Celts Face-Off against Fitch for First Time Since He was Fired

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Record: 23-7
12/29/1983

HOUSTON

Some of the Celtics would have you believe that tonight's joust with the Houston Rockets is "just another ballgame." "It's nothing special at all," said Danny Ainge. "I don't think we want to beat Bill (Fitch) any worse than any other team. That's the way I feel." Dennis Johnson, Carlos Clark and Greg Kite feel the same way. They weren't around during Fitch's four years as coach of the Celtics. The rest of the Celtics care deeply. "There's no question about it," said M.L. Carr. "The guys want to go after that team. First of all, because of Bill, and secondly, because of Ralph Sampson. We don't want Sampson to build his reputation on us, and we certainly don't want to give Bill the satisfaction of beatng us."It's no secret that Bill had a few differences with some of the guys," continued Carr. "I wouldn't say there's any personel vendettas, but everybody's been talking about this game.

All the guys are fired up. I was afraid we might look past San Antonio because we were so fired up for this game." Even the coach is excited. "It's not just another game," said K.C. Jones, who wielded little influence on team affairs during his years as an assistant under Fitch.The Celtics are in good shape. Boston has won 11 of its last 12 regular-season games against Houston and hasn't lost a game in Texas since Jan. 5, 1980. Overall, the Celtics have won four straight (and 14 of 16), lead the NBA in victories (23) and own the league's best road record (11-4). Meanwhile, the Rockets (11 of 18) are coming off a 110-95 home loss to the San Diego Clippers, who had lost 29 consecutive road games before Tuesday night.Fitch will go with a starting lineup of Sampson, Caldwell Jones, Robert Reid, Phil Ford and Lewis Lloyd. Sampson is averaging 12.3 rebounds, fourth best in the league, but has made only 18 of 49 shots in his last four games.

MISC

Fitch's next victory will give him sole possession of sixth place on the league's all-time victory list with 558 . . . The Rockets have a lot of trouble with San Diego. The Clippers beat Houston, 128-97, last week and outrebounded the Rockets, 106-68, in the two games. Houston fans booed loudly when San Diego took a 28-point lead Tuesday . . . Credit Boston's defense for holding the Spurs to 100 points Tuesday night. San Antonio went into the game averaging 115.6, sixth best in the league . . . Dennis Johnson on stopping George Gervin (3 of 18 from the floor): "It was a team effort. The guards as a whole should be happy. Me and Quinn (Buckner) were on him, but Gerald (Henderson) and Danny (Ainge) came over and helped out. It worked." . . . Bird's 38-point effort was his second best of the year - he scored 39 against Detroit Nov. 11 . . . The Celtics will be on Ch. 4 tonight (8), tomorrow night (from Dallas) and again Tuesday (from New Jersey) . . . Boston blocked seven shots Tuesday, including a summit meeting in which Robert Parish stuffed Gilmore . . . Kevin McHale's five-game line: 122 points on 61 percent (47-77) shooting.