Larry Bird (and his 7-Year, $12m Contract) Lead Way to Win

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Boston 115, Spurs 100
Record: 23-7
12/27/1983

SAN ANTONIO

Bring on the Sixers. Bring on the Russians. Bring on (gulp) Bill Fitch and the Houston Rockets. The Celtics are playing their best basketball of the season. In an impressive display of two-way basketball, Boston beat the still tough-at-home San Antonio Spurs, 115-100, at the HemisFair last night. It was the Celtics' fourth straight victory, their 14th in the last 16 outings and improved their league-best road record to 11-4. This was one of those nights when agent Bob Woolf must wonder if he ought to think about renegotiating Larry Bird's seven-year, $12-million contract. The Hoosier Hoop Highness hit 16 of 24 floor shots, scored 38 points, added eight rebounds and eight assists and buried the Spurs every time they threatened. "The scouting report we had on him was to let him take the outside shot," said beleaguered Spurs coach Mo McHone. "He was sensational. He shot like a man who made $2 million a year. He might be a bargain."



Meanwhile, Dennis Johnson, Quinn Buckner, Gerald Henderson and Danny Ainge gang-tackled the Iceman. Boston's killer bees held George Gervin to three field goals in 18 attempts, which explains why the pinball Spurs struggled to get 100 points. "Ice never got the ball with less than two men on him," noted McHone. "I think Boston's defense had a lot to do with his off night." The Celtics led by two after one period, but put on a second-quarter clinic, outscoring San Antonio, 36-20, including a nifty 20-4 run. With 7:26 left in the third period, Spurs forward Mike Mitchell (17 points) sparked a 10-0 spurt to pull the home team to within 10. Then McHale (20 in 25 minutes) went to work inside, Bird continued his torch job, and the Celts led, 88-74, after three.

When the Spurs closed to within 10 again early in the fourth, Bird came off the bench and led a seven-minute, 20-9 surge, capped by his implausible fadeaway from the right corner to give the Celtics their biggest lead, 108-87. It was actually over by intermission. In a near perfect display of basketball, the Celtics ballooned a 39-35 lead to 59-39. Boston shot 64 percent in the period (16 of 25) and outrebounded the home team, 19-10. Bird had 12 points and four assists in the quarter. The Celts led, 27-25, after one, before Bird (23 points on 10-of-14 shooting in the half) came in for McHale two minutes into the second period and immediatly hit a couple of floaters to push the Celts to a nine-point lead. Forward Fred Roberts, who played with Ainge and Greg Kite at Brigham Young, momentarily helped keep the Spurs alive. A Roberts followup pulled them to withing four (39-35) with 7:21 left in the half. Then Bird and Co. went crazy.

The first run of 6-0 was capped by a Parish hook that made it 45-35 with 5:46 left.The best was still ahead. McHale came out after taking a Gilmore shot to the chest, but with San Antonio's Mark (Tank) McNamara on the floor, the Celts went to town. Bird fed Robert Parish (21 points, 12 rebounds) for a fastbreak jam and Parish was fouled by Roberts. Parish (13 in the half) made the free throw. Then Roberts tossed an air ball and Bird fed M.L. Carr for a sneakaway. The second quarter was about as good as we can get it done," said coach K. C. Jones. The loss was San Antonio's fifth straight and dropped them nine games under .500 for the first time in franchise history.