Will Moses Make Larry Eat his Words?

December 10, 1982

Will Moses Make Larry Eat his Words?

The subject doesn't come up much anymore. But it might tonight with Moses Malone in town with the Philadelphia 76ers. Larry Bird may have to eat some words he said about the man who is now the NBA's premier center.



Only a couple of seasons ago, Malone came to town as the star of an unheralded Houston team that lost to the Celtics in the 1980-81 NBA finals in six games. Bird sounded off after the series ended, and what he said about Malone will never be printed in the Ladies Home Journal.

Malone could have a few things to say about Bird tonight when he makes his first appearence at the Garden as a member of the Atlantic Division-leading 76ers. Robert Parish and Rick Robey, Boston's two regular centers, were still ailing yesterday. How quickly they recover will go a long way toward determining what, if anything, Malone has to say.

Bird has never really apologized for his remarks, and Malone is still waiting to hear those words face to face. But don't look for either to happen tonight. Besides, Kevin McHale will be the man who draws Malone if Parish (ankle) and Robey (back spasms) aren't up to par.

With Malone, Julius Erving, Bobby Jones and Andrew Toney, Bird and the Celtics realize they could have a lot of problems with the 76ers (16-4), perhaps the hottest team in the NBA. If the Celtics don't gear up for them, particularly for Malone, it could be a long evening at the Garden.

"I believe that if we don't come out hot in the first quarter," said Bird, "we're going to be in trouble against a team like Philadelphia. We haven' t had a tough game since we won in Detroit, and that will almost be a week ago.

"It will definitely hurt us not to have Robert or Rick. We need both of them in this game. Somebody has to play Moses, and Robert plays him better than anybody. Rick comes in and wears him down.

"If we can't control them on the inside, we're not going to control them from the outside because we're not that great a shooting team from 15 feet out. Our game lies on the inside, and we definitely need Robert and Rick to help us out."

Bird had a spectacular shooting night in Wednesday's 113-93 victory over Cleveland, hitting 16 of 20 shots from a variety of spots. But he knows the same opportunties might not be available against a club like the 76ers, and he hopes people don't expect it.

"Against Philadelphia," he said, "if you shoot those outside shots we took against Cleveland, there will be a hand in your face. In a game like we played against Cleveland, you hit a couple of shots in a row, get your confidence and sink a few baskets. But in a tight game with the fans involved, you miss a couple and it could change the whole situation.

"It's a funny situation because the press always builds it up. I recall a lot of times we went into Milwaukee, which was without a lot of players, and they beat us. We do have a lot of talent on the bench, and in a tight game I'm confident we'll win. Still, I'd like to have Robert, Rick and M. L. (Carr) out there."

Celtics coach Bill Fitch wasn't about to let his troops get tense about the arrival of the 76ers. With Parish and Robey taking treatment and Carr (charley horse) still sore, Fitch ran a very light practice. A videotape of last Sunday's Philadelphia victory over the Lakers was available. Some Celtics watched it, but most wanted to concentrate on their own things.

Fitch, of course, doesn't have that luxury, and has seen more than enough of the Malone and the 76ers.

"Moses is playing good offensive ball," said Fitch. "His defense is very good, and I think his teammates have become acclimated to the way he plays. Their depth is good. They run the fast break very well, and they are very explosive."

So what else is new?