1988 NBA Playoffs: Celtics Pass Road Test

5/8/1988

The Celtics might have preferred a simpler first-round opponent, but their four-game series against the Knicks had to be a revitalizing experience for a team that has had little to celebrate on other flights home from big road games.

They had lost 10 of their last 12 road games in the playoffs, including a 109-100 defeat at New York Wednesday which proved again that enemy fans who used to inspire the Celtics had become an effective weapon against them. Then, on Friday, here they were: trailing by 6 (83-77) after a Knicks surge with six minutes left, the crowd in control, the Celtics calling time out to regroup.

This time they did regroup, and in their most significant game of the season they received individual performances reminiscent of their championship teams from two and four years ago. Larry Bird (28) broke a cold streak with a 14-footer and a jump hook, two shots that required a lot of set-up work against the Knicks' frantic defense. At the other end, Robert Parish (18 points, 4 blocks) squeezed in front to intercept an entry pass to Patrick Ewing, and on his way downcourt several moments later dunked for the middle 3 points of Boston's go-ahead 7-0 run.

The final four minutes belonged to Dennis Johnson, whose 19 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists secured his first triple-double in memory. After Knicks rookie Mark Jackson converted the last of his 28 points with a jumper at 4:05, DJ grabbed back the lead with a three-pointer at :01 on the shot clock. A minute later, DJ hit a 19-footer, next rebounded the final attempt by Johnny (25) Newman, then drove with the intent of kicking out behind him to Danny Ainge, who deposited a 25-foot three to finish off the Knicks (96-88) with :53 left.

In this way did the Celtics make all of the big, necessary plays, including two steals in the final six minutes, the latter an Ainge stripping of Gerald Wilkins in the frontcourt to set up Parish with a 4-footer at 2:59 (89-85). It should be pointed out that the sub-.500 Knicks are not the equals of LA, Detroit or even Atlanta, but they had gone 24-16 in the second half of the regular season, they did have Patrick Ewing (20 rebounds), Newman was scoring 59 points in the last two games and Jackson (nine assists) was playing probably as well as he can. Their play had raised Madison Square Garden's intensity to a level not seen in years, which only reinforced the Knicks' frantic determination to prevent the Celtics from executing their methodical half-court offense.

"We had to fight for our lives," K.C. Jones said.

"They were not fresh," Knicks coach Rick Pitino said of the Celtics, "but they reached back and showed their greatness."

So the Celtics will wait until tonight's winner of the Bucks-Hawks series arrives in Boston Garden Wednesday night to begin the second round, and it is comforting for them to know that DJ looks as fresh and determined as he ever has, that Parish has the stuff to ignite a 16-4 game-opening run with 8 points at one end and a remarkable block of a Ewing dunk at the other, and that they became the first Eastern team to win on the road in 17 playoff games this year.

"It was as tough a first-round series as we've had in a very long time," Kevin McHale said. "We needed a big effort to beat them."

Unlike last year, they can rest before starting all over again.