," Jackson said. "He doesn't scareeasy. And you must have that quality to run a team effectively."

Armstrong had a front tooth knocked out during practiceWednesday in a collision with Craig Hodges. He had the toothreinserted and wired and resumed practicing. On Thursday, he wasclotheslined and knocked to the ground by Knicks guard John Starksduring a drive to the basket. He was dazed but got up and made thefree throws.

"Being knocked down is just part of what goes with playingpoint guard," Armstrong said. "But you can't ever let things likethat bother you."