January 9, 1980
CELTICS NOTEBOOK BIRD READY TO PLAY
Larry Bird apparently will keep his date with the New York Knicks tonight (7:30,WBZ), when the Celtics return to the NBA wars at the Garden after a five-game West Coast road trip.
It had been feared that a sprained ankle suffered by Bird last Saturday night in San Antonio might keep him out of tonight's contest. But Bird worked out with the Celtics yesterday and coach Bill Fitch said he would be available.
"This does not mean he will be 100 percent," said Fitch. "But he can play. The Knicks have been playing very well lately and we have a tough stretch ahead of us even though the next seven games are at home. It's nice to be back in your own place. But you have to win to prove you're off the road."
The Celtics announced that Sunday's game with Los Angeles is a virtual sellout and would be televised locally by Ch. 38. Only about 300 seats, all obstructed view, were left as of yesterday afternoon. Ch. 38 will televise the game, which will be carried nationally over the CBS network because Ch. 7 has scheduled a telethon in that time period. Times dictate a certain flexibility in scheduling. Even though the Celtics are playing the defending NBA champion Seattle Supersonics on Jan. 20, the game will start at noon to avoid conflict with the Super Bowl that Sunday.
Boston still does not have a player in the top 10 scorers in the latest NBA statistics, but Nate Archibald is second in assists (8.6).
About Me
18-Point Run Gives Spurs the Game
January 6, 1980
It was like sitting in Honolulu and hearing that a tidal wave had just started gathering in Okinawa and was heading your way. You could only hope it would do its crash bit before it hit your front door. But this time it did not.
Here were the Celtics, having four times led by 15 points, and now in possession of a 107-99 lead with 4:47 left. A team could certainly be in a worse position some 1500 miles from home. But at this point the wave began to swell, and it didn't stop until it had crested with a spectacular 18-point San Antonio run. By that time, the game had been torn apart and, with it, the dreams of a 4-1 holiday trip. The suddenly-aroused San Antonio Spurs had somehow managed a crowd-pleasing 119-111 victory over the Celtics.
During the awful 4:05 in which Boston was unable to score, its offense, which had forced the action during the first 43 minutes of this wild game, just plain died. Expired. Croaked. "We had no action whatsoever," lamented M. L. Carr, whose first-half heroics included sinking his first six shots. "There was nothing," sighed Chris Ford. "Absolutely nothing."
About all there was in this stretch were passes hung out, the better for opportunistic Spurs such as Larry Kenon to pick off. There were also bad shots. What there were none of, and they definitely would have been nice to have hand, were offensive rebounds. Only on one possession in the key run from 107-99, Boston, to 108-107, San Antonio, did the home team fail to score.
It was like sitting in Honolulu and hearing that a tidal wave had just started gathering in Okinawa and was heading your way. You could only hope it would do its crash bit before it hit your front door. But this time it did not.
Here were the Celtics, having four times led by 15 points, and now in possession of a 107-99 lead with 4:47 left. A team could certainly be in a worse position some 1500 miles from home. But at this point the wave began to swell, and it didn't stop until it had crested with a spectacular 18-point San Antonio run. By that time, the game had been torn apart and, with it, the dreams of a 4-1 holiday trip. The suddenly-aroused San Antonio Spurs had somehow managed a crowd-pleasing 119-111 victory over the Celtics.
During the awful 4:05 in which Boston was unable to score, its offense, which had forced the action during the first 43 minutes of this wild game, just plain died. Expired. Croaked. "We had no action whatsoever," lamented M. L. Carr, whose first-half heroics included sinking his first six shots. "There was nothing," sighed Chris Ford. "Absolutely nothing."
About all there was in this stretch were passes hung out, the better for opportunistic Spurs such as Larry Kenon to pick off. There were also bad shots. What there were none of, and they definitely would have been nice to have hand, were offensive rebounds. Only on one possession in the key run from 107-99, Boston, to 108-107, San Antonio, did the home team fail to score.
Bird, Spurs Fans, Mix It Up
January 8, 1980
CELTICS WRITE OFF FANS ON ROAD
The message was a little sad. For at a time when the Celtics' popularity is returning to its peak level of the mid-1960s and early '70s, winning has become a double-edged sword.
"It's really a shame," said coach Bill Fitch yesterday. "Dave Cowens and Larry Bird are the type of guys who would stop in the middle of a hurricane and sign autographs. But from now on, when we're on the road, I'm going to tell them that they should just keep on walking."
What should have been a snappy, spirited practice by an NBA club that has now won more games (30) than it did all last year was more like the morning after the night before. The Celtics were still suffering from a road-trip hangover, and not even the fact they went 3-2 in California and Texas could dim the memory of Saturday night in San Antonio, or the problem of unruly fans.
"We've always heard from the more vocal fans," said veteran Don Chaney, the Celtics' link to their years of glory. "But the fans never came after the players."
There was tangible evidence of the damage yesterday. Bird, who swung a tote bag in disgust at an obnoxious fan, was still suffering on two fronts.
He has a sprained ankle suffered during the San Antonio game and was withheld from practice yesterday, even though he did shoot on the sidelines. The ankle is still taped for added protection.
After the practice, he found himself answering the type of questions they don't prepare you for at Indiana State, where fan abuse seldom gets beyond the yelling stage.
"I've never had anything like that happen to me," said Bird yesterday. "People scream at us all the time. They've done that all year. I don't mind it when they stay up in the stands. But I don't like it when they get right in your face and point their finger at you."
The postgame incident Saturday night stemmed from a shouting match between Cowens and a fan. Actually, the Celtics all were subjected to some verbal abuse, but in this instanceit seemed to get out of hand, and Bird finally decided to put a stop to it.
"The people down there are crazy," Cowens said yesterday. "But the thing they don't know is that I'm one of them."
Fitch did not think it was a joking matter, and insisted the whole incident had in fact received too much publicity already.
"The whole thing was blown out of proportion by their papers (in San Antonio) and by ours," he said. "They put the story on the front page in San Antonio, and it wasn't that big a deal. Now everything is out of whack. We'll go somewhere and somebody will be waiting to start something."
Veteran Chris Ford, who watched the entire incident, said the real fans are the losers in this case.
"The guys were just signing autographs when it all happened," he said. "And the thing got out of hand. It is a shame that a couple of people like that can ruin it for everybody.
"It is not all the fans. It wasn't all the people in San Antonio. But the time could come that nobody will want to get involved with fans because of being taken to court. They are in every city. One guy got onto the bus in San Diego to scream insults at us."
Yesterday, the hangover from the road-trip finale was very much in evidence on all fronts. The Celtics have seven straight home games coming up, but their fold in the fourth quarter of the 119-111 loss to San Antonio still stung them.
"I'd say this was the first game all year that we gave away," said Ford. "We had the lead and they were thinking about their 22d defeat. And we let them take it away from us. It's good that we're home for seven games. But you look at the schedule and you will see that it is a tough seven games."
The Celtics return to the wars tommorow night (7:30 p.m., WBZ) against the surging New York Knicks, who have won five gaems in a row, and then face Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Seattle and Houston.
"We hope to have Larry back for the Knicks," said Fitch. "But we went through a drill today just as if he wouldn't be with us. I'm still mad at myself for that loss to San Antonio. The bench hadn't been playing well, and I thought perhaps I could steal one by going with my regulars. But I should have gone to the bench anyway. Some games you lose and don't try to second-guess yourself on. This was one where you could."
CELTICS WRITE OFF FANS ON ROAD
The message was a little sad. For at a time when the Celtics' popularity is returning to its peak level of the mid-1960s and early '70s, winning has become a double-edged sword.
"It's really a shame," said coach Bill Fitch yesterday. "Dave Cowens and Larry Bird are the type of guys who would stop in the middle of a hurricane and sign autographs. But from now on, when we're on the road, I'm going to tell them that they should just keep on walking."
What should have been a snappy, spirited practice by an NBA club that has now won more games (30) than it did all last year was more like the morning after the night before. The Celtics were still suffering from a road-trip hangover, and not even the fact they went 3-2 in California and Texas could dim the memory of Saturday night in San Antonio, or the problem of unruly fans.
"We've always heard from the more vocal fans," said veteran Don Chaney, the Celtics' link to their years of glory. "But the fans never came after the players."
There was tangible evidence of the damage yesterday. Bird, who swung a tote bag in disgust at an obnoxious fan, was still suffering on two fronts.
He has a sprained ankle suffered during the San Antonio game and was withheld from practice yesterday, even though he did shoot on the sidelines. The ankle is still taped for added protection.
After the practice, he found himself answering the type of questions they don't prepare you for at Indiana State, where fan abuse seldom gets beyond the yelling stage.
"I've never had anything like that happen to me," said Bird yesterday. "People scream at us all the time. They've done that all year. I don't mind it when they stay up in the stands. But I don't like it when they get right in your face and point their finger at you."
The postgame incident Saturday night stemmed from a shouting match between Cowens and a fan. Actually, the Celtics all were subjected to some verbal abuse, but in this instanceit seemed to get out of hand, and Bird finally decided to put a stop to it.
"The people down there are crazy," Cowens said yesterday. "But the thing they don't know is that I'm one of them."
Fitch did not think it was a joking matter, and insisted the whole incident had in fact received too much publicity already.
"The whole thing was blown out of proportion by their papers (in San Antonio) and by ours," he said. "They put the story on the front page in San Antonio, and it wasn't that big a deal. Now everything is out of whack. We'll go somewhere and somebody will be waiting to start something."
Veteran Chris Ford, who watched the entire incident, said the real fans are the losers in this case.
"The guys were just signing autographs when it all happened," he said. "And the thing got out of hand. It is a shame that a couple of people like that can ruin it for everybody.
"It is not all the fans. It wasn't all the people in San Antonio. But the time could come that nobody will want to get involved with fans because of being taken to court. They are in every city. One guy got onto the bus in San Diego to scream insults at us."
Yesterday, the hangover from the road-trip finale was very much in evidence on all fronts. The Celtics have seven straight home games coming up, but their fold in the fourth quarter of the 119-111 loss to San Antonio still stung them.
"I'd say this was the first game all year that we gave away," said Ford. "We had the lead and they were thinking about their 22d defeat. And we let them take it away from us. It's good that we're home for seven games. But you look at the schedule and you will see that it is a tough seven games."
The Celtics return to the wars tommorow night (7:30 p.m., WBZ) against the surging New York Knicks, who have won five gaems in a row, and then face Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Seattle and Houston.
"We hope to have Larry back for the Knicks," said Fitch. "But we went through a drill today just as if he wouldn't be with us. I'm still mad at myself for that loss to San Antonio. The bench hadn't been playing well, and I thought perhaps I could steal one by going with my regulars. But I should have gone to the bench anyway. Some games you lose and don't try to second-guess yourself on. This was one where you could."
SPURS BUST LOOSE; CELTICS FALL, 119-111
January 6, 1980
The Boston Celtics literally fought their way out of the parking lot at the HemisFair last night, and, by the time the bus had departed this downtown arena, a Spur fan named John Merla was lying on the ground, courtesy of Larry Bird and his gym bag.
Bird, whose problems began when he sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter, reportedly struck Merla with his gym bag after the latter spat in Bird's face. Merla was one of approximately 100 fans who were pouring verbal abuse at the losing Celtics following the game. Their primary target was Dave Cowens, whom Merla claimed had spat in his face during the halftime intermission.
Mike Boudreaux of San Antonio described the scene this way: "The dude (Merla) was hollering stuff right in Cowens' face when Bird came over and cold-cocked him with that bag. Larry hit him all right, and it was just what the guy deserved."
Said Dave Benoy, also of San Antonio: "This guy spat in Bird's face."
Added Boudreaux, "Boston didn't start it."
San Antonio police officer Walter Sharf was another witness. "I was right in the middle of it. People were directing all kinds of obscenities toward Cowens. Bird, if that's who it was, reached right over me and hit the guy with his bag."
Long after the bus had departed, Merla was lying in the parking lot, covered by a jacket. "They're going to check him out," said Sharf, "but I think he's just play-acting."
Gary Woitena of San Antonio said, "Cowens came out and got into a hassle with all these people. They kept yelling, Choke! Choke!' and he kept saying Why are you people like this?' (Chris) Ford came off the bus and pulled him away, but he didn't seem to want to go. Then Bird came in and hit this guy (Merla) with his tote bag. He got on the bus real fast."
Boudreaux was so disturbed by the incident, and the crowd's behavior, that he eagerly gave his address and phone number, "in case I'm asked to testify." He was adamant that the stricken fan was in the wrong, an opinion corroborated by Sharf.
"I guess we should have broken the crowd up," said Sharf, "but I never thought it would come to this."
The Spurs had pulled out a comeback, 119-111, victory before the largest regular-season gathering ever to see the Spurs play. They had been their usual raucous selves inside, but it had appeared to be in good, clean fun, consisting more of cheering for the Spurs than razzing the Celtics. That is, until the group formed outside.
As for the injured Merla, he was taken to a local hospital although there were no signs of visible injury.
The Boston Celtics literally fought their way out of the parking lot at the HemisFair last night, and, by the time the bus had departed this downtown arena, a Spur fan named John Merla was lying on the ground, courtesy of Larry Bird and his gym bag.
Bird, whose problems began when he sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter, reportedly struck Merla with his gym bag after the latter spat in Bird's face. Merla was one of approximately 100 fans who were pouring verbal abuse at the losing Celtics following the game. Their primary target was Dave Cowens, whom Merla claimed had spat in his face during the halftime intermission.
Mike Boudreaux of San Antonio described the scene this way: "The dude (Merla) was hollering stuff right in Cowens' face when Bird came over and cold-cocked him with that bag. Larry hit him all right, and it was just what the guy deserved."
Said Dave Benoy, also of San Antonio: "This guy spat in Bird's face."
Added Boudreaux, "Boston didn't start it."
San Antonio police officer Walter Sharf was another witness. "I was right in the middle of it. People were directing all kinds of obscenities toward Cowens. Bird, if that's who it was, reached right over me and hit the guy with his bag."
Long after the bus had departed, Merla was lying in the parking lot, covered by a jacket. "They're going to check him out," said Sharf, "but I think he's just play-acting."
Gary Woitena of San Antonio said, "Cowens came out and got into a hassle with all these people. They kept yelling, Choke! Choke!' and he kept saying Why are you people like this?' (Chris) Ford came off the bus and pulled him away, but he didn't seem to want to go. Then Bird came in and hit this guy (Merla) with his tote bag. He got on the bus real fast."
Boudreaux was so disturbed by the incident, and the crowd's behavior, that he eagerly gave his address and phone number, "in case I'm asked to testify." He was adamant that the stricken fan was in the wrong, an opinion corroborated by Sharf.
"I guess we should have broken the crowd up," said Sharf, "but I never thought it would come to this."
The Spurs had pulled out a comeback, 119-111, victory before the largest regular-season gathering ever to see the Spurs play. They had been their usual raucous selves inside, but it had appeared to be in good, clean fun, consisting more of cheering for the Spurs than razzing the Celtics. That is, until the group formed outside.
As for the injured Merla, he was taken to a local hospital although there were no signs of visible injury.
Celtics Considering Personnel Moves Despite Obvious Chemistry
January 6, 1980
CELTICS SEEKING CHANGES? LET'S HOPE NOT
Before the Celtics' management makes any personnel moves this season, they had better be certain the new addition can make a substantial on-court difference. No Celtic team of the past decade has been any closer personally from top to bottom.
Though every player knows they all won't be back next year, they are highly conscious of finishing together this season. The idea that a professional team can enjoy each other as this one does is probably the most refreshing revelation I've had in a long time . . . Bill Fitch on turnovers and bench-playing time: "When you come off the bench, you should still have a feel for the game. Turnovers are probably the one thing that will sit you down quickly. I think our players are learning by the reward system. Don't throw the ball away and you'll get to play more." . . . Jeff Mullins, who was a very classy guard for the Warriors (he and Nate Thurmond had one of the great two-on-two acts of the '70s), now runs a Chevrolet dealership in North Carolina.
Just thinking about Earl Strom and his $2500 fine recently levied by Comr. Larry O'Brien, and wondering how many more incidents the higher-ups will tolerate before they tell Strom to stay home. Remember that he was withheld from the playoffs last year because of behavioral problems. What sense is there in employing a veteran ref if you don't even want him in the playoffs? . . . Fitch says he wouldn't mind going to war with a starting team of Bill Cartwright, Larry Bird, Calvin Natt, Sidney Moncrief and Magic Johnson, even if they are all rookies. "And that group would really play well together," Fitch points out . . . It has been a marvelously satisfying experience to observe the quiet professionalism of Don Chaney at work. The Duck has become a big contributor to the cause . . . We may live in Taxachusetts, but at least we have some dignity. A San Antonio newspaper is actually running a contest to name the mechanical Armadillo - Hell, yes, I'm sober - which runs all over the HemisFair court during time outs. First prize will be "two season tickets to all 1980-81 Spurs' home games, a deep-sea fishing trip (is the Armadillo invited?) and an overnight stay following the trip in a plush Corpus Cristi hotel" . . . Jeff Judkins has been answering to the name "Hollywood" ever since Julius Erving picked up a relatively innocuous Judkins quote following the Dec. 19 Celtic triumph over Philly to use as a means of rousing himself for the game on Dec. 22. Judkins, of course, is a much of a rabble rouser as Miss Ellie.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appears to be in a stage comparable to the late- middle phase of Wilt Chamberlain's career, just prior to the "No-Shot" nonsense. Kareem doesn't seem to care about shooting at all. He is, however, passing very well and clogging the middle intelligently. He'll never be the rebounder his 7-foot-3 frame suggests he should be, but he is adequate enough. He's still capable of turning in a 40-point game, but it won't be needed on a team with Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, Jim Chones, Spencer Haywood, and, of course, the Magic Man. What it comes down to is that Abdul-Jabbar is playing very effectively within the context, and, yes, it is good enough to make him a championship center for the second time in his career . . . Proposed theme song for the Phoenix Suns: "How Do You Do What You Do To Me?" What's really amazing is how many times they get back into a game with a unit of Jeff Cook, Joel Kramer, Alvin Scott, Mike Bratz, and Johnny High . . . Johnny Most on Bob McAdoo: "Two things seem to happen when McAdoo leaves a ball club. Either the franchise goes to another city, or the team gets better" . . . Jo Jo White on Bird and the Celtics: "Bird's a player. You can just tell a player. And the Celtics are again playing together. That's all it takes" . . . Bird, incidently, is talking about going to see Indiana State play during the All- Star break. The only problem is that he will be in the game. "Naw, not this year," he says. "I don't belong, but I will next year." Wrong, kid. You do belong, and the coaches aren't silly enough to leave you off the East squad.
Ah, it must be fun to coach the Bullets. Bob Dandridge, idle with an injury of some kind (the official releases were somewhat nebulous), showed up for the recent Bullet-Sonic game while the first quarter was in progress. He wound up playing and scoring 12 points. Dandridge had stated when he first left the lineup that, "I'm going to pull a Kevin Grevey and come back when I'm healthy," referring to Grevey's chronic hamstring pulls and Grevey's decision to cease playing until a cause could be determined . . . Speaking of leg injuries, under the care of trainer Ray Melchiorre, who has labored diligently from Day One, Chaney has avoided the constant leg and groin pulls which so hampered him last season. It's another reason why I say trainers are the most undervalued and underpaid people in professional sports. Anyone who has ever traveled with a professional team can tell you how valuable they are, and what a good one is worth . . . The Celtics would very much like to make Fitch the All-Star coach, and a look at the schedule indicates that it won't be a piece of cake to do so. While 'tis true that the Celtics should benefit from the six home games they play between now and the cut-off date to determine the coach (the man at the helm of the best conference team after games of Jan. 20), so, too, should Philadelphia milk a schedule which includes five home games and two winnable road games (New York and New Jersey). And who's to say that Boston couldn't lose to such upcoming Garden foes as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles or Seattle?
The strange thing about Chris Ford and his three-pointers is how little use he and the Celtics were able to make of his long-range ability in the beginning of the season. Ford was a mere 3 for 16 in the first 18 Boston games until he began bombing on Nov. 24 in Atlanta. The toughest thing about shooting from the corner, his favorite spot, is getting the footwork down to make sure you don't step out of bounds. By the time a pro sets his size 14s, or whatever, in that space, there isn't much room . . . Rick Barry on Tiny Archibald: "Archibald is finally playing the way he should have four or five years ago, when he'd score 30 points and they'd lose. He's probably having a lot more fun, too. I'm happy about it, and I hope kids out there are taking notice."
CELTICS SEEKING CHANGES? LET'S HOPE NOT
Before the Celtics' management makes any personnel moves this season, they had better be certain the new addition can make a substantial on-court difference. No Celtic team of the past decade has been any closer personally from top to bottom.
Though every player knows they all won't be back next year, they are highly conscious of finishing together this season. The idea that a professional team can enjoy each other as this one does is probably the most refreshing revelation I've had in a long time . . . Bill Fitch on turnovers and bench-playing time: "When you come off the bench, you should still have a feel for the game. Turnovers are probably the one thing that will sit you down quickly. I think our players are learning by the reward system. Don't throw the ball away and you'll get to play more." . . . Jeff Mullins, who was a very classy guard for the Warriors (he and Nate Thurmond had one of the great two-on-two acts of the '70s), now runs a Chevrolet dealership in North Carolina.
Just thinking about Earl Strom and his $2500 fine recently levied by Comr. Larry O'Brien, and wondering how many more incidents the higher-ups will tolerate before they tell Strom to stay home. Remember that he was withheld from the playoffs last year because of behavioral problems. What sense is there in employing a veteran ref if you don't even want him in the playoffs? . . . Fitch says he wouldn't mind going to war with a starting team of Bill Cartwright, Larry Bird, Calvin Natt, Sidney Moncrief and Magic Johnson, even if they are all rookies. "And that group would really play well together," Fitch points out . . . It has been a marvelously satisfying experience to observe the quiet professionalism of Don Chaney at work. The Duck has become a big contributor to the cause . . . We may live in Taxachusetts, but at least we have some dignity. A San Antonio newspaper is actually running a contest to name the mechanical Armadillo - Hell, yes, I'm sober - which runs all over the HemisFair court during time outs. First prize will be "two season tickets to all 1980-81 Spurs' home games, a deep-sea fishing trip (is the Armadillo invited?) and an overnight stay following the trip in a plush Corpus Cristi hotel" . . . Jeff Judkins has been answering to the name "Hollywood" ever since Julius Erving picked up a relatively innocuous Judkins quote following the Dec. 19 Celtic triumph over Philly to use as a means of rousing himself for the game on Dec. 22. Judkins, of course, is a much of a rabble rouser as Miss Ellie.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appears to be in a stage comparable to the late- middle phase of Wilt Chamberlain's career, just prior to the "No-Shot" nonsense. Kareem doesn't seem to care about shooting at all. He is, however, passing very well and clogging the middle intelligently. He'll never be the rebounder his 7-foot-3 frame suggests he should be, but he is adequate enough. He's still capable of turning in a 40-point game, but it won't be needed on a team with Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, Jim Chones, Spencer Haywood, and, of course, the Magic Man. What it comes down to is that Abdul-Jabbar is playing very effectively within the context, and, yes, it is good enough to make him a championship center for the second time in his career . . . Proposed theme song for the Phoenix Suns: "How Do You Do What You Do To Me?" What's really amazing is how many times they get back into a game with a unit of Jeff Cook, Joel Kramer, Alvin Scott, Mike Bratz, and Johnny High . . . Johnny Most on Bob McAdoo: "Two things seem to happen when McAdoo leaves a ball club. Either the franchise goes to another city, or the team gets better" . . . Jo Jo White on Bird and the Celtics: "Bird's a player. You can just tell a player. And the Celtics are again playing together. That's all it takes" . . . Bird, incidently, is talking about going to see Indiana State play during the All- Star break. The only problem is that he will be in the game. "Naw, not this year," he says. "I don't belong, but I will next year." Wrong, kid. You do belong, and the coaches aren't silly enough to leave you off the East squad.
Ah, it must be fun to coach the Bullets. Bob Dandridge, idle with an injury of some kind (the official releases were somewhat nebulous), showed up for the recent Bullet-Sonic game while the first quarter was in progress. He wound up playing and scoring 12 points. Dandridge had stated when he first left the lineup that, "I'm going to pull a Kevin Grevey and come back when I'm healthy," referring to Grevey's chronic hamstring pulls and Grevey's decision to cease playing until a cause could be determined . . . Speaking of leg injuries, under the care of trainer Ray Melchiorre, who has labored diligently from Day One, Chaney has avoided the constant leg and groin pulls which so hampered him last season. It's another reason why I say trainers are the most undervalued and underpaid people in professional sports. Anyone who has ever traveled with a professional team can tell you how valuable they are, and what a good one is worth . . . The Celtics would very much like to make Fitch the All-Star coach, and a look at the schedule indicates that it won't be a piece of cake to do so. While 'tis true that the Celtics should benefit from the six home games they play between now and the cut-off date to determine the coach (the man at the helm of the best conference team after games of Jan. 20), so, too, should Philadelphia milk a schedule which includes five home games and two winnable road games (New York and New Jersey). And who's to say that Boston couldn't lose to such upcoming Garden foes as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles or Seattle?
The strange thing about Chris Ford and his three-pointers is how little use he and the Celtics were able to make of his long-range ability in the beginning of the season. Ford was a mere 3 for 16 in the first 18 Boston games until he began bombing on Nov. 24 in Atlanta. The toughest thing about shooting from the corner, his favorite spot, is getting the footwork down to make sure you don't step out of bounds. By the time a pro sets his size 14s, or whatever, in that space, there isn't much room . . . Rick Barry on Tiny Archibald: "Archibald is finally playing the way he should have four or five years ago, when he'd score 30 points and they'd lose. He's probably having a lot more fun, too. I'm happy about it, and I hope kids out there are taking notice."
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