Can the Celts Shake the Sixers?

March 2, 1980

THE HEAT'S ON CELTICS TO SHAKE 76ERS NOW

March is here and the Boston Celtics have already won 20 more games than they did last season. They have the best record in the league, and are clearly one of the four best teams, no matter which side of the East-West argument you're on. But there is no light at the end of the tunnel.



Despite their 49-15 record and .766 winning percentage, the Celtics cannot shake the Philadelphia 76ers, who are hanging tough with 48-17,.738 numbers of their own. These two Atlantic Division titans appear to be heading for some type of monumental clash four weeks from today in Philadelphia, when the regular season schedule pits them head-to-head in what could be the game that decides the conference race. The heat is on, therefore, and that's why it can truly be said that every game is important. "We can't afford," points out Cedric (Mr. Inside) Maxwell, "to lose any games we are supposed to win." Such a game is the Garden affair today with the Detroit Pistons. (WBZ, 1 p.m.)

You all know the Detroit story. The Pistons thought they were pretty smart, what with the acquisition of Bob McAdoo and their three number one draft picks. But nothing has gone right for the club this season. Coach Dick Vitale was axed early this year, and the job was given to his assistant Richie Adubato. His tenure has been symbolized by the game played on the night it was announced that he would be retained for the rest of the season. That was the evening M.L.Carr chose to wreck his old mates with the buzzer-beating three- pointer that lifted Boston into overtime at the Silverdome.

The Pistons snapped a 13-game losing streak - longest in the history of the franchise - by defeating the Nets in overtime on Friday night. Their starting lineup now includes Boston's own Ronnie Lee, who has bounced around quite a bit in the past year.

Boston, meanwhile, is riding a five-game winning streak. Coach Bill Fitch is shooting for a new personal one-season victory high today, and among his other aims is a desire to work Dave Cowens into the lineup. David is struggling to regain his condition level, and he was strong enough to lead all rebounders in Friday's 110-99 triumph over Golden State with nine retrieves. His shooting touch is thus far lacking, but he's still got 18 games to get it back.

Today's game initiates a busy week of play, as the team journeys to San Antonio and Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, before returning here to play the 76ers and Bullets over the weekend. If basketball is your addiction, March will surely be the month to get your fix. Before the month is over, you'll be running the pick-and-roll en route to the company cafeteria.