C's versus Sixers: Something's Gotta Give

March 7, 1980

A MATTER OF PRIDE. . . IT'S CELTICS AND 76ERS; ONE STREAK MUST END

There will be, of course, just one honest-to-God must game played this season between these two teams, and that will be the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals. So what will take place before the 11th consecutive (and 25th overall) Boston Garden capacity crowd of 15,320 this evening will be something less than Armageddon, but, nontheless, something more than an October exhibition game in Cinnaminson, N.J. Tonight's Celtics-76ers clash (Ch. 4, WBZ, 7:30) will pit two ancient rivals who just happen to own the two best records in the NBA, but that's only part of the scenario.



Just look in the corner, where a pair of legitimate MVP candidates have been gearing up for their latest confrontation by doing everything for their teams but wash the uniforms. Julius Erving is having his finest NBA season, and Larry Bird is having a year to match any ever enjoyed by an NBA rookie. "I wish I had more than two eyes," says Bill Fitch, "so I could just watch Doc and Larry go at it."

The 76ers will take the floor at something less than full strength. Lionel Hollins sprained his left ankle in Wednesday night's victory over Indiana, and he is a doubtful performer. And Caldwell Jones will attempt to play after having missed two games with the flu. Jones, who was in bed from Sunday through Wednesday, worked out with the club yesterday and said he intends to play. Boston's primary casualty is Tiny Archibald, who has been battling a hip injury for a long time and now has a sore foot.

Doug Collins will take Hollins' place in the Philly starting lineup. He has recovered well from surgery on both feet, bolstering a Sixer backcourt that was a weak spot when last these clubs met. But the Celtics are a deeper team now themselves. In the Wednesday night triumph over Houston, the Celtics got major backcourt contributions from Archibald, Chris Ford, Gerald Henderson, Pete Maravich and M.L. Carr. Now that Dave Cowens is back and Eric Fernsten has established himself as an NBA player, Fitch has increased flexibility up front as well.

This game is of extreme importance to both clubs, since the days are dwindling down to a precious few and there is a great incentive attached to finishing in first place in the division. Fitch would swim the Volga handcuffed rather than face a mini-series, and it can be presumed that 76ers coach Billy Cunningham feels the same way. The one certainty is that the Garden will be jumpin' tonight. Placing any two teams with these recent records (eight straight for Boston, seven straight for Philly; a 12-2 post-All Star Game record for Boston, a 12-3 post-All Star Game record for Philadelphia) in the same building would be monumental enough, but when the teams in question are these old foes, they'd better tie down the Garden roof.Celtics-76ers season's results (home team in caps):


Nov. 10 - PHILADELPHIA 95, Boston 94.


Dec. 19 - BOSTON 112, Philadelphia 89.


Dec. 22 - PHILADELPHIA 126, Boston 113.


Feb. 6 - BOSTON 129, Philadelphia 110.


Remaining games:


March 7 - Philadelphia at BOSTON.


March 30 - Boston at PHILADELPHIA