Celts Dump Cavs, Despite 31 from World B. Free

January 24, 1983

IT WAS NO ROMP, BUT CELTICS WIN

The truth is, the Celtics were just happy to win when the final buzzer sounded yesterday at Boston Garden. The Cleveland Cavaliers made things surprisingly interesting, and March 20 is soon enough for a rematch as far as Boston is concerned.



With nothing more than pride on the line against the lowly Cavs, the Celtics made it 10 victories in their last 11 games yesterday with a 105-91 triumph. But despite the final score, it was the kind of outing that says: Maybe we ought to start paying attention to the rebuilding job that Tom Nissalke is doing with Ted Stepien's Doomsday franchise.

It was no romp through the slush for the Celtics over the Cavaliers, who seem determined to make waves in the NBA the rest of the way. The Celtics, in fact, were still struggling to maintain a two-point lead, 80-78, in the fourth quarter before an 8-2 surge gave them some much-needed breathing room. Not even the fact that Larry Bird played only 7 minutes because of a foot injury would have excused a loss to the Cavaliers. Boston had lost a week ago in Cleveland, 90-86, and until the late Celtic run, this appeared to be the same kind of game.

Inconsistency plagued the Celtics all afternoon. Seventeen fast-break baskets could not put the Cavs away until the end even though centers Sam Lacey and Steve Hayes contributed only two points in 48 minutes.

That World B. Free broke loose for 31 points, mostly from the outside, was expected. That forward Cliff Robinson, who finished with 27 points, dominated inside was almost embarrassing. Robinson had 16 rebounds. The Celtics' 47-41 edge in rebounding does not reflect the struggle they had inside.

Fortunately for the 95th consecutive sellout at the Garden, the Cavaliers showed that their 7-33 record is based on even greater inconsistency inside. Robert Parish had a field day, and his 19 rebounds were even more impressive than his 26 points. With the Chief wheeling inside, the Celtics ran just enough to wear down the Cavs. Danny Ainge finished with 19 points. Tiny Archibald played 29 minutes, and the faster pace of the third quarter set a tempo that was missing in the first half. The Celtics had an Ainge-Quinn Buckner backcourt when they broke it open, and even the flamboyant Free was gasping for air at the end.

"I thought we played a terrific game," said Cleveland coach Tom Nissalke in support of his underrated troops. "But you can't win when you get only two points out of your centers. We tried to force Boston into a half-court game like we did last week. That's what you have to do, really. The trouble is that we didn't do it enough."

Celtic coach Bill Fitch tried to shake up things a little, which accounted for Archibald's increased playing time. Boston had a nine-point lead in the second quarter at 38-29, but was lucky to escape at halftime, 55-53. Cleveland tied the score twice, and actually controlled the boards in the first half, 20-19.

Fitch tried a new wrinkle at the start the third quarter, which began with Tiny Archibald and Danny Ainge in the backcourt. It was an Archibald-Buckner backcourt at the start of the final quarter after Boston still led by two points, 76-74. Finally, with 8:52 left, Fitch went back to a backcourt of Ainge and Buckner, his usual starters, and the Cavaliers had neither the manpower nor depth with which to answer.

Boston's 8-2 surge consisted of three fast breaks and a stop-and-pop jumper by Scott Wedman, whose accuracy should make Fitch give serious thought to dredging up the Celtics' Old No. 15 play, made famous by John Havlicek. Buckner took one swoop all the way, and Wedman did his thing from the left baseline. Quinn fed Parish for an easy layup. Then Ainge got into the act with a beauty of an assist to Kevin McHale to finish off another break. After that, it was just a matter of time until Cleveland fell completely apart, and it happened as predicted in the final three minutes, 15-7.

"Every time we got tired out there," said Fitch. "we seemed to slump a little. But then someone came off the bench to pick us up. We brought in Tiny and Charlie Bradley and it was a tremendous pickup. Cleveland is an improved team, and Free passed the ball more today than I've ever seen him do. He passed it like he was the last of the Mohicans. When you play Cleveland now, you know you're going to be in a ball game."

But on the other hand, Cleveland knows that if Robert Parish is on target, the Celtics are going to be tough to beat. Fitch gave Parish the ceremonial game ball and called him the club's only consistent rebounder.

"They are a team that can hurt you, especially if you go out there thinking you're going to have an easy night," Parish said of his performance against the Cavaliers. "We ran for a while and executed our own half-court offense. But then we got caught up in their slowdown basketball, which enables them to get the ball to their inside people."