C's Versatility Draws Raves

January 10, 1983

CELTICS' VERSATILITY DRAWS RAVES

The last leg of the 13-day journey began with a wakeup call at 4:30 a.m. But few of the Celtics were complaining and some stayed up all night in anticipation of an early-morning flight.



The reason was simple. After winning five of six games in a trek through the Midwest Division, the entire team was more than happy to be heading home. The Celtics' 114-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night capped a sweep through Texas and extended their winning streak to five games. Boston will be off until Wednesday, when Golden State comes to the Garden.

Unfortunately, things look worse now than when the Celtics left Boston the day after Christmas. Philadelphia has won seven in a row and leads the Atlantic Division by two games. Tiny Archibald (bruised hip) and Charles Bradley (sprained ankle) are sidelined and only a semi-miraculous chiropractor kept Robert Parish's back together for the last two games.

While the Celtics may not be bowling over teams these days, they do continue to win.

"We were out a long time," said coach Bill Fitch. "Not (in terms of) the games, but the time away from home. If this club was lacking any in character before, it has gained some now.

"I was happy to get the last five wins. Particularly now, because this kind of trip was just after a period when we played six games in eight days. It was good that we finished on a positive note. We're playing better than we did when we left. But going back home, we've got to play better."

Boston didn't exactly storm through Texas, where they beat the Rockets, Spurs and Mavericks, three of the lesser teams in the Western Conference. Injuries to center Parish, Archibald and Bradley forced Boston to use its bench, and veterans such as Quinn Buckner and Kevin McHale got more minutes. Still, it would have been a major upset if Boston had lost to any of these teams.

The trip showed how versatile the Celtics can be. For three seasons, Archibald, Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell and Parish have carried the scoring load. Now, because of the injuries, Fitch has found himself moving in other directions.

It's not important that Buckner played 40 minutes against San Antonio and 33 against Dallas. He's an established pro. He has done the job over the years, particularly on defense. What counted in the last two games was that Fitch gained confidence in Buckner as an offensive weapon. He was a playmaker and a threat with his jumper, just like Archibald. Down the road, he could turn into a major force for the Celtics.

The loss of Parish merely reaffirmed the value of McHale.

"If anything," said Fitch, "McHale is better at center now than he was before we left. If Robert is hurt, we're not afraid to put him in there. He played very well on this trip."

And let's not forget Maxwell, who re-emerged as an offensive threat. Max may not be talking to the press these days, but his improved play speaks volumes, and eloquently.

When the Celtics play in the East, their bench has a tendency to get lost in the shadows caused by the brilliance of the spotlight on Bird, Parish and Archibald. But such was not the case in Texas. Bradley's defensive play saved the Celtics in Houston after the Rockets had taken a 17-point lead. And in games against San Antonio on Friday and Dallas on Saturday, M. L. Carr's deft hands proved the edge the Celtics needed to pull out victories.

Carr's alert play at the end of Saturday night's game was typical of his contribution. Parish made a big play with 44 seconds left, blocking a Jay Vincent shot to the sidelines. But it was Carr who not only went flying out of bounds to save the ball, but also tipped it to Buckner, who immediately began a two-on-one fast break - which Bird finished off with a slam.

"I wasn't surprised at the finish," said Fitch. "Vincent is a guy who'd scored 38 points the night before, and our scouting reports said they'd go to him. Chief made a big block, coming from the weak side. The play that M. L. made was great, but something the Celtics seem to always have. Long before I came here, guys like Don Chaney were making those kind of plays."

Maverick coach Dick Motta summed up the difference between the Celtics and his Dallas club, which has now lost 11 of its last 13.

"When you play Boston," he says, "everything has to be perfect. Every mistake is magnified 10 times if you don't. I look at games like this on film and see us play above our potential. We should finish them off, but we don't. Boston does."