December 29, 1979
Larry Bird's LA Debut.
These lines are from an ad bought by the Lakers and placed on Page 2 of yesterday morning's Los Angeles Times sports section. In the righthand corner is the message, "Sold Out." The real purpose of the ad, therefore, is in the middle of the box: "Good seats available for Phoenix, 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 30."
And so the Celtics were welcomed to sunny Los Angeles for the single most awaited regular-season game in Laker history. The Forum had been sold out for weeks, and everyone from Pacific Palisades to Pomona wanted to be on hand when Earvin Johnson and Larry Bird, accompanied by such satellite stars as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dave Cowens, Jamaal Wilkes and Cedric Maxwell resumed their rivalry last night.
Though the Lakers began the evening as a second-place team in the NBA's Pacific Division by a half-game (26-13 to Seattle's 25-11), in the mind of the local populace this game was to be a clear confrontation between the best in the East and the best in the West.
Each team prepped the night before in fine style, the
Celtics rolling over San Diego, 118-97, and the Lakers cruising by Utah, 124-116, in one of those it-wasn't-as-close-as-the-score-indicated games. Each team had filled an enemy arena which had not seen a capacity growd this season. And each team rightfully tried to downplay the importance of this game.
In truth, the Bird-Magic showdown was a totally inaccurate representation of the game (they don't even play the same position). It does figure, however, that star-crazy LA would blow this game out of proportion.
Bird began his LA stay with a press conference at the Forum. It didn't last long and he had no trouble fielding the soft questions.
He came prepared to correct an impression of brashness caused by a statement he had made in front of an NBC camera during last Saturday's "Sportsworld" show. In that interview he had jokingly referred to Magic as "the second best player in the world," the unspoken implication being that he was the best. What he meant, of course, was "best in the college world last year."
"I knew they'd ask me about that," Bird explained. "I was ready for them."
The Celtics likewise appeared to be ready for the game. Their display of ball movement and shooting had impressed the San Diego fans and press. The latter, in fact, was puzzled when the Celtics not only failed to gush over their showing, but also indulged in some heavy self-criticism.
"We'll have to play a lot better tomorrow if we want to beat LA," Bird had opined.
But to the Clippers and the San Diego media, the Celtics had looked every bit as powerful as advertised. At any rate, they arrived in LA with no rest problems and no injury woes beyond the mending process of M.L. Carr's sprained right wrist. Whatever the Laker fans and local press wanted to make of the game, the Celtics at least felt they were up to playing it.
11.28.2010
Bird's Rookie Year: Westhead Starts the Game with Kareem Guarding Cornbread
December 29, 1979
All things considered, the Celtics could have been a lot worse off than a 61-52 halftime deficit.
They had fallen behind by as many as 13 points (50-37), 52-39) before a run of eight straight got them within four points. And they even were four down with the ball when Rick Robey missed a fast-break flip and then compounded the felony by committing a loose-ball foul on the rebound. The Lakers took full advantage of this turn of events by boosting the lead back to the halftime spread behind five late points by Jim Chones.
Larry Bird really didn't get himself involved in the offense until the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, but he rallied to score nine points in the final five minutes.
A run of eight straight pints in the span of 1:19 turned the game around a bit in the first quarter and rescued the Lakers from a 21-16 deficit. The Celtics had been operating decently, until LA got into a fast-break thing after Abdul-Jabbar had fed a cutting Wilkes for a pretty layup.
Chris Ford made sure his three-point binge would continue by connecting on a corner bomb in the first minute of play, the first of two he would hit en route to a 10-point opening quarter.
The key man for LA was neither Johnson nor Kareem, but Norm Nixon, whom the Celtics have not been able to contain since he entered the league two seasons ago. He did practically whatever he wanted offensively, from taking long fallaways to sticking in nice drives down the lane.
LA interim coach Paul Westhead started Kareem on Cedric Maxwell, but it really didn't seem to affect the latter, who battled underneath for 11 first- quarter rebounds and 7 points.
One of the sources of Bird's problems was the excellent defense of Wilkes, a superb two-way player. He simply discouraged the rookie from getting the ball, and it wasn't until Don Ford replaced Wilkes for a spell that Bird got untracked.
A very big factor in the game was the Boston foul situation. Bird and Maxwell had relatively quick third personals, and in the second quarter the Celtics committed five before LA was assessed one. But the officiating of Bob Rakel - can you believe traveling 3000 miles and getting Rakel twice in a row? - and Hue Hollins was impartially spotty. The Celtics basically earned what they got in this department.
The situation hardly improved for the Celtics at the beginning of the third quarter. The first group still really had nothing going offensively, and LA seized the opportunity to expand the lead to 14 (71-57) before Fitch called a momentum-stopping time out with 8:45 left in the quarter.
LA's offensive might was evident in the first half stats. Only the Magic Man failed to shoot at least 50 percent. Chones was 5 for 5, Wilkes 6 for 11, Nixon 6 for 9 and Abdul-Jabbar, 2 for 4. The Lakers really weren't even running much. They were just exploiting Boston in the half court, from inside and out, and a big factor was Abdul-Jabbar, who has never passed better.
As the quarter progressed, the Celtics started unravelling. They were actually losing their unit poise for the first time this season, taking horrible shots and acting as if erasing a 15-point deficit with 18 minutes to go was a task that had to be accomplished in two or three trips downcourt. The Lakers, while reasonably impressive, hardly had that championship look, but the Celtics made them look golden.
All things considered, the Celtics could have been a lot worse off than a 61-52 halftime deficit.
They had fallen behind by as many as 13 points (50-37), 52-39) before a run of eight straight got them within four points. And they even were four down with the ball when Rick Robey missed a fast-break flip and then compounded the felony by committing a loose-ball foul on the rebound. The Lakers took full advantage of this turn of events by boosting the lead back to the halftime spread behind five late points by Jim Chones.
Larry Bird really didn't get himself involved in the offense until the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, but he rallied to score nine points in the final five minutes.
A run of eight straight pints in the span of 1:19 turned the game around a bit in the first quarter and rescued the Lakers from a 21-16 deficit. The Celtics had been operating decently, until LA got into a fast-break thing after Abdul-Jabbar had fed a cutting Wilkes for a pretty layup.
Chris Ford made sure his three-point binge would continue by connecting on a corner bomb in the first minute of play, the first of two he would hit en route to a 10-point opening quarter.
The key man for LA was neither Johnson nor Kareem, but Norm Nixon, whom the Celtics have not been able to contain since he entered the league two seasons ago. He did practically whatever he wanted offensively, from taking long fallaways to sticking in nice drives down the lane.
LA interim coach Paul Westhead started Kareem on Cedric Maxwell, but it really didn't seem to affect the latter, who battled underneath for 11 first- quarter rebounds and 7 points.
One of the sources of Bird's problems was the excellent defense of Wilkes, a superb two-way player. He simply discouraged the rookie from getting the ball, and it wasn't until Don Ford replaced Wilkes for a spell that Bird got untracked.
A very big factor in the game was the Boston foul situation. Bird and Maxwell had relatively quick third personals, and in the second quarter the Celtics committed five before LA was assessed one. But the officiating of Bob Rakel - can you believe traveling 3000 miles and getting Rakel twice in a row? - and Hue Hollins was impartially spotty. The Celtics basically earned what they got in this department.
The situation hardly improved for the Celtics at the beginning of the third quarter. The first group still really had nothing going offensively, and LA seized the opportunity to expand the lead to 14 (71-57) before Fitch called a momentum-stopping time out with 8:45 left in the quarter.
LA's offensive might was evident in the first half stats. Only the Magic Man failed to shoot at least 50 percent. Chones was 5 for 5, Wilkes 6 for 11, Nixon 6 for 9 and Abdul-Jabbar, 2 for 4. The Lakers really weren't even running much. They were just exploiting Boston in the half court, from inside and out, and a big factor was Abdul-Jabbar, who has never passed better.
As the quarter progressed, the Celtics started unravelling. They were actually losing their unit poise for the first time this season, taking horrible shots and acting as if erasing a 15-point deficit with 18 minutes to go was a task that had to be accomplished in two or three trips downcourt. The Lakers, while reasonably impressive, hardly had that championship look, but the Celtics made them look golden.
11.23.2010
Bird's Rookie Year: The Lakers Game at Inglewood
December 29, 1979
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Celtics came up with one of their poorest performances of the season and, in the process, turned the Great Confrontation into the Great Bust, as the Los Angeles Lakers romped to a 123-105 triumph before a capacity Forum crowd of 17,505 last night.
Boston held one five-point lead (21-16), but once LA scored eight straight points to take a 24-21 lead, the Celtics could come only as close as four points once more. Their best shot in the second half came when an eight- point flurry pulled them within eight at 93-85 with 8:34 left. But they had nothing left, and found themselves outscored by a 12-2 count over the next 4:19, giving the Lakers an insurmountable 18-point (105-87) lead.
The advance local billing centered on the Earvin Johnn-Larry Bird Show, but Los Angeles prevailed as the result of strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (especially his passing) and Norm Nixon. Neither Magic nor Bird played his best game, but Magic was the clear winner if a score need be kept between a guard who must have the ball and a forward who moves without it. This was a Laker team triumph, and nothing more.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Celtics came up with one of their poorest performances of the season and, in the process, turned the Great Confrontation into the Great Bust, as the Los Angeles Lakers romped to a 123-105 triumph before a capacity Forum crowd of 17,505 last night.
Boston held one five-point lead (21-16), but once LA scored eight straight points to take a 24-21 lead, the Celtics could come only as close as four points once more. Their best shot in the second half came when an eight- point flurry pulled them within eight at 93-85 with 8:34 left. But they had nothing left, and found themselves outscored by a 12-2 count over the next 4:19, giving the Lakers an insurmountable 18-point (105-87) lead.
The advance local billing centered on the Earvin Johnn-Larry Bird Show, but Los Angeles prevailed as the result of strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (especially his passing) and Norm Nixon. Neither Magic nor Bird played his best game, but Magic was the clear winner if a score need be kept between a guard who must have the ball and a forward who moves without it. This was a Laker team triumph, and nothing more.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 29, 1979 (part 2)
December 29, 1979
Section: SPORTS
Dave Cowens had another sad shooting night - 2 for 9 - giving him a 29- for-110 tally in the last six games. But his baskets were both from the outside and they were back-to-backers in the third period, so maybe there is hope he's snapping out of it.
"These guys may never need me to score again," he quipped. "I may do nothing but play defense" - Doug Moe pointed out the Spurs were nine down late in the third period (40 seconds left), and that one defensive foulup (leading to two Cedric Maxwell free throws off a Tiny Archibald penetration) and a Maxwell fast-break layup after a George Gervin miss were big plays in the game, sending the Celtics into the final period leading by 13 "instead of by nine, or even seven."
And he was right ... Chris Ford's three-pointer gave him at least one bomb in 15 of his last 16 games ... Don Chaney sparkled again, playing that sticky defense and looking strong on offense ... San Antonio rookie Mike Evans had nine turnovers. The Spurs lost 36 points on miscues. Philly lost 49 on Wednesday. The Celtics must be doing something on defense.
Maxwell on Archibald's ankle injury: "I saw my playoff money going out the window when he went down." Said Archibald, "I tried to go one way, and when I stopped quick it turned over" ... The Celtics, of all people, blocked eight shots (Maxwell 3, Larry Bird 2, Cowens 2, M.L. Carr 1), and this might very well be a team record since they started keeping the stat. Nobody but he and his maker will ever know how many blocks Bill Russell had of course), you can call in the dogs as far as the Atlantic Division race is concerned.
Section: SPORTS
Dave Cowens had another sad shooting night - 2 for 9 - giving him a 29- for-110 tally in the last six games. But his baskets were both from the outside and they were back-to-backers in the third period, so maybe there is hope he's snapping out of it.
"These guys may never need me to score again," he quipped. "I may do nothing but play defense" - Doug Moe pointed out the Spurs were nine down late in the third period (40 seconds left), and that one defensive foulup (leading to two Cedric Maxwell free throws off a Tiny Archibald penetration) and a Maxwell fast-break layup after a George Gervin miss were big plays in the game, sending the Celtics into the final period leading by 13 "instead of by nine, or even seven."
And he was right ... Chris Ford's three-pointer gave him at least one bomb in 15 of his last 16 games ... Don Chaney sparkled again, playing that sticky defense and looking strong on offense ... San Antonio rookie Mike Evans had nine turnovers. The Spurs lost 36 points on miscues. Philly lost 49 on Wednesday. The Celtics must be doing something on defense.
Maxwell on Archibald's ankle injury: "I saw my playoff money going out the window when he went down." Said Archibald, "I tried to go one way, and when I stopped quick it turned over" ... The Celtics, of all people, blocked eight shots (Maxwell 3, Larry Bird 2, Cowens 2, M.L. Carr 1), and this might very well be a team record since they started keeping the stat. Nobody but he and his maker will ever know how many blocks Bill Russell had of course), you can call in the dogs as far as the Atlantic Division race is concerned.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 29, 1979
December 29, 1979
First, the news you never wanted to hear: Tiny Archibald is injured. The little guy sprained his left ankle 19 seconds into the fourth period last night and headed into the locker room to the accompaniment of a standing ovation.
Now the news Bill Fitch always wanted to think he'd hear if his playmaker ever went down: "I'll play tomorrow," Archibald vowed. Tiny is no different than anyone else. He's having too much fun to think about missing a Celtic game. Since watching this team play is such a delight, can you imagine what it must be like to play for them?
Otherwise, it was business as usual. The regular Friday night assemblage of 15,320 really didn't get itself cranked up until garbage time, but they were on a mild downer after the Wednesday game against Philadelphia. They provided fair support, just as the Celtics played a fair game in dispatching the once-fearsome San Antonio Spurs, 133-114, for their 16th triumph in 17 Garden encounters and their seventh victory in succession.
San Antonio arrived without two-fifths of its starting five. Left behind on this long one-game trip were Larry Kenon and James Silas, each victimized by a flu bug.
The Spurs utilized a typically explosive spurt by George Gervin, who scored 10 unanswered points in a fraction over two minutes, to construct a 20-10 lead in the first period. But once the Celtics found their running game and whittled the margin to three (28-25) by the period's end, there was an aura of inevitability about the outcome. The Celtics were about to flaunt their new-found bench strength and turn this somewhat sloppy game around.
Specifically, the quintet of Rick Robey ("He ran the lanes very well" - Fitch), Larry Bird, M.L. Carr, Gerald Henderson and Don Chaney, put the hammer to the Spurs midway through the second period. Happily for the Celtics, the catalyst was Carr, who for the first time since he severely sprained his right wrist a fortnight ago, looked like the bubbly M.L. Carr who had so captivated this town during October and November.
"I was hoping to get through this weekend without having to do much, so I could rest it up for the West Coast trip," Carr confided. "But there wasn't much sense in saving myself when we needed this win as much as any other one. We were a little flat, so I mentioned on the bench that I would try to make something happen."
Would that we all had Carr's determination and will. For ol' Mighty Loose came roaring in to disrupt the Spurs. With the Celtics holding a shaky 40-38 lead, Carr threw in seven straight points, starting with a three-pointer, his first successful bomb since his injury. Those were the first two of 14 consecutive Carr-oriented Celtics points. In the next 2:40, Carr would spin in for a one-on-one flipper; take a phenomenal Bird missile for a give-and-go layup; send Bird in for a fast-break goaltended layup, and then bring the customers out of their seats with a behind-the-back pass for a Chaney fast- break layup. He completed his destruction with four free throws to cap a 12-point, 2-assist, 50-thrill 12 minutes of basketball.
Against the multi-faceted Celtic offense featuring the likes of Bird (26 points, including two three-pointers), Maxwell (23), Archibald (17 on 6-for-9 shooting), Carr (14), Gerald Henderson (11, highlighted by his first career three-pointer) and a trio of bench performers (Robey, Chaney and Eric Fernsten) with eight points apiece, all the visitors had to offer was the efficient offense of Gervin. The Iceman worked hard for 27 of the first 58 San Antonio points, finally finishing with 36. But Fitch felt compelled to laud both Chaney and Chris Ford for keeping the Iceman from going hoopy.
Old Anaheim Amigo fans would have cherished the 76-point (Boston, 41-35) final period which was to true basketball what British humor is to true comedy.
The high point of this fast-break exchange came when Bird attempted to throw a pass to himself off his own backboard from about 17 feet away. "I was losing control, so I thought I could put it on the glass and give it back to the man coming down the side," he explained. He failed to come up with the ball, but he managed to steal it back and throw in an artful scoop shot. With the victory assured, that stuff is what people paid to see, and Bird seldom fails to deliver.
First, the news you never wanted to hear: Tiny Archibald is injured. The little guy sprained his left ankle 19 seconds into the fourth period last night and headed into the locker room to the accompaniment of a standing ovation.
Now the news Bill Fitch always wanted to think he'd hear if his playmaker ever went down: "I'll play tomorrow," Archibald vowed. Tiny is no different than anyone else. He's having too much fun to think about missing a Celtic game. Since watching this team play is such a delight, can you imagine what it must be like to play for them?
Otherwise, it was business as usual. The regular Friday night assemblage of 15,320 really didn't get itself cranked up until garbage time, but they were on a mild downer after the Wednesday game against Philadelphia. They provided fair support, just as the Celtics played a fair game in dispatching the once-fearsome San Antonio Spurs, 133-114, for their 16th triumph in 17 Garden encounters and their seventh victory in succession.
San Antonio arrived without two-fifths of its starting five. Left behind on this long one-game trip were Larry Kenon and James Silas, each victimized by a flu bug.
The Spurs utilized a typically explosive spurt by George Gervin, who scored 10 unanswered points in a fraction over two minutes, to construct a 20-10 lead in the first period. But once the Celtics found their running game and whittled the margin to three (28-25) by the period's end, there was an aura of inevitability about the outcome. The Celtics were about to flaunt their new-found bench strength and turn this somewhat sloppy game around.
Specifically, the quintet of Rick Robey ("He ran the lanes very well" - Fitch), Larry Bird, M.L. Carr, Gerald Henderson and Don Chaney, put the hammer to the Spurs midway through the second period. Happily for the Celtics, the catalyst was Carr, who for the first time since he severely sprained his right wrist a fortnight ago, looked like the bubbly M.L. Carr who had so captivated this town during October and November.
"I was hoping to get through this weekend without having to do much, so I could rest it up for the West Coast trip," Carr confided. "But there wasn't much sense in saving myself when we needed this win as much as any other one. We were a little flat, so I mentioned on the bench that I would try to make something happen."
Would that we all had Carr's determination and will. For ol' Mighty Loose came roaring in to disrupt the Spurs. With the Celtics holding a shaky 40-38 lead, Carr threw in seven straight points, starting with a three-pointer, his first successful bomb since his injury. Those were the first two of 14 consecutive Carr-oriented Celtics points. In the next 2:40, Carr would spin in for a one-on-one flipper; take a phenomenal Bird missile for a give-and-go layup; send Bird in for a fast-break goaltended layup, and then bring the customers out of their seats with a behind-the-back pass for a Chaney fast- break layup. He completed his destruction with four free throws to cap a 12-point, 2-assist, 50-thrill 12 minutes of basketball.
Against the multi-faceted Celtic offense featuring the likes of Bird (26 points, including two three-pointers), Maxwell (23), Archibald (17 on 6-for-9 shooting), Carr (14), Gerald Henderson (11, highlighted by his first career three-pointer) and a trio of bench performers (Robey, Chaney and Eric Fernsten) with eight points apiece, all the visitors had to offer was the efficient offense of Gervin. The Iceman worked hard for 27 of the first 58 San Antonio points, finally finishing with 36. But Fitch felt compelled to laud both Chaney and Chris Ford for keeping the Iceman from going hoopy.
Old Anaheim Amigo fans would have cherished the 76-point (Boston, 41-35) final period which was to true basketball what British humor is to true comedy.
The high point of this fast-break exchange came when Bird attempted to throw a pass to himself off his own backboard from about 17 feet away. "I was losing control, so I thought I could put it on the glass and give it back to the man coming down the side," he explained. He failed to come up with the ball, but he managed to steal it back and throw in an artful scoop shot. With the victory assured, that stuff is what people paid to see, and Bird seldom fails to deliver.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 28, 1979
December 28, 1979
CELTICS STEAM ALONG, 118-97
Dave Cowens rediscovered his shooting touch and the Celtics discovered the much-discussed style difference between themselves and the Clippers was no myth, as the green-shirted invaders rolled to a 118-97 triumph before a sellout crowd of 13,845 last night.
The majority of the crowd was already headed home when this game ended, however, because the fast-breaking Celtics had demonstrated their best ball movement while expanding a 62-59 lead into margins of 26 at 101-75, 103-77 and 105-79. Cowens (27 points) connected on 13 of his first 20 shots, many on his patented fast-break trailers, and he had sufficient scoring help from the likes of Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.
You can figure out this game quickly enough when you learn that the Clippers had a total of nine assists in the first three quarters while falling behind by an 89-71 score. The Clippers also had 10 turnovers in the third quarter, good for 20 Boston points. Boston, meanwhile had assists on 27 of its first 41 baskets in that same three-quarter span.
The win was Boston's eighth in its last nine games.
CELTICS STEAM ALONG, 118-97
Dave Cowens rediscovered his shooting touch and the Celtics discovered the much-discussed style difference between themselves and the Clippers was no myth, as the green-shirted invaders rolled to a 118-97 triumph before a sellout crowd of 13,845 last night.
The majority of the crowd was already headed home when this game ended, however, because the fast-breaking Celtics had demonstrated their best ball movement while expanding a 62-59 lead into margins of 26 at 101-75, 103-77 and 105-79. Cowens (27 points) connected on 13 of his first 20 shots, many on his patented fast-break trailers, and he had sufficient scoring help from the likes of Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.
You can figure out this game quickly enough when you learn that the Clippers had a total of nine assists in the first three quarters while falling behind by an 89-71 score. The Clippers also had 10 turnovers in the third quarter, good for 20 Boston points. Boston, meanwhile had assists on 27 of its first 41 baskets in that same three-quarter span.
The win was Boston's eighth in its last nine games.
11.17.2010
Bird's Rookie Year: December 28, 1979
December 28, 1979
THREE-POINTERS POPULAR BREED
It was the Clippers vs. the Celtics at the San Diego Arena last night, but the possibility existed that the two teams might wind up reminding fans of the Chargers vs. the Patriots instead.
Specifically, the year could have been 1965 and the key matchup could have been Jack Kemp vs. Babe Parilli, for, just as the old AFL airwaves were so often filled with footballs, so are the airwaves filled with arching basketball shots when the Celtics and the Clippers take the floor.
The game pitted the two teams that have so far taken the biggest advantage of the three-point field-goal rule, and it also featured the league's two most prominent long-range marksmen - Brian Taylor, who leads in total three- pointers, and Chris Ford, who leads in three-point percentage.
The Clippers had attempted well over 200 three-pointers in their first 39 games, and the Celtics were the only team within 100 - yup, a hundred - of that total.
Taylor himself has attempted more three-pointers than any team in the league except Boston. His 4-for-5 long-range performance on Wednesday evening in Seattle left him with a 47-for-113 season's total. But Ford, who had connected for at least one three-pointer in 16 of his last 17 games, had a better percentage, having sunk 35 of 75 attempts for a .467 percentage, compared to Taylor's .416.
And each man has a strong accomplice. Freeman Williams is 16 for 41 (.391) for San Diego, while Larry Bird, who had hit on 8 of 11 three-point tries in his last six games, had climbed to 16 for 41, matching Williams.
Bird has been playing extremely well, as his totals for the previous 11 games will attest. Since emerging from a four-game shooting slump (18 for 59) in the last 11 games, Bird is averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and shooting .495 from the floor. Moreover, he has increased his playing time while reducing his fouling, having committed only 10 personals in the last four games while averaging a shade under 40 minutes of playing time per game . . . Dave Cowens was seeking to break out of a rebound slump which had seen him grab only 28 in his previous five games. He hadn't come up with a double- figure rebounding effort since 14, when he pulled down 14 against Milwaukee, and he hadn't strung together back-to-back double-figure rebounding games since a three-game stretch (Dec. 9-14) when he had 11, 10 and the aforementioned 14, respectively.
San Diego is crowing about Sidney Wicks, who has settled into a nice groove out here. He starts opposite Bingo Smith at the big forward slot (the one he didn't want to play in Boston), and in his last four games has averaged 7.5 assists, including a season-high 10 Wednesday night in Seattle . . . Center Swen Nater, whose accomplishments included a 35-point, 22-rebound game against Utah, is the NBA player of the week . . . The Clippers, who won both games played here against Boston last year, are 14-8 at home and 5-12 on the road . . . A crowd in excess of 12,000 was expected at the 14,000-seat arena . . . Tonight's game with the Lakers at the Forum in Los Angeles is a super sellout, with even L.A. owner Dr. Jerry Buss in search of extra tickets. Channel 4 will televise the game, with Roger Twibell and Bob Cousy, at 11 p.m. and will carry tomorrow night's contest with the Warriors (also a sellout) at 11 p.m.
THREE-POINTERS POPULAR BREED
It was the Clippers vs. the Celtics at the San Diego Arena last night, but the possibility existed that the two teams might wind up reminding fans of the Chargers vs. the Patriots instead.
Specifically, the year could have been 1965 and the key matchup could have been Jack Kemp vs. Babe Parilli, for, just as the old AFL airwaves were so often filled with footballs, so are the airwaves filled with arching basketball shots when the Celtics and the Clippers take the floor.
The game pitted the two teams that have so far taken the biggest advantage of the three-point field-goal rule, and it also featured the league's two most prominent long-range marksmen - Brian Taylor, who leads in total three- pointers, and Chris Ford, who leads in three-point percentage.
The Clippers had attempted well over 200 three-pointers in their first 39 games, and the Celtics were the only team within 100 - yup, a hundred - of that total.
Taylor himself has attempted more three-pointers than any team in the league except Boston. His 4-for-5 long-range performance on Wednesday evening in Seattle left him with a 47-for-113 season's total. But Ford, who had connected for at least one three-pointer in 16 of his last 17 games, had a better percentage, having sunk 35 of 75 attempts for a .467 percentage, compared to Taylor's .416.
And each man has a strong accomplice. Freeman Williams is 16 for 41 (.391) for San Diego, while Larry Bird, who had hit on 8 of 11 three-point tries in his last six games, had climbed to 16 for 41, matching Williams.
Bird has been playing extremely well, as his totals for the previous 11 games will attest. Since emerging from a four-game shooting slump (18 for 59) in the last 11 games, Bird is averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and shooting .495 from the floor. Moreover, he has increased his playing time while reducing his fouling, having committed only 10 personals in the last four games while averaging a shade under 40 minutes of playing time per game . . . Dave Cowens was seeking to break out of a rebound slump which had seen him grab only 28 in his previous five games. He hadn't come up with a double- figure rebounding effort since 14, when he pulled down 14 against Milwaukee, and he hadn't strung together back-to-back double-figure rebounding games since a three-game stretch (Dec. 9-14) when he had 11, 10 and the aforementioned 14, respectively.
San Diego is crowing about Sidney Wicks, who has settled into a nice groove out here. He starts opposite Bingo Smith at the big forward slot (the one he didn't want to play in Boston), and in his last four games has averaged 7.5 assists, including a season-high 10 Wednesday night in Seattle . . . Center Swen Nater, whose accomplishments included a 35-point, 22-rebound game against Utah, is the NBA player of the week . . . The Clippers, who won both games played here against Boston last year, are 14-8 at home and 5-12 on the road . . . A crowd in excess of 12,000 was expected at the 14,000-seat arena . . . Tonight's game with the Lakers at the Forum in Los Angeles is a super sellout, with even L.A. owner Dr. Jerry Buss in search of extra tickets. Channel 4 will televise the game, with Roger Twibell and Bob Cousy, at 11 p.m. and will carry tomorrow night's contest with the Warriors (also a sellout) at 11 p.m.
Bird's Rookie Year
December 28, 1979
CELTICS COME OUT SMOKIN' IN WEST
Time was when the Celtics were as concerned with laying out their wardrobes and planning their excursions to night spots when they headed to the West Coast. But this bunch of sober citizens has apparently come out here to work.
"Ain't no play out here," smiled a relaxed Dave Cowens. "The weather is nice, and you can enjoy it until you walk into the gym. Then it's time to work."
And nobody worked harder, or better, last night than the captain. He dropped in 13 of 20 shots and keyed a superb defensive effort as the Celtics began a five-game road trip by laying a 118-97 hurtin' on the San Diego Clippers. About the only thing wrong with the game was that Cowens had to play a little more (37 minutes) than anyone would have liked, what with a ballyhooed game in Los Angeles tonight and another tomorrow in Oakland. But the redhead was obviously refreshed after his four-day hiatus and wasn't as concerned as everyone else about his workload.
A sellout crowd of 13,841 - not only the first Clipper sellout of the season, but also the only crowd in five figures - can now bear witness to the rather startling difference in playing style between the Celtics and their erstwhile cousins. The Celtics are supposed to be the team composed of unselfish people who would rather pass than shoot, while the Clippers are said to be made up of one-on-one players who don't so much play together as they coexist. For once the prevailing mythology was proven to be accurate.
For proof all you need do is consult the stat sheet, which reveals that the Celtics had assists on 32 of 53 baskets. The Clippers had a hard-to- believe 11 assists on their 37 baskets. For the Celtics, who have gotten used to ball movement as a way of life, that Clipper total was stupefying.
"Oh, God," said Cedric Maxwell, "is that how many they had? That's not the passingest team."
Said Don Chaney: "That's amazing, man. That's gunning them up."
Added Larry Bird: "You ain't gonna win too many games like that. When they were working the ball is when they were in the game."
The Clippers were definitely in this game for 27 minutes. The Celtics had seen a one-time 14-point (40-26) lead dwindle to three at 62-59 when Fitch called a time out. "The message? The message was Get breaking. Remember that we've got a lot of runners and a lot of people who haven't played yet. And, if we don't have the break, execute the plays right.' "
His team came out and immediately pulled a Doug Henning, making the game disappear in the next 4:23 with an 18-4 run that included seven fast-break points, the last three coming on a wide-open-plant-your-feet-take-a-deep- breath-count-the-seams-and-whisper-a- little-prayer-for-the-hostages fast break, left corner set shot by Chris Ford.
"I must have had five seconds by myself," Ford marveled. That swisher (his second three-pointer on a fast break in the game) made it 80-63, Boston. The Clippers would never come closer than 14 points again, as the Celtics drove the mail home behind a 10-point fourth quarter by Jeff Judkins.
Fitch was happy with his team's play ("The team defense was probably the best thing we had"), and he was quite charitable. "The game was in our favor from the standpoint of rest," he said. "We were the rested team. I told our guys that we had come 3000 miles to be the rested team, so let's take advantage of it."
The Clippers had played the night before in Seattle, which is not exactly next door. "I think we played very opportunistically on defense," Fitch continued. "We deflected a lot of passes (especially in the third quarter, when the Clippers turned it over 10 times for 20 Celtic points), and that goes back to what we said about a tired club."
The Celtics had prepared well for this game. They had enjoyed some good workouts, including a beneficial practice yesterday morning. That was followed by a film session in Fitch's room. They are very proud of their record (now 28-8), and that pride was reflected in their impressive play.
Let's put it this way. The Celtic fans (and there were a surprising number of them) were thrilled. The Clipper fans were impressed. The trip is off to a helluva start.
CELTICS COME OUT SMOKIN' IN WEST
Time was when the Celtics were as concerned with laying out their wardrobes and planning their excursions to night spots when they headed to the West Coast. But this bunch of sober citizens has apparently come out here to work.
"Ain't no play out here," smiled a relaxed Dave Cowens. "The weather is nice, and you can enjoy it until you walk into the gym. Then it's time to work."
And nobody worked harder, or better, last night than the captain. He dropped in 13 of 20 shots and keyed a superb defensive effort as the Celtics began a five-game road trip by laying a 118-97 hurtin' on the San Diego Clippers. About the only thing wrong with the game was that Cowens had to play a little more (37 minutes) than anyone would have liked, what with a ballyhooed game in Los Angeles tonight and another tomorrow in Oakland. But the redhead was obviously refreshed after his four-day hiatus and wasn't as concerned as everyone else about his workload.
A sellout crowd of 13,841 - not only the first Clipper sellout of the season, but also the only crowd in five figures - can now bear witness to the rather startling difference in playing style between the Celtics and their erstwhile cousins. The Celtics are supposed to be the team composed of unselfish people who would rather pass than shoot, while the Clippers are said to be made up of one-on-one players who don't so much play together as they coexist. For once the prevailing mythology was proven to be accurate.
For proof all you need do is consult the stat sheet, which reveals that the Celtics had assists on 32 of 53 baskets. The Clippers had a hard-to- believe 11 assists on their 37 baskets. For the Celtics, who have gotten used to ball movement as a way of life, that Clipper total was stupefying.
"Oh, God," said Cedric Maxwell, "is that how many they had? That's not the passingest team."
Said Don Chaney: "That's amazing, man. That's gunning them up."
Added Larry Bird: "You ain't gonna win too many games like that. When they were working the ball is when they were in the game."
The Clippers were definitely in this game for 27 minutes. The Celtics had seen a one-time 14-point (40-26) lead dwindle to three at 62-59 when Fitch called a time out. "The message? The message was Get breaking. Remember that we've got a lot of runners and a lot of people who haven't played yet. And, if we don't have the break, execute the plays right.' "
His team came out and immediately pulled a Doug Henning, making the game disappear in the next 4:23 with an 18-4 run that included seven fast-break points, the last three coming on a wide-open-plant-your-feet-take-a-deep- breath-count-the-seams-and-whisper-a- little-prayer-for-the-hostages fast break, left corner set shot by Chris Ford.
"I must have had five seconds by myself," Ford marveled. That swisher (his second three-pointer on a fast break in the game) made it 80-63, Boston. The Clippers would never come closer than 14 points again, as the Celtics drove the mail home behind a 10-point fourth quarter by Jeff Judkins.
Fitch was happy with his team's play ("The team defense was probably the best thing we had"), and he was quite charitable. "The game was in our favor from the standpoint of rest," he said. "We were the rested team. I told our guys that we had come 3000 miles to be the rested team, so let's take advantage of it."
The Clippers had played the night before in Seattle, which is not exactly next door. "I think we played very opportunistically on defense," Fitch continued. "We deflected a lot of passes (especially in the third quarter, when the Clippers turned it over 10 times for 20 Celtic points), and that goes back to what we said about a tired club."
The Celtics had prepared well for this game. They had enjoyed some good workouts, including a beneficial practice yesterday morning. That was followed by a film session in Fitch's room. They are very proud of their record (now 28-8), and that pride was reflected in their impressive play.
Let's put it this way. The Celtic fans (and there were a surprising number of them) were thrilled. The Clipper fans were impressed. The trip is off to a helluva start.
Bird's Rookie Year
December 27, 1979
CLIPPERS TONIGHT . . . AND STAY TUNED
There is none of the Crusade-type atmosphere that permeated this journey in years gone by. The first West Coast trip of the 1979-80 Celtic season is merely another commitment on the schedule.
All Bill Fitch sees are five more road games, three in the first three nights in California, and then a pair of well-spaced games in Houston (Wednesday) and San Antonio (Saturday, Jan.5) After that, the Celtics will return home on Jan. 9 to kick off a seven-game homestand.
The struggle begins tonight in the San Diego Arena, where the Celtics will face the surprising Clippers, who have maintained a .500 pace all season long despite the absence of Bill Walton and the concomitant loss of power forward Kermit Washington, who was part of the compensation awarded Portland for the defection of Walton.
San Diego relies heavily on the potent backcourt triumvirate of Lloyd Free, Brian Taylor and Freeman Williams, a group which promises to create innumerable defensive headaches for the Celtics. They also feature a strong center named Swen Nater, a strapping (6-foot-11, 240 lb.) young man who is coming off a 35-point, 22-reobund game against Utah.
Dave Cowens, by contrast, arrives here mired in a rebounding slump. Though he continues to play exemplary defense, and though he broke out of a prolonged scoring slump with 20 points against Philadelphia last Saturday, he is not doing the job on the boards. In his last five games, he has managed but 28 rebounds, an average of 5.6 per outing, while playing an average of 38 minutes. Cowens must contain Nater if the Celtics are to win their 12th road game.
Boston dropped both games played here last season and won but one game on the road against the entire Pacific Division (a 101-97 conquest of Golden State, Feb. 21). This season they are 1-0 vs. this division, having defeated Phoenix Dec. 7 at the Garden.
What many people feel will be the highlight of the trip takes place tomorrow night, when the Celtics play the Lakers before a sold-out Forum containing 17,505. This will be the first Los Angeles bang-out of the season, for it seems that everyone in what is euphemistically referred to as the "Southland" is eager to see the first pro contest between Earvin (Magic) Johnson and Larry Bird. Fitch and Laker interim mentor Paul Westhead can only hope that the game does not deteriorate into some sort of freak show, the way Bird's pro debut in Terre Haute, Ind., did during the exhibition season.
Fitch, meanwhile, will be trying to keep his troops' attention focused on this game, which will not be an easy one. As the Great Prophet Auerbach is wont to ask: "What profiteth a man if he beats Los Angeles after being knocked on his tushie by San Diego?"
CLIPPERS TONIGHT . . . AND STAY TUNED
There is none of the Crusade-type atmosphere that permeated this journey in years gone by. The first West Coast trip of the 1979-80 Celtic season is merely another commitment on the schedule.
All Bill Fitch sees are five more road games, three in the first three nights in California, and then a pair of well-spaced games in Houston (Wednesday) and San Antonio (Saturday, Jan.5) After that, the Celtics will return home on Jan. 9 to kick off a seven-game homestand.
The struggle begins tonight in the San Diego Arena, where the Celtics will face the surprising Clippers, who have maintained a .500 pace all season long despite the absence of Bill Walton and the concomitant loss of power forward Kermit Washington, who was part of the compensation awarded Portland for the defection of Walton.
San Diego relies heavily on the potent backcourt triumvirate of Lloyd Free, Brian Taylor and Freeman Williams, a group which promises to create innumerable defensive headaches for the Celtics. They also feature a strong center named Swen Nater, a strapping (6-foot-11, 240 lb.) young man who is coming off a 35-point, 22-reobund game against Utah.
Dave Cowens, by contrast, arrives here mired in a rebounding slump. Though he continues to play exemplary defense, and though he broke out of a prolonged scoring slump with 20 points against Philadelphia last Saturday, he is not doing the job on the boards. In his last five games, he has managed but 28 rebounds, an average of 5.6 per outing, while playing an average of 38 minutes. Cowens must contain Nater if the Celtics are to win their 12th road game.
Boston dropped both games played here last season and won but one game on the road against the entire Pacific Division (a 101-97 conquest of Golden State, Feb. 21). This season they are 1-0 vs. this division, having defeated Phoenix Dec. 7 at the Garden.
What many people feel will be the highlight of the trip takes place tomorrow night, when the Celtics play the Lakers before a sold-out Forum containing 17,505. This will be the first Los Angeles bang-out of the season, for it seems that everyone in what is euphemistically referred to as the "Southland" is eager to see the first pro contest between Earvin (Magic) Johnson and Larry Bird. Fitch and Laker interim mentor Paul Westhead can only hope that the game does not deteriorate into some sort of freak show, the way Bird's pro debut in Terre Haute, Ind., did during the exhibition season.
Fitch, meanwhile, will be trying to keep his troops' attention focused on this game, which will not be an easy one. As the Great Prophet Auerbach is wont to ask: "What profiteth a man if he beats Los Angeles after being knocked on his tushie by San Diego?"
Bird's Rookie Year
December 28, 1979
SPORTS IN THE '70S YEARS OF GROWTH
The '70s were a period of unparalleled growth for basketball, and, of course, its local emissaries, the Boston Celtics. When the decade dawned, the Celtics were a failing team run by a penurious enterprise known as "Trans- National Communications." Their fan base was shockingly small. Their only television outlet was the then-infant Channel 27 in Worcester. Bill Russell and Sam Jones were gone; John Havlicek and Don Nelson were being asked to keep the franchise afloat. Compared to the omnipotent Bruins, the Celtics were beggars at the banquet.
Ten years later the Celtics are at the zenith of their popularity. Two more championship flags have been added. The team's single-season attendance record, already broken four times during the decade, will almost undoubtedly fall again. When the Celtics appear on Channel 4, people watch. Sellout games are now the norm. A generation of younger people who never saw Cousy, Heinsohn and Ramsey, to whom, in fact, these names have as much relevance as Washington, Jefferson and Adams, now queues up at the ticket window to witness Messrs. Bird, Maxwell and Carr: their players. Ownership, for 15 years a liability, is now apparently an asset, since Harry Mangurian appears to be the best Celtics' owner since the sainted Walter Brown.
What caused this transformation? There are no lack of theories. The advent of an electrifying (and white) superstar in Dave Cowens? Vastly increased media attention (Aha, but are we not now involved in a chicken-egg controversy? Did the coverage reflect the increasing interest, or did the interest stem from the coverage)? This much we know: the mere act of winning was important, but it wasn't everything. The Old Celtics won even more frequently. Whatever theory one adopts, the most intriguing aspect of the Celtics' popularity growth was that their quantum leap (from 7504 a game in '69-70 to 10,852 in '72-73) coincided with the full ripening of Bruins Mania. Basketball, in other words, made it on its own, and not because something else - hockey, in this case - faltered.
Two clear highlights of the decade were the entire 1972-73 season, in which a team with a 6-foot-8 center won 68 games, and the 1974 playoffs, when the Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven memorable games to capture their first non-Russell championship. Of equal splendor was a long-term achievement which continues to go unrecognized. From Feb. 21, 1972 ( a 132-113 loss in Los Angeles) until Nov. 14, 1975 (a 119-109 loss to Philadelphia), a period encompassing 271 games, the Celtics managed to avoid losing three games in a row. No greater testimony to the competitive spirit of the team and its coach, Tom Heinsohn, can be submitted.
The fans had much to cheer about. From 1971-72 to 1975-76, the team won 72 percent (294-116) of its regular-season games, plus championships in 1974 (Milwaukee in seven games) and 1976 (Phoenix in six). The ceaseless front- office machinations (there would be an astounding seven ownership situations in the 10 years) finally caught up with them in 1976, when Irv Levin's meddling plunged the team into chaos. The next three seasons were turbulent ones, but somehow the fans did not lose faith completely. Accordingly, when Mangurian signed Larry Bird and M. L. Carr in the summer of '79, and Red Auerbach brought Bill Fitch in to coach, the faithful were ready to give over their hearts once again.
It is probable they just could not forget. They had seen John Havlicek score 54 points in a playoff game, throw in those nine unforgettable points in the second Milwaukee OT and come up with 29 in his finale; they had seen Jo Jo White's magnificent 33-point performance in the famed Phoenix triple OT; and they had seen Dave Cowens battle Goliath every night. Ah, Big Red, as Johnny Most long ago dubbed him. The play which encapsulizes him was in the double overtime with Milwaukee in '74. He switches onto Oscar Robertson in the final minute of play. He knocks the ball away and then he bellyflops on top of it at midcourt to create a 24-second violation. It was a play no other center who has ever drawn a breath could, or would, make. This is the '70s legacy of the Boston Celtics.
The "Old Celtics" laid the foundation of local basketball interest. The "New Celtics" of the '70s provided the framework. And now the "Modern Celtics" of Bill Fitch and Larry Bird are actively building the roof of Boston's Great Hoop Mansion. For basketball fans, these are truly the best of times.
SPORTS IN THE '70S YEARS OF GROWTH
The '70s were a period of unparalleled growth for basketball, and, of course, its local emissaries, the Boston Celtics. When the decade dawned, the Celtics were a failing team run by a penurious enterprise known as "Trans- National Communications." Their fan base was shockingly small. Their only television outlet was the then-infant Channel 27 in Worcester. Bill Russell and Sam Jones were gone; John Havlicek and Don Nelson were being asked to keep the franchise afloat. Compared to the omnipotent Bruins, the Celtics were beggars at the banquet.
Ten years later the Celtics are at the zenith of their popularity. Two more championship flags have been added. The team's single-season attendance record, already broken four times during the decade, will almost undoubtedly fall again. When the Celtics appear on Channel 4, people watch. Sellout games are now the norm. A generation of younger people who never saw Cousy, Heinsohn and Ramsey, to whom, in fact, these names have as much relevance as Washington, Jefferson and Adams, now queues up at the ticket window to witness Messrs. Bird, Maxwell and Carr: their players. Ownership, for 15 years a liability, is now apparently an asset, since Harry Mangurian appears to be the best Celtics' owner since the sainted Walter Brown.
What caused this transformation? There are no lack of theories. The advent of an electrifying (and white) superstar in Dave Cowens? Vastly increased media attention (Aha, but are we not now involved in a chicken-egg controversy? Did the coverage reflect the increasing interest, or did the interest stem from the coverage)? This much we know: the mere act of winning was important, but it wasn't everything. The Old Celtics won even more frequently. Whatever theory one adopts, the most intriguing aspect of the Celtics' popularity growth was that their quantum leap (from 7504 a game in '69-70 to 10,852 in '72-73) coincided with the full ripening of Bruins Mania. Basketball, in other words, made it on its own, and not because something else - hockey, in this case - faltered.
Two clear highlights of the decade were the entire 1972-73 season, in which a team with a 6-foot-8 center won 68 games, and the 1974 playoffs, when the Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven memorable games to capture their first non-Russell championship. Of equal splendor was a long-term achievement which continues to go unrecognized. From Feb. 21, 1972 ( a 132-113 loss in Los Angeles) until Nov. 14, 1975 (a 119-109 loss to Philadelphia), a period encompassing 271 games, the Celtics managed to avoid losing three games in a row. No greater testimony to the competitive spirit of the team and its coach, Tom Heinsohn, can be submitted.
The fans had much to cheer about. From 1971-72 to 1975-76, the team won 72 percent (294-116) of its regular-season games, plus championships in 1974 (Milwaukee in seven games) and 1976 (Phoenix in six). The ceaseless front- office machinations (there would be an astounding seven ownership situations in the 10 years) finally caught up with them in 1976, when Irv Levin's meddling plunged the team into chaos. The next three seasons were turbulent ones, but somehow the fans did not lose faith completely. Accordingly, when Mangurian signed Larry Bird and M. L. Carr in the summer of '79, and Red Auerbach brought Bill Fitch in to coach, the faithful were ready to give over their hearts once again.
It is probable they just could not forget. They had seen John Havlicek score 54 points in a playoff game, throw in those nine unforgettable points in the second Milwaukee OT and come up with 29 in his finale; they had seen Jo Jo White's magnificent 33-point performance in the famed Phoenix triple OT; and they had seen Dave Cowens battle Goliath every night. Ah, Big Red, as Johnny Most long ago dubbed him. The play which encapsulizes him was in the double overtime with Milwaukee in '74. He switches onto Oscar Robertson in the final minute of play. He knocks the ball away and then he bellyflops on top of it at midcourt to create a 24-second violation. It was a play no other center who has ever drawn a breath could, or would, make. This is the '70s legacy of the Boston Celtics.
The "Old Celtics" laid the foundation of local basketball interest. The "New Celtics" of the '70s provided the framework. And now the "Modern Celtics" of Bill Fitch and Larry Bird are actively building the roof of Boston's Great Hoop Mansion. For basketball fans, these are truly the best of times.
11.15.2010
Bird's Rookie Year
December 24, 1979
THE DOCTAH WAS OPERATING
This is what the NBA had in mind when it adopted the new imbalanced league schedule. Packed buildings, which would otherwise be half-empty arenas. The birth of match-ups. The establishment of personal duels. The chance for immediate retribution. The restoration of competition. In short, the injection of emotion into a sport often accused of being mechanical. This is what it wanted, and, if the Celtics and the 76ers are a valid example, this is what it is getting.
Last Wednesday night, the Celtics trampled the 76ers by a 112-89 score before a sold-out Boston Garden. It was a rare midweek Garden sellout, and it attracted the largest press coverage of any nonplayoff game in Celtic history. And on Saturday evening, the two ancient rivals resumed hostilities before a Spectrum crowd that was three times larger (18,011) than the gathering that saw the Sixers play the Houston Rockets the night before.
This time, a fired-up 76er team shot 65 percent from the floor and defeated the Celtics by a 126-113 score. The joint was jumpin', and the Doctor was operating (37 points on 17-for-25 shooting). "I wish we played Boston 12 times," gushed Julius Erving.
Bill Fitch groused about his team's penchant for self-destruction. "We didn't give ourselves a chance to win in the last 5:51," he said. "I've had teams with five rookies play better than that. It burns you, but these are the areas (turnovers) that have bothered us all year."
But the Celtic coach left the Spectrum knowing that his team had played far from its best game against a 76er team that played well, this despite the fact the Celtics were within 4 (109-105) with 5:03 to go.
"The 76ers played great," Fitch said, "but we only had one guy, Rick Robey, exceed his normal output in terms of execution and effort. When we were still in it, our guards played horribly. I had Tiny (Archibald) out, and we suffered. I put him back in, but he was too tired and played terribly."
Billy Cunningham wasn't all that unimpressed with Archibald. "I don't know what we're going to do with Archibald," he said. "He must have found the Fountain of Youth."
Cunningham had to like the play of his own Darryl Dawkins (10 for 13, 23 points), rookie guard Clint Richardson (9 for 12, 18 points) and, of course, the efforts of Erving, whose performance gave him 76 points in two games.
The Doctor is just happy to be in the best health of his recent career. "It's nice to have the green light and be healthy at the same time," he said. "It's been a gradual process. Earlier in the year, I couldn't have played this well back to back." But a strenuous offseason therapy program, which included work on everything from his quadriceps to his ankles, has rejuvenated Erving.
It was a fine evening of basketball, and not a wasted one for Boston. "We learned some things tonight about ourselves, Philadelphia and the league," said Fitch. And the league learned that restoring such intense rivalries was the best thing it has done lately.
THE DOCTAH WAS OPERATING
This is what the NBA had in mind when it adopted the new imbalanced league schedule. Packed buildings, which would otherwise be half-empty arenas. The birth of match-ups. The establishment of personal duels. The chance for immediate retribution. The restoration of competition. In short, the injection of emotion into a sport often accused of being mechanical. This is what it wanted, and, if the Celtics and the 76ers are a valid example, this is what it is getting.
Last Wednesday night, the Celtics trampled the 76ers by a 112-89 score before a sold-out Boston Garden. It was a rare midweek Garden sellout, and it attracted the largest press coverage of any nonplayoff game in Celtic history. And on Saturday evening, the two ancient rivals resumed hostilities before a Spectrum crowd that was three times larger (18,011) than the gathering that saw the Sixers play the Houston Rockets the night before.
This time, a fired-up 76er team shot 65 percent from the floor and defeated the Celtics by a 126-113 score. The joint was jumpin', and the Doctor was operating (37 points on 17-for-25 shooting). "I wish we played Boston 12 times," gushed Julius Erving.
Bill Fitch groused about his team's penchant for self-destruction. "We didn't give ourselves a chance to win in the last 5:51," he said. "I've had teams with five rookies play better than that. It burns you, but these are the areas (turnovers) that have bothered us all year."
But the Celtic coach left the Spectrum knowing that his team had played far from its best game against a 76er team that played well, this despite the fact the Celtics were within 4 (109-105) with 5:03 to go.
"The 76ers played great," Fitch said, "but we only had one guy, Rick Robey, exceed his normal output in terms of execution and effort. When we were still in it, our guards played horribly. I had Tiny (Archibald) out, and we suffered. I put him back in, but he was too tired and played terribly."
Billy Cunningham wasn't all that unimpressed with Archibald. "I don't know what we're going to do with Archibald," he said. "He must have found the Fountain of Youth."
Cunningham had to like the play of his own Darryl Dawkins (10 for 13, 23 points), rookie guard Clint Richardson (9 for 12, 18 points) and, of course, the efforts of Erving, whose performance gave him 76 points in two games.
The Doctor is just happy to be in the best health of his recent career. "It's nice to have the green light and be healthy at the same time," he said. "It's been a gradual process. Earlier in the year, I couldn't have played this well back to back." But a strenuous offseason therapy program, which included work on everything from his quadriceps to his ankles, has rejuvenated Erving.
It was a fine evening of basketball, and not a wasted one for Boston. "We learned some things tonight about ourselves, Philadelphia and the league," said Fitch. And the league learned that restoring such intense rivalries was the best thing it has done lately.
11.14.2010
Bird's Rookie Year: December 20, 1979
December 20, 1979
Dawkins was back to looking like a football player gone wrong, back to committing almost as many fouls as he scored points, collecting only two points, intimidating no one. Erving was still Erving, floating free and easy, but on the other end there was Larry Bird, also floating and also easy. The Celtics' own Erving. Maurice Cheeks, the backcourt comet of a year ago was matched by the Celtics' Nate Archibald. And Archibald could score. Steve Mix was Steve Mix, but, whoops, here was the Celts' M. L. Carr. He was doing the same sorts of things.
"It was a situation where we had to show them we are for real," guard Chris Ford said. "They beat us the first time in Philly, and we had to show them that we're competitive, that we're in it, too."
"The first time, in Philly, we were too emotional, too high to play the game, reserve guard Jeff Judkins said. "This time, we were natural, easy. It was like playing a big college game. That's what it reminded me of."
They gave the Sixers a dose of all the things they have been using on this madcap tour through their hit list. They ran the fast break from the Cousy playbook. They passed the ball, passed the ball, five times in one memorable pinball operation that resulted in an Archbald layup. Bird worked his magic. Ford hit the customary three-pointer. Maxwell was a snake again underneath the basket. There were external problems, to be sure, for the Sixers - the transition to playing without Doug Collins, the effect of traveling during the day from Detroit, the usual problems of playing on the road - but the Celtics were in no mood for sympathy. They have had their own problems for two years. They have had their own embarassments. They poured it on.
The clincher was Judkins' three-pointer from the corner in the final minutes. The Celts already were leading by 25 points and he could have taken the two-pointer, but he purposely stepped behind the line and heaved. The basket brought out the largest, craziest, standing-room-only standing ovation of the night.
"You looked like you were throwing that one for spite," Judkins was told. "You looked like you were saying, "in your face,' like you were looking for the humiliation basket."
"That's probably true," Judkins replied.
Philadelphia. Check. The rivalry has been born again.
Dawkins was back to looking like a football player gone wrong, back to committing almost as many fouls as he scored points, collecting only two points, intimidating no one. Erving was still Erving, floating free and easy, but on the other end there was Larry Bird, also floating and also easy. The Celtics' own Erving. Maurice Cheeks, the backcourt comet of a year ago was matched by the Celtics' Nate Archibald. And Archibald could score. Steve Mix was Steve Mix, but, whoops, here was the Celts' M. L. Carr. He was doing the same sorts of things.
"It was a situation where we had to show them we are for real," guard Chris Ford said. "They beat us the first time in Philly, and we had to show them that we're competitive, that we're in it, too."
"The first time, in Philly, we were too emotional, too high to play the game, reserve guard Jeff Judkins said. "This time, we were natural, easy. It was like playing a big college game. That's what it reminded me of."
They gave the Sixers a dose of all the things they have been using on this madcap tour through their hit list. They ran the fast break from the Cousy playbook. They passed the ball, passed the ball, five times in one memorable pinball operation that resulted in an Archbald layup. Bird worked his magic. Ford hit the customary three-pointer. Maxwell was a snake again underneath the basket. There were external problems, to be sure, for the Sixers - the transition to playing without Doug Collins, the effect of traveling during the day from Detroit, the usual problems of playing on the road - but the Celtics were in no mood for sympathy. They have had their own problems for two years. They have had their own embarassments. They poured it on.
The clincher was Judkins' three-pointer from the corner in the final minutes. The Celts already were leading by 25 points and he could have taken the two-pointer, but he purposely stepped behind the line and heaved. The basket brought out the largest, craziest, standing-room-only standing ovation of the night.
"You looked like you were throwing that one for spite," Judkins was told. "You looked like you were saying, "in your face,' like you were looking for the humiliation basket."
"That's probably true," Judkins replied.
Philadelphia. Check. The rivalry has been born again.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 20, 1979
The Celtics outran the Sixers by a 49-21 count in fast-break points. That figure of 49 was the night's magical tally, for it was the exact number of points surrendered by the Sixers with their 30 turnovers. "We had a lot of problems," said coach Billy Cunningham, "and it was tough to isolate, but the biggest problem we had was handling the basketball. The Celtics were alert defensively; they got every loose ball.
Darryl Dawkins scored three points in the first half and nine in the game. Caldwell Jones scored his one basket to make the score 110-87, which certainly didn't help much. Julius Erving hit his first three shots from the outside, and he spiced up the dull 76er offense with some nice dunks and exotic moves, but he was basically more flash than substance. The only man who actually hurt Boston was Steve Mix, whose aggressiveness paid off in the form of 20 points in 21 minutes.
Archibald showed some feel when, after Don Chaney had connected on a jumper 15 seconds from Archibald's second quarter entrance, the little guy steered a fast-break pass to The Duck on the next possession for another swisher ... Rick Robey continued his steady recent play with eight points and five rebounds.
Mix on the Celtics:
"They're good. You looked at them during the exhibitions and said, "They're a playoff contender.' Now you look at them after 33 games and say, "They have a good shot at winning this division.' We'd better get our act in gear."
M.L. Carr beat the third-quarter buzzer with a long jumper which gave Boston an 83-69 lead entering the final quarter and which also restored their confidence after a lag period ... Fitch on Dave Cowens: "He probably doesn't think he had a good game offensively (3-for-13), but when you talk about our defense, it all starts with Dave."
Today is the annual Celtics Christmas Party, the one the club of two years ago had no time to attend.
Darryl Dawkins scored three points in the first half and nine in the game. Caldwell Jones scored his one basket to make the score 110-87, which certainly didn't help much. Julius Erving hit his first three shots from the outside, and he spiced up the dull 76er offense with some nice dunks and exotic moves, but he was basically more flash than substance. The only man who actually hurt Boston was Steve Mix, whose aggressiveness paid off in the form of 20 points in 21 minutes.
Archibald showed some feel when, after Don Chaney had connected on a jumper 15 seconds from Archibald's second quarter entrance, the little guy steered a fast-break pass to The Duck on the next possession for another swisher ... Rick Robey continued his steady recent play with eight points and five rebounds.
Mix on the Celtics:
"They're good. You looked at them during the exhibitions and said, "They're a playoff contender.' Now you look at them after 33 games and say, "They have a good shot at winning this division.' We'd better get our act in gear."
M.L. Carr beat the third-quarter buzzer with a long jumper which gave Boston an 83-69 lead entering the final quarter and which also restored their confidence after a lag period ... Fitch on Dave Cowens: "He probably doesn't think he had a good game offensively (3-for-13), but when you talk about our defense, it all starts with Dave."
Today is the annual Celtics Christmas Party, the one the club of two years ago had no time to attend.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 20, 1979
December 20, 1979
It had the buildup of a heavyweight title fight, and when it began it was even played like one. The teams moved slowly and cautiously in the first quarter. They were patient, allowing their plays to develop. It truly looked as if they were sparring.
"That's right," said Dave Cowens. "It was a methodical, halfcourt game for one period. We were feeling each other out to see what would happen."
Coach Bill Fitch agreed, and he knew he didn't want the game played at that metronomic pace much longer. "We wanted to pick up the pace," he said. "They like to run, but don't confuse them with some other teams. They're a power team. I didn't want to get into a half-court game with them. So we got up a bit on the defense. We got active with our hands and when we heard their plays, we started playing the calls. That's where the first period came in. We had been sparring. But you've got to find out if the man really does have a jab. We got running, and Tiny (Archibald) took care of the rest."
It had the buildup of a heavyweight title fight, and when it began it was even played like one. The teams moved slowly and cautiously in the first quarter. They were patient, allowing their plays to develop. It truly looked as if they were sparring.
"That's right," said Dave Cowens. "It was a methodical, halfcourt game for one period. We were feeling each other out to see what would happen."
Coach Bill Fitch agreed, and he knew he didn't want the game played at that metronomic pace much longer. "We wanted to pick up the pace," he said. "They like to run, but don't confuse them with some other teams. They're a power team. I didn't want to get into a half-court game with them. So we got up a bit on the defense. We got active with our hands and when we heard their plays, we started playing the calls. That's where the first period came in. We had been sparring. But you've got to find out if the man really does have a jab. We got running, and Tiny (Archibald) took care of the rest."
Bird's Rookie Year: December 20, 1979
December 20, 1979
The words came slowly. Defeat and failure are not easy things for The Doctah to admit. The moment of truth, it seems, was a three-pointer by Jeff Judkins with three minutes left that turned the already-jubilant crowd at the Garden into 15,320 howling fanatics.
"It was a hurting feeling," said Julius Erving, the 76er captain and the man who seemed to take last night's 112-89 rout by the Celtics harder than anyone. "A bad hurt. When Judkins hit that shot, the whole place came alive and you knew it was the nail on the coffin.
"They had stuck it to us pretty good and we knew it. That's the bad feeling I'm talking about. But maybe we can return the favor to them some Saturday night. Come to think of it, we play again this Saturday night. That would be a nice time."
By the time the Celtics' biggest showdown of this young season had ended, they were already looking ahead. Winning gives you that luxury.
"We can't afford to do otherwise," said veteran Nate Archibald. "We've got a track meet coming up Friday night. And I don't think I have to say whom we're playing (San Antonio). Then we face them (76ers) again on Saturday night and who knows how we'll play.
"You want to win all the games you can in December to build up a little cushion, and this was a big victory. But it's not who wins the games in the middle that counts. It's who wins the games at the end. We beat them tonight. But who know what will happen at the end. It's a long, tough season."
The Celtics have won 26 of 33 games, including the last five. That they should beat the 76ers, who fell three games back in the Atlantic Division, did not surprise the Celtics, who will not lose many games on their home court if they continue to play the kind of inspired ball they displayed in their 38- point second quarter last night.
The box score tells more than Larry Bird's 24-point effort (10 for 18 in the field), Cedric Maxwell's 21 or Archibald's 19. The Celtics had 18 steals and three blocked shots. The 76ers were guilty of 30 turnovers that directly led to 49 Boston points. The Celtics shot 51 percent, a marked improvement over the 45 percent in their last 12 games. The 76ers wound up with a 41-38 edge in rebounds but did not match the floor burns and bruised knuckles the Celtics suffered in order to play an aggressive, collapsing defense. The Celtics dared the 76ers to shoot outside - and got away with it.
"We didn't do a hell of a lot inside," said Steve Mix of the 76ers. "I think when we're looking at the films and trying to prepare for the next time we meet, we'll find out why in a hurry. They shut us off."
The Celtics won partly due to a blistering offense, scoring 49 points off the fast break. Ah, but there are fast-break nights, and their are nights when Archibald, Bird, Maxwell, Dave Cowens and Chris Ford are masters of improvisation.
The Celtics once made seven passes before scoring. With everyone touching the ball. Against the Nets, it's fun. Against the 76ers, it's inspiring.
"I think rather than credit our offense," said Archibald, "you should talk about our defense. Philly wasn't playing that great in the first place. But we remember from down there where they cleared out a side and worked us one-on-one. We helped out, even to the point where one guy would leave his man completely. Julius beat us down there. Tonight we left guys just to stop him.
"That puts pressure on the other guys to shoot and they didn't handle it all that well. And it worked the other way, too. When we were moving the ball up the floor, Julius had to guard Larry and that can be a tough matchup. Plus the 76ers don't play as good a team defense as we do. We shot well and put pressure on them."
"We know they're a physical team," said coach Bill Fitch, "and we know we have to shoot well against them. Our good shooting came off our defense. Dave was one of the keys on defense as he always is. We were able to run which is good because we didn't want to get into a half-court game with them."
The question of stopping Erving (9 for 15, 20 points) was the obvious key. Bird guarded him at first, forcing Philly to put their star forward into the backcourt in the second quarter. Ford and Don Chaney then drew the assignment. But this was hardly a one-man show. Chaney played Erving so tough that the Doctah was forced to go back to forward, where he got most of his points in the second half.
"We wanted to force them to shoot outside," and we collapsed in the middle because Julius is most dangerous when he's driving the baselines," said Maxwell. "We helped out a lot. In to where a lot of our steals came from ... passes by him or somebody the middle."
Bird wanted no special credit for his work.
"I don't get any special pleasure out of stopping Julius or any other player. What I'm happy about is that we got a win and the confidence that goes with it. We're supposed to win games on our home court.
"All along, we had the feeling if we could contain him and play our game, we'd be all right. We understood the situation completely.
"They were coming off the road from Detroit. We did the same thing a few weeks ago. We knew after our start they'd make a run at us and they did cut it to 10 points in the third period. But we're a pretty good team, too, and we just gave the ball to Tiny and he got us going again. When you're at home and the crowd is behind you, that's when you're supposed to have the advantage and be able to do things like that.
"I think a more important game for us was winning at Washington. It's tough to win on the road. But it's nice to get this one under our belt. We've got to play them (Philadelphia) again Saturday night."
The 76ers said thay did not show up expecting to lose, but have nobody to blame for the defeat but themselves.
"We haven't seen all the teams in the west, yet," said 76er coach Billy Cunningham. "But they (Celtics) are the best in the East. They beat us in every phase of the game at one point. What they did on defense didn't come as a surprise. A lot of teams play us that way, because they know we don't have Dough Collins at guard. But we didn't react to it well at all, and when we did, we made too many mistakes and threw the ball away. Bird was better tonight. But he's one of those guys who you know is already good at everything and can only get better."
The words came slowly. Defeat and failure are not easy things for The Doctah to admit. The moment of truth, it seems, was a three-pointer by Jeff Judkins with three minutes left that turned the already-jubilant crowd at the Garden into 15,320 howling fanatics.
"It was a hurting feeling," said Julius Erving, the 76er captain and the man who seemed to take last night's 112-89 rout by the Celtics harder than anyone. "A bad hurt. When Judkins hit that shot, the whole place came alive and you knew it was the nail on the coffin.
"They had stuck it to us pretty good and we knew it. That's the bad feeling I'm talking about. But maybe we can return the favor to them some Saturday night. Come to think of it, we play again this Saturday night. That would be a nice time."
By the time the Celtics' biggest showdown of this young season had ended, they were already looking ahead. Winning gives you that luxury.
"We can't afford to do otherwise," said veteran Nate Archibald. "We've got a track meet coming up Friday night. And I don't think I have to say whom we're playing (San Antonio). Then we face them (76ers) again on Saturday night and who knows how we'll play.
"You want to win all the games you can in December to build up a little cushion, and this was a big victory. But it's not who wins the games in the middle that counts. It's who wins the games at the end. We beat them tonight. But who know what will happen at the end. It's a long, tough season."
The Celtics have won 26 of 33 games, including the last five. That they should beat the 76ers, who fell three games back in the Atlantic Division, did not surprise the Celtics, who will not lose many games on their home court if they continue to play the kind of inspired ball they displayed in their 38- point second quarter last night.
The box score tells more than Larry Bird's 24-point effort (10 for 18 in the field), Cedric Maxwell's 21 or Archibald's 19. The Celtics had 18 steals and three blocked shots. The 76ers were guilty of 30 turnovers that directly led to 49 Boston points. The Celtics shot 51 percent, a marked improvement over the 45 percent in their last 12 games. The 76ers wound up with a 41-38 edge in rebounds but did not match the floor burns and bruised knuckles the Celtics suffered in order to play an aggressive, collapsing defense. The Celtics dared the 76ers to shoot outside - and got away with it.
"We didn't do a hell of a lot inside," said Steve Mix of the 76ers. "I think when we're looking at the films and trying to prepare for the next time we meet, we'll find out why in a hurry. They shut us off."
The Celtics won partly due to a blistering offense, scoring 49 points off the fast break. Ah, but there are fast-break nights, and their are nights when Archibald, Bird, Maxwell, Dave Cowens and Chris Ford are masters of improvisation.
The Celtics once made seven passes before scoring. With everyone touching the ball. Against the Nets, it's fun. Against the 76ers, it's inspiring.
"I think rather than credit our offense," said Archibald, "you should talk about our defense. Philly wasn't playing that great in the first place. But we remember from down there where they cleared out a side and worked us one-on-one. We helped out, even to the point where one guy would leave his man completely. Julius beat us down there. Tonight we left guys just to stop him.
"That puts pressure on the other guys to shoot and they didn't handle it all that well. And it worked the other way, too. When we were moving the ball up the floor, Julius had to guard Larry and that can be a tough matchup. Plus the 76ers don't play as good a team defense as we do. We shot well and put pressure on them."
"We know they're a physical team," said coach Bill Fitch, "and we know we have to shoot well against them. Our good shooting came off our defense. Dave was one of the keys on defense as he always is. We were able to run which is good because we didn't want to get into a half-court game with them."
The question of stopping Erving (9 for 15, 20 points) was the obvious key. Bird guarded him at first, forcing Philly to put their star forward into the backcourt in the second quarter. Ford and Don Chaney then drew the assignment. But this was hardly a one-man show. Chaney played Erving so tough that the Doctah was forced to go back to forward, where he got most of his points in the second half.
"We wanted to force them to shoot outside," and we collapsed in the middle because Julius is most dangerous when he's driving the baselines," said Maxwell. "We helped out a lot. In to where a lot of our steals came from ... passes by him or somebody the middle."
Bird wanted no special credit for his work.
"I don't get any special pleasure out of stopping Julius or any other player. What I'm happy about is that we got a win and the confidence that goes with it. We're supposed to win games on our home court.
"All along, we had the feeling if we could contain him and play our game, we'd be all right. We understood the situation completely.
"They were coming off the road from Detroit. We did the same thing a few weeks ago. We knew after our start they'd make a run at us and they did cut it to 10 points in the third period. But we're a pretty good team, too, and we just gave the ball to Tiny and he got us going again. When you're at home and the crowd is behind you, that's when you're supposed to have the advantage and be able to do things like that.
"I think a more important game for us was winning at Washington. It's tough to win on the road. But it's nice to get this one under our belt. We've got to play them (Philadelphia) again Saturday night."
The 76ers said thay did not show up expecting to lose, but have nobody to blame for the defeat but themselves.
"We haven't seen all the teams in the west, yet," said 76er coach Billy Cunningham. "But they (Celtics) are the best in the East. They beat us in every phase of the game at one point. What they did on defense didn't come as a surprise. A lot of teams play us that way, because they know we don't have Dough Collins at guard. But we didn't react to it well at all, and when we did, we made too many mistakes and threw the ball away. Bird was better tonight. But he's one of those guys who you know is already good at everything and can only get better."
Bird's Rookie Year: December 19, 1979
December 19, 1979
WHO'S NO. 1?
THE 76ERS FIGURED TO BE ON TOP OF THE PACK GOING INTO TONIGHT'S GAME AT THE GARDEN, BUT THEY'VE HIT AN OBSTACLE - THE CELTICS
Who is the best? Is it a mirage, or are the Celtics really that much better than the 76ers, who will make their first appearance of the season tonight at the Garden?
Could the experts have been so wrong? Could the 76er team that had been the odds-on favorite on paper to win the Atlantic Division be just second best?
"Predictions don't mean a thing," says Celtic veteran Nate Archibald. "You still have to go out and win games. Talent on paper doesn't mean anything. You still have to play the games and win."
When they arrive in town tonight (7:30 p.m., WBZ radio), the Philadelphia 76ers will find a full house waiting for them at the Garden. That in itself is not unusual, because this is still a team that is led by The Doctah, Julius Erving, and is so deep at forward it can afford to use Bobby Jones and Steve Mix, both with All-Star credentials, coming off the bench.
But are they coming to see the 76ers? Or are they coming to see a Celtic club that over the recent weekend won three straight thrillers and is rapidly gaining believers? Or are they just coming to see what looks like a good game?
"You can call it a glamour game if you like," says Celtic coach Bill Fitch. "I don't think crucial is the right word. Not this early in the season. It's a very important game, but no matter what happens, we will still be in first place, so there have been other games that have meant more. I know it's not like when we played at Cleveland when they tried to call it the Ultimate Game.' But it is an important game."
The 76ers are minus Doug Collins, and Jones is bothered by a bruised knee suffered in stunning back-to-back losses to Atlanta. Yet, the 76ers are a classy team and have no illusions about the Celtics they're now facing and the Celtics they beat Nov. 10 in Philadelphia, 95-94.
"We're expecting a real good game whenever we face Boston," says Pat Williams, the Philadelphia general manager. "When you think about it, the start the Celtics have had this year is the story in pro basketball this year. We've won 22 games this year (before last night's victory), and can't shake them. It's unbelievable what they've accomplished in such a short time.
"Last summer at our meetings, we talked about the teams and didn't even consider the Celtics. The last two years they were floundering, struggling and embarrassing themselves. They had been the height of frustration in the NBA. All of a sudden, wow! They're taking off. It is a remarkable story. Ours had not been a good rivalry in the last two years. But now all that has changed."
The 76ers and Celtics have both been devastating at home. Boston is 14-1 and Philly is 15-3. But Boston's 11-6 record on the road thus far is the best of any NBA team (only Milwaukee has won as many as 10). After their 114-102 win over the Pistons in Pontiac, Mich., last night, (leaving them two games behind the Celtics) the 76ers were only 8-6 on the road. They've lost twice to Atlanta and are 0-4 for the season against the Hawks. The Celtics are 3-1 against Atlanta, with two wins on the road.
"It's fair to say that we've improved since the last time we met," says Fitch of his Celtics. "We're not shooting as well as we're capable. But we're helping out each other more on defense. Our bench is getting more minutes. Whether you can interpret that as a sign that we have more confidence in each other or not is hard to say at this time of year. When we get in a situation like at New Jersey when our bench can help, we'll use it. However, keep in mind that each game is different."
The 76ers are a different team from any the Celtics have met recently if for no other reason than they have The Doctah (37 points last night), who took advantage of the inexperience of Larry Bird (among others) and did his thing for 37 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the first meeting. The Celtics had a six-game winning streak stopped that night.
"They beat us that night by clearing out a whole side and letting Julius work one on one," says Archibald. "We're going to try not to let that happen this time. They're a team that plays two centers in (Darryl) Dawkins and (Caldwell) Jones, and Julius as a small forward. Neither Dawkins nor Jones is particularly good shooters, and their guards (Maurice Cheeks and Clint Richardson) are not necessarily shooters."
Archibald has a good memory of the 76ers. His club fell behind 15 points in Philadelphia but almost won.
"We're not going to sit back," says Archibald, "and play their game. We're going to come out smoking. We want to see what happens when somebody besides Julius has to handle the ball or shoot it."
Williams says his club has played remarkably well despite losing a talent like Collins, although it has put a lot of pressure on rookie Richardson, a second-round pick out of Seattle who has been starting the last three weeks ahead of Henry Bibby and No. 1 draft choice Jim Spanarkel.
"Actually, he began starting a month ago," says Williams, who added that injury to Collins and not talent was the principal reason for the change. "We don't like to do that with rookies, and he has been sort of thrown into the breach. But he's responding well and has a chance to become a solid player.
"Bibby and Spanarkel have to play well, too. But right now the bench is a major reason for our success. We can move Julius to guard if the situation calls for it."
Tonight could be the night.
WHO'S NO. 1?
THE 76ERS FIGURED TO BE ON TOP OF THE PACK GOING INTO TONIGHT'S GAME AT THE GARDEN, BUT THEY'VE HIT AN OBSTACLE - THE CELTICS
Who is the best? Is it a mirage, or are the Celtics really that much better than the 76ers, who will make their first appearance of the season tonight at the Garden?
Could the experts have been so wrong? Could the 76er team that had been the odds-on favorite on paper to win the Atlantic Division be just second best?
"Predictions don't mean a thing," says Celtic veteran Nate Archibald. "You still have to go out and win games. Talent on paper doesn't mean anything. You still have to play the games and win."
When they arrive in town tonight (7:30 p.m., WBZ radio), the Philadelphia 76ers will find a full house waiting for them at the Garden. That in itself is not unusual, because this is still a team that is led by The Doctah, Julius Erving, and is so deep at forward it can afford to use Bobby Jones and Steve Mix, both with All-Star credentials, coming off the bench.
But are they coming to see the 76ers? Or are they coming to see a Celtic club that over the recent weekend won three straight thrillers and is rapidly gaining believers? Or are they just coming to see what looks like a good game?
"You can call it a glamour game if you like," says Celtic coach Bill Fitch. "I don't think crucial is the right word. Not this early in the season. It's a very important game, but no matter what happens, we will still be in first place, so there have been other games that have meant more. I know it's not like when we played at Cleveland when they tried to call it the Ultimate Game.' But it is an important game."
The 76ers are minus Doug Collins, and Jones is bothered by a bruised knee suffered in stunning back-to-back losses to Atlanta. Yet, the 76ers are a classy team and have no illusions about the Celtics they're now facing and the Celtics they beat Nov. 10 in Philadelphia, 95-94.
"We're expecting a real good game whenever we face Boston," says Pat Williams, the Philadelphia general manager. "When you think about it, the start the Celtics have had this year is the story in pro basketball this year. We've won 22 games this year (before last night's victory), and can't shake them. It's unbelievable what they've accomplished in such a short time.
"Last summer at our meetings, we talked about the teams and didn't even consider the Celtics. The last two years they were floundering, struggling and embarrassing themselves. They had been the height of frustration in the NBA. All of a sudden, wow! They're taking off. It is a remarkable story. Ours had not been a good rivalry in the last two years. But now all that has changed."
The 76ers and Celtics have both been devastating at home. Boston is 14-1 and Philly is 15-3. But Boston's 11-6 record on the road thus far is the best of any NBA team (only Milwaukee has won as many as 10). After their 114-102 win over the Pistons in Pontiac, Mich., last night, (leaving them two games behind the Celtics) the 76ers were only 8-6 on the road. They've lost twice to Atlanta and are 0-4 for the season against the Hawks. The Celtics are 3-1 against Atlanta, with two wins on the road.
"It's fair to say that we've improved since the last time we met," says Fitch of his Celtics. "We're not shooting as well as we're capable. But we're helping out each other more on defense. Our bench is getting more minutes. Whether you can interpret that as a sign that we have more confidence in each other or not is hard to say at this time of year. When we get in a situation like at New Jersey when our bench can help, we'll use it. However, keep in mind that each game is different."
The 76ers are a different team from any the Celtics have met recently if for no other reason than they have The Doctah (37 points last night), who took advantage of the inexperience of Larry Bird (among others) and did his thing for 37 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the first meeting. The Celtics had a six-game winning streak stopped that night.
"They beat us that night by clearing out a whole side and letting Julius work one on one," says Archibald. "We're going to try not to let that happen this time. They're a team that plays two centers in (Darryl) Dawkins and (Caldwell) Jones, and Julius as a small forward. Neither Dawkins nor Jones is particularly good shooters, and their guards (Maurice Cheeks and Clint Richardson) are not necessarily shooters."
Archibald has a good memory of the 76ers. His club fell behind 15 points in Philadelphia but almost won.
"We're not going to sit back," says Archibald, "and play their game. We're going to come out smoking. We want to see what happens when somebody besides Julius has to handle the ball or shoot it."
Williams says his club has played remarkably well despite losing a talent like Collins, although it has put a lot of pressure on rookie Richardson, a second-round pick out of Seattle who has been starting the last three weeks ahead of Henry Bibby and No. 1 draft choice Jim Spanarkel.
"Actually, he began starting a month ago," says Williams, who added that injury to Collins and not talent was the principal reason for the change. "We don't like to do that with rookies, and he has been sort of thrown into the breach. But he's responding well and has a chance to become a solid player.
"Bibby and Spanarkel have to play well, too. But right now the bench is a major reason for our success. We can move Julius to guard if the situation calls for it."
Tonight could be the night.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
Cowens picked off a poorly thrown pass just outside the circle and sprinted all the way down court for a layup which sent the Celtics into the locker room holding a 54-53 lead. But the man they could all thank for that advantage was another old-timer by the name of Don Chaney.
There is little doubt that the entrance of The Duck into the game with 10:09 remaining in the half saved the Celtics from certain disaster. They had been floundering since holding early leads of 5-0 (this on another Chris Ford three-pointer, one of two for him in the half) and 7-2. New Jersey had been more aggressive in every way, and Boston just couldn't seem to get anything going. In addition, Mike Newlin was doing a basic number on Ford, and when the former dashed through the pack for a layup which gave New Jersey a 33-27 lead (and which raised his point total to 13 at the time), coach Bill Fitch made an emergency call for Chaney.
His presence set the tone for an aggressive Celtic defense which eventually grabbed a lead at 50-49, Boston's first such state of affairs since 25-23. Chaney was vital at both ends, in fact, moving well without the ball on offense (seven points), hounding people on defense, and, in general, acting a little like he's passed this way before.
A run of six straight points rescued the Celtics from a 41-34 deficit and got them back in the game. Chaney highlighted this spurt with a tough layup on a nice Cowens feed, an outright theft of the ball from Ed Jordan on an inbounds pass for a totally uncontested layup, a Chaney-induced offensive foul on Jordan (followed, alas, by a three-second call on Maxwell) and, finally, a Chaney steal of a pass and subsequent feed to Maxwell for a thundering stuff. That made it 41-40, NJ.
Newlin, who was hot from the start, led all first-half scorers with 19 points. But the big surprise was the offensive lift supplied by starting center George Johnson, a noted bricklayer who stuck in no fewer than four jumpers (to go with a patented sweeping hook) in a rare offensive display. Jan van Breda Kohlff also played his usual cerebral game for New Jersey.
The Celtics just wouldn't have been anywhere at all without their bench people in this one. Playing their third game in three nights (as was New Jersey), Boston needed some help from the subs, and they got it from Rick Robey (2 for 2) in a brief appearance), M.L. Carr (six points and his usual hustle), Chaney and Gerald Henderson.
The Kid executed a beautiful give-and-go play with Cowens, artfully slipping a left-handed reverse layup, and he also banked in an up-fake three point play, complementing his good offense with a sensational defensive job. Neither Robert Smith nor Ed Jordan, undoubtedly 2 of the 10 quickest players in the league, could get by Henderson, and both tried very hard. In one memorable sequence Henderson first cleanly stuffed a Jordan jumper and then kept him from advancing anywhwere when he got the ball back. But Newlin threw in a desperation off-balance, leaning clock-beater to thwart the whole exercise.
A completely implausible sequence in the final 23 seconds, culminating in two Carr free throws with two seconds left, sent the teams into overtime tied at 104.
Carr arrived at the line after referees Jack Madden and Tom Nunez allowed an unknown Celtic to grab Mike Newlin by the throat on an inbounds pass with seven seconds to play. The ball was advanced upcourt, and Carr was fouled en route to the basket.
Newlin, who scored 46 points in the regulation play, had put New Jersey ahead with two foul shots at the 23-second mark, a hintzy-chintzy call by Nunez sending him to the line.
Cowens picked off a poorly thrown pass just outside the circle and sprinted all the way down court for a layup which sent the Celtics into the locker room holding a 54-53 lead. But the man they could all thank for that advantage was another old-timer by the name of Don Chaney.
There is little doubt that the entrance of The Duck into the game with 10:09 remaining in the half saved the Celtics from certain disaster. They had been floundering since holding early leads of 5-0 (this on another Chris Ford three-pointer, one of two for him in the half) and 7-2. New Jersey had been more aggressive in every way, and Boston just couldn't seem to get anything going. In addition, Mike Newlin was doing a basic number on Ford, and when the former dashed through the pack for a layup which gave New Jersey a 33-27 lead (and which raised his point total to 13 at the time), coach Bill Fitch made an emergency call for Chaney.
His presence set the tone for an aggressive Celtic defense which eventually grabbed a lead at 50-49, Boston's first such state of affairs since 25-23. Chaney was vital at both ends, in fact, moving well without the ball on offense (seven points), hounding people on defense, and, in general, acting a little like he's passed this way before.
A run of six straight points rescued the Celtics from a 41-34 deficit and got them back in the game. Chaney highlighted this spurt with a tough layup on a nice Cowens feed, an outright theft of the ball from Ed Jordan on an inbounds pass for a totally uncontested layup, a Chaney-induced offensive foul on Jordan (followed, alas, by a three-second call on Maxwell) and, finally, a Chaney steal of a pass and subsequent feed to Maxwell for a thundering stuff. That made it 41-40, NJ.
Newlin, who was hot from the start, led all first-half scorers with 19 points. But the big surprise was the offensive lift supplied by starting center George Johnson, a noted bricklayer who stuck in no fewer than four jumpers (to go with a patented sweeping hook) in a rare offensive display. Jan van Breda Kohlff also played his usual cerebral game for New Jersey.
The Celtics just wouldn't have been anywhere at all without their bench people in this one. Playing their third game in three nights (as was New Jersey), Boston needed some help from the subs, and they got it from Rick Robey (2 for 2) in a brief appearance), M.L. Carr (six points and his usual hustle), Chaney and Gerald Henderson.
The Kid executed a beautiful give-and-go play with Cowens, artfully slipping a left-handed reverse layup, and he also banked in an up-fake three point play, complementing his good offense with a sensational defensive job. Neither Robert Smith nor Ed Jordan, undoubtedly 2 of the 10 quickest players in the league, could get by Henderson, and both tried very hard. In one memorable sequence Henderson first cleanly stuffed a Jordan jumper and then kept him from advancing anywhwere when he got the ball back. But Newlin threw in a desperation off-balance, leaning clock-beater to thwart the whole exercise.
A completely implausible sequence in the final 23 seconds, culminating in two Carr free throws with two seconds left, sent the teams into overtime tied at 104.
Carr arrived at the line after referees Jack Madden and Tom Nunez allowed an unknown Celtic to grab Mike Newlin by the throat on an inbounds pass with seven seconds to play. The ball was advanced upcourt, and Carr was fouled en route to the basket.
Newlin, who scored 46 points in the regulation play, had put New Jersey ahead with two foul shots at the 23-second mark, a hintzy-chintzy call by Nunez sending him to the line.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
It's still almost impossible to fathom that the Celtic bench shot 11 for 12 against the Knicks. For the record, the breakdown was as follows: Rick Robey, 5-5; Don Chaney, 3-3; Jeff Judkins, 2-2; and M.L. (One Wrist) Carr, 1-2. Gerald Henderson was 0-0. Yesterday was Jan van Breda Kolff's 28th birthday. The rangy Net swingman was coming off a sparkler in Cleveland (a 117-111 setback) in which he shot 7 for 10, with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot.
Six of the seven Celtic losses had come on the second night of a back-to- back situation, which last night happened to have been. After 31 games a year ago, the Celtics were 11-20. They didn't pick up their 24th victory until Feb. 21, when they also picked up their final road triumph of the season, a 101-97 verdict over Golden State. Since spraining his right wrist a week ago Friday (he had already sprained his left wrist), Carr has played just 83 minutes in 5 games shooting 10 for 28 (all layups). But the team has muddled through, winning four in a row after losing to Cleveland, which, ironically, was the best of the five post-injury performances.
It's still almost impossible to fathom that the Celtic bench shot 11 for 12 against the Knicks. For the record, the breakdown was as follows: Rick Robey, 5-5; Don Chaney, 3-3; Jeff Judkins, 2-2; and M.L. (One Wrist) Carr, 1-2. Gerald Henderson was 0-0. Yesterday was Jan van Breda Kolff's 28th birthday. The rangy Net swingman was coming off a sparkler in Cleveland (a 117-111 setback) in which he shot 7 for 10, with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot.
Six of the seven Celtic losses had come on the second night of a back-to- back situation, which last night happened to have been. After 31 games a year ago, the Celtics were 11-20. They didn't pick up their 24th victory until Feb. 21, when they also picked up their final road triumph of the season, a 101-97 verdict over Golden State. Since spraining his right wrist a week ago Friday (he had already sprained his left wrist), Carr has played just 83 minutes in 5 games shooting 10 for 28 (all layups). But the team has muddled through, winning four in a row after losing to Cleveland, which, ironically, was the best of the five post-injury performances.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
He missed the first one, but swished the next two and the teams were in OT.
The Celtics had very little going in overtime for the first three minutes, but after a Calvin Natt short turnaround gave NJ that 110-105 advantage. But Archibald penetrated and fed Cowens for a lay-up, and, following a Newlin jumper, Chris Ford - who else? - stuck in a three-pointer from the left corner to make it 112-110 with 1:18 to play. "The Green Machine," as Carr calls it, was revved up again.
The key play was delivered by Archibald, who sprinted downcourt after a New Jersey miss and banked in a vintage '73 driving three-point play over two Nets to restore Boston's lead. And when Ed Jordan missed a jumper, Cedric Maxwell rebounded, pitched it to Archibald and the inevitable backcourt foul ensued. Tiny dropped in both shots with 18 seconds to play, making it 115-112.
New Jersey had two more chances. Newlin, who scored 24 points in the fourth quarter (18) and overtime (6), missed one, but after rebounding the ball Maxwell was called for traveling with one second left. Natt's attempt to tie it up was way short, and Boston's victory was assured.
The magnificence of Newlin's play was the lasting memory of this momentum- laden game. "I'm not the kind of player who normally dominates a game," he said. "I just stay in the flow and take my shots as they come." But on this occasion he was a man's man from the outset. His point distribution by periods was 11-8-9-18-6, and he hit a varied assortment of stop-and-pop jumpers, leaners and drives (mainly left-handed), all the while playing good defense. He hit time and time again when the Celtics were ready either to put the game away or make a comeback bid (there were 16 ties and 14 lead changes in regulation alone).
"Newlin was numero uno out there tonight," saluted Fitch. "He played a fantastic all-around ballgame, and I don't know why he took it out on us."
The Celtics were definitely in command, leading by a 90-80 score with 8:51 to play after having been ahead by thin margins at the half (54-53) and three-quarter (78-76) junctures. But New Jersey went to work, scoring 10 straight points, the last six by Newlin, to tie it at 90-90. The biggest margin down the stretch would be three, a 95-92 Boston lead with 5:25 to play.
The Newlin display, the late Celtics heroics and controversial officiating decisions of Nunez and Madden were what stuck in the minds of the crowd of 7716, but what registered in Fitch's mind was the play of his bench. On a third-game-in-three-nights situation, Fitch needed help from some auxiliary personnel, and at one time or another he got a plus performance from Don Chaney, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and, of course, Carr, the gutsiest one-wristed player in the NBA. Neither stat sheet examinations nor memory- wracking can explain how they won this game, especially on the road.
But they did win. And they are 25-7. With every passing day they are beginning to feel more and more confident, and why not?
He missed the first one, but swished the next two and the teams were in OT.
The Celtics had very little going in overtime for the first three minutes, but after a Calvin Natt short turnaround gave NJ that 110-105 advantage. But Archibald penetrated and fed Cowens for a lay-up, and, following a Newlin jumper, Chris Ford - who else? - stuck in a three-pointer from the left corner to make it 112-110 with 1:18 to play. "The Green Machine," as Carr calls it, was revved up again.
The key play was delivered by Archibald, who sprinted downcourt after a New Jersey miss and banked in a vintage '73 driving three-point play over two Nets to restore Boston's lead. And when Ed Jordan missed a jumper, Cedric Maxwell rebounded, pitched it to Archibald and the inevitable backcourt foul ensued. Tiny dropped in both shots with 18 seconds to play, making it 115-112.
New Jersey had two more chances. Newlin, who scored 24 points in the fourth quarter (18) and overtime (6), missed one, but after rebounding the ball Maxwell was called for traveling with one second left. Natt's attempt to tie it up was way short, and Boston's victory was assured.
The magnificence of Newlin's play was the lasting memory of this momentum- laden game. "I'm not the kind of player who normally dominates a game," he said. "I just stay in the flow and take my shots as they come." But on this occasion he was a man's man from the outset. His point distribution by periods was 11-8-9-18-6, and he hit a varied assortment of stop-and-pop jumpers, leaners and drives (mainly left-handed), all the while playing good defense. He hit time and time again when the Celtics were ready either to put the game away or make a comeback bid (there were 16 ties and 14 lead changes in regulation alone).
"Newlin was numero uno out there tonight," saluted Fitch. "He played a fantastic all-around ballgame, and I don't know why he took it out on us."
The Celtics were definitely in command, leading by a 90-80 score with 8:51 to play after having been ahead by thin margins at the half (54-53) and three-quarter (78-76) junctures. But New Jersey went to work, scoring 10 straight points, the last six by Newlin, to tie it at 90-90. The biggest margin down the stretch would be three, a 95-92 Boston lead with 5:25 to play.
The Newlin display, the late Celtics heroics and controversial officiating decisions of Nunez and Madden were what stuck in the minds of the crowd of 7716, but what registered in Fitch's mind was the play of his bench. On a third-game-in-three-nights situation, Fitch needed help from some auxiliary personnel, and at one time or another he got a plus performance from Don Chaney, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and, of course, Carr, the gutsiest one-wristed player in the NBA. Neither stat sheet examinations nor memory- wracking can explain how they won this game, especially on the road.
But they did win. And they are 25-7. With every passing day they are beginning to feel more and more confident, and why not?
11.03.2010
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - When a team can overcome a performance like Mike Newlin's, a team must surely be good and starstruck at the same time. The Nets' backcourtman threw in a career-high, and NBA season-high, of 52 points last night, but it could not prevent the Celtics from flying home through the fog with a 115-112 overtime triumph in their possession.
The victory was Boston's third straight three-point victory in three nights, the last two on the road and the final a bizarre struggle which saw the Celtics lead by 10 points with 8:51 left in regulation, trail by five (115-110) with 1:58 remaining in overtime and succeed in forcing an overtime only when M.L. Carr capped a bizarre final 23 seconds of the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.
How Carr wound up there was a matter of debate, but this is a brief summation: Trailing, 104-102, after two Newlin foul shots with 23 seconds left (the result of a typically chintzy call by Tom Nunez), Boston appeared to be en route to deafeat when a Dave Cowens jumper bounced off the rim and out of bounds with seven seconds left.
But on the New Jersey inbounds pass from midcourt, Newlin became separated from the ball (choked, said the Nets; cleverly stripped, said the Celtics). Boston regained possession and a streaking Carr was fouled while barely in possession of the ball in the lane and was awarded two shots. "I'd like to be shooting those fouls with two good wrists," said Carr, "but this was tough."
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - When a team can overcome a performance like Mike Newlin's, a team must surely be good and starstruck at the same time. The Nets' backcourtman threw in a career-high, and NBA season-high, of 52 points last night, but it could not prevent the Celtics from flying home through the fog with a 115-112 overtime triumph in their possession.
The victory was Boston's third straight three-point victory in three nights, the last two on the road and the final a bizarre struggle which saw the Celtics lead by 10 points with 8:51 left in regulation, trail by five (115-110) with 1:58 remaining in overtime and succeed in forcing an overtime only when M.L. Carr capped a bizarre final 23 seconds of the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.
How Carr wound up there was a matter of debate, but this is a brief summation: Trailing, 104-102, after two Newlin foul shots with 23 seconds left (the result of a typically chintzy call by Tom Nunez), Boston appeared to be en route to deafeat when a Dave Cowens jumper bounced off the rim and out of bounds with seven seconds left.
But on the New Jersey inbounds pass from midcourt, Newlin became separated from the ball (choked, said the Nets; cleverly stripped, said the Celtics). Boston regained possession and a streaking Carr was fouled while barely in possession of the ball in the lane and was awarded two shots. "I'd like to be shooting those fouls with two good wrists," said Carr, "but this was tough."
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
CELTIC NOTEBOOK NEWLIN: RECORD'S NICE, BUT . . .
The record, to begin with, was a hollow one. Mike Newlin's 52 points was only a record by a Net player in the NBA. Julius Erving had nights like this in his sleep when he and the Nets were in the old ABA. But this was a night when Mike Newlin, who is on the all-flake team but also an excellent offensive player, pumped in a career-high 52 points, 13 more than ever scored while with the Rockets. The sad part is that it was all for naught and he will remember that also.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't even feel I was hot. I'm not a dominating kind of player. I have to get my points off the flow of the game and tonight the flow was aimed at me.
"Sure I'm happy I scored 52 points, but I wish I could squeeze some joy out of it. But we lost and that's what makes what happened tonight only disappointing."
Newlin had a fantastic night, hitting 19 of 28 shots from the floor, including a three-pointer. He shot over, around and through the Celtics almost any time he wanted and also added 13 of 15 free throws. But he also made a critical turnover with five seconds to play and he says he will remember that more than the 52 points.
"I could tell you I was fouled on that play, and I was, but that's sour grapes," said Newlin. "All that counted was that I gave up the ball and we lost. That's all that counts.
While Newlin was winning praise, Celtic veteran Chris Ford was taking a lot of good-natured ribbing, for he guarded Newlin most of the night."
"That's all right, Chris," said Cedric Maxwell. "That's why we're paying you the big money. You make big money, you get to guard the guy who can score 50 points.
Net coach Kevin Loughery was livid over the call by referee Jack Madden with two seconds left that resulted in two free throws by M.L. Carr that sent the game into overtime. Loughery said Carr should have never had three shots to make two. "You can't get a two-shot foul unless you have control of the ball. He didn't have control. The replays showed he never even touched it. We won this game. It might not show in the standings, but we won it." . . . Carr, who missed the first free throw but made the next two, said he was bothered by his sore right wrist, which was hacked again and gave him trouble. "I did touch the ball. I went right up as soon as I did and that's why I got the foul. I'm sure the Celtics might have wanted somebody else on the line, but it turned out to be me. I'm not afraid of a challenge. Even after I'd missed the first one, once I made the second I knew I'd make the third."
CELTIC NOTEBOOK NEWLIN: RECORD'S NICE, BUT . . .
The record, to begin with, was a hollow one. Mike Newlin's 52 points was only a record by a Net player in the NBA. Julius Erving had nights like this in his sleep when he and the Nets were in the old ABA. But this was a night when Mike Newlin, who is on the all-flake team but also an excellent offensive player, pumped in a career-high 52 points, 13 more than ever scored while with the Rockets. The sad part is that it was all for naught and he will remember that also.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't even feel I was hot. I'm not a dominating kind of player. I have to get my points off the flow of the game and tonight the flow was aimed at me.
"Sure I'm happy I scored 52 points, but I wish I could squeeze some joy out of it. But we lost and that's what makes what happened tonight only disappointing."
Newlin had a fantastic night, hitting 19 of 28 shots from the floor, including a three-pointer. He shot over, around and through the Celtics almost any time he wanted and also added 13 of 15 free throws. But he also made a critical turnover with five seconds to play and he says he will remember that more than the 52 points.
"I could tell you I was fouled on that play, and I was, but that's sour grapes," said Newlin. "All that counted was that I gave up the ball and we lost. That's all that counts.
While Newlin was winning praise, Celtic veteran Chris Ford was taking a lot of good-natured ribbing, for he guarded Newlin most of the night."
"That's all right, Chris," said Cedric Maxwell. "That's why we're paying you the big money. You make big money, you get to guard the guy who can score 50 points.
Net coach Kevin Loughery was livid over the call by referee Jack Madden with two seconds left that resulted in two free throws by M.L. Carr that sent the game into overtime. Loughery said Carr should have never had three shots to make two. "You can't get a two-shot foul unless you have control of the ball. He didn't have control. The replays showed he never even touched it. We won this game. It might not show in the standings, but we won it." . . . Carr, who missed the first free throw but made the next two, said he was bothered by his sore right wrist, which was hacked again and gave him trouble. "I did touch the ball. I went right up as soon as I did and that's why I got the foul. I'm sure the Celtics might have wanted somebody else on the line, but it turned out to be me. I'm not afraid of a challenge. Even after I'd missed the first one, once I made the second I knew I'd make the third."
Bird's Rookie Year: December 17, 1979
December 17, 1979
CELTICS SAVE BEST FOR LAST
The look was one of envy. Phil Jackson, the Nets' assistant coach, understood what the transformation of the Celtics really means. He knows the feeling very well.
"We had it when I was with the Knicks," said Jackson, attempting to explain just how the Celtics had somehow accomplished the impossible and somehow had pulled out a 115-112 victory over New Jersey last night.
"It's a feeling that no matter what happens, if the game is within six points in the final two minutes, you're going to win.
"We used to say You can have the first 46. The last two minutes in a close game belong to us.' People don't understand how many games are won in that period. Why do you think that it sometimes takes a half hour to play it. We (the Nets) are a young team. The Celtics have veterans who have been there. They control the three-second area and leave you nothing but jump shots. You don't win in the last two minutes on jump shots."
Truer words were never spoken, especially when you consider that last night the Celtics won their third straight last-minute thriller, second in a row on the road, and more and more are displaying the kind of confidence that comes only from winning,
"We truly believe," said Chris Ford, one of the miracle workers whose three-point goal with 1:23 left in overtime started the Celtics on a rally that carried them from a five-point deficit (112-105) to the win. "You can call it confidence. But we really believe we're in every game until the final buzzer has sounded. We were down five points and we knew we had to make it up in a hurry. I wasn't looking for a three-pointer. Tiny made a steal and I just stepped back over the other side of the line."
Last night the Celtics were more than just a team in first place in the Atlantic Division. They have now won five in a row, the last three of which have come on the road, and they were a nine-man unit led by a coach in Bill Fitch who acted as if were were playing chess - moving his bishops and knights and yet adding a rook whenever he felt the need. Whatever the situation, he had the right five men on the floor.
"It wasn't a question of the best five men," said Fitch. "I had the best five men for the situation."
In the final two minutes of both regulation and overtime, Fitch interchanged guards and forwards similiar to Dean Smith of North Carolina, working a two-platoon system. Tiny Archibald, Chris Ford and Larry Bird were on the floor each time the Celtics went on offense. Gerald Henderson, Don Chaney or M.L. Carr were in there for defense.
"We played three games in three nights," said Fitch, "and so did the Nets. But they chose to go with fewers players (eight) then we did, and I think the strength of our bench paid off. They played much better against us than last Wednesday in Boston, and Mike Newlin was fantastic. It was quite a show."
But one-man shows seldom win basketball games, Fitch added.
"The things you work on in training camp pay off for you on a night like this. It's back to the two-minute drill. You don't have many time outs. You have to move players in and out. But we went out and earned what we got tonight."
The Nets, of course, might argue that they deserved to win. They got a brilliant 52-point effort from Newlin, high in the NBA this year. But, at the end, it was Newlin who wound up as the goat. He had the ball stolen from him with five seconds left in regulation, and the Celtics turned that into two game-tying free throws by Carr. At the end of the overtime, Newlin was the prime shooter and the Celtics defensed him perfectly.
First the steal. Henderson made it when the Nets were trying to kill the final seven seconds. He stripped the ball away and tipped it to Cedric Maxwell. One pass later, Carr had the ball and a controversial foul which netted him two free throws.
"All I know is that we were behind and we had to get the ball some kind of way," said Henderson. The situation didn't look good, but luckily he (Newlin) put the ball on the floor. There were men open underneath the basket but he put the ball on the floor. That's the only way we could have gotten it,"
The Celtics had outside shooting. Ford's third three-pointer of the night had indeed turned the tide in the overtime and brought the Celtics to within two points at 112-110. But it was a thrust up the middle by Archibald with 36 seconds left that put the nail in the coffin for the Nets, who simply forgot about his ability to move into high gear in an instant.
"But I saw an opening," said Archibald, "and I just took it. Everybody else had been contributing, but I hadn't had a very good night until then. I got a step and went for the layup or a foul. I didn't think the ball was going to go through because they have shot blockers and I had to put it up so high on the glass, but I wound up with the basket and a foul.
"Newlin got his two points, but you can't worry about that. Somebody is always going to hurt you. We got hurt Friday night and Saturday night by one player but everybody else did their job and we won the game. That's all that counts."
The Celtics continue to show that they are more of a team that anyone is willing to give them credit for. "It all goes back to what this team is made of," said Carr. "It has a tremendous amount of character. We believe in each other. We believe."
CELTICS SAVE BEST FOR LAST
The look was one of envy. Phil Jackson, the Nets' assistant coach, understood what the transformation of the Celtics really means. He knows the feeling very well.
"We had it when I was with the Knicks," said Jackson, attempting to explain just how the Celtics had somehow accomplished the impossible and somehow had pulled out a 115-112 victory over New Jersey last night.
"It's a feeling that no matter what happens, if the game is within six points in the final two minutes, you're going to win.
"We used to say You can have the first 46. The last two minutes in a close game belong to us.' People don't understand how many games are won in that period. Why do you think that it sometimes takes a half hour to play it. We (the Nets) are a young team. The Celtics have veterans who have been there. They control the three-second area and leave you nothing but jump shots. You don't win in the last two minutes on jump shots."
Truer words were never spoken, especially when you consider that last night the Celtics won their third straight last-minute thriller, second in a row on the road, and more and more are displaying the kind of confidence that comes only from winning,
"We truly believe," said Chris Ford, one of the miracle workers whose three-point goal with 1:23 left in overtime started the Celtics on a rally that carried them from a five-point deficit (112-105) to the win. "You can call it confidence. But we really believe we're in every game until the final buzzer has sounded. We were down five points and we knew we had to make it up in a hurry. I wasn't looking for a three-pointer. Tiny made a steal and I just stepped back over the other side of the line."
Last night the Celtics were more than just a team in first place in the Atlantic Division. They have now won five in a row, the last three of which have come on the road, and they were a nine-man unit led by a coach in Bill Fitch who acted as if were were playing chess - moving his bishops and knights and yet adding a rook whenever he felt the need. Whatever the situation, he had the right five men on the floor.
"It wasn't a question of the best five men," said Fitch. "I had the best five men for the situation."
In the final two minutes of both regulation and overtime, Fitch interchanged guards and forwards similiar to Dean Smith of North Carolina, working a two-platoon system. Tiny Archibald, Chris Ford and Larry Bird were on the floor each time the Celtics went on offense. Gerald Henderson, Don Chaney or M.L. Carr were in there for defense.
"We played three games in three nights," said Fitch, "and so did the Nets. But they chose to go with fewers players (eight) then we did, and I think the strength of our bench paid off. They played much better against us than last Wednesday in Boston, and Mike Newlin was fantastic. It was quite a show."
But one-man shows seldom win basketball games, Fitch added.
"The things you work on in training camp pay off for you on a night like this. It's back to the two-minute drill. You don't have many time outs. You have to move players in and out. But we went out and earned what we got tonight."
The Nets, of course, might argue that they deserved to win. They got a brilliant 52-point effort from Newlin, high in the NBA this year. But, at the end, it was Newlin who wound up as the goat. He had the ball stolen from him with five seconds left in regulation, and the Celtics turned that into two game-tying free throws by Carr. At the end of the overtime, Newlin was the prime shooter and the Celtics defensed him perfectly.
First the steal. Henderson made it when the Nets were trying to kill the final seven seconds. He stripped the ball away and tipped it to Cedric Maxwell. One pass later, Carr had the ball and a controversial foul which netted him two free throws.
"All I know is that we were behind and we had to get the ball some kind of way," said Henderson. The situation didn't look good, but luckily he (Newlin) put the ball on the floor. There were men open underneath the basket but he put the ball on the floor. That's the only way we could have gotten it,"
The Celtics had outside shooting. Ford's third three-pointer of the night had indeed turned the tide in the overtime and brought the Celtics to within two points at 112-110. But it was a thrust up the middle by Archibald with 36 seconds left that put the nail in the coffin for the Nets, who simply forgot about his ability to move into high gear in an instant.
"But I saw an opening," said Archibald, "and I just took it. Everybody else had been contributing, but I hadn't had a very good night until then. I got a step and went for the layup or a foul. I didn't think the ball was going to go through because they have shot blockers and I had to put it up so high on the glass, but I wound up with the basket and a foul.
"Newlin got his two points, but you can't worry about that. Somebody is always going to hurt you. We got hurt Friday night and Saturday night by one player but everybody else did their job and we won the game. That's all that counts."
The Celtics continue to show that they are more of a team that anyone is willing to give them credit for. "It all goes back to what this team is made of," said Carr. "It has a tremendous amount of character. We believe in each other. We believe."
Bird's Rookie Year: December 16, 1979
December 16, 1979
CELTICS STEAL ONE FROM KNICKS, 99-96
The Designated Saviour scored 31 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. The Captain again gave a demonstration of how to shoot 3 for 19 while playing otherwise fabulous basketball. The Playmaker submitted a valuable 19 points and 7 assists. And - get this - The Bench shot a collective 11 for 12. And, oh, yes, two steals in the final 23 seconds provided the star- struck Celtics with a 99-96 triumph over the amazingly self-destructive New York Knicks last night before a sellout crowd in Madison Square Garden. It was, in other words, just another routine evening in the life of the NBA's most lovable team.
What ultimately mattered were the final two New York possessions, when Ray Williams managed to turn a 96-95 Knick lead into the final score by twice losing the ball to the alert, aggressive Celtics. Steal No. 1 was a collaboration of Chris Ford, who tipped a Williams pass and M.L. (aka "One Wrist") Carr, who grabbed the loose ball. This duo had trapped Williams deep in the far corner underneath the New York basket. Carr fed the ball to Don Chaney, and The Duck, who played a superb eight minutes which included sinking two necessary long jumpers, laid the ball in with 23 seconds left for the 22d lead change in this exhausting game.
Steal No. 2 resulted when Williams, careening around in the Knick frontcourt like a runaway baby carriage, headed into the forest of green jerseys along the right baseline. Many Celtic hands went up, and Ford came out with the ball. He passed to Chaney, who was fouled in the frontcourt. He sank both, and the Celtics had only to sweat out a 30-footer by Michael Ray Richardson (it hit the rim) before beginning the celebration of their 24th victory of the season and fourth in a row. Boston also increased its Atlantic Division lead to two games over the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-96 losers to the Atlanta Hawks.
"We're just so confident right now," said Ford, whose consecutive game streak of three-pointers ended at 12, "that we always feel that somehow, some way, we can pull it out." Added Red Auerbach, "They're always scratching and clawing, and yet they keep their poise. They don't play panic basketball."
There never really were panic situations for the Celtics, only crucial ones. They trailed, for example, by a 90-84 count with 5:54 left, but Bird started Boston on the road to recovery with a stop-and-popper in the lane to make it 90-86. And it would be Bird with another very big basket, this one a three-pointer (his third of the game) from the left corner to bring the Celts within one at 92-91 with 3:57 left.
A steal and 3-on-1 layup by the invaluable Rick Robey (5 for 5 on a night when they needed everything anyone could give) put Boston ahead at 93-92, with 3:01 to play, but for the next three minutes there would be nothing but lead swapping until the 30-second mark when referee Bernie Fryer called Ford for an up-and-down violation, giving New York the ball with that 96-95 lead.
Coach Bill Fitch would have needed the proverbial dozen red roses were he to bestow a posey upon the star of the game. He could have started, perhaps, with Bird, who opened up the game by back-dooring Toby Knight so artfully that tears might have welled up in Pete Carril's eyes, and who stuck in many clutch hoops and pulled in many big rebounds before fouling out with 1:11 left (covering up for a teammate, incidentally).
Then he could have thought about Cowens, whose shooting slump (17 for 67 in three games) belies the spectacular all-around basketball he is playing. He could have selected Archibald, whose relentless pressure created problems all night long for New York. He could have gone for Chaney ("This is exactly what we hoped he'd do" - Auerbach), or any of the bench people, all of whom made their contributions.
Or he could have given it to himself, for switching up the defensive assignments in order to give New York a new look (Cowens on Larry Demic, Cedric Maxwell on Bill Cartwright, Archibald on Richardson, Ford on Williams, etc.).
And, incidentally, was there some sort of poetic justice that on the night they retire Walt Frazier's number the Knicks lose because of a guard's inablility to handle pressure? Just a thought.
CELTICS STEAL ONE FROM KNICKS, 99-96
The Designated Saviour scored 31 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. The Captain again gave a demonstration of how to shoot 3 for 19 while playing otherwise fabulous basketball. The Playmaker submitted a valuable 19 points and 7 assists. And - get this - The Bench shot a collective 11 for 12. And, oh, yes, two steals in the final 23 seconds provided the star- struck Celtics with a 99-96 triumph over the amazingly self-destructive New York Knicks last night before a sellout crowd in Madison Square Garden. It was, in other words, just another routine evening in the life of the NBA's most lovable team.
What ultimately mattered were the final two New York possessions, when Ray Williams managed to turn a 96-95 Knick lead into the final score by twice losing the ball to the alert, aggressive Celtics. Steal No. 1 was a collaboration of Chris Ford, who tipped a Williams pass and M.L. (aka "One Wrist") Carr, who grabbed the loose ball. This duo had trapped Williams deep in the far corner underneath the New York basket. Carr fed the ball to Don Chaney, and The Duck, who played a superb eight minutes which included sinking two necessary long jumpers, laid the ball in with 23 seconds left for the 22d lead change in this exhausting game.
Steal No. 2 resulted when Williams, careening around in the Knick frontcourt like a runaway baby carriage, headed into the forest of green jerseys along the right baseline. Many Celtic hands went up, and Ford came out with the ball. He passed to Chaney, who was fouled in the frontcourt. He sank both, and the Celtics had only to sweat out a 30-footer by Michael Ray Richardson (it hit the rim) before beginning the celebration of their 24th victory of the season and fourth in a row. Boston also increased its Atlantic Division lead to two games over the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-96 losers to the Atlanta Hawks.
"We're just so confident right now," said Ford, whose consecutive game streak of three-pointers ended at 12, "that we always feel that somehow, some way, we can pull it out." Added Red Auerbach, "They're always scratching and clawing, and yet they keep their poise. They don't play panic basketball."
There never really were panic situations for the Celtics, only crucial ones. They trailed, for example, by a 90-84 count with 5:54 left, but Bird started Boston on the road to recovery with a stop-and-popper in the lane to make it 90-86. And it would be Bird with another very big basket, this one a three-pointer (his third of the game) from the left corner to bring the Celts within one at 92-91 with 3:57 left.
A steal and 3-on-1 layup by the invaluable Rick Robey (5 for 5 on a night when they needed everything anyone could give) put Boston ahead at 93-92, with 3:01 to play, but for the next three minutes there would be nothing but lead swapping until the 30-second mark when referee Bernie Fryer called Ford for an up-and-down violation, giving New York the ball with that 96-95 lead.
Coach Bill Fitch would have needed the proverbial dozen red roses were he to bestow a posey upon the star of the game. He could have started, perhaps, with Bird, who opened up the game by back-dooring Toby Knight so artfully that tears might have welled up in Pete Carril's eyes, and who stuck in many clutch hoops and pulled in many big rebounds before fouling out with 1:11 left (covering up for a teammate, incidentally).
Then he could have thought about Cowens, whose shooting slump (17 for 67 in three games) belies the spectacular all-around basketball he is playing. He could have selected Archibald, whose relentless pressure created problems all night long for New York. He could have gone for Chaney ("This is exactly what we hoped he'd do" - Auerbach), or any of the bench people, all of whom made their contributions.
Or he could have given it to himself, for switching up the defensive assignments in order to give New York a new look (Cowens on Larry Demic, Cedric Maxwell on Bill Cartwright, Archibald on Richardson, Ford on Williams, etc.).
And, incidentally, was there some sort of poetic justice that on the night they retire Walt Frazier's number the Knicks lose because of a guard's inablility to handle pressure? Just a thought.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 15, 1979
December 15, 1979
CELTICS OUTLUCK BUCKS, 97-94
Chris Ford tossed in a 30-foot three-point field goal at the buzzer, lifting the Celtics to a 97-94 victory over the Milwuakee Bucks last night at the Garden.
Ford, who collected 15 points, had tied the game, 94-94, when he hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds remaining. That enabled the Celtics to nullify a Milwuakee comeback in which the Bucks erased a 15-point deficit and took a 90-86 lead with 2:26 remaining.
Cedric Maxwell led the Celtics with 27 points, and Larry Bird added 21. Marques Johnson hit a game-high 30 for Milwaukee.
Neither coach could hav been especially please about his team's play during a dismal first half. When the 24 minutes were complete, the Celtics had a 51-45 lead, but you can bet your autographed picture of Connie Simmons that Bill Fitch wasn't nominating any of his players for the Hall of Fame.
For openers, the Celtics did not get one basket on the fast break during the entire half. All they had to show for a half of play were three free throws, one by Nate Archibald and two by Cedric Maxwell, the first
half high scorer with 15 points. They only misfired or threw the ball away six times, which indicates how well the Bucks defensed the break.
So how did Boston manage to accumulate its lead? Simple. No matter what Boston did, the Bucks were able to do it worse. A Boston turnover would be followed by a Milwaukee shot bouncing over the backboard, an offensive fould, or some such abomination. The Bucks were truly wretched in this half so trailing by six really wasn't so bad fromt heir standpoint.
CELTICS OUTLUCK BUCKS, 97-94
Chris Ford tossed in a 30-foot three-point field goal at the buzzer, lifting the Celtics to a 97-94 victory over the Milwuakee Bucks last night at the Garden.
Ford, who collected 15 points, had tied the game, 94-94, when he hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds remaining. That enabled the Celtics to nullify a Milwuakee comeback in which the Bucks erased a 15-point deficit and took a 90-86 lead with 2:26 remaining.
Cedric Maxwell led the Celtics with 27 points, and Larry Bird added 21. Marques Johnson hit a game-high 30 for Milwaukee.
Neither coach could hav been especially please about his team's play during a dismal first half. When the 24 minutes were complete, the Celtics had a 51-45 lead, but you can bet your autographed picture of Connie Simmons that Bill Fitch wasn't nominating any of his players for the Hall of Fame.
For openers, the Celtics did not get one basket on the fast break during the entire half. All they had to show for a half of play were three free throws, one by Nate Archibald and two by Cedric Maxwell, the first
half high scorer with 15 points. They only misfired or threw the ball away six times, which indicates how well the Bucks defensed the break.
So how did Boston manage to accumulate its lead? Simple. No matter what Boston did, the Bucks were able to do it worse. A Boston turnover would be followed by a Milwaukee shot bouncing over the backboard, an offensive fould, or some such abomination. The Bucks were truly wretched in this half so trailing by six really wasn't so bad fromt heir standpoint.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 15 1979
December 15, 1979
Nothing to it, really. Just bang, whack and smack with the Bucks for 47 minutes and 57 seconds. Then take the ball out of bounds at midcourt and get it to Chris (The Mad Bomber) Ford so he can bounce the ball a couple of times and let fly with a 25-foot running one-hander which banks in cleanly at the buzzer to pull out a 97-94 Celtic victory. Doesn't every team beat Milwaukee that way?
What's that? It couldn't have happened, you say? Chris Ford had already hit at least one three-pointer in 11 straight games? You say there is no way he could have been the hero again, that having defeated Atlanta, Denver and Detroit with three-pointers means he had already used up his quota of ICBM heroics until at least 1987?
Guess again. Whatever it is that Kathy Ford is feeding her husband may soon become the Celtics' diet staple.
How off the wall was this game-winning shot? Hey, Don Nelson, you tell them: "I'd say he'd make two out of a hundred of those running, leaning whatever it was. When things go bad, you end up in that two percentile, I guess. And when they're hot, that's the way the breaks happen." Incidentally, Nellie was reasonably coherent for the coach of an essentially good team which had just lost its sixth game in a row, and second to Boston in a week. Maybe it's because, as Brian Winters said, "We got back to where we want to be tonight."
Of course, where they really want to be is in the victory column, and that Boston got there first - and took a one-game lead over Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division - was the result of many factors, of which Ford's astounding shot was merely one. There was, for example, the matter of Boston's end-of-the-game defense.
With 1:34 remaining, Milwaukee was holding a 92-90 lead after Nate Archibald snaked in a beautiful righthanded drive. Extreme Celtic defensive pressure trapped Quinn Buckner along the right baseline, and he wisely called time out with seven seconds remaining on the shot clock. When play resumed, Dave Cowens absolutely swallowed up a flu-ridden Kent Benson ("the kind of pressure only Cowens can apply" - Nelson), forcing a weak pass underneath which was picked off by Larry Bird. The latter wound up driving for a missed dunk, but he was fouled. Bird sank both and the game was tied at 92-92 with 54 seconds left.
A curious Celtic press ("initiated by someone out on the floor," said Bill Fitch) was broken, and Winters stuck in a corner jumper on the transition. There were 47 seconds left. Now it was Milwaukee's turn to apply pressure, and only a fortuitous toot sent Ford to the line on a drive two seconds away from a 24-second violation. He made both shots, and the game was tied for the fourth time in the final 4:30.
Milwaukee eschewed a timeout, electing to push the ball upcourt. The Bucks worked it until Winters made his move on Ford. But Cowens switched off, meaning that the peerless Milwaukee shooter had to loft his shot over four hands. The ball hit off the rim and was knocked out of bounds. To their dying day the Bucks will swear it last touched Bird, but the ball was awarded to Boston.
"Too bad," sighed Nelson, "an error has to help decide this game. I'd like the ball with three seconds left underneath our own basket."
In truth, the teams had done much to stoke the old "If- You've-Seen-The-Last -Two-Minutes-You've-Seen-It-All" furnace. Though hard- fought, the game was very poorly executed. No amount of coaching platitudes can alter the fact that the first period - indeed the entire first half - was a mutual artistic flop. Hey, these two clubs practically worked in a turnover (18 combined) for every two shots (38) in Period One, and it wasn't because of the defense, either.
Boston grabbed its first lead at 15-14 on a driving three-pointer by Cedric Maxwell (27 points, matching a season high), and expanded it to as many as 15 in the second quarter (40-25), 13 in the third quarter (76-63) and 11 in the final period (82-71). Milwaukee stayed within range mainly due to the efforts of the estimable Marques Johnson (30), and while the Celtics were going eight minutes (10:04 to 2:09) without a field goal in the final period, the visitors forged ahead at 86-84 on a patented Johnson dunk from a Quinn Buckner lob pass. They would build the lead to 90-86 (2:26 left), but Cowens, who had missed all 10 second-half shots and who was 3-19 at the time, started the Celtics on their way back with the second biggest hoop of the night, an 18-footer from the left side.
The biggest basket, of course, was Ford's, and he deserves the final word. "I knew it wasn't going in straight," he said, "but it hit the glass and went "be-shoing' off the glass. I don't know, how do you describe it?"
Bill Fitch knows. Just call it "23 and 7." That'll do.
Nothing to it, really. Just bang, whack and smack with the Bucks for 47 minutes and 57 seconds. Then take the ball out of bounds at midcourt and get it to Chris (The Mad Bomber) Ford so he can bounce the ball a couple of times and let fly with a 25-foot running one-hander which banks in cleanly at the buzzer to pull out a 97-94 Celtic victory. Doesn't every team beat Milwaukee that way?
What's that? It couldn't have happened, you say? Chris Ford had already hit at least one three-pointer in 11 straight games? You say there is no way he could have been the hero again, that having defeated Atlanta, Denver and Detroit with three-pointers means he had already used up his quota of ICBM heroics until at least 1987?
Guess again. Whatever it is that Kathy Ford is feeding her husband may soon become the Celtics' diet staple.
How off the wall was this game-winning shot? Hey, Don Nelson, you tell them: "I'd say he'd make two out of a hundred of those running, leaning whatever it was. When things go bad, you end up in that two percentile, I guess. And when they're hot, that's the way the breaks happen." Incidentally, Nellie was reasonably coherent for the coach of an essentially good team which had just lost its sixth game in a row, and second to Boston in a week. Maybe it's because, as Brian Winters said, "We got back to where we want to be tonight."
Of course, where they really want to be is in the victory column, and that Boston got there first - and took a one-game lead over Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division - was the result of many factors, of which Ford's astounding shot was merely one. There was, for example, the matter of Boston's end-of-the-game defense.
With 1:34 remaining, Milwaukee was holding a 92-90 lead after Nate Archibald snaked in a beautiful righthanded drive. Extreme Celtic defensive pressure trapped Quinn Buckner along the right baseline, and he wisely called time out with seven seconds remaining on the shot clock. When play resumed, Dave Cowens absolutely swallowed up a flu-ridden Kent Benson ("the kind of pressure only Cowens can apply" - Nelson), forcing a weak pass underneath which was picked off by Larry Bird. The latter wound up driving for a missed dunk, but he was fouled. Bird sank both and the game was tied at 92-92 with 54 seconds left.
A curious Celtic press ("initiated by someone out on the floor," said Bill Fitch) was broken, and Winters stuck in a corner jumper on the transition. There were 47 seconds left. Now it was Milwaukee's turn to apply pressure, and only a fortuitous toot sent Ford to the line on a drive two seconds away from a 24-second violation. He made both shots, and the game was tied for the fourth time in the final 4:30.
Milwaukee eschewed a timeout, electing to push the ball upcourt. The Bucks worked it until Winters made his move on Ford. But Cowens switched off, meaning that the peerless Milwaukee shooter had to loft his shot over four hands. The ball hit off the rim and was knocked out of bounds. To their dying day the Bucks will swear it last touched Bird, but the ball was awarded to Boston.
"Too bad," sighed Nelson, "an error has to help decide this game. I'd like the ball with three seconds left underneath our own basket."
In truth, the teams had done much to stoke the old "If- You've-Seen-The-Last -Two-Minutes-You've-Seen-It-All" furnace. Though hard- fought, the game was very poorly executed. No amount of coaching platitudes can alter the fact that the first period - indeed the entire first half - was a mutual artistic flop. Hey, these two clubs practically worked in a turnover (18 combined) for every two shots (38) in Period One, and it wasn't because of the defense, either.
Boston grabbed its first lead at 15-14 on a driving three-pointer by Cedric Maxwell (27 points, matching a season high), and expanded it to as many as 15 in the second quarter (40-25), 13 in the third quarter (76-63) and 11 in the final period (82-71). Milwaukee stayed within range mainly due to the efforts of the estimable Marques Johnson (30), and while the Celtics were going eight minutes (10:04 to 2:09) without a field goal in the final period, the visitors forged ahead at 86-84 on a patented Johnson dunk from a Quinn Buckner lob pass. They would build the lead to 90-86 (2:26 left), but Cowens, who had missed all 10 second-half shots and who was 3-19 at the time, started the Celtics on their way back with the second biggest hoop of the night, an 18-footer from the left side.
The biggest basket, of course, was Ford's, and he deserves the final word. "I knew it wasn't going in straight," he said, "but it hit the glass and went "be-shoing' off the glass. I don't know, how do you describe it?"
Bill Fitch knows. Just call it "23 and 7." That'll do.
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