February 29, 1980
Bird, Celtics Prepare for Warriors
One fact explains all you need to know about the road to the Atlantic Division title: From now until the end of the season four weeks from Sunday, the Celtics never have more than one day off. The NBA season runs a week shorter this year, and the compression had to come somewhere. That somewhere is March, when the Celtics play 18 games in 30 days. To survive such a grind, the Celtics will need depth and mental toughness. One other thing would help, too, and that would be a bigger lead over Philadelphia. But the 76ers, back from a 3-1 road trip that included a big 101-98 overtime triumph in Seattle, keep dogging the Celtics, still 1 1/2 games behind.
Tonight's Garden opponent will be the Golden State Warriors, who will be playing the third of a five-game road trip. The Warriors are tied with Utah in the battle for the Coin Flip. All season people have been saying that the Golden Staters have a team whose whole somehow does not equal the sum of its parts. And all season long people have been saying that the Celtics have a team whose whole far exceeds the sum of its parts. Perhaps all math doctoral candidates should be let in to see this one at half price. The only problem with that is that there aren't too many tickets left, only the usual obstructed views and single seats.
The Celtics have now won four in a row since the distressing giveaway in Seattle, and there have been several encouraging aspects in their recent play. Among them are the continued dominance of Larry Bird (rival coaches seem to be involved in competition to see who can describe Bird's effect on a game in the most Churchillian manner), the strong play of Rick Robey, some big efforts by Cedric Maxwell, a revival of his early season theatrics by Tiny Archibald and strong bench displays by the likes of Pete Maravich and Gerald Henderson, who comprised the backcourt that helped put away the Spurs on Wednesday night.
Then, too, there is the return of Dave Cowens to the lineup. Big Red played 14 minutes on Tuesday, mainly contributing on defense, and he played 20 minutes the following night. His shooting touch is not back yet. The Spurs gave him the outside shot in the second half and he went 0-for-6. But his mere presence, even at something less than 100 percent capacity, aids the team depth. There is plenty of time for Cowens to ease his way back into the lineup, especially with Robey averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds a game in the 17 games since Cowens was injured on Jan. 22.
The incentives to win the division include the chance to get a week's rest after the March grind; the avoidance of the despised mini-series, with all its treachery; and the realization that by finishing first Boston and Philadelphia will have to play either the Other Guy or Atlanta, but not both.
Oh, well, Happy March, fellas.
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