Cowens Out, Bird Iffy

Cowens Out, Bird Iffy

March 29, 1980

BIG GAME WON'T BE

Things haven't worked out quite the way CBS intended.

Instead of a climactic battle for the Atlantic Division championship between the Celtics and 76ers, the network will be getting a game that prompted Bill Fitch to say the following: "If CBS has two frogs jumping on Sunday, they should show that instead of the Boston-Philly game."

Fitch has announced that Dave Cowens will not play and that whether Larry Bird plays is "up to him." Bird is nursing a bruised right thigh, and his participation is potentially harmful. Fitch further declared that "we're going to air it out on national TV. This is the first time all year I can truthfully that say we don't have anything to worry about. We can celebrate until Monday or Tuesday."

Cedric Maxwell made many big plays in last night's game, but perhaps the two biggest came back to back early in the final period. The Cavaliers had whittled the Boston lead down to seven at 101-94 with 10:26 to go when Max went to the flags for an offensive rebound, then threw in a spectacular, falling-down, banked, three-point followup. He then proceeded to steal Willie Smith's dribble at midcourt and go sailing in for a layup that restored the lead to 12 points and forced the Cavaliers into another climb uphill . . . By winning last night, the Celtics accrued the following benefits: They clinched the best record in the league, which, in turn, means they will have the home- court advantage in every playoff series. They avoided the treacherous miniseries. They avoided having to play both Philadelphia and Atlanta in the Eastern Conference playoffs. And they assured themselves of at least a week off at a time when they are battered physically.