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Pistons 105 Celtics 95: The Box

	1	2	3	4	T
DET (29-29)	20	35	22	28	105
BOS (47-14)	22	25	23	25	95

Final

1:00 PM ET, March 1, 2009

TD Banknorth Garden

Boston, MA

DETROIT PISTONS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Antonio McDyess, PF	34	5-8	0-0	0-0	1	4	5	0	0	1	0	5	-1	10
Tayshaun Prince, SF	41	4-9	2-3	5-6	2	6	8	3	3	0	0	2	+11	15
Rasheed Wallace, C	36	6-16	2-6	1-1	0	6	6	2	1	2	1	4	+14	15
Richard Hamilton, SG	39	6-12	2-3	11-12	1	5	6	9	0	0	3	3	+20	25
Rodney Stuckey, PG	36	4-8	0-1	2-5	0	3	3	5	1	0	1	3	+14	10
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Kwame Brown, C	8	0-0	0-0	2-2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	+4	2
Jason Maxiell, PF	17	1-3	0-0	6-6	3	0	3	1	0	0	0	2	+1	8
Will Bynum, PG	12	2-5	0-0	5-6	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	2	-5	9
Arron Afflalo, SG	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	+2	0
Walter Herrmann, PF	16	4-5	1-1	2-2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	-10	11
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		32-66	7-14	34-40	7	24	31	22	8	3	6	24		105
		48.5%	50.0%	85.0%	Team TO (pts off): 8 (9)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
BOSTON CELTICS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Paul Pierce, SF	48	11-20	0-3	4-6	0	6	6	3	1	1	3	2	-10	26
Glen Davis, PF	36	7-13	0-0	4-7	4	2	6	3	1	0	1	4	-8	18
Kendrick Perkins, C	34	6-8	0-0	0-0	2	4	6	2	0	0	0	2	-16	12
Ray Allen, SG	36	2-10	0-5	6-6	0	2	2	1	0	0	2	5	-16	10
Rajon Rondo, PG	31	2-7	0-1	4-4	0	6	6	6	1	0	3	4	-9	8
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Stephon Marbury, PG	12	0-3	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	3	0	0	2	4	+6	0
Mikki Moore, PF	9	1-3	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	-6	2
Eddie House, SG	18	3-7	2-5	0-0	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	2	-2	8
J.R. Giddens, SG	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leon Powe, PF	16	3-4	0-0	5-5	4	1	5	2	0	0	1	1	+11	11
Bill Walker, SG	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		35-75	2-14	23-28	11	24	35	21	3	1	12	27		95
		46.7%	14.3%	82.1%	Team TO (pts off): 12 (13)

Kobe Abysmal in Laker Loss

Everyone knows my distaste for the color purple, at least when it's even remotely related to the Los Angeles Lakers. Having been swept by them during the regular season this year, however, I've been trying to not talk junk out of respect for their accomplishment. Sometimes my passion gets the better of me, usually when Kobe hoists 30 or more shots in a Laker loss or when Phil Jackzen stammers and chokes his way through an interview asking him to comment on the Celtics' latest acquisitions.

Last night Kobe hoisted 31 shots, and made ten. He was 0-6 from range. The Lakers' bench was outscored 47-7. Now I'm not saying this totally to dis' on the purple. They are still a league best 48-11. Instead, the Zen Mistress made a pungent observation after the game. "It was a junk game," he said. "You'll have those."

Something to keep in mind next time we shoot an air ball against a cellar-dweller.

Pining for PJ

I love PJ Brown. The above picture is in my top 5 from last year. But the dude is 39. Sam Cassell? Ditto. Stephon Marbury is 32, seven years younger than the Alien and still in the prime of his career (very late prime, but still part of that magical 28-32 year-old age group for athletes). Mikki Moore? Well, he never had a prime. But he is 34, five years younger than PJ and owner of more energy than any Celtic sub since Waltah McCarty. Moore's career playoff averages are as follows: 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.

I think we're doing OK. Despite this moron's hints to the contrary, Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore do not constitute "crinkling tinfoil into a ball and jamming it into a champagne bottle when the real cork can't be found."

The piece actually says Paul Pierce sounded "desperate" when he responded to the Celtics' latest roster additions.

Say what?

Ok, I admit it. Our Bench Was Bad. Very Bad.

Prior to this week's acquisitions, the Boston Celtics ranked 21st in the league in scoring off the bench (28 points per game) and 29th in the league (tied for last) in assists (less than four per game). Good lord. That's putrid. Last night, the first game with both Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury in a game together, the second unit posted 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Much better. But not as good as they'll be in March, April, May, or June.

Pistons 105 Celtics 95: The Game Log

Team Stat Comparison
	DETROIT	BOSTON
Points	105	95
FG Made-Attempted	32-66 (.485)	35-75 (.467)
3P Made-Attempted	7-14 (.500)	2-14 (.143)
FT Made-Attempted	34-40 (.850)	23-28 (.821)
Rebounds (Offensive-Total)	7-31	11-35
Assists	22	21
Turnovers	4	12
Steals	8	3
Blocks	3	1
Fast Break Points	8	7
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant)	24 (2/0)	27 (0/0)
Largest Lead	10	4

The Boston Media

The local media's attempt to start a "quarterback controversy" between Rajon Rondo and Stephon Marbury is truly pathetic. Does anyone remember a guy named Bill Walton? Perhaps the most talented big man in the history of the NBA, he played a full season behind Robert Parish. We're only asking Steph to play back-up for a couple of months.

But Walton didn't have a bad reputation, you retort.

Oh yeah? Go back and read the articles from his days with the Blazers. He was thought to be lazy, feigning injury because he didn't have the moxie to play an 82-game schedule. Those criticisms followed him to San Diego.

So whaddya say we give both of these gentlemen a break? Rajon Rondo had 17 dimes last night. I think we know who our starting point guard is. Marbury, because he is more of a proven scorer, is better suited for the sixth-man role anyway.

Length

Obie Echoes Flip

Yesterday former Timberwolves' coach Flip Saunders said that Stephon Marbury is good enough to win at least two playoff games all by himself. After last night's game, former Celtics' coach Jim O'Brien said the same thing.

That's great.

Can I pick the two games?

Cool.

I'll take a road win in Cleveland, and another one at Staples.

Steph, are you listening?

The Last Great Number 8

Winning: Our Best Insurance Policy

Continuing my theme from yesterday, it occurred to me that I told you everything we need to know about Stephon Marbury coming to Boston right here.

"The post has no text, Lex," you counter. "You told us nothing."

Au contraire.

Winning cures everything, a cliché to be sure, but clichés are overused for a reason--their ability to convey powerful truths simply. What are the truths conveyed here?

The Knicks suck, and have sucked for the last five years, or the entire length of Starbury's stay in the Big Apple. I know New York fans think differently. They're waiting for the next great revival of Knickerbocker basketball. But the undeniable truth is that the New York Knicks have been bottom dwellers for as long as I can remember. Therefore, it sucked to play for the Knicks, it sucked to coach the Knicks, and, quite frankly, it sucked to have anything to do with the Knicks.

Now what was that you were saying about malcontents in New York? Isiah Thomas? Larry Brown? Stephon Marbury? Guys who either are used to winning or want to win so badly they'd cut off limbs and sever digits just to have a chance at another win. Of course, everyone was pissed off. The Knicks sucked!!!

Now here comes Stephon Marbury to Boston. And what truths do we know about the Celtics? Well, they are defending champs. They have forty-seven wins and thirteen losses. We also know Doc was born to lead this team and is fun to play for and is a master motivator (you remember, spotlights on an empty gym wall, pre-season duckboat rides, and the like). We know that Doc loves to win, and so does everyone else on da GREEN.

Anything else?

Oh yeah.

One more thing.

K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G K-G

This guy has more friends than Brad Pitt on Facebook. Opposing players stand in line waiting to play with him. But Stephon Marbury isn't just some guy off the street who has spent his life watching KG. This is one-half of the next Stockton-Malone combination, a duo forecast to win rings by the handful. Although it never happened, these two guys have been talking about unfinished business since 2006, while Garnett has been thinking about it since 1998.

Stephon Marbury is coming to Boston to reunite with his old buddy, KG. He's coming to play basketball with KG and the Boston Celtics. He's coming to win a ring and add that missing piece of legitimacy to his résumé. This sounds like fun to me. How about you?

Unless Stephon Marbury is truly mentally ill, I now fully expect this to work out. Winning and having fun doing it is our insurance policy against Marbury losing the battle with his Inner Mike Tyson.

Starbarius Debuts with a W

Box Score

Game Log

Jalen Rose: These Moves Make the Celtics Favorities to Repeat

Before the moves, Rose didn't like the Celtics chances to get past Cleveland. The bench was too thin. Now he says the Celtics bench is on par with the other elite teams . . . if they get healthy.

Stephen A. Smith: Marbury Will Have a Tremendous Impact

Statistically speaking, Smith says, Steph's been in the same class as Magic, Jordan, and Oscar Robertson.

The Zen Mistress Talks Celtics

KG to Steph: "Basketball is Gonna Be Fun Again"

So Then Why Did We Sign Starbury?

Game 6. NBA Finals. Staples. The Celtics are up 3-2. The series started in LA. Boston took game 2, the Lakers game 4. Otherwise, home court has held true. It’s a tight game. Midway through the third, the Lakers own a six point lead, 59-53. Neither team can throw it in the ocean.

Doc summons Stephon Marbury to the scorer’s table. A minute later he’s in the game. Three, two, three, dish for a dunk, dish for a three. Lakers respond with but two freebies from the stripe. Celtics close out the quarter with a 24-5 run, building a 12-point lead. Starbarius remains in the game for the duration. Celtics win banner 18 going away.

Oh yeah.

That’s why we signed him.

On Second Thought

After reading through newspaper coverage of Stephon Marbury's career, I'm a little more nervous today than I was yesterday. From the day he forced Kevin McHale to trade him so he could go get the same max contract in New Jersey that McHale was offering him in Minnesota to the days when he went from being an advocate for Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown to alienating them both, I'm left with one thought.

This guy reminds me of Mike Tyson. At times, both have been unpredictable and erratic, almost to a point of psychosis and self-destruction.

Can Starbury get it together and keep a lid on it here in Boston?

I don't know. Eddie House, Tony Allen, and even Sam Cassell were all unhappy about their playing time during the playoffs last year at one point or another. Professionals that they were, each one of them to a man simply said "talk to Doc about it" when asked by the media to comment on the lack of minutes.

Can Steph do that?

About as likely as asking Mike Tyson to be professional.

No?

.785

Steph from the stripe over his career. Think about that in crunch-time, in the Eastern Conference playoffs, or in the Finals. I think it's a number Boston can warm up to.

Now I Understand How KG Hurt His Knee

Starbury High School Interview

An interview prior to his senior year of high school.

Starbury & Dino

Grampa Celtic Talks Starbury

The Celtics Fish Bowl

Doc admits that he’s gotten calls from coaches who think the Celts are crazy to bring the guard on board. Rivers also has received some positive messages, but that didn’t stop the media from asking him why the defending champs would want to add a player with such a troubled past. “Because,” Rivers said, “we want to be defending champs again next year.”

“It’s about our locker room,” Rivers said. “It always has been and it always will be. If I don’t think our locker room’s right, it’ll get right. “I think we have a great group. We have a high-character team. I think this team can absorb it, and if we can’t, then we’ll find that out as well. . . . Every player who comes here has to commit to winning.”

It should be an interesting experiment. After reading and watching the pundits yesterday, what sticks in my mind is as follows:

Flip Saunders: He compared Steph to JR Rider with Lakers. Everyone told JR that if he didn't shape up for the Lakers, he'd be out of basketball. He didn't, and he was. Saunders said that Steph likes his paychecks too much to let that happen.

New York Writers: A couple of New York writers actually defended Marbury, which astounded me. One writer talked about various coaches abandoning Steph, while another compared him to Randy Moss. Somehow, I don't think Steph will perform for the Celtics like Randy performed for the Patriots.

Health: If the green doesn't start having better luck with the injury bug, no amount of great play from Starbury will matter.

Home Court: We haven't defeated the Cavs in Cleveland once during the KG Era. I like our chances of beating LA in LA better than beating Cleveland in Cleveland. Still, if healthy, it can be done.

Doc: The success or failure of the Starbury experiment may come down to Doc. Undoubtedly the Big Three will play a role, too. But Doc has proven to be a great leader of this squad, and getting the most out of Starbury while keeping everyone else happy will be his biggest challenge to date.

KC!!!

Photo by AP

MAINE EVENT: Celtics great KC Jones speaks during a press conference yesterday to announce Portland’s new NBA Development League team, which likely will be affiliated with the C’s.

Dee Brown Jump Starts Celts

The Green Crush Washington
Improve to 12-2
12/1/1990
Remembering the 29-5 Start

All returned to normal last night. The floor stayed dry. Larry Bird joined some select company. And the Celtics continued to stomp what passed for opposition.

Bird hit the 20,000-point mark en route to a 21-point performance which, rekindling the Larry of Yore, featured three 3-pointers. And the Celtics made it eight straight with a hold-your-nose-and-swallow 123-95 victory over the wretched Washington Bullets. Bird paced eight Celtics in double figures. Dee Brown (8 for 9) checked in with a season-high 18 as the Celtics recovered from a glacial start and scored 105 points in the final three quarters.

Other than that, however, there were few redeeming features about this one. And even though it's after Thanksgiving, be grateful you do not have to watch the Bullets every night. Even their one certified star, Bernard King, was out of it and finished with 22, well below his league-leading average of 29.8. He was 1 for 9 in the first half.

But by far the most anticipated moment of the evening was Bird's homing in on 20,000 points. He needed 12 (although in reality, he only needed 6 because the 6 he scored Wednesday in the slip-out against Atlanta are in hoop lay-away and will automatically kick in on Dec. 23).

The blessed event came with 8:19 remaining in the third quarter. It was a bit anticlimactic, almost like Michael Dukakis waiting for the Hawaii returns before conceding. Even Bird admitted, "If it hadn't happened last night, it would happen tonight."

Bird had 8 at the half and then made his second 3-pointer of the season. He missed on another trey before finally connecting from the foul line. The crowd went wild, the ball went to Springfield and the game went on. "It isn't really that big of a deal," Bird said. "You want to get it out of the way and go on with it. Hey, if they paid us by the point, I'd have 50,000 by now."

Bird became the 15th player to reach 20,000 points. Earlier this season, he became the 15th player to register 5,000 assists. Only four others are on both lists: Jerry West, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The basket, foul-line jumper, gave the Celtics a 63-52 lead. It temporarily got the crowd into things as well, but the resilient Bullets -- they do not quit -- were soon back to within 76-71.

Enter Brown. The rookie got orders to jump-start the lead-footed, lethargic Celtics and he complied. The Celtics closed the quarter with a 10-4 run and Brown figured in all 10 points, scoring 6 and assisting on two Brian Shaw hoops. That got the Boston lead back to 11 entering the fourth. "Dee really gave us a lift," said coach Chris Ford.

It was still a 12-point game with eight minutes left when the Celtics really put it into overdrive and finished things off. Bird nailed his third 3-pointer -- he had as many as the team had had in the first 13 games -- to trigger a 13-0 run.

The Bullets, who alternated between awful and abysmal all night (41 percent shooting), were co-conspirators in their undoing, committing three turnovers in the run. The Celtics' heretofore dormant running game erupted, with four straight dunks or layups. Kevin Gamble (16) had 6 in the spurt.

By the time Washington scored again, the Celtics led by 25, Stojko Vrankovic and Dave Popson were on the floor, and the Celtics were looking forward to tonight's battle with Philly. The Celtics outscored Washington, 37-20, in the fourth quarter.

"We had breakdowns," said Bullets coach Wes Unseld. "And we didn't get anything from our bench."

Said Kevin McHale (18 points), "We got an 8 1/4-game winning streak. That's the first time we've had one of them. But what does it mean? Not much right now."

Fans probably wondered if it would ever get to eight after the first quarter. The Celtics had no life from the start, but managed to stay close because Washington dragged them into the slime and wouldn't let go. Consider this nugget: Three minutes into the game, the Bullets led, 2-0, and the teams were a combined 1 for 12. Enthralling, huh? Soccer has more scoring.

After one, it was 22-18 and fans might have been praying for condensation to surface on the parquet. The Celtics were luggish and stagnant, much to the dismay of Chris Ford. His continuous appeals for movement generally went unheeded, the running game never really materialized and the trench warfare mentality took hold.

But McHale (8 for 13) came out strong in the second quarter and the Bullets looked a lot like the gang from Gary's in Cheers" on defense. McHale had a jump hook, a dunk and drive and soon the Celtics had their first lead of the game, 25-24. Before the half was through, fans endured a stretch of nine straight pointless possessions. Bird and King were a combined 4 for 19.

The Celtics got the lead to 9 at the half and soon had it to 13 before the Bullets made a run led by Harvey Grant (21 points). But that was their only live moment in an otherwise dead evening.

KG Reflects on his Chemistry with Marbury & Cassell

"The chemistry Steph and I share is probably basketball. It's the (chemistry) I've shared with Spree (Latrell Sprewell). The ones I've shared with Sam Cassell and Sam Mitchell. It's an untalked about chemistry. It's one of those things that just happen. The moons align correctly, things happen. And I don't think he's made that connection with anybody else. I sacrificed. He sacrificed. We made it work."

St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
March 27, 2006

Recalling the End of the KG-Marbury Duo in Minnesota

3/13/99

Kevin Garnett had heard the charge before, and the look on his face and the words he chose to discuss it appeared to convey an awkward mix of sadness, embarrassment, annoyance and impatience.

Stephon Marbury wanted to leave Minnesota for a number of reasons, the story goes, but one of the most compelling allegedly was Garnett. To hear team insiders tell it, the Timberwolves forward's $126 million contract, his bundle of skills and his charisma were too much for Marbury to handle. Driven to be a star, Marbury couldn't accept being a sidekick or worse, second fiddle.

Garnett had heard it before in whispers. But in the wake of Marbury's trade to New Jersey on Thursday and statements by coach Flip Saunders and vice president Kevin McHale, it suddenly was being shouted.

Now, Garnett had to respond.

"I know Stephon," he said, speaking softly. "I know we're always in competition with each other, whether it's basketball, girls, jewelry. I thought that was just having fun."

It was, instead, a rivalry that bordered on jealousy, perhaps even resentment of Garnett's All-Star status, Olympic invitations and, most of all, money.

"I haven't necessarily got that vibe from him," Garnett continued. "Some people thought that was the case. I don't understand how someone can be mad at me when they've got the same opportunities that I had."

He paused, thought again about his buddy, sidekick, former teammate and, it seems, rival.

"I need someone to sit down and justify that to me," Garnett said. "We had the same opportunities. This is our team. If he's got a problem or it's bothering him, I don't understand that. They were going to take care of him the same way they take care of me."

Actually, the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement - born in part out of the breathtaking contract Garnett signed in October 1997 - imposes maximum salaries on players. The most Marbury could have received was a six-year, $71 million deal.

That's the deal Marbury signed Friday, too - with the New Jersey Nets. Had he stayed with the Wolves, though, the spectre of that missing $55 million would have been too much for him to tolerate.

"[New] rules put a limit on, or whatever, in his case," Garnett said. "But where else are you going to go and get [more]? It's a can't-win situation."

Never mind the absurdity of $71 million being turned into some sort of insult. What mattered was how Marbury felt about himself, his place within the team and Garnett.

"I always say your greatest strength is your greatest weakness," Saunders said before the Wolves' game Friday night against the Sacramento Kings. "Stephon was always wanting to be the best, wanting to be No. 1. He had a tough time dealing with Kevin."

Veteran forward Sam Mitchell has heard sillier things in his time, just not recently. "I don't know about all that. Whatever," Mitchell said. "There's room enough for two, there's room enough for three, there's room enough for everybody. But if somebody just doesn't want to be here, there's nothing we can do."

Garnett, the grizzled veteran of the Wolves, has had plenty of teammates come and go. At the ripe old age of 22, he ranks first among the players in seniority with the club.

He got a chance, he said, to say goodbye to Marbury Thursday after the deal was announced. "Steph came to my room, knocked on my door, had a few things to say," Garnett said. "I looked at him, hugged him, [tapped] him on the forehead and told him, y'know, good luck."

In truth, though, Garnett knew Marbury was gone two days earlier, when the Wolves faced Seattle on Tuesday at Target Center. There had been enough smoke around the point guard and management to find the fire.

"When we were shooting around, and before the introductions, I sort of told him what I had to say then and there," Garnett said. "I knew that was going to be the last time we played at home. I knew that was the last time we were on that floor together in the same jerseys."

My Night with Mikki, er, I Mean EJ

If you run a search on Google for "EJ Phillips" and "Bourbon Street," you'll find a couple of hits for a musician who plays a mixture of blues and rock. One night, back in my younger days, I had a few too many at a place called the Funky Pirate, and Mr. Phillips summoned me up to the stage .

Keep in mind I can't sing. I mean I really can't sing. But I was making so much racket applauding his efforts, he figured it was easier to let me embarrass myself on stage than it would be to call me out.

So I went up and sang a couple of songs with him. No clue what either of them were, though I think one may have been a Hendrix tune. The only reason I think that is because his talking voice sounds exactly like Jimi's talking voice.

In any event, I stopped in the next day for lunch, and he came over during a break. "Man, you were so wasted last night," EJ said with his Hendrix-like voice. That's the only part of the conversation I remember today.

EJ had himself some serious dreadlocks. Kind of like Mikki Moore. In fact, back then EJ looked a lot like Mikki does now. So when ever I see a picture of Mikki in the dreads, I'm immediately reminded of a night I've long since tried to forget, but probably never will.

Heisler Wastes No Time Weighing In

On Sunday in Phoenix, Rajon Rondo blew past Steve Nash, who couldn't have caught him with a lasso, scoring 32 points with 10 assists in a 128-108 rout. Monday in Denver, Rondo shut down Chauncey Billups, outscoring him, 14-3, in a 114-76 laugher. "It got to the point last year, I was concerned if he wasn't on the floor because he runs the team so well. When he goes off the floor, it's a major loss for us," Doc Rivers says.

This just in: It won't be as major a loss soon. The day Marbury arrives, they'll have a former All-Star on their bench, who's guaranteed to be on his best behavior, hoping to get a new contract, knowing he'll be cut if he so much as rolls his eyes. To Lakers fans seeking catharsis after last year's Finals loss to Boston, nothing short of beating the Celtics this June will do. But getting Stephon Marbury will make Boston that much tougher.

Link to rest of Mark Heisler's article.

What Mr. Heisler fails to mention is that we just grew by several inches as well. For a guy obsessed with player height, this Laker columnist fails to mention that the second unit now has someone taller than 6-7 to guard Pau Gasol. Gasol is 16-28 against the Celtics this year, but a lot of his success has come against Big Baby, Leon Powe, and a sick KG.

He’ll have a tougher time of it against seven-foot, hyperactive Mikki Moore. “Just shooting over him” won’t be an option like it was with Powe and Davis.

Elite Company

                      Points    Assists     Rebounds
Oscar Robertson        25.7       9.5         7.5
Magic Johnson          19.5       12.3        7.7
Isiah Thomas           19.2       9.3         3.6
Stephon Marbury        19.7       7.8         3.0

The only four players in NBA history to average at least 19 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds over their careers.

The Bill Walton Effect

Bill Walton was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 1985-86. Lest you think this is just some throw-away award bestowed on the league's best scrub, but still not someone worthy of starting or capable of making an impact, let us return to the only two regular season games that mattered. I'm talking, of course, about the Lakers-Celtics contests.

In both games Walton dominated Kareem. At the Gahden, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 110-95. Walton hit five of six shots, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished 5 assists while blocking a whopping seven shots in 16 minutes. Walton frustrated Jabbar every minute he was on the floor, holding Kareem to two field goals on eight attempts. In Los Angeles, the Celtics again won comfortably, with Walton posting 10 points, seven rebounds, 5 blocks, and four assists. This time he held Kareem to 1 field goal in five attempts.

These were outstanding performances, but not necessarily rare or even his best that year.

Opposing coaches and players could be heard cursing in disgust as they looked over at the scorer's bench, where Bill Walton was getting ready to check into the game for the first time. Having just been mopped up with the rest of the loose debris by the Celtics' first unit, opponents realized it wasn't going to get any easier with the second unit. In fact, it could likely get worse.

Can the 2008-09 Boston Celtics find anyone who will even remotely have this kind of impact off the bench?

Happy Now, Mr. Heisler?

If anyone forgot, as almost everyone did, the Lakers' size, depth and athleticism are far superior to the Celtics'. If the Lakers played as hard as the Celtics, and defended as well, they really would win 70.

Celtics players dismissed the impact of Bynum's return, as if he were a 7-foot equipment manager who had wandered on the court. The alternative would have been to say, "His mere size changes everything. Even if we can still beat them, we're going to get cricks in our necks looking up at them." The Celtics are very short for such a physical, defense-oriented team, with Garnett their only rotation player over 6-9 in bare feet.

Tough as he is, Kendrick Perkins, who's listed at 6-10, looks 6-8 1/2 , at most. (I saw him next to the Globe's Marc Spears, who's 6-6. Perkins looked an inch or so taller.) Glen Davis, listed at 6-9, looks about 6-7 1/2 . Leon Powe, listed at 6-8, looks 6-6 1/2. Then there's their bench, as in, what bench? Powe and Tony Allen might or might not break into the Lakers' nine-man rotation. Davis and Eddie House, no shot.

--Mark Heisler

I'm not sure Derek Fisher, the Lakers' starting point guard, would beat out Eddie House for third-string point guard on the Celtics.

Celtics 104 Pacers 99: The Game Log

Team Stat Comparison
	INDIANA	BOSTON
Points	99	104
FG Made-Attempted	38-87 (.437)	39-74 (.527)
3P Made-Attempted	7-18 (.389)	10-19 (.526)
FT Made-Attempted	16-18 (.889)	16-23 (.696)
Rebounds (Offensive-Total)	17-46	7-35
Assists	19	31
Turnovers	14	13
Steals	8	4
Blocks	3	8
Fast Break Points	6	4
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant)	21 (1/0)	21 (0/0)
Largest Lead	6	13

Top Performers
INDIANA		BOSTON
	T. Murphy Points: 20 Reb: 13 Ast: 3 Stl: 1 Blk: 2		R. Allen Points: 30 Reb: 6 Ast: 3 Stl: 1 Blk: 0

Game Leaders
	INDIANA	BOSTON
Points	T. Ford 23	R. Allen 30
Rebounds	T. Murphy 13	K. Perkins 11
Assists	M. Daniels 4	R. Rondo 17
Steals	J. Foster 4	R. Allen 1
Blocks	T. Murphy 2	K. Perkins 5
· Team stats: Indiana | Boston

2008-09 Season
Boston leads 3-1
Sat 11/1	@IND 95, BOS 79	Recap | Box Score
Wed 12/3	@BOS 114, IND 96	Recap | Box Score
Sun 12/7	BOS 122, @ IND 117	Recap | Box Score
» Fri 2/27	@BOS 104, IND 99	Recap | Box Score
· Complete Schedule: Celtics | Pacers

Next 5 Games
INDIANA (ET)	BOSTON (ET)
03/01 DEN 7:00pm 03/03 @SAC 10:00pm 03/04 @POR 10:00pm 03/07 @LAC 10:30pm 03/10 UTA 7:00pm	03/01 DET 1:00pm 03/04 @NJ 7:30pm 03/06 CLE 8:00pm 03/08 ORL 1:00pm 03/11 @MIA 7:30pm
· Complete Schedule: Indiana | Boston

Associated Press

BOSTON -- Newly acquired backup Stephon Marbury scored six points during a 9-0 fourth-quarter run, Ray Allen added 30 points and Rajon Rondo matched his career high with 17 assists on Friday night as the Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 104-99.

Marbury finished with eight points and two assists just hours after clearing waivers and signing with the Celtics for their push toward the playoffs and a try at back-to-back NBA titles.After receiving a standing ovation, Marbury quickly sank his first shot -- his first points since Jan. 11, 2008.Glen "Big Baby" Davis, starting in place of the injured Kevin Garnett, scored 18, and Kendrick Perkins had 11 rebounds for Boston, which returned home after going 4-2 on a six-game road trip.Ford scored 23 and Troy Murphy had 20 points and 13 assists for the Pacers.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Kevin McHale, Is That You?

The Knicks put Marbury on waivers late yesterday, and depending on when that information was recorded at the NBA office, he could clear and become a free agent as early as Thursday. Marbury will then - barring any last-minute glitches - become a Celtic. According to an executive with another team, who asked to remain nameless, “I don’t see how this doesn’t happen, but I guess that’s always a possibility. I just think this is all set - and I think it’s going to work out better than a lot of people expect.”

Bring on the Fakers

Celtics 104 Pacers 99: The Box

	1	2	3	4	T
IND (25-36)	18	31	26	24	99
BOS (47-13)	26	22	29	27	104

Final

7:30 PM ET, February 27, 2009

TD Banknorth Garden

Boston, MA

INDIANA PACERS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Troy Murphy, PF	36	6-11	1-3	7-7	3	10	13	3	1	2	1	4	-3	20
Marquis Daniels, SG	38	3-12	0-1	0-0	2	5	7	4	0	0	1	3	+8	6
Roy Hibbert, C	13	1-5	0-0	1-2	2	1	3	0	0	1	0	4	-12	3
T.J. Ford, PG	36	9-19	2-4	3-3	5	1	6	4	1	0	4	0	-9	23
Jarrett Jack, PG	27	5-11	0-2	4-4	1	2	3	3	1	0	2	4	-24	14
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Rasho Nesterovic, C	12	2-5	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	1	0	0	1	0	-5	4
Jeff Foster, C	33	3-6	0-0	1-2	3	4	7	1	4	0	2	3	+11	7
Travis Diener, PG	12	2-3	1-1	0-0	0	0	0	2	1	0	1	2	+4	5
Brandon Rush, SG	31	7-15	3-7	0-0	0	3	3	1	0	0	2	1	+5	17
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		38-87	7-18	16-18	17	29	46	19	8	3	14	21		99
		43.7%	38.9%	88.9%	Team TO (pts off): 14 (14)
+/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
BOSTON CELTICS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Paul Pierce, SF	39	6-13	2-4	2-2	0	2	2	2	0	1	1	2	+6	16
Glen Davis, PF	25	6-12	0-0	6-9	0	2	2	2	1	1	1	3	+9	18
Kendrick Perkins, C	27	3-5	0-0	0-0	3	8	11	1	1	5	3	5	+2	6
Ray Allen, SG	43	11-16	6-10	2-2	0	6	6	3	1	0	2	1	+14	30
Rajon Rondo, PG	34	1-7	1-2	0-0	0	4	4	17	0	0	1	3	+8	3
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Bill Walker, SG	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stephon Marbury, PG	13	4-6	0-1	0-0	0	1	1	2	1	0	3	0	-7	8
Mikki Moore, PF	16	2-5	0-0	2-3	0	3	3	0	0	0	2	2	-9	6
Eddie House, SG	16	1-3	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	2	-5	3
Leon Powe, PF	26	5-7	0-0	4-7	4	2	6	2	0	1	0	3	+7	14
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		39-74	10-19	16-23	7	28	35	31	4	8	15	21		104
		52.7%	52.6%	69.6%	Team TO (pts off): 17 (12)

When's the Press Conference?

The Mikki Moore Files: Vol. I

Link

14 Points (5-7 FGs), 8 Rebounds, 8 Assists, 1 Steal, 1 Block

and just two turnovers in 31 minutes.

Not a bad night for the second best point guard in the NBA.

Link

Celtics Might Pursue a Second Big Man

Word is the Celts might pursue another big man if one of higher profile becomes available, but they do not expect that to happen before March 1 (the deadline for a player to be waived so he can be eligible for a playoff roster).

--Herald

Celts Bring Back "Da Mick"

Link

Behold the Free Agent Bonanza

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More on Tommorow's Marbury Meeting

Donnie Walsh is planning to meet privately, man to man, with Stephon Marbury before tomorrow's arbitration hearing. According to a person familiar with the situation, the two will go face to face and see if they can work out a buyout settlement and avoid the legal hearing altogether.

--Newsday

Doc's Face

I think my favorite part of yesterday's game was the look on Doc's face when he called a twenty-second timeout after Phoenix opened the contest by scoring on a seemingly endless array of lightly contested layups. "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU GUYS DOING OUT THERE!" "DOES ANYONE REALIZE THE GAME HAS STARTED?" An absolute classic. Nobody's face expresses precisely what he's thinking and feeling the way Doc's does. I really need to use my Doc Rivers' pictures as emoticons to capture the mood of Celtic Nation. I keep threatening to do this. Maybe for the playoffs.

Billy and Gabe

Link

Marbury, Walsh Meeting Tomorrow

Donnie Walsh is preparing to meet with Stephon Marbury before Tuesday's arbitration hearing on his $400,000 fine. Marbury must come to a buyout agreement with the Knicks and be placed on waivers by Sunday, March 1, if he hopes to sign with another team in time to be eligible for a postseason roster. Once a buyout is reached, the Knicks would put Marbury on waivers. He would have 48 hours to clear waivers before becoming a free agent.

--Newsday

Bird Yet to Have Good Game at Silverdome

1981-82 Boston Celtics

The Celtics have yet to lose in six visits to the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., but you can pardon Larry Bird if he wished never to see that ugly structure again.

The cavernous Dome has been his personal House of Horrors, and the Pistons' fans can be forgiven if they don't quite understand what the hype is all about. Only once in those six games has Bird shot the ball well at all, that being an 11-for-19 effort last Feb. 21. His other five Silverdome outings have produced such gems as 7 for 21, 8 for 21, 4 for 14, 5 for 15, 7 for 19 and 2 for 8, all of which, when combined with the one good night, adds up to 35 percent shooting.

Bird will enter the Silverdome tomorrow night (Ch. 4, 9 p.m.) as the league's hottest player, however. After shooting 10 for 35 in games against Chicago and Philadelphia last week, he went 40 for 67 in his last three affairs before last night while scoring 93 points. He has also had 49 rebounds, 32 assists, 13 steals and 4 blocks in those three games. His 28- point, 19-rebound, 15-assist game against Atlanta may very well have qualified him for Player of the Month, let alone Player of the Week, on the basis of that game alone.

If shooting background is what has been bothering Bird in Pontiac, he should be pleased to hear that the Pistons are expecting a crowd in excess of 20,000 for tonight's game. That should eliminate the sea of blue one normally sees.

Playing alongside Larry Bird must do a job on the ego, if one is geared to publicity. Poor Robert Parish, for example, posted back-to-back 24-point, 11- rebound games against New Jersey and Atlanta, and nobody has noticed . . . And in any ordinary circumstance, a Kevin McHale would have been showered with praise after scoring 28 points while starting in place of Cedric Maxwell (knee injury) on Wednesday. McHale's 43 minutes played established a career high in that category, surpassing the 34 he posted last season while starting his only game of his rookie year. In his two starts McHale has scored 49 points . . . The Celtics have won four straight and have also won four of their last five road games dating back to Dec. 26, when they stopped Kansas City in overtime . . . Bird, who again leads all NBA forwards in assists, has racked up 47 in his last five games. He's also averaging 15.4 rebounds a game in his last eight games, and 31 points a game in his last three.

Is Rajon Rondo the Best Player in the NBA?

Probably not.

But in any given game?

I can't rule it out.

Knicks only Want $2m - $3m from Marbury

INSIDE STEPH: Donnie Walsh reached out to Stephon Marbury's representatives yesterday in an effort to hammer out a buyout with the exiled guard. Marbury, who has not appeared in an NBA regular-season game in 13 months, is earning $20.9 million this season. Marbury has refused to give back more than $1m, but in all likelihood Marbury would have to give the Knicks between $2 million and $3 million in savings for his freedom.

--New York Daily News

JR Giddens: Let's See the Goods

Link

Celtics Floored by Wet Garden

1990-91 Boston Celtics
11/29/1990

They milled about the parquet floor, gossiping and talking about the weather. All that was missing from this Garden cocktail party were the peanuts and the gin and tonics.

Of course, what the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks were supposed to be doing was playing a basketball game, not trading tips on how to beat the salary cap. However, in yet another bizarre chapter of Boston Garden lore, the teams endured a 24-minute delay before their outing last night was suspended because of condensation on the floor. The condensation was the result of unusually high temperatures, which caused the ice underneath the parquet to begin melting and create slippery and unsafe conditions.

Thus, last night's epic will undoubtedly go down in history as the first NBA game called on account of nice weather. "I'm really impressed with Red Auerbach," said Tim McCormick, one of the many players who slipped on the floor. "I thought I had heard about all his tricks, but climate control, that's one I never expected."

At the time suspension the Celtics were cruising, 37-22, with 10:30 left in the second quarter. The league office indicated last night that play will resume with the score intact, but that offered little consolation to the locals, who felt they were laying the groundwork for a win.

"When the other team has lost eight in a row and they're down 15, this is not something you want to happen," said Celtics chief operating officer Dave Gavitt. "I just wanted the game to keep going," said Larry Bird, who was 6 points shy of the 20,000 career mark when the game was called. "But the longer we stood around, the worse it got.

Joe Smith Doesn't Deserve to be a Celtic

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Postscript on Patrick O'Bryant

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How California became France

Best Headline of 2009

Joe Smith Not Seeking Buyout

"What for?” Smith asked before Friday night’s game against Phoenix. "I’ve been here all year. Why would I want to do that now? I’m (not) seeking it.”

Link

Marbury, Walsh set to meet on Tuesday

Link

Lanier Leads Bucks Over Celts

Green Fall to 27-9
1981-82 Boston Celtics

His ancient knees give out from time to time, and Bob Lanier is no longer the awesome offensive force he was for many years with the Detroit Pistons. But if you want a simple explanation of why the Celtics ' four-game winning streak went down the drain last night, he is the man with whom you start.

In the third quarter Lanier rose from a season of less-than-spectacular play, and suddenly a battle of NBA division leaders turned into a rout. The Milwaukee Bucks, shooting 74 percent in the period and riding the shoulders of their veteran center, shot to a 19-point lead and held on to knock off the Celtics , 122-118, before a sellout crowd of 11,052 at the Mecca.

Don't let the final score or the fact that Milwaukee had six players in double figures fool you. This was The Bob Lanier Show, particularly in the third quarter, when he hit seven of eight shots and scored 16 of his 26 points.

Lanier is currently averaging about 13 points a game, which is a far cry from his days with Detroit.

But he reached back, into the past as it were, and once again threw around his 6-foot-10, 265-pound frame; nobody could stop him. His 26 points were a season high and three short of his Milwaukee career high.

"We've asked Bob to do a lot of different things in Milwaukee, different than he's done in Detroit," said Bucks coach Don Nelson. "He's not scoring as many points as he used to, and is more involved in the passing and running of the offense. But he's still a great player. He may be only 60 percent of what he used to be on offense, but once he gets it going you have to change your defense.

"He's had nights when his knees were sore and he couldn't play much. But just his presence on the floor is impressive. Teams have to respect him."

The Celtics gave Lanier respect last night, maybe too much respect. But then it's hard to stop an incredible hulk of a man who can throw power hooks and his body around the way Lanier does.

"It's easy to look at Robert Parish on a night like this," said coach Bill Fitch, "and say he didn't do his job. But the fact is that Lanier shot well and our defense overall was a little soft. We let him get the ball where he wants to, and weren't helping out Robert enough."

One bad stretch was all it took to sink the Celtics last night, following as it did a so-so first half in which Boston trailed by eight points, 60-52. Milwaukee went on a 17-11 tear to open the quarter and soon built the lead to 19 points at 83-64.

Lanier took complete control in the period, and said the reason that he was so active was that he noticed that Boston was letting him get to his spot in the first half.

"It didn't seem as if the Celtics were giving Parish a lot of help," said Lanier, "and I can cause a lot of damage when they are doing that."

This was no night to make excuses for the Celtics. They were outhustled at the starting gate, blew a second-quarter lead, and were beaten.

The Bucks showed they like to run as much as Boston, gambling by releasing the guards on almost every shot, and got away with it.

"You can stop that controlling the backboards," said Larry Bird, who led the Celtics with 29 points. "But we didn't do that, and their guards released down the floor and got going before we could set up our defense. Lanier made the difference in the third quarter. We let him get the ball where he wanted it, and he put it in the basket."

Boston's fourth quarter was a good one: the Celtics cut a 19-point lead to four points. They made a game of it with around 9 minutes left, running off nine straight points and trailed, 95-85.

But Milwaukee did everything right in the next few minutes, and by the time Boston got the deficit to under 10 points at 117-108, there was only 1:21 left.

The Big Three are Old

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Walsh Says He Expects Marbury Talks to Heat Up

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Starting Gamble at the 3 is Working Out

1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start

Kevin Gamble spent some time floundering in the CBA. Then, one year, he found himself leading the league in scoring. Next thing you know the scouts started paying attention. "It's funny," Gamble laughed. "All they tell you in the NBA is how you have to play defense. But as soon as I started scoring, they all showed up." This year, the Boston Celtics are 7-0 with him as a starter, and he is posting impressive numbers.

Read more.

Bench Needs a Shot of Adrenaline

Is Mikki Moore gonna come off the bench and put ball in basket? What about Scot Pollard? I'm not even sure Joe Smith can be counted on to do this.

On the other hand, you add a point guard who can score and distribute and act as a catalyst for the second unit, and suddenly everyone on the bench is a threat to score.

I hate to say it. But the bench needs Stephon Marbury.

McHale Starting in Cornbread's Absence

1981-82 Boston Celtics

Of all the Celtics , no one is looking forward to playing the Milwaukee Bucks tonight (Ch. 4, 9 o'clock) more than Kevin McHale, the second-year player who has suddenly found himself thrust into a starting role.

For Boston, which will be trying to extend its winning streak to five games, it is a major test against a team that would be a difficult opponent even if it weren't leading the NBA's Central Division. The Bucks' modest two game winning streak includes victories over Los Angeles at home and Philadelphia on the road Wednesday.

For McHale, it will be a return to the Midwest, where he was a star at the University of Minnesota a few years ago.

Read more

Let the Buyouts Begin

Now that the Sorrowful Song of Solomon is no longer a Celtic (was he ever?), we can get back to the business at hand.

Tonight's game?

No way.

We've got nine days left until the March 1 deadline for postseason eligibility. As noted earlier, the NBA salary cap is expected to decrease this year, which, in turn, is expected to increase the number of players who will be bought out to save money.

This means that your Boston Celtics will soon be adrift in free agents vying to fill their two open roster slots. Joe Smith and Stephon Marbury are the early frontrunners. But in this economy, you never know what other big name players may be offered fifty- to seventy-five cents on the dollar to explore opportunities elsewhere.

What Was Bill Walton Doing in 1985?

January 5, 1985
Seven Months Before Red Pulled the Trigger on the Walton-for-Maxwell Deal

There were four little Waltons fluttering around their father's locker when he came out of the shower. They greeted him with tales of the hot dogs they had eaten and the funny faces they had made, and they asked him for a basketball to play with, too. Bill Walton understood the need. Indeed, maybe no one has ever understood it better.

One day Adam, Nate, Luke and Chris Walton will grow up to realize that. When their ages no longer range from 9 to 3, they will hear the stories of how the man who begot them might have been the greatest center in history if his body hadn't betrayed him. And perhaps they will remember winter nights like this one, when Bill Walton battled to regain just a fraction of what fate stole from him, battled until he was completely drained.

"Nate," he said wearily, "would you get some cans of beer and put them in my bag?"

The order was filled posthaste.

"Thanks," said Walton, a mischievous smile flickering across his face. ''That'll get me to midnight."

He works up a thirst for the Los Angeles Clippers now, a team that is better than anything its checkered past in San Diego might lead you to expect, but still little more than a fly for the Boston Celtics to swat. And that is what the Celtics had done by 15 points after shaking hands with Jack Nicholson at courtside and waving to Mike Warren of "Hill Street Blues" in the high- priced seats. The lords of the NBA wove a fast-break tapestry, leaving Walton to marvel at their handiwork.

"That doesn't come from playing together, that comes from winning together," he said. "A lot of teams play together, but when you win a championship, you all look to do it yourselves, and if you can't, you have the confidence that your teammates can."

Championship spirit unquenched

It was that way in Portland in '77, when the Trail Blazers were the power and Walton was the glory. And you could tell he hasn't forgotten the feeling even when the Clippers were getting waxed by the Celtics eight seasons later. His Clydesdale stride was still proud, his jaw was still thrust forward defiantly, his eyes still burned with the fire inside him. He didn't back up an inch whether he was blocking Cedric Maxwell's driving layup in the opening minutes or fighting for a three-point play when the Clippers had no hope. Both times the lip-readers in the L.A. Sports Arena saw him deliver the same message: "Come on, come on!"

This was the Bill Walton that Clippers coach Jim Lynam always heard about when he talked with his friend and mentor, Jack Ramsay - the Walton who certified Ramsay's tactical genius in Portland. "Jack used to say Bill was such a competitor that he liked road games more than home games," Lynam says. ''I guess Bill just loved the struggle."

Walton had no choice, really. If he hadn't been willing to struggle, he would have lost basketball forever. "The only things I love more are my wife and family," he says, "and they didn't even used to be up there."

The future outweighs the past

He is 32, a fine age for anyone to get his priorities in order. But anyone who insists on telling that to the world should add that his outlook on life may be better because he no longer fears that his next step in basketball shoes will be his last one.

"I spend most of my time now thinking about my next game," Walton says, ''not the games I couldn't play in."

Perhaps the load of the past would be too much, for he was a budding NBA tragedy that couldn't be traced to drugs or profligate spending or agents who weren't worth the dotted lines they had him signing. True, he hung out with what people in high places thought was the wrong crowd and he was embarrassingly capable of saying the wrong thing. But he was young and headstrong, and at last glance, neither of those qualities was a felony.

Where Walton was concerned, the real crime involved his underpinnings. He had feet that wouldn't support the 235 pounds strung over his 6-11 frame. Every time he took a step, you were afraid of hearing a bone crumble like a potato chip. In the best seasons he has ever had, Walton still could have been Blue Cross-Blue Shield's poster boy. There were 17 missed games on his report card the year Portland won the title and 24 when he was the NBA's Most Valuable Player the year after. Then he became a missing person.

In three of the next four seasons, Walton played nary a minute. In the fourth, he got into 14 games. No wonder everybody started to speak of him in the past tense. "In late '80 and all of '81," he says, "the doctors said I had no chance of playing basketball again, or even participating in any sport of any kind."

Operation gave hope

Out of the hopelessness, however, came hope. There was an operation - Walton's fifth and most daring - and it left him with a restructured left foot and the chance for the comeback that began two seasons ago. The pain it involved was nothing. "I'd already known pain," Walton says. The patience required of him was something else again. "I couldn't play back-to-back games," he said. "I could only play every other game, and that was very unsettling to my feel for what was happening out there." Worst of all, it left him with a question that only action could answer.

"In the past, whenever I got started to play again, I was always concerned about being injured again," he said. "I'm still concerned, but I had to get over having the possibility of another injury preoccupying my basketball thoughts. I have to do my playing and thinking without hesitation."

To the dismay of drama lovers, there was no grand moment when everything flowed once more for Walton. It just happened. He could feel the change welling inside him at the end of last season, when he needed no more games off. Then he had a healthy summer while playing pickup games with his fellow Clippers and old UCLA teammates. "That was the first time in seven years that I didn't have any major surgery or casting in the summer," he said. To celebrate, he smashed his mental block.

Now, more than a third of the way into the new season, Jim Lynam understands what Jack Ramsay meant when he talked about Walton loving the struggle. "Bill never let the dream die," Lynam said, "and that's all it was for a while - a dream."

Season's routine still not ideal

The reality doesn't always please Walton, of course. He can't practice enough to mesh smoothly with the Clippers' offense, and his adventures at forward have been limited by the inflamed tendon in his ankle that kept him out of the only two games he has missed. And deep down, there is something that perhaps will always gnaw at him: On the court, he will never be the real Bill Walton again.

There are too many years and scars on him for that. "I just have to learn to do the best with what I've got," he said. "I have to keep pushing." So he campaigns for more minutes of play since they are the coin of the realm, and he wants more chances to see if he can make Akeem Olajuwon, Houston's rookie prize, eat the basketball the way he did the first time they met. The hunger of old has been stirred again, and even on that unhappy night against the Celtics, it was there to offer a lesson to Walton's sons.

"Daddy," said 6-year-old Nate, "if you'd had four more points, you would have had the most points on the team."

Bill Walton tried to look as stern as he could wearing a Dance for Disarmament T-shirt. He forgot about the Grateful Dead music that is always playing in his mind, and he even tried to frown.

"If the team had had 16 more points," he said, "we would have won the game."

Father knows best.