December 1985
Fortunately, Larry Bird can accept the truth. He smiles when you say he has a bad body, even for an Indiana farm boy. And it's no big deal to notice that the midwestern twang he brought to Boston six seasons ago has never left him.
Bird can take those routine barbs because he knows he is one of the NBA's premier performers, and he knows nobody can take from him last year's Most Valuable Player trophy. But Bird is also keenly aware of another criticism, and he can't make light of it, because it is also true.
After 20 games this season, Bird's scoring average is off and so is his aim, principally because of a back problem. And that is a big deal, because Bird is the principal reason for the Celtics winning two NBA titles and narrowly missing a third in his tenure.
Bird's dropoff is enhanced by the fact that he is coming off an MVP season in which he averaged 28.7 points and 10.5 rebounds. It worries him not so much from an individual perspective; he is concerned that, if others around the NBA feel he is less than a super player, it won't be long before they start to believe the Celtics as a team are going downhill.
"I realize when I'm not shooting or passing the ball well," said Bird. "I don't need anybody to talk to me about those things. Everybody would like to go out there and play a perfect game. But I haven't done it, yet. The only thing I can do is work harder, try and give that extra effort and get over the hump to the point where I am doing things to my capabilities.
"If I was averaging five rebounds, two assists and 35 points, nobody would be saying anything. But since I'm not shooting the ball like I have at the past, everybody gets excited. I'm not moving as well because of some injuries. But I'm giving the effort and I'm playing just about as well in the other aspects."
Bird says nobody should start thinking that his problems mean the Celtics are headed downward. In fact, he feels the Celtics' chemistry this season makes their chances very good for regaining the title that eluded them last year.
"I'm just excited about being here this year, " said Bird. "The guys have just been great. We've always had close teams, but this year we got out of the gate as a group early. In the past, if we went out and won a big game or won four or five in a row, we'd have a letdown. Not this team.
"We've been known to get mad with each other and get upset. But we have a talented group of guys who get along with each other and play hard.
"When it comes to the play-offs, teams will say, 'We can beat the Celtics if so-and-so has a bad game.' They know better than that. If we get them in the play-offs, we're going to beat the hell out of them. They might be close, but now teams that we beat by four points consider that a moral victory. They feel like they beat us. But until they get that win, they haven't beaten anybody."
Last season, only the fact that a sore elbow affected his performance and the Celtics wound up losing in the finals to the Lakers spoiled what was otherwise a marvelous MVP year for Bird.
But Bird thinks people might have gotten the wrong idea from that career- best season. He is still the same phenomenal player that arrived six years ago from Indiana State. It is a back injury and not the elbow that is causing his problems now. He had a nearly perfect season because he worked on it. A back problem that developed last summer while jogging and curtailed his participation in training camp and exhibition games has done more to affect his game than any NBA opponent.
Bird's shooting problems have not been fatal to the Celtics, whose 17-3 record is the best in the East, and second only to the Lakers (18-2) in the league. But the fact is that Bird's name has disappeared from the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. He has shot (123) and sank (114) more free throws than any other NBA player this year, but when a scorer's average drops from 28.7 to 22.9 - and, worse, he is missing wide-open shots - even a Larry Bird becomes suspect.
"There's no question that I'm struggling," admits Bird. "I know I'm missing layups and baskets underneath that I normally hit. But I've had to work hard at my game. I don't have the skills that a lot of other players do.
"I have to go out and shoot that extra hour. I got to go out and run the extra hour. I have to go out and work on my foot movement. I can't jump like some other guys do. I can't run like some players. And if I miss 4-5 months of that, I'm behind some players no matter if I was MVP. I've got to work on every aspect of my game to stay at the top. I haven't been able to do that."
The back problems that have affected Bird's play are also affecting his demeanor off the court. He is shying away from media exposure for the first time his pro career, partially because of what he feels was unfair treatment - particularly by the television media - of a barroom fighting incident that was settled out of court.
Bird's inability to play up to his own high standards has given him many nights of frustration, and he does not hesitate to react with silence. In six previous years, no media coverage of the Celtics would have been complete without a few choice words from Bird. Now, he chooses to go his own way after many games, and leaves those chores to teammates whom he feels are more deserving.
Like it or not, this is Bird's way of handling what has been a problem in his career before. As a senior at Indiana State, his patience wore thin and he wound up refusing to talk to the media in order to give his college teammates more exposure.
"I've never had a problem with the media," said Bird recently. "But I recall there was some misinformation present on television one night by a guy. It was just wrong. Then, he came to practice and expected a long interview and for me to be nice to him. I'm just not going to do that."
As in college, he shifts praise to his teammates.
"I'm happy for Robert (Parish); he's having a good season although he's hurting, too," said Bird. "Bill Walton is a fine player, and it's fun to have him on this team. It's going to be so much better the longer he is around. Also, I also get to play with Kevin McHale. He's just awesome and I think he's got a good chance to win the MVP this year. Last year in the play- offs, he was the best player on the floor for us."
Bird also is maturing, although some would argue that point. In his first season, he said he would be lucky to finish five or six years in the NBA. He had no desire to be mangled by the physical mayhem. He got his first championship ring in his second season, and no one would have faulted him for losing some of his personal drive after winning the second in his fifth season.
But last year's loss to the Lakers, combined with the acquisition of Walton and the early-season injury, has given him a new perspective. He wants another title and sincerely believes that last year's phenomenal season was no fluke, and can be repeated if the circumstances are right.
"Things are starting to turn around," said Bird. "And I'm playing a little better. The team is winning and the guys are picking up for me. With their help, it won't be long before I get my game back in order. Hopefully, I can play a little better this year during the play-offs.
"Just as soon as my back starts feeling better, I'm going to have a great year. I might not be able to have the same stats this year. But if I can have a healthy summer and a healthy training camp, I can always have a great year.
"I really feel better about this year. It's hard for me to say I'm getting tired of basketball. I can't visualize it."
Bird wants people to understand why his number will be hanging in the rafters at Boston Garden.
"It's not that I want go out a winner," said Bird. "I've always felt I was a winner. I know I'm going to lose some games, but I'm going to win some games, too. I've had a lot of success in Boston and Boston has been good to me. The fans have been good to me. They've watched us play. The Celtics are one of the top drawing cards in the NBA and it's fun to play in a situation like that. I enjoy playing basketball.
"In the press conference when I first came, I said no matter what happens, I'll play hurt. I'll give every effort I can to play and I still believe in that. I might not be able to play at 100 percent all the time. But if I can go out and play 80-90 percent, and go out there and help the team, then I'm going to still play. That's been my philosophy and its going to be my philosophy."
The Celtics, who had a nine-game winning streak halted last Friday by Portland, will face the Atlanta Hawks here tonight (7:30, SportsChannel) in Boston's first regular-season game of the year at the Civic Center. Boston beat the Hawks, 102-97, at Atlanta on Nov. 30 . . . Scott Wedman is questionable because of back spasms that limited his work in practice . . . Parish is still bothered by a sore elbow . . . Boston players got bad news yesterday. The NBA informed them they are required to spend Christmas Eve in New York, prior to an afternoon game with New York on Christmas Day. The good news is that they can bring their families, presumably at league costs. WHITES;12/09,14:01 CORCOR;12/10,17:13 BIRD10
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