February 8, 1984
Celtics.
Lakers.
It is the championship matchup CBS lusts for. It's coast vs. coast, Bird vs. Magic, John Kiley vs. Toni Tennille and memories of Russell vs. Chamberlain.The Celtics and Lakers haven't met in an NBA championship series since Bill Russell and Sam Jones burst Jack Kent Cooke's balloons in the spring of 1969, but whenever today's Celts and Lakers duel, one wonders if it might be a preview of the next NBA final.
"Every time we play these guys we've got to think of that, which is why it's important to establish a dominance," says M.L. Carr, a man who thinks about such things. "Us against LA in the finals would be a great way to end the season." The Lakers have been in three of the last four NBA finals, and Carr says, "No matter who's in front, you always think of LA as being the best of the West, and I think they feel like Boston is the best in the East." LA coach Pat Riley supports Carr's thesis. "I feel confident that our team is the best in the West and the team to beat again," says Riley. "It's going to be tough for us, but we're not nearly what we can be." Ask him about the Celtics and Riley adds, "I don't think there's any doubt that Boston is far and away the best team in basketball right now. They've made a commitment and they're sticking with it."
What does it all mean for tonight's game (8, Ch. 4)?
"I don't consider it a test anymore," says Riley, whose Lakers have lost five of six regular-season games against the Celtics since 1981. "These games are novelties. Other than an occasional game on television, we don't see the Celtics, and you don't really get a feel for your opponent in that situation. That's why I think their winning five of the last six is sort of meaningless."
K.C. Jones seems to agree. "We have no feel for what they really do," says Jones. "It's always like a new experience when we play them because we only see them twice a year." Tonight's joust comes at a good time for both teams. The Celtics won nine straight before Monday's three-point loss in New Jersey. Dennis Johnson, who missed two and a half games with an ankle injury, will be back in the starting lineup, and the Celts haven't lost two straight since Nov. 22. Boston is 21-3 at home.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are finally healthy, have won six in a row (going into last night's game with Indiana) and boast the best record in the Western Conference. "We started to improve before the break, and for this time of the year I've got to be happy," says Riley. Tonight marks Boston's introduction to rookie guard Byron Scott, who came to LA with Swen Nater for Norm Nixon and Eddie Jordan during the preseason. Jack Nicholson and most other Lakers fans have been in mourning ever since, but Scott is beginning to come into his own. Last night was his 10th straight start, and he went into the game averaging 19 points on 55 percent shooting in his last six games.
"Right now, Byron is probably where he would have been under the best of conditions," says Riley. "He was hurt by the fact that he missed camp and then he had to play under a microscope. At first he'd have one decent performance, then a horrendous one. But he's been strong, and he's starting to feel accepted." The LA rumor mill insists that Magic Johnson is still upset with the trade and resents the fact that he's no longer free to post up other guards. Without Nixon to kick around, Magic has the ball most of the time (17 points, 7.8 rebounds and 14.4 assists a game).
Michael Cooper (10 ppg) is still the third guard, while Mike McGee, who started 37 games and is hitting .623 from the floor, is the second guard off the bench. Jamaal Wilkes (18.6) and James Worthy (13.5) are the starting forwards. Bob McAdoo gives Riley 15 per game off the bench, and Kurt Rambis is finally healthy and able to contribute. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 36, is still in the middle, and Riley has junked the idea of limiting the goggled one to 25 minutes. "Kareem's incredible," says Riley. "He's getting better and stronger as our younger players are getting more tired and weaker."
Nater is averaging 5.3 points and 13 minutes as Abdul-Jabbar's caddy. Seven Lakers average 10 or more points. "We don't get those great numbers anymore," says Riley. "We spread it around a lot these days."
MISC
Celtics guard Quinn Buckner (pulled left hamstring) is very doubtful for tonight's game against the Lakers at Boston Garden, but Dennis Johnson (ankle) will start, and Scott Wedman, who has missed four straight games with an ankle sprain, is ready.
Lakers center-forward Mitch Kupchak took some stitches in his face after being elbowed accidentally in practice Monday. Larry Spriggs (hip pointer) is on the injured list, and Calvin Garrett missed three recent games because of the flu.
Only two NBA teams are over .500 lifetime against LA: Boston (78-51) and San Antonio (17-15) . . . Going into last night's game in Indianapolis, Abdul- Jabbar needed only 24 field goals to pass Chamberlain as the career field- goal leader.
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