Bird, Ainge Lead Way

11/18/82

Bird, Ainge Lead Way

The kindest thing the schedulemaker has done lately was to limit the Houston Rockets to one visit to Boston this season. One visit, one night of sheer embarrassment at the Garden, where as recently as 1981 they played the Celtics for the NBA title.



Without Moses Malone, the Rockets didn't figure to do much better than last night's 112-94 loss before a sellout crowd of 15,320. But nobody figured Houston's 10th straight defeat would be a blowout of epic proportions. Boston's fast-breaking attack was so devastating that its lead grew to 37 points in the final quarter.

Without Malone, Robert Reid, Bill Willoughby and Mike Dunleavy, the Rockets are only a shell of last year's club that won 46 games.

They were easy pickings for the Celtics. Larry Bird put on another show with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Danny Ainge broke loose for 20 points and ran the break with speed and precision.

But this was a rout from the sixth to 12th man. Boston shot from an 11-4 lead in the first quarter and led by 22 points in the second. Houston actually won the fourth quarter of pure garbage time, 28-19. But it was a killer dunk by Charles Bradley midway through the period that finally convinced the crowd to head to the exits and beat the traffic.

Houston had its moments, mind you. Elvin Hayes scored his 26,000th career point and got a standing ovation in the fourth quarter. Calvin Murphy came off the bench to score 16 points. Joe Bryant created some real excitement when he began a fist-swinging incident with Bird in the first quarter.

But on a whole, most people will agree that the Rockets looked like the first NBA team that could go through a season without a victory.

"You want optimism?" said veteran Caldwell Jones. "I'll this you this much. I can't forsee us going 0-82. If it gets to 0-81, I'd get down and punch everybody on the opposing team before I'd lose the 82d game."

This was a game that perhaps only the purists enjoyed. The Celtics put on a clinic on both ends of the courts, playing four quarters of offense and three of strong defense.

Several times this year, the Celtics have blown huge leads. But there was no way that was going to happen last night, as the little things suddenly fell into place. Ainge directed traffic in the lanes, and more important, took his shot. His 9-for-20 night included three missed layup.

"The difference tonight," said Ainge, "is that I'm anticipating getting the shot and looking for a shot. Before, I'd think about getting the ball and then about passing."

Bird was aggressive on the boards, filled lanes, and passed off when someone had a better shot. Small wonder that Robert Parish had 16 points. The bench came through with flying colors, and everybody who played scored and had at least one rebound. The Celtics had a 55-41 rebounding edge.

"We played well," said coach Bill Fitch. "We've been playing well in one and two quarters. Tonight, we had fourgood ones on offense. I was glad to see Danny put the ball in from the outside. He did a good job of running the break. He and Gerry (Henderson) shot well, and that gives us optimism, because our guards have to do that."

Hayes won't forget the night he scored his 26,000th point. He got a standing ovation from the crowd.

But Hayes said he also won't forget that coach Del Harris benched him for the entire third quarter.

"The coach simply does not recognize me or my talent and he goes ahead and abuses me," said Hayes. "He has me sitting on the bench wondering what in the world is going on.

"You ask me if this was humiliating, embarrassing and frustrating? I'd say yes to all three."