8.24.2010

Larry v. Magic: Game 12 (part 13)

1984 NBA Finals Game 5

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

Celtics Confidence Never Wavered

Plans for the victory parade through the streets of Boston have already been drawn up.

"If we win today, we march Tuesday," Todd Rosensweig, the Celtics' director of marketing and communications, said several hours after the Celtics routed the Los Angeles Lakers, 121-103, Friday night.

The victory gave the Celtics a 3-2 edge in the four-of-seven-game National Basketball Association championship series and an aura of confidence heading into Game 6 today at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

As they gathered at Boston's Logan Airport yesterday for their flight to Los Angeles, they were assuring their fans, "We're going to get is over in six."

The Celtics, who are seeking their 15th N.B.A. title, have history on their side. Their last five championships have been won on the road.

Lakers' Plan Differs

The Lakers had other feelings as they boarded the team bus for the ride to the airport.

"How are you?" a friend asked 37- year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who struggled through a 7-for-25 shooting performance.

"I'll be better tomorrow," the Laker center said.

"We'll be back here for Game 7 Tuesday night," Earvin (Magic) Johnson said.

"Then we'll pray for rain," Coach Pat Riley added.

The reference by the Laker coach was to the oppressive heat and humidity in the antiquated Boston Garden, where the temperature read 97 degrees at tipoff and hovered near that for the rest of the game.

The heat sent Abdul-Jabbar to the oxygen cannister several times, and it hindered Magic Johnson's ability to get the Lakers running. Dennis Johnson asked to be taken out of the game, and Larry Bird almost passed out near the end.

But for the 42 minutes Bird played, he was outstanding, scoring 34 points on 15-for-20 shooting from the field, and grabbing 17 rebounds.

"The Birdman was sensational," said M. L. Carr, Boston's reserve forward. "It was just like a repeat of the seventh playoff game against the Knicks when he scored 39 points."

Two 3-Point Shots

That may be true, but Friday night, especially during his 11-point third period when the Celtics broke open the game, his performance appeared more well-rounded. He tossed in a pair of 3-pointers and hit a half-dozen long jumpers, overcoming the defensive efforts of Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Jamaal Wilkes and James Worthy. But the best of all came when he faced up to Worthy on top of the key, faked right and went left for a 3-point play.

"It was an emotional game," Bird said, "One we needed and had to have."

There was more than just Bird in what Dennis Johnson referred to as "our best game of the series."

"This is the first game over all that we played our game," the Celtic guard said. "We set the tempo, slowed them down and controlled the boards." Johnson contributed 22 points.

After Los Angeles embarrassed Boston, 137-104, last Sunday and took a 2-1 series lead, the Lakers and Magic Johnson, who makes them run, created doubts that the Celtics could survive the blistering running game.

Johnson Blamed

Much of the blame for the two Celtic losses was placed on Dennis Johnson for his poor defense and poor outside shooting, especially when he contributed only 4 points and made two of his eight shots in the third game.

"Everybody kept saying, 'Let's make D. J. a scapegoat,' Johnson said. "I had bad games and took the hatchet for them. Nobody's going to rebroadcast or rewrite it now."

The criticism has stopped. Banners and signs at the Boston Garden have proclaimed him their new hero. All because he has found his shooting touch and shut down Magic Johnson.

At halftime of Game 4, Jones finally reverted to the Johnson and Johnson matchup most everyone had expected when the championship series began. Magic Johnson only got off five shots in the second half Friday night, when he was limited to an insignificant 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting.

At the same time Dennis Johnson has responded offensively. He has scored 44 points and handed out 20 assists in the last two games. Questioners hounded him Friday night, repeatedly asking, "What are you doing to Magic?"

The freckle-faced Dennis Johnson smiled, walked away and said, "I didn't do anything." "He has done a lot," Carr said.

Meanwhile, in the Laker dressing room, Riley said, "We'll make a few adjustments, not many."

Any adjustments would have to include getting the Lakers to run again, keeping the Celtics off the boards and hoping Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook finds its mark.

The Celtics are 9-0 when they have had a 3-games-to-2 lead in a championship series. . . . Nine of the last 11 championships have been won by road teams. . . . The Lakers, who entered Friday night's game shooting .544 from the field in the playoffs and .546 in the championship series, had their first sub-50 percent shooting game. They shot .428.

2 comments:

Lex said...

Trade up Danny's sleeve?

Perhaps.

Perhaps give Von Wafer a look first.

Then work toward a buyout for Nails.

Lex said...

Maybe squisy stays healthy, too.