Wedman Scorches Former Team Still Paying his Salary

March 16, 1985

Wedman Scorches Former Team Still Paying his Salary

It was just like the glory days of the 1970s. A sellout crowd roared as the revived Cavaliers came out for warmups. The only thing missing was Bingo Smith's cotton candy hair and Bill Fitch's paisley leisure suit.

It's the Miracle of Richfield II. Cav chic is back and they're bracing for Cleveland's first postseason appearance since 1977-78.

Last night, the Celtics came to town to show 'em what the big boys eat. The world champions beat the Cavaliers, 119-96, in front of 20,900 victory-starved crazies at the Richfield Coliseum. It was a shocking reminder that the improved, playoff-bound Cavs are still 14 games under .500 and not ready for prime time.

Larry Bird and Kevin McHale continued their Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig, Phil Esposito/Bobby Orr routine. Bird scored a flawless 35 while McHale contributed 19, all of his in the first 28 minutes. Scott Wedman, the new threat in Boston's Dense Pack frontcourt, had his fourth straight big game, scoring 16 of which 10 were in the second half. Wedman's input is especially galling to Cav management which is still paying half his salary.

Adrenaline carried the Cavs to an early four-point lead. McHale kept the Celts afloat by posting up and over Mark West.

A steal and transition jumper by Bird (10 of 12 for 24 in the first half) put the Celts ahead, 14-13, with 6:44 left in the first. Boston never trailed again.

Scoring 12 points in a four-minute span, Bird made a pair of spectacular teardrop shots off flying drives (one with each hand), then laid one in off the break after Robert Parish blocked Phil Hubbard's shot (Hubbard collapsed in a heap) to give the Celts a 25-17 lead.

McHale and Parish closed the quarter with four free throws and Boston led, 33-25. The Celts outrebounded the Cavs, 19-7, in the period and also took 14 foul shots to Cleveland's two.

Ray Williams and Wedman replaced Danny Ainge and Parish at the start of the second. Wedman continued his torrid shooting, hitting his first three shots and Boston led, 45-33, with 6:26 left in the half.

After a three-point play by Parish gave the Celts a 13-point lead, John Bagley and Roy Hinson (15 in the half) sparked a 7-0 run by the Cavs and Boston called time. The Cavs had cut the lead to six but would never get any closer.

Bird and Dennis Johnson scored all the points in a 10-4 run after the break and the Celts led, 58-46. McHale (12 rebounds in the first half) tapped in an Ainge miss at the buzzer to make it 64-54 at intermission. One sensed the inevitability of a Celtic victory.

The third quarter did nothing to bring hope to the Cleveland crowd. The Cavs played fairly well, but couldn't get closer than nine. McHale was abusing everyone George Karl tried, and Bird tortured Hubbard. A stake-driving three- pointer by Bird made it 81-65 with 6:21 left in the third.

The Cavs kept plugging, and the crowd kept roaring, but Cleveland couldn't gather any steam. Every World B. Free drive was followed by a Wedman jumper or a Parish follow. The Celts led, 90-76, after three.

Wedman hit three more shots early in the fourth and Bird kept the heat on. A transition jumper by Bird with 5:27 left pushed the led to 20 (104-84) and started the exodus of fans who chose not to stick around for the postgame closed circuit telecast of the Larry Holmes-David Bey fight.

Ray-Ray made some nice passes, scored on a tip-in, and converted a three- point play to make it 109-88.

K.C. Jones went to his bench in the final 4 1/2 minutes. M.L. Carr (sore left ankle) who could barely walk earlier in the day, came in and buried his first shot. Carlos Clark, Rick Carlisle and Greg Kite joined Carr and Williams for the final curtain.