Sixers Beat Celts

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Sixers 109, Celtics 91
Record 39-12
February 11, 1984

The difference between the 76ers and most NBA teams is that they don't know the meaning of the word panic. Logic and a good game plan is the key to their success. And having a fellow named Julius Erving around doesn't hurt, either. It isn't so much what Ervingdoes that seems to excite his teammates. Coming into Boston Garden, he knew both he and his teammates ran the risk of embarrassment before a national television audience. Erving was clearly the driving force behind the 76ers, who, despite yester- day's stunning 109-91 victory over Boston, have won only three of their last 10 games. But as Erving rose to the occasion yesterday, so did his supporting cast, led by Sam Williams and Clemon Johnson, role players who have been pressed into full-time duty by the absence of Moses Malone, Bobby Jones and talented rookie Leo Rautins.

"Tonight was a challenge for them," said Erving. "It was just put to them in practice the other day. What are you going to do? Be a role player and just coast, or step into the slot and just play. I said, set your goals a little higher and just go for it.' That's exactly what the guys did. "Clemon, Sam, the guys who were role players before the injuries, are now key players who we need to win games consistently and stay at the level where we are. They took that challenge, and today was the result. "The whole thing was psychological. Nothing is going to change tomorrow in the standings. Clemon's ankle still hurts, so does Marc Iavaroni's. Bobby Jones' back isn't going to get better overnight. Moses is still out. Physical things are still there - bumps and bruises, aches and pains. But keeping everybody on a positive plane is what we have to do."

The 76ers had a plan to combat the Celtics and return a little sanity to the NBA's Atlantic Division race before things got completely out of hand. Philadelphia, still 6 1/2 games out, know catching Boston will take some doing. But until yesterday, the 76ers were in danger of falling back into the pack, with the upstart New York Knicks taking advantage of their troubles and moving to within a game of two of second place. To beat Boston, Philadelphia felt the Doctah had to do his thing on offense, and he did. But Johnson and Williams had to hold their own, particularly on the offensive boards, against a Boston front line that 76ers coach Billy Cunningham called one of the best front four he's ever seen. Philadelphia lost the statistical battle in rebounds, 57-43, but there was no doubt which team won the war of the trenches - the 76ers.

"We played great defense and beat Boston, which is the best team in basketball," said Cunningham. "Somehow, we have to generate some momentum, and, hopefully, this could be the start of something for us. We just can't do this once a month. We have to be able to play every night, and play the way we did tonight. That's as well as we've moved the ball and played in a month." The success of the foul-prone Johnson at center and Williams at power forward depended on two things, according to Cunningham. First, Boston had to miss some shots, negating their physical advantage inside. The Celtics responded with 36 percent shooting, and their 27-13 edge in offensive rebounding became meaningless.

Secondly, the 76ers had to give up their pure fast-breaking style in the name of set-play offense, and then get good passing and execution from all hands, most of whom are more effective in the running game. Williams had 17 points as a starter, and when the Celtics tried to double up on him or Johnson inside, it left wide-open shots for the radar guided missiles of Erving and Andrew Toney (21 points). "Our team needed some kind of offensive lift like this," said Erving. "It was a lot of fun out there today. Our defense has been solid, but we haven't had the consistency on offense. Today, I thought it was necessary for somebody to have a big game. I was aggressive with the ball and looked to score." Cunningham said he felt that the difference yesterday was Erving's and the club's ability to execute.

"We got good shots," he said, "good opportunities when they doubled Doc. He found the open man, if they did. We missed some layups, but the key is that at no time did we stop doing it. If Andrew was doubled, he moved the ball. The big people, when they collapsed inside, did, too. We played very well as a unit."