1988 NBA Playoffs: KC Jones is on the Record

5/10/1988

K.C. Jones has been immortalized in the Congressional Record, thanks to Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey (R-New Hampshire).

The solon drafted and read a statement for insertion into the record yesterday. It said, in part:

"Mr. President, those who consistently win at the game of basketball and the game of life do so because they work at winning. There are no free throws here. Winning takes hard work, dedication, leadership and teamwork . . . Mr. President, last week K.C. Jones announced he will retire as coach. He will retire a winner, a leader and a true champion. Today, let us honor K.C. Jones, the player, the coach and the man. Good luck, K.C., from all of us who have admired you for so long."

K.C. has had a long history of summering in the Granite State, and has recently purchased a vacation home there.

DJ PULLS OUT OF PRACTICE

Dennis Johnson, who sustained a groin pull during Friday's clincher over New York, did not participate in yesterday's practice and will not scrimmage today, either. He says he will definitely participate in the opener vs. Atlanta.

FRATELLO A STARRY COACH

Hawks coach Mike Fratello is the only man other than K.C. Jones to coach the East All-Stars since 1983. He has a 231-179 regular-season record in five years as Atlanta coach and has piloted the team to 50 wins or more in each of the last three seasons, something no other Hawks coach has done. His playoff record is 11-12.

BURIED IN THE GARDEN

Boston Garden is not exactly the building of choice for the Hawks. They have lost 12 consecutive games on the ol' parquet, playoffs included, since a 114-105 victory March 1, 1985. In the past seven seasons Boston has emerged triumphant 23 of 25 times while at home against Atlanta, with the breakdown being 18-2 in the regular season and 5-0 in the playoffs. Boston's average home-court margin of victory this season was 16.7 points.

A LOW POINT IN THEIR CAREERS

The Hawks had to be pulling for the Lakers to pulverize Utah completely during the first period of Sunday's Western Conference playoff series. The Jazz finished with 8 points in the period, 2 more than Atlanta's playoff-record low of 6 established during a bizarre 36-6 Celtics third-quarter trashing May 6, 1986.

KONCAK CAN'T OPERATE AFTER SURGERY

Atlanta backup center Jon Koncak, who afforded coach Mike Fratello much-needed flexibility, is out for the duration of the playoffs as a result of knee surgery . . . Rollins and Rivers appeared in Boston as members of Shootout teams, Rollins for Georgia and Rivers for Chicago.