Bird Not Scoring, But He's Assisting

January 1981

OAKLAND

Larry Bird had a streak of eight consecutive over-20-point games snapped in San Diego Thursday night, but he continued a dazzling assist burst by compiling 10 more to give him back-to-back 10-assist games and 36 assists in the four games of the road trip. Of Bird's atrocious 4-for-17 shooting, coach Bill Fitch said, "He was doing a little something wrong, but it was nothing that couldn't be corrected in a few minutes of practice." Obviously off of Bird's 0-for-9 performance last night, it may take a lot more practice.

The Celtics came here entirely respectful of the Warriors after their first meeting with Al Attles' club. That was the Nov. 21 meeting in the Garden when the Celts had to come from 21 down to pull out a 108-106 victory . . . The Warriors had already announced sellouts for both last night's game with the Celtics and tonight's with the 76ers . . . Chris Ford missed his only three-point attempt in San Diego, but he still had connected on 10 of 16 three-pointers in his last nine games . . . Golden State was working on a three-game winning streak and had won five of six. The Celtics had already snapped seven-game winning streaks posted by both Atlanta and Phoenix on this trip.

Attendance is up here from a comparable 7840 average to an 18-game average of 9121 this season . . . Golden State is carrying five rookies: Joe Barry Carroll, Larry Smith, Lorenzo Romar, Billy Reid and Rickey Brown . . . Trade rumors involving guard John Lucas abound. The one-time first draft choice in the NBA (Houston, '76) is shooting just .417 from the floor, and with Lloyd Free around, he was having trouble establishing his own offensive game . . . After leveling off a bit in the blocked-shot category, Kevin McHale had rejected nine shots in his last four games. Robert Parish had blocked 13 in the same span . . . The Celtics managed to squeak by San Diego despite scoring just five field goals in the first 15:15 of the second half . . . The trip will conclude with a game in Portland tomorrow at 10 p.m.