4/19/1988
If it were a movie, it would have been "Lost Weekend." But the villain wasn't alcohol, it was complacency.
The results were a 120-109 loss to the Cavaliers Friday night and a 98-92 setback at the hands of the Bullets Sunday afternoon.
With four regular-season games remaining and those back-to-back losses hanging over the Celtics' heads, coach K.C. Jones looks reality square in the eye and tells it like it is.
"We're not ready for the playoffs," said Jones. And if anyone should know about playoffs, it is Jones, who is venturing into the NBA's second season for the eighth time in his coaching career after having appeared in nine postseasons as a player.
Jones ran his troops through a two-hour drill at Hellenic College yesterday morning, concentrating on the half-court game at both ends.
"All I am concentrating on right now is Detroit," said Jones. "We gotta win. They are going to come out at us like Cleveland and Washington did."
If the Celtics lose to the Pistons tonight at the Garden (SportsChannel, 7:35), it would mark only the fourth three-game losing streak for Boston in the Larry Bird Era.
"The Pistons will be coming into town loose and relaxed," said Jones, whose team will finish off the regular season against heavyweights. After the Pistons, Michael Jordan and the Bulls invade the Garden Thursday night for the home finale, then the Celtics finish up on the road at Atlanta Friday night and in Chicago Sunday afternoon.
"I prefer to finish off the season against tough teams," said Jones. "Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago are all playoff teams." He said the Celtics will not deviate from their regular game plan or rest any starters in preparation for the playoffs.
The Celtics can wrap up the best record in the Eastern Conference tonight with a victory, which would give them the home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Dennis Johnson, who missed the last two games because of a sore right shoulder, is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight.
As for the Bill Walton Watch . . . The three-time All-American from UCLA worked out with weights yesterday at Hellenic, but did not participate in the scrimmage game. It is not likely that he will be activated for the playoffs.
Jones, who said he hadn't counted on Walton's return, isn't overly concerned about the weekend letdown.
"It's natural to have a letdown," he said. "We were prepared for the Cleveland game, but we weren't for Washington. We came out and played ragged. Since I've been in the league, I've tried to guard against the letdowns. You just have got to come out and play with intensity."
Losing leads has been ailing the Celtics. "That's happened to us too often this season," said Jones. "Maybe something good will come out of it."
It had better. If they don't find the intensity, there could be a long summer and a multitude of "Are the Celtics Dead?" stories ahead.
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