January 5, 1980
CELTICS KEEP THEIR COOL ON LENGTHY ROAD TRIP
This trip had been much discussed. It had not been overdramatized, but after all, since it includes the season's first excursion to the West Coast and since it comes over the Christmas holidays, the inherent danger of disaster was very real. But no matter what happens tonight when the Celtics conclude this five-game road jaunt by tangling with the San Antonio Spurs (WBZ, 8:30), the trip has gone very well.
With victories over San Diego, Golden State and Houston, the Celtics have insured a winning trip. The lone loss, to Los Angeles, was certainly the most predictable, coming in what Bill Fitch termed the glamour game. What was of great concern to Fitch was that the LA setback could be handled by his players, who may have built the necessity of beating the Lakers too much in their minds.
"If there was one game where losing could have had an effect on us," Fitch points out, "it was LA." There was a chance the egos would get out of whack and they'd lose confidence, but it didn't happen. They just thought they had played a bad game, and even though we don't know if we can beat that team, we know we can play them better than we did. We came back the next night, anyway (beating Golden State easily), and didn't allow anything to bother us.
Fitch is really elated over the fact that he got some good work out of his players on the off-days as well. "We had one practice in Houston where I had to chew them out," he said, "but they just came back the next day and worked harder. Then today (Friday) we had a very good practice. We got some things started for the future."
There have been some important individual stories, especially among the bench performers. Rick Robey had an outstanding game in Oakland, for example, and he has had other moments of aggression which have pleased his coach. M.L. Carr has recovered from his wrist sprain to make the sort of contributions which were a nightly staple back in October and November. Don Chaney has become a valued member of the cast for his great defensive ability, and Gerald Henderson has stabilized. "The best thing that happened to Gerald on the trip," claimed Fitch "was to make a couple of plays which were as intelligent as they were physical. I've never made that statement before."
That the Celtics have established the NBA's best road record (14-8) is due to such factors as mental toughness, unit poise and a propensity of fairly officiated games. They have also enjoyed better basic health than any team in the league. What's really interesting is that Fitch attributes those final two factors to something other than good fortune.
"The good health," he says,"is the result of a good training camp. Guys came to camp in shape, and we've been able to avoid those little injuries. As for the officiating, I honestly believe it's because our players don't officiate, and that's really a blessing. I've had a couple of players in the past who were constant bitchers and I've had to remind them to play the game and let me do the complaining to the officials. One thing we never do is bitch while the ball is in play. Maybe somebody will say something in a dead-ball situation, but that is it.'
Fitch has one more desire. "I want to win this one before I say it's a good trip," he said.
Funny, that's not what he was saying after losing to LA. Then he would have taken 3-2. Coaches are all alike.
About Me
Tiny Archibald Offers Up a 17-Dime Masterpiece
January 4, 1980
3-POINT STRATEGY PAYS OFF
The Celtics continue to make strategic use of the three- point field goal. They shot 4-for-6 against the Rockets from long range Wednesday night, raising their season's percentage to .384 (72-187). Chris Ford went 1-for-2 (his only field goal), as he increased his streak to 20 of 21 games where he has made one three-pointer.
The Rockets, who entered the game as one of the least productive three- point teams, shot 3-for-6 - all by Rick Barry, who stuck in three consecutive third quarter bombs in the midst of a personal 12-point run. The totals of four by Boston and three by Houston represented both new opponent and new one-game high's for Rocket games. Barry's marksmanship increased the Houston percentage on three-pointers to - ugh - .160 (18-112).
Tiny Archibald had entered the Houston game without being the league's assist leader for the first time all season. His repsonse was a 17-assist masterpiece to equal to his second-high of the season. Archibald has been in double figures in assists on 12 occasion. In those 12 games the Celtics are 12-2. One of the losses, interestingly enough,came on the first Boston visit here when Tiny had 19 assists in a 129-120 San Antonio victory.
The only other losing team effort in an Archibald double-figures-assist- game came in Philadelphia on Dec. 22. In addition, Tiny has had six other games with nine assists . . . Going back to three-pointers for a minute, Larry Bird is 10-for-16 from that range over a nine-game span. Both he and M.L. Carr backed up after receiving passes in order to get into three-point range, and each was successfull on that particular shot.
Boston is in the enviable position of resting up here while the Spurs are playing in Kansas City tonight. Tomorrow's game has been scratched from the Ch. 4 dance card, to be replaced by the March 4 encounter in the HemisFair . . . The Celtics ran for 32 fast-break points in the first half of the Houston game, but they only picked up 12 more following the intermission. One big factor in the comeback triunph over Houston was the offensive rebounding. The Celtics retained posession on four separate occasions in the final six minutes, with Cedric Maxwell being a key man. Max picked up 10 of his game- high (and personal season high) 29 points via the second-chance route. In one span of 4:10, after the Rockets had taken a 97-93 lead, Maxwell scored 12 of the next 14 Boston points.
The Celtics are 2-1 with San Antonio this season the home team having prevailed in all three games. The Spurs are very much an in-and-out team . . . Bill Fitch continued to rave about the great officiating of Jack Madden and Jess Kersey in Houston. Even with "the way those twocenters (Moses Malone and Dave Cowens) were banging each other, that game was still officiated fairly," Fitch stated. The Rockets, naturally, did not agree, since they shot 24 fewer free throws (40-16) than the visitors. But all surveyed Rockets manfuly admitted group culpability in not holding a fourth quarter lead at home . . . The next home game (and first of a seven-game homestand) will be against New York Wednesday, Jan. 9.
3-POINT STRATEGY PAYS OFF
The Celtics continue to make strategic use of the three- point field goal. They shot 4-for-6 against the Rockets from long range Wednesday night, raising their season's percentage to .384 (72-187). Chris Ford went 1-for-2 (his only field goal), as he increased his streak to 20 of 21 games where he has made one three-pointer.
The Rockets, who entered the game as one of the least productive three- point teams, shot 3-for-6 - all by Rick Barry, who stuck in three consecutive third quarter bombs in the midst of a personal 12-point run. The totals of four by Boston and three by Houston represented both new opponent and new one-game high's for Rocket games. Barry's marksmanship increased the Houston percentage on three-pointers to - ugh - .160 (18-112).
Tiny Archibald had entered the Houston game without being the league's assist leader for the first time all season. His repsonse was a 17-assist masterpiece to equal to his second-high of the season. Archibald has been in double figures in assists on 12 occasion. In those 12 games the Celtics are 12-2. One of the losses, interestingly enough,came on the first Boston visit here when Tiny had 19 assists in a 129-120 San Antonio victory.
The only other losing team effort in an Archibald double-figures-assist- game came in Philadelphia on Dec. 22. In addition, Tiny has had six other games with nine assists . . . Going back to three-pointers for a minute, Larry Bird is 10-for-16 from that range over a nine-game span. Both he and M.L. Carr backed up after receiving passes in order to get into three-point range, and each was successfull on that particular shot.
Boston is in the enviable position of resting up here while the Spurs are playing in Kansas City tonight. Tomorrow's game has been scratched from the Ch. 4 dance card, to be replaced by the March 4 encounter in the HemisFair . . . The Celtics ran for 32 fast-break points in the first half of the Houston game, but they only picked up 12 more following the intermission. One big factor in the comeback triunph over Houston was the offensive rebounding. The Celtics retained posession on four separate occasions in the final six minutes, with Cedric Maxwell being a key man. Max picked up 10 of his game- high (and personal season high) 29 points via the second-chance route. In one span of 4:10, after the Rockets had taken a 97-93 lead, Maxwell scored 12 of the next 14 Boston points.
The Celtics are 2-1 with San Antonio this season the home team having prevailed in all three games. The Spurs are very much an in-and-out team . . . Bill Fitch continued to rave about the great officiating of Jack Madden and Jess Kersey in Houston. Even with "the way those twocenters (Moses Malone and Dave Cowens) were banging each other, that game was still officiated fairly," Fitch stated. The Rockets, naturally, did not agree, since they shot 24 fewer free throws (40-16) than the visitors. But all surveyed Rockets manfuly admitted group culpability in not holding a fourth quarter lead at home . . . The next home game (and first of a seven-game homestand) will be against New York Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Bird's Rookie Year: C's Only Team Not to Lose Man Hour to Injury
January 3, 1980
CELTICS NOTEBOOK GOOD HEALTH DEFINITE PLUS
The Celtics have begun the new year in basic good health, aside from the assorted bumps and bruises that are a staple of any professional athlete's life. M.L. Carr's sprained right wrist is pretty much healed, and that has been the major injury sustained thus far.
The Celtics, in fact, are he only NBA team not to have lost a man hour through injury this season, although Carr played several games wih that wrist when it might have been feasible for him to sit out. The Rockets entered last night's game in one of their healthier states, the only missing semi-regular being John Shumate - you probably forgot he was here, anyway - who was placed on the injured list due to a bruised left thigh on Dec. 21.
The game last night matched up one of the league's two most effective three-point shooting teams (Boston) vs. one of the the league's least effective (Houston). The Celtics came in with a .376 percentage (68-181), led, of course, by Chris Ford (40-85, .471). Houston, meanwhile, had a miserable .141 percentage (15-106) . . . Rick Barry, back starting after beginning the season as a sixth man, leads the league in foul shooting (.961), having sunk an amazing 98 of 102 tries . . . Hey, has anybody noticed that since going 2-19 to start the season, that Utah Jazz were 10-8 going into last night's game against Kansas City? . . . Boston had the league's best record at home (16-1), on the road (13-8) and overall (29-9), but they left Los Angeles and the Southern California fans unconvinced after their mediocre showing in th Forum last Friday night . . . Larry Bird had led the club in rebounding 20 times in Boston's first 38 games . . . The scheduled telecast for this Saturday from San Antonio has been swapped for a game on March 4 in the same city . . . Gerald Henderson's 20-minute stint against the Warriors last Saturday night was his third longest of the season, exceeded only by a 22- minute performance on Oct. 19 against Washington and 21-minute stint on Dec. 21 against San Antonio.
Bill Fitch on Jeff Judkins, who has yet to shed his insecurities in the new regime: "Jeff may be about ready to blossom. Some night soon he may give us a night like the one (Rick) Robey had in Oakland." Robey had 18 points against Golden State last Saturday in one of his best showings of the season . . . Dave Cowens was looking for his first double-figure rebound game since Dec. 14, when he had 14 against Milwaukee. In his last eight games, Cowens has grabbed a total of 45 rebounds. But he has passed better than ever before, having accumulated 39 assists in those games for an average of just under five a game . . . The Celtics came here second in the league in home attendance (an average of 13,842). They were averaging 14,252 per game on the road and Houston officials were anticipating one of the larger Houston crowds of the season, perhaps in the neighborhood of 12,000. They drew 11,365 their first time here, back on Oct. 25.
CELTICS NOTEBOOK GOOD HEALTH DEFINITE PLUS
The Celtics have begun the new year in basic good health, aside from the assorted bumps and bruises that are a staple of any professional athlete's life. M.L. Carr's sprained right wrist is pretty much healed, and that has been the major injury sustained thus far.
The Celtics, in fact, are he only NBA team not to have lost a man hour through injury this season, although Carr played several games wih that wrist when it might have been feasible for him to sit out. The Rockets entered last night's game in one of their healthier states, the only missing semi-regular being John Shumate - you probably forgot he was here, anyway - who was placed on the injured list due to a bruised left thigh on Dec. 21.
The game last night matched up one of the league's two most effective three-point shooting teams (Boston) vs. one of the the league's least effective (Houston). The Celtics came in with a .376 percentage (68-181), led, of course, by Chris Ford (40-85, .471). Houston, meanwhile, had a miserable .141 percentage (15-106) . . . Rick Barry, back starting after beginning the season as a sixth man, leads the league in foul shooting (.961), having sunk an amazing 98 of 102 tries . . . Hey, has anybody noticed that since going 2-19 to start the season, that Utah Jazz were 10-8 going into last night's game against Kansas City? . . . Boston had the league's best record at home (16-1), on the road (13-8) and overall (29-9), but they left Los Angeles and the Southern California fans unconvinced after their mediocre showing in th Forum last Friday night . . . Larry Bird had led the club in rebounding 20 times in Boston's first 38 games . . . The scheduled telecast for this Saturday from San Antonio has been swapped for a game on March 4 in the same city . . . Gerald Henderson's 20-minute stint against the Warriors last Saturday night was his third longest of the season, exceeded only by a 22- minute performance on Oct. 19 against Washington and 21-minute stint on Dec. 21 against San Antonio.
Bill Fitch on Jeff Judkins, who has yet to shed his insecurities in the new regime: "Jeff may be about ready to blossom. Some night soon he may give us a night like the one (Rick) Robey had in Oakland." Robey had 18 points against Golden State last Saturday in one of his best showings of the season . . . Dave Cowens was looking for his first double-figure rebound game since Dec. 14, when he had 14 against Milwaukee. In his last eight games, Cowens has grabbed a total of 45 rebounds. But he has passed better than ever before, having accumulated 39 assists in those games for an average of just under five a game . . . The Celtics came here second in the league in home attendance (an average of 13,842). They were averaging 14,252 per game on the road and Houston officials were anticipating one of the larger Houston crowds of the season, perhaps in the neighborhood of 12,000. They drew 11,365 their first time here, back on Oct. 25.
Bird's Rookie Year: Celtics Close Game with 10-0 Run
January 3, 1980
HOUSTON
Ho-hum. Another night, another stirring Celtic road triumph. Another clutch performer. After all, why should this year be any different than the one before it?
The Celtics scored the last 10 points in the game after having blown a 12- point second-quarter lead and a nine-point third-quarter lead - and they did this after having fallen behind by seven points (95-88) with 6:42 remaining - to defeat the Houston Rockets, 111-103, last night. The Celtics rallied behind some superb team defense, some fantastic fourth-quarter play by Cedric Maxwell (who scored 12 of his game-high 29 points in the final 4:56) and some of the basic poise they have demonstrated on the road all season.
The defense played by the Celtics during the final three minutes was truly exceptional. Trailing, 103-101, they forced successive 24-second violations, followed by a wild Rick Barry three-point heave. And in a sweet homecoming touch, the basket which cemented the triumph was a 20-foot jumper by University of Houston grad Don Chaney, whose swisher with 17 seconds to play gave the Celts an insurmountable 109-103 lead. And the Duck even got to bang in the final nail with a press-beating layup at the buzzer.
A late Celtic flurry temporarily stilled a Rocket thrust which had reduced a one-time 12-point lead to one, and the Celtics left with a 61-54 halftime edge.
The Celtics had gone up, 37-25, with 9:59 remaining in the half, but they were only able to manage one field goal in the next 6:56 - a corner jumper by M.L. Carr at 7:47 - and the Rockets, a listless club in the first 15 minutes, sprang to life behind the underneath aggression of Moses Malone and the backcourt excitement of rookie Allan Leavell.
Malone re-entered the game at that minus-12 juncture after having suffered through a 1-for-8 first period. His presence seemed to inspire the Rockets to play harder than they had been doing, and before too long the steals and second-chance shots which formerly had been the exclusive property of the Celtics in this wild game suddenly had become the weapons of the home team.
A run of seven straight Houston points first reduced the deficit to five at 37-32, but the Celts boosted it back to nine on Carr's fast-break basket and a pair of Tiny Archibald fast-break free throws, two of his 15 first-half points (to go with eight assists and seven steals). But Houston kept plugging, until successive Boston turnovers led to fast-break baskets by Calvin Murphy and Leavell, the exceptionally quick guard out of Oklahoma City. At this point, Celtic coach Bill Fitch called a timeout, and shortly thereafter, Larry Bird, a curiously reluctant shooter in the first half (and an overpasser to the detriment of both himself and the team on occasion), rebounded a three- point miss of Chris Ford's for the first Boston basket in 4:43.
It was Bird who provided the Celtics with a little daylight, and some momentum of their own, when, with the score holding at 51-48, he deftly dribbled backward on a fast break and swished a three-pointer from the right flank at the 2:04 mark. Malone answered with a beautiful fake-right-and-spin- left move on Rick Robey (playing at the time because Dave Cowens had three personals). But Ford, the erstwhile Christopher Longshot, stuck in a three- pointer from the left on Boston's next possession for his first basket of the game, a shot which extended his amazing long-range streak to at least one three-pointer in 20 of his last 21 games.
The Celtics had a chance to go ahead by nine at the half when Robey made a nice lefty flip with 16 seconds to go, but Leavell beat Ford with three seconds left on a nice swooping drive to create the halftime score of 61-54.
That Boston only led by eight (29-21) at the end of one quarter was frustrating, because the Rockets had only connected on 9 of 32 first-period shots and had contributed nonexistent offense-to-defense transition on top of that miserable offense.
HOUSTON
Ho-hum. Another night, another stirring Celtic road triumph. Another clutch performer. After all, why should this year be any different than the one before it?
The Celtics scored the last 10 points in the game after having blown a 12- point second-quarter lead and a nine-point third-quarter lead - and they did this after having fallen behind by seven points (95-88) with 6:42 remaining - to defeat the Houston Rockets, 111-103, last night. The Celtics rallied behind some superb team defense, some fantastic fourth-quarter play by Cedric Maxwell (who scored 12 of his game-high 29 points in the final 4:56) and some of the basic poise they have demonstrated on the road all season.
The defense played by the Celtics during the final three minutes was truly exceptional. Trailing, 103-101, they forced successive 24-second violations, followed by a wild Rick Barry three-point heave. And in a sweet homecoming touch, the basket which cemented the triumph was a 20-foot jumper by University of Houston grad Don Chaney, whose swisher with 17 seconds to play gave the Celts an insurmountable 109-103 lead. And the Duck even got to bang in the final nail with a press-beating layup at the buzzer.
A late Celtic flurry temporarily stilled a Rocket thrust which had reduced a one-time 12-point lead to one, and the Celtics left with a 61-54 halftime edge.
The Celtics had gone up, 37-25, with 9:59 remaining in the half, but they were only able to manage one field goal in the next 6:56 - a corner jumper by M.L. Carr at 7:47 - and the Rockets, a listless club in the first 15 minutes, sprang to life behind the underneath aggression of Moses Malone and the backcourt excitement of rookie Allan Leavell.
Malone re-entered the game at that minus-12 juncture after having suffered through a 1-for-8 first period. His presence seemed to inspire the Rockets to play harder than they had been doing, and before too long the steals and second-chance shots which formerly had been the exclusive property of the Celtics in this wild game suddenly had become the weapons of the home team.
A run of seven straight Houston points first reduced the deficit to five at 37-32, but the Celts boosted it back to nine on Carr's fast-break basket and a pair of Tiny Archibald fast-break free throws, two of his 15 first-half points (to go with eight assists and seven steals). But Houston kept plugging, until successive Boston turnovers led to fast-break baskets by Calvin Murphy and Leavell, the exceptionally quick guard out of Oklahoma City. At this point, Celtic coach Bill Fitch called a timeout, and shortly thereafter, Larry Bird, a curiously reluctant shooter in the first half (and an overpasser to the detriment of both himself and the team on occasion), rebounded a three- point miss of Chris Ford's for the first Boston basket in 4:43.
It was Bird who provided the Celtics with a little daylight, and some momentum of their own, when, with the score holding at 51-48, he deftly dribbled backward on a fast break and swished a three-pointer from the right flank at the 2:04 mark. Malone answered with a beautiful fake-right-and-spin- left move on Rick Robey (playing at the time because Dave Cowens had three personals). But Ford, the erstwhile Christopher Longshot, stuck in a three- pointer from the left on Boston's next possession for his first basket of the game, a shot which extended his amazing long-range streak to at least one three-pointer in 20 of his last 21 games.
The Celtics had a chance to go ahead by nine at the half when Robey made a nice lefty flip with 16 seconds to go, but Leavell beat Ford with three seconds left on a nice swooping drive to create the halftime score of 61-54.
That Boston only led by eight (29-21) at the end of one quarter was frustrating, because the Rockets had only connected on 9 of 32 first-period shots and had contributed nonexistent offense-to-defense transition on top of that miserable offense.
Bird's Rookie Year: Celtics Overcome Barrage of Rick Barry Threes
January 3, 1980
CELTICS RALLY - AGAIN
You know how good this one was? Bill Fitch even liked it. Since he usually analyzes each Celtic performance with all the humor of your friendly IRS man in the midst of an audit (". . . Now, about this deduction for your trip to Disney World"), that tells you all you need to know about triumph No. 30 and road triumph No. 14 in this increasingly enjoyable Celtic season.
The Celtics trailed by 10 points late in the third quarter, the result of an 18-1 Rocket spurt keyed by three consecutive Rick Barry three-pointers. They still trailed by seven, 95-88, with 6:42 left, which, obviously, is no big deal in this league. But what set this 111-103 victory over the Rockets apart from some others the Celtics have had was the total two-way execution in the game's final four minutes.
Because, in order to pull this one out, the Celtics scored the game's final 10 points, beginning with a Dave Cowens 20-foot clock jumper from the right side which tied the game at 103-103 with 2:47 to play. In one masterful minute of defense, the Celtics forced successive Houston 24-second violations and then made them really count by scoring at the other end. And when more tremendous team defense by the quintet of Dave Cowens, Cedric Maxwell, M.L. Carr, Tiny Archibald and - isn't this great? - Don Chaney forced Barry into a wild three-point heave in order to beat another 24-second buzzer, Chaney put the game away by (a) grabbing a traffic defensive rebound and (b) calmly sticking in an open 20-footer with 17 seconds left to give Boston an insurmountable 109-103 lead.
There was a lot of Boston locker-room comment afterward about the Houston offensive approach down the stretch, because in their final four possessions, the home team had two 24-second violations and two three-point misses. "It seemed like they were going to the three-point area," said Archibald, who snaked around for 17 assists. "It's like they forgot they had Moses (Malone) and we had a center (Dave Cowens) with five fouls. I mean, if you're watching the score and the fouls, you've got to go inside."
In fact, however, that's exactly what the Rockets were trying to do. "We were trying to get the ball into Moses," explained Barry, "but Dave was draped all over him, and they weren't about to call his sixth. Dave worked his tail off on the overplay. Most centers with five fouls won't play that way. Dave figured he wasn't going to win any other way. And he wouldn't let us have the lane, either." Playing good defense was only half the story, because the corollary was that the Celtics needed offense. Thus, when the Celtics came up with 24-second violation No. 1 at 2:20 (103-all), a Maxwell followup of a Chaney miss (all this after a loose-ball foul on rookie Allan Leavell had given the Rockets one reprieve) gave Boston its first lead since 76-73. The result of 24-second violation No. 2, at 1:18, was a baseline foul of Maxwell (who scored 12 points in the final 4:56) by Rudy Tomjanovich. Max dropped them both in for a 107-103 lead.
Needing a score desperately, the Rockets still were unable to run an offense, and Barry did well to get off a long bomb, which was rebounded by Chaney. The Celtics ran a pick-down for Carr, with Chaney stationed on the right wing and Maxwell setting up shop underneath. They were prepared to live with Chaney as the open man, and the Duck obliged with a 20-footer. "That was our defensive team," said a beaming Fitch, "but their offensive execution was also very good."
The Celtics had gotten off to a great start when a strong defensive effort by the first five ignited a 15-point fast-break attack (all on layups and free throws, not jumpers) and propelled them into a 29-21 one-quarter lead. From then on, the game was a wild exchange of offensive thrusts, with Boston leading by 12 (37-25) and nine (63-54), and Houston leading by 10 (86-76) after that 18-1 blast sparked by Barry's sensational bombing. But a key Fitch substitution paid immediate dividends late in the third quarter. Fitch inserted Gerald Henderson for a temporarily tiring Archibald, and the rookie blocked a Calvin Murphy jumper, leading to a gorgeous running hook off the break by Larry Bird (20, including two three-pointers), a basket that pulled the Celtics within five (87-82) after three quarters.
What transpired surprised neither the victors, whose road confidence is enormous, nor the vanquished, whose fatalism is notorious. "We made mistakes," Barry said with a sigh, "but they went out and executed. You can only ask for breaks. Then you must do something with them. The Celtics did."
"This is what we preached at training camp," said Fitch. "Be tough mentally on the road, and the pressure will fall on the home team. Tonight was an example."
And Happy New Year to you, too, Bill.
CELTICS RALLY - AGAIN
You know how good this one was? Bill Fitch even liked it. Since he usually analyzes each Celtic performance with all the humor of your friendly IRS man in the midst of an audit (". . . Now, about this deduction for your trip to Disney World"), that tells you all you need to know about triumph No. 30 and road triumph No. 14 in this increasingly enjoyable Celtic season.
The Celtics trailed by 10 points late in the third quarter, the result of an 18-1 Rocket spurt keyed by three consecutive Rick Barry three-pointers. They still trailed by seven, 95-88, with 6:42 left, which, obviously, is no big deal in this league. But what set this 111-103 victory over the Rockets apart from some others the Celtics have had was the total two-way execution in the game's final four minutes.
Because, in order to pull this one out, the Celtics scored the game's final 10 points, beginning with a Dave Cowens 20-foot clock jumper from the right side which tied the game at 103-103 with 2:47 to play. In one masterful minute of defense, the Celtics forced successive Houston 24-second violations and then made them really count by scoring at the other end. And when more tremendous team defense by the quintet of Dave Cowens, Cedric Maxwell, M.L. Carr, Tiny Archibald and - isn't this great? - Don Chaney forced Barry into a wild three-point heave in order to beat another 24-second buzzer, Chaney put the game away by (a) grabbing a traffic defensive rebound and (b) calmly sticking in an open 20-footer with 17 seconds left to give Boston an insurmountable 109-103 lead.
There was a lot of Boston locker-room comment afterward about the Houston offensive approach down the stretch, because in their final four possessions, the home team had two 24-second violations and two three-point misses. "It seemed like they were going to the three-point area," said Archibald, who snaked around for 17 assists. "It's like they forgot they had Moses (Malone) and we had a center (Dave Cowens) with five fouls. I mean, if you're watching the score and the fouls, you've got to go inside."
In fact, however, that's exactly what the Rockets were trying to do. "We were trying to get the ball into Moses," explained Barry, "but Dave was draped all over him, and they weren't about to call his sixth. Dave worked his tail off on the overplay. Most centers with five fouls won't play that way. Dave figured he wasn't going to win any other way. And he wouldn't let us have the lane, either." Playing good defense was only half the story, because the corollary was that the Celtics needed offense. Thus, when the Celtics came up with 24-second violation No. 1 at 2:20 (103-all), a Maxwell followup of a Chaney miss (all this after a loose-ball foul on rookie Allan Leavell had given the Rockets one reprieve) gave Boston its first lead since 76-73. The result of 24-second violation No. 2, at 1:18, was a baseline foul of Maxwell (who scored 12 points in the final 4:56) by Rudy Tomjanovich. Max dropped them both in for a 107-103 lead.
Needing a score desperately, the Rockets still were unable to run an offense, and Barry did well to get off a long bomb, which was rebounded by Chaney. The Celtics ran a pick-down for Carr, with Chaney stationed on the right wing and Maxwell setting up shop underneath. They were prepared to live with Chaney as the open man, and the Duck obliged with a 20-footer. "That was our defensive team," said a beaming Fitch, "but their offensive execution was also very good."
The Celtics had gotten off to a great start when a strong defensive effort by the first five ignited a 15-point fast-break attack (all on layups and free throws, not jumpers) and propelled them into a 29-21 one-quarter lead. From then on, the game was a wild exchange of offensive thrusts, with Boston leading by 12 (37-25) and nine (63-54), and Houston leading by 10 (86-76) after that 18-1 blast sparked by Barry's sensational bombing. But a key Fitch substitution paid immediate dividends late in the third quarter. Fitch inserted Gerald Henderson for a temporarily tiring Archibald, and the rookie blocked a Calvin Murphy jumper, leading to a gorgeous running hook off the break by Larry Bird (20, including two three-pointers), a basket that pulled the Celtics within five (87-82) after three quarters.
What transpired surprised neither the victors, whose road confidence is enormous, nor the vanquished, whose fatalism is notorious. "We made mistakes," Barry said with a sigh, "but they went out and executed. You can only ask for breaks. Then you must do something with them. The Celtics did."
"This is what we preached at training camp," said Fitch. "Be tough mentally on the road, and the pressure will fall on the home team. Tonight was an example."
And Happy New Year to you, too, Bill.
Bird's Rookie Year: Celtics Give Elvin Hayes Something to Think About
December 31, 1979
Hey, Elvin Hayes, what have you to say now?
Way back before the 10th game of the season, Hayes sneered at the idea that the Celtics were back. "Come and see me when they win 29," was his appraisal of the Boston entry. And now they have. Saturday night's 104-88 victory over the sad Golden State Warriors was indeed Boston's 29th of the new season, and it was accomplished before the halfway point in the season. Hell, it was accomplished before New Year's Day.
Triumph No. 29 was not a particularly artistic achievement, but it did have a couple of redeeming qualities. For one thing, it could not have been won without the superb bench contributions of Rick Robey (a season-high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting), M.L. Carr (14 points, including the single most important basket of the evening) and Gerald Henderson (eight points and steady play in 20 minutes of playing time).
These nonregulars enabled the Celtics to win despite 43 percent team shooting, a poor performance that owed much to the poor shooting of Dave Cowens (7 for 21) and Larry Bird (5 for 18). "The bench," admitted Bill Fitch, who is not the quickest man with a compliment for his players, "was a godsend."
A second factor worth noting is Boston's innate ability to come up with the key play, or, at least, to do what is necessary to win. It was evident at halftime (47-47) that the game would be won with a spurt of some kind, and so it was as a seven-point blitz in one 37-second span turned things around.
When Robert Parish (28 points on 11-for-19 shooting) laid in a back-door lob pass with 8:28 remaining, the Warriors, who had trailed by nine points (75-66) a minute earlier, had pulled to 75-70. But Carr swished a three- pointer 13 seconds later to trigger the big spurt. When the Warriors committed an in-bounds violation, Carr fed Larry Bird (16 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists) for a corner jumper. Henderson then made Golden State pay for a missed shot by hitting on a jumper from the lane. Now it was 82-70.
"The next couple of minutes were key," said Fitch. "When they played their best ball, we answered them, and that's what you've got to do on the road." Indeed, the Warriors began running their offense well, but every Golden State basket was answered by a Boston hoop, with the hustling Robey scoring eight straight Celtic points on a fast-break layup, two free throws resulting from the offensive rebound of his only miss, a jump hook and another fast- break layup. With 4:02 left, it was 90-78, and Golden State's spirit was broken.
Now the Celtics can relax awhile and enjoy their New Year's before resuming action in Houston on Wednesday night. Their record is 29-9. Last year's final record was 29-53. "We all knew we'd win 29," said Fitch. "What I would like to remember is that we won our last game of '79. Our next goal is to win our last game of the entire season. Then I'll be happy."
Hey, Elvin Hayes, what have you to say now?
Way back before the 10th game of the season, Hayes sneered at the idea that the Celtics were back. "Come and see me when they win 29," was his appraisal of the Boston entry. And now they have. Saturday night's 104-88 victory over the sad Golden State Warriors was indeed Boston's 29th of the new season, and it was accomplished before the halfway point in the season. Hell, it was accomplished before New Year's Day.
Triumph No. 29 was not a particularly artistic achievement, but it did have a couple of redeeming qualities. For one thing, it could not have been won without the superb bench contributions of Rick Robey (a season-high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting), M.L. Carr (14 points, including the single most important basket of the evening) and Gerald Henderson (eight points and steady play in 20 minutes of playing time).
These nonregulars enabled the Celtics to win despite 43 percent team shooting, a poor performance that owed much to the poor shooting of Dave Cowens (7 for 21) and Larry Bird (5 for 18). "The bench," admitted Bill Fitch, who is not the quickest man with a compliment for his players, "was a godsend."
A second factor worth noting is Boston's innate ability to come up with the key play, or, at least, to do what is necessary to win. It was evident at halftime (47-47) that the game would be won with a spurt of some kind, and so it was as a seven-point blitz in one 37-second span turned things around.
When Robert Parish (28 points on 11-for-19 shooting) laid in a back-door lob pass with 8:28 remaining, the Warriors, who had trailed by nine points (75-66) a minute earlier, had pulled to 75-70. But Carr swished a three- pointer 13 seconds later to trigger the big spurt. When the Warriors committed an in-bounds violation, Carr fed Larry Bird (16 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists) for a corner jumper. Henderson then made Golden State pay for a missed shot by hitting on a jumper from the lane. Now it was 82-70.
"The next couple of minutes were key," said Fitch. "When they played their best ball, we answered them, and that's what you've got to do on the road." Indeed, the Warriors began running their offense well, but every Golden State basket was answered by a Boston hoop, with the hustling Robey scoring eight straight Celtic points on a fast-break layup, two free throws resulting from the offensive rebound of his only miss, a jump hook and another fast- break layup. With 4:02 left, it was 90-78, and Golden State's spirit was broken.
Now the Celtics can relax awhile and enjoy their New Year's before resuming action in Houston on Wednesday night. Their record is 29-9. Last year's final record was 29-53. "We all knew we'd win 29," said Fitch. "What I would like to remember is that we won our last game of '79. Our next goal is to win our last game of the entire season. Then I'll be happy."
Bird's Rookie Year: Marvin Barnes Returns to Beantown
December 30, 1979
The grin was the same. The carriage was the same. The clothing was the same (a black Marryin' Sam Frock coat). There was no mistaking the large man who walked into the Celtics' locker room Thursday to extend his best wishes. It was the inimitable Marvin Barnes.
He is now living in the Pacific Heights section of San Diego, where he has embraced vegeterianism in the midst of yet another comeback attempt. Responding to a query about his creaky knees, he executed a deep-knee bend. He says he will have another tryout with the Clippers in January or February. About his Celtic experience, "I wasn't treated unfairly by the Celtics. I treated myself unfairly. If I had been the coach, I would have cut me, too." Marvin professed admiration for the Celtics ("they're the best team") and he said of Larry Bird, "Isn't he a great player?" But then Marvin did understand what was right and not right about the game of basketball. It's himself he's had trouble understanding.
And to answer your next question, the date is Jan. 20. That's when the coach of the respective All-Star teams will be selected. The coach in each conference whose team has the best record after games of Sunday, Jan. 20 will be accorded the honor.What's interesting is that two prime candidates, Lenny Wilkens and Bill Fitch, will be going at it in the Boston Garden that very day . . . Knick general manager Eddie Donovan on the attitude difference between a winning team and a losing team: "On a winning team guys say to themselves in the fourth quarter, "I wonder who's going to win it for us tonight?" On a losing team, they say, I wonder who's going to screw it up for us tonight?" . . . Nobody, but nobody gives Cedric Maxwell more trouble than Caldwell Jones, the 7-foot Philadelphia center-forward monster. He sent back the first five Maxwell shots last Saturday night (but goaltending was called on the fifth), and he simply negates Maxwell's inside game more than anyone. None of this surprises the 76ers. "He does a better job on Moses Malone than anybody else in the league," submits Sixer assistant coach Chuck Daly. When he wants to play, he's as good a defensive player as anybody in the league. Who knows? In the playoffs, we might put him on Bird." Says Maxwell, "Caldwell is a super defensive player. Every time I have a good game against him, I consider it a major accomplishment. When you're talking about a man playing inside who is giving up three inches to him you're talking about a tough task."
A favorite Celtic pastime is watching for the Detroit score in the morning paper. It's almost incomprehensible that the Pistons could have turned out quite this badly, given the basic raw talent on the club. But the Bob McAdoo- Bob Lanier marriage has been as unproductive on the court as it has been cordial off it, and the team still lacks a floor leader. Not only is ex-UCLA star Roy Hamilton not a starter, but it's also possible he barely belongs in the league. And he was made the No. 10 pick in the country by Dick Vitale . . . Bill Fitch is more in love with the prospect of having such draft parlays as 1-l0 or 2-11 every day. He does not want to part with that Washington pick for a veteran guard, and there have been chances . . . Remember that the Celtics are supposed to be on a building program. Shooting the wad this year might be unwise. After all, Larry Bird will he here for a while . . . Along these lines, here is Red Auerbach's personal recommendation to the fans on how they should view this Celtic team: "People should look upon this club as an interesting team which gives you your money's worth. A lot of things have gone our way. We've won more than our share of close ones, and our luck could change. The best thing about our current record is that we've got a cushion if things go bad, or if we get an injury" . . . which is exactly what Fitch has said all along.
Plus ca change, . . . Detroit was in last place in the Eastern Division 10 years ago today and they're in last place in the Central Division today . . . Add San Diego and Los Angeles to the list of cities which have filled their buildings only for a Celtics visit. So far, the list includes New York (twice), Indiana (twice), Philadelphia and Kansas City. In addition, the Celtics have drawn the two largest crowds of the year in Cleveland, the two largest crowd of the year in Piscataway, N.J., one of the largest crowds in Detroit history (they are expecting over 30,000 for Magic and the Lakers, however) and are one of only two teams to sell out in Atlanta and Golden State. They are, in other words, making money for everybody . . . Spotted as a very early arrival at the San Diego Arena on Thursday for the Celtics-Clippers game: Cleveland Indian skipper Dave Garcia . . . The more I see of Doug Moe, the more I like him. He won't, for example, alibi for injuries or illness. "You get the guys you have ready to play and you don't worry about injuries," he says. "Injuries are just like not having a guy. If I lose a game, I can't come in here and say, Hey we lost tonight because we didn't have Bird and Jabbar.' " . . . Strange that while the West will be leaving some very deserving guards home for the All-Star Game, the East will be scratching around, undoubtedly starting George Gervin (who really isn't a guard to start with) and then pick among a bunch of guys who wouldn't even make the West first eight. Tiny Archibald has a helluva shot to make the club.
One interested observer upon hearing that McAdoo had missed another Detroit game: "He must have scratched himself on his turtle-neck" . . . Julius Erving on Larry Bird, and specifically his defense: "Confidence is not a problem. The opposition is not a problem. His total capability to do the job is obviously not a problem. I can't find anything to dislike about him. His defense is OK, but what he should do is make his offense his defense. I figure that if I make a guy work hard enough when I have the ball that the defense will take care of itself. By keeping the pressure on a man, he'll have plenty to worry about". . . Question: Who's the most foolish man in America? Answer: Ernie DiGregorio - he was wanted.
The grin was the same. The carriage was the same. The clothing was the same (a black Marryin' Sam Frock coat). There was no mistaking the large man who walked into the Celtics' locker room Thursday to extend his best wishes. It was the inimitable Marvin Barnes.
He is now living in the Pacific Heights section of San Diego, where he has embraced vegeterianism in the midst of yet another comeback attempt. Responding to a query about his creaky knees, he executed a deep-knee bend. He says he will have another tryout with the Clippers in January or February. About his Celtic experience, "I wasn't treated unfairly by the Celtics. I treated myself unfairly. If I had been the coach, I would have cut me, too." Marvin professed admiration for the Celtics ("they're the best team") and he said of Larry Bird, "Isn't he a great player?" But then Marvin did understand what was right and not right about the game of basketball. It's himself he's had trouble understanding.
And to answer your next question, the date is Jan. 20. That's when the coach of the respective All-Star teams will be selected. The coach in each conference whose team has the best record after games of Sunday, Jan. 20 will be accorded the honor.What's interesting is that two prime candidates, Lenny Wilkens and Bill Fitch, will be going at it in the Boston Garden that very day . . . Knick general manager Eddie Donovan on the attitude difference between a winning team and a losing team: "On a winning team guys say to themselves in the fourth quarter, "I wonder who's going to win it for us tonight?" On a losing team, they say, I wonder who's going to screw it up for us tonight?" . . . Nobody, but nobody gives Cedric Maxwell more trouble than Caldwell Jones, the 7-foot Philadelphia center-forward monster. He sent back the first five Maxwell shots last Saturday night (but goaltending was called on the fifth), and he simply negates Maxwell's inside game more than anyone. None of this surprises the 76ers. "He does a better job on Moses Malone than anybody else in the league," submits Sixer assistant coach Chuck Daly. When he wants to play, he's as good a defensive player as anybody in the league. Who knows? In the playoffs, we might put him on Bird." Says Maxwell, "Caldwell is a super defensive player. Every time I have a good game against him, I consider it a major accomplishment. When you're talking about a man playing inside who is giving up three inches to him you're talking about a tough task."
A favorite Celtic pastime is watching for the Detroit score in the morning paper. It's almost incomprehensible that the Pistons could have turned out quite this badly, given the basic raw talent on the club. But the Bob McAdoo- Bob Lanier marriage has been as unproductive on the court as it has been cordial off it, and the team still lacks a floor leader. Not only is ex-UCLA star Roy Hamilton not a starter, but it's also possible he barely belongs in the league. And he was made the No. 10 pick in the country by Dick Vitale . . . Bill Fitch is more in love with the prospect of having such draft parlays as 1-l0 or 2-11 every day. He does not want to part with that Washington pick for a veteran guard, and there have been chances . . . Remember that the Celtics are supposed to be on a building program. Shooting the wad this year might be unwise. After all, Larry Bird will he here for a while . . . Along these lines, here is Red Auerbach's personal recommendation to the fans on how they should view this Celtic team: "People should look upon this club as an interesting team which gives you your money's worth. A lot of things have gone our way. We've won more than our share of close ones, and our luck could change. The best thing about our current record is that we've got a cushion if things go bad, or if we get an injury" . . . which is exactly what Fitch has said all along.
Plus ca change, . . . Detroit was in last place in the Eastern Division 10 years ago today and they're in last place in the Central Division today . . . Add San Diego and Los Angeles to the list of cities which have filled their buildings only for a Celtics visit. So far, the list includes New York (twice), Indiana (twice), Philadelphia and Kansas City. In addition, the Celtics have drawn the two largest crowds of the year in Cleveland, the two largest crowd of the year in Piscataway, N.J., one of the largest crowds in Detroit history (they are expecting over 30,000 for Magic and the Lakers, however) and are one of only two teams to sell out in Atlanta and Golden State. They are, in other words, making money for everybody . . . Spotted as a very early arrival at the San Diego Arena on Thursday for the Celtics-Clippers game: Cleveland Indian skipper Dave Garcia . . . The more I see of Doug Moe, the more I like him. He won't, for example, alibi for injuries or illness. "You get the guys you have ready to play and you don't worry about injuries," he says. "Injuries are just like not having a guy. If I lose a game, I can't come in here and say, Hey we lost tonight because we didn't have Bird and Jabbar.' " . . . Strange that while the West will be leaving some very deserving guards home for the All-Star Game, the East will be scratching around, undoubtedly starting George Gervin (who really isn't a guard to start with) and then pick among a bunch of guys who wouldn't even make the West first eight. Tiny Archibald has a helluva shot to make the club.
One interested observer upon hearing that McAdoo had missed another Detroit game: "He must have scratched himself on his turtle-neck" . . . Julius Erving on Larry Bird, and specifically his defense: "Confidence is not a problem. The opposition is not a problem. His total capability to do the job is obviously not a problem. I can't find anything to dislike about him. His defense is OK, but what he should do is make his offense his defense. I figure that if I make a guy work hard enough when I have the ball that the defense will take care of itself. By keeping the pressure on a man, he'll have plenty to worry about". . . Question: Who's the most foolish man in America? Answer: Ernie DiGregorio - he was wanted.
Bird's Rookie Year: December 30, 1979
December 30, 1979
The teams wound up in a well deserved 47-47 halftime tie, since neither had done much to warrant designation as a certified professional team during the first 24 minutes.
Given that the Warriors entered the game as the last-place team in the Pacific Division, and that the Celtics had come into the Oakland Coliseum Arena as the first-place team in the entire Eastern Conference, it can rightfully be submitted that the home team dragged Boston down to its level, and not nice- versa.
The truth is that any decent NBA team playing well would have been ahead by 15 points against either of these clubs. A ragged first quarter ended with the score tied at 24-24 in a quarter of play marked by turnovers on both sides.
Coach Bill Fitch substituted more than his norm, as the Celtics were playing their third game in three nights. He had Gerald Henderson and M. L. Carr in by the game's seventh minute, and Robey in for Cowens by the ninth minute.
The teams exchanged the lead eigth times through a 16-15 Golden State lead before the home team opened up a little daylight with a run of six straight which gave it a five-point lead at 20-15, and two others at 22-17 and 24-19, before the Celtics scored the final five points of the quarter.
Nobody played particularly well on either team. Golden State had eight turn-overs, good for but one Celtic point, while the flip side was six Celtic miscues good for just two Warrior points. Some basketball, huh?
Boston had the best chance to build a halftime lead, having pulled ahead by six points (41-35) with 4:43 remaining until intermission. But Golden State took advantage of a late Celtic dip, tying the score at 47-47 on a long, what- the-hell turn around by center Robert Parish.
The only remote shred of excitement in the lackluster first half was the passing of Bird, who had four spectacular assists.
The Celtics were trying to run, at least, but nobody could decipher the Golden State intentions. The Warriors had some of the more inventive turnovers seen this season, and it's not quite certain how they managed to keep pace with the Celtics.
After shuffling personnel in a hectic manner during the first quarter, Fitch maintained the unit of Cowens, Bird, M.L. Carr, Ford and Gerald Henderson for the final nine minutes of the half after Henderson replaced Tiny Archibald in the lineup.
The teams wound up in a well deserved 47-47 halftime tie, since neither had done much to warrant designation as a certified professional team during the first 24 minutes.
Given that the Warriors entered the game as the last-place team in the Pacific Division, and that the Celtics had come into the Oakland Coliseum Arena as the first-place team in the entire Eastern Conference, it can rightfully be submitted that the home team dragged Boston down to its level, and not nice- versa.
The truth is that any decent NBA team playing well would have been ahead by 15 points against either of these clubs. A ragged first quarter ended with the score tied at 24-24 in a quarter of play marked by turnovers on both sides.
Coach Bill Fitch substituted more than his norm, as the Celtics were playing their third game in three nights. He had Gerald Henderson and M. L. Carr in by the game's seventh minute, and Robey in for Cowens by the ninth minute.
The teams exchanged the lead eigth times through a 16-15 Golden State lead before the home team opened up a little daylight with a run of six straight which gave it a five-point lead at 20-15, and two others at 22-17 and 24-19, before the Celtics scored the final five points of the quarter.
Nobody played particularly well on either team. Golden State had eight turn-overs, good for but one Celtic point, while the flip side was six Celtic miscues good for just two Warrior points. Some basketball, huh?
Boston had the best chance to build a halftime lead, having pulled ahead by six points (41-35) with 4:43 remaining until intermission. But Golden State took advantage of a late Celtic dip, tying the score at 47-47 on a long, what- the-hell turn around by center Robert Parish.
The only remote shred of excitement in the lackluster first half was the passing of Bird, who had four spectacular assists.
The Celtics were trying to run, at least, but nobody could decipher the Golden State intentions. The Warriors had some of the more inventive turnovers seen this season, and it's not quite certain how they managed to keep pace with the Celtics.
After shuffling personnel in a hectic manner during the first quarter, Fitch maintained the unit of Cowens, Bird, M.L. Carr, Ford and Gerald Henderson for the final nine minutes of the half after Henderson replaced Tiny Archibald in the lineup.
Bird's Rookie Year: Bird Attracts First Sellout at the Forum
December 30, 1979
One guy says there is no rivalry. The other says it's a great rivalry. One guy says they're friends who get tough when the game starts. The other guy says they really don't know each other very well, but that he respects the other as a great player. Sometimes it's difficult to know exactly what to make of this Larry Bird-Magic Johnson business.
This much we do know: Magic's teams are 2-0 against Bird's team after Friday night's 123-105 Laker triumph over the Celtics.
Did the Celtics attract the first sellout crowd of the season to the Forum, or did Larry Bird? Likewise, are the Lakers drawing big crowds to enemy arenas (LA and Boston are 1-2 in road attendance), or is Magic Johnson? Who knows? Who cares? Perhaps people should stop analyzing and start enjoying. The fact is that two exciting young stars have entered the NBA during the same season, and the entire league is better off for their presence.
The Friday night game suffered from advance hoopla which suggested that Magic was playing Bird one-on-one. Bird, naturally, was irritated. "It's stupid, really," he said before the game. "They need the publicity for the sport, and they'll get it any way they can. But it's like comparing me to Bob Cousy. How can you compare a guard to a forward?"
Specifically, how can anybody rightfully compare a guard who needs the ball all the time to a forward who operates best without the ball? And yet, due to time and circumstance the Boston Mark IV is being compared to the LA Porsche. Ah, media hype.
The fact is that Magic played better than Bird. Johnson had 23 points, six assists and seven turnovers. He was hardly the key man in the LA triumph. In descending order, the Most Valuable Lakers in this game were Jamaal Wilkes (22 points on 11-for-21 shooting), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (intimidation on defense, 18 rebounds and seven assists) and Norm Nixon (a fast offensive start when nothing else was popping for LA before finishing with 17 points and eight assists).
Bird, meanwhile played one of his three worst games. The stats (16 points, 7-for-15, three assists) treat him much too kindly. Nine of his points came in the final five minutes of the half (when Bob Ford replaced Wilkes, who was blanketing Bird), and he was burned repeatedly by Wilkes, whose combination of medium-range jumpers and with-out-the-ball cuts justified his experience and reputation. "I don't know how many times I said, "Don't leave Wilkes,' " sighed an exasperated Bill Fitch, "and every time I looked up he had the ball. And was burying a jumper with Bird arriving, as Sam Jones used to say, "too late.' "
Said Bird, "They were driving the lane, and I kept trying to drop off and fake help and then try to get back. He kept hitting the shot. Next time I'll try something different."
The storybook pair had two interesting confrontations. Bird made a Cowens-like retreating effort with the Celtics still in the game (95-85, LA, with 8:02 left), racing back to block the sneakaway lay-up attempt of a cruising-gear Magic, with the latter winding up standing out of bounds with the ball. It was an electric moment.
But the most interesting development, considering the advance hoopla, came with 2:25 left when Bird fouled Magic hard on a drive down the lane and the two wound up exchanging words. "He came driving down the lane, and if he thought I was going to lay down for him, he was crazy," Bird advised. "Next time he comes down the lane like that he'd better hold on."
Magic basically laughed the episode off, but, then, he has one of the world's most congenial natures, anyway. "There was just a lot of competitiveness," he said. "He wasn't going to back down and I wasn't going to back down. I wanted to say, "I've got you this time,' but I held back."
There is a great mutual respect between the two, and a common thought process as well. Asked about Magic before the game, Bird said, "He really loves to play. Everyone in the league does, but he does more than most. I think one reason he came out (of school) is that he loves the idea of playing every day."
"Tell Larry he's right," smiled Magic. "I like to play a lot and we have a great rivalry. We endorse all the same things, and we make cracks at each other. Then when the game starts, it's blood."
It's blood, and Magic is 2-0. But it isn't a rivalry. Of course, it isn't.
One guy says there is no rivalry. The other says it's a great rivalry. One guy says they're friends who get tough when the game starts. The other guy says they really don't know each other very well, but that he respects the other as a great player. Sometimes it's difficult to know exactly what to make of this Larry Bird-Magic Johnson business.
This much we do know: Magic's teams are 2-0 against Bird's team after Friday night's 123-105 Laker triumph over the Celtics.
Did the Celtics attract the first sellout crowd of the season to the Forum, or did Larry Bird? Likewise, are the Lakers drawing big crowds to enemy arenas (LA and Boston are 1-2 in road attendance), or is Magic Johnson? Who knows? Who cares? Perhaps people should stop analyzing and start enjoying. The fact is that two exciting young stars have entered the NBA during the same season, and the entire league is better off for their presence.
The Friday night game suffered from advance hoopla which suggested that Magic was playing Bird one-on-one. Bird, naturally, was irritated. "It's stupid, really," he said before the game. "They need the publicity for the sport, and they'll get it any way they can. But it's like comparing me to Bob Cousy. How can you compare a guard to a forward?"
Specifically, how can anybody rightfully compare a guard who needs the ball all the time to a forward who operates best without the ball? And yet, due to time and circumstance the Boston Mark IV is being compared to the LA Porsche. Ah, media hype.
The fact is that Magic played better than Bird. Johnson had 23 points, six assists and seven turnovers. He was hardly the key man in the LA triumph. In descending order, the Most Valuable Lakers in this game were Jamaal Wilkes (22 points on 11-for-21 shooting), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (intimidation on defense, 18 rebounds and seven assists) and Norm Nixon (a fast offensive start when nothing else was popping for LA before finishing with 17 points and eight assists).
Bird, meanwhile played one of his three worst games. The stats (16 points, 7-for-15, three assists) treat him much too kindly. Nine of his points came in the final five minutes of the half (when Bob Ford replaced Wilkes, who was blanketing Bird), and he was burned repeatedly by Wilkes, whose combination of medium-range jumpers and with-out-the-ball cuts justified his experience and reputation. "I don't know how many times I said, "Don't leave Wilkes,' " sighed an exasperated Bill Fitch, "and every time I looked up he had the ball. And was burying a jumper with Bird arriving, as Sam Jones used to say, "too late.' "
Said Bird, "They were driving the lane, and I kept trying to drop off and fake help and then try to get back. He kept hitting the shot. Next time I'll try something different."
The storybook pair had two interesting confrontations. Bird made a Cowens-like retreating effort with the Celtics still in the game (95-85, LA, with 8:02 left), racing back to block the sneakaway lay-up attempt of a cruising-gear Magic, with the latter winding up standing out of bounds with the ball. It was an electric moment.
But the most interesting development, considering the advance hoopla, came with 2:25 left when Bird fouled Magic hard on a drive down the lane and the two wound up exchanging words. "He came driving down the lane, and if he thought I was going to lay down for him, he was crazy," Bird advised. "Next time he comes down the lane like that he'd better hold on."
Magic basically laughed the episode off, but, then, he has one of the world's most congenial natures, anyway. "There was just a lot of competitiveness," he said. "He wasn't going to back down and I wasn't going to back down. I wanted to say, "I've got you this time,' but I held back."
There is a great mutual respect between the two, and a common thought process as well. Asked about Magic before the game, Bird said, "He really loves to play. Everyone in the league does, but he does more than most. I think one reason he came out (of school) is that he loves the idea of playing every day."
"Tell Larry he's right," smiled Magic. "I like to play a lot and we have a great rivalry. We endorse all the same things, and we make cracks at each other. Then when the game starts, it's blood."
It's blood, and Magic is 2-0. But it isn't a rivalry. Of course, it isn't.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)