C's Take Gaudy Record to the Silverdome

December 4, 1984

CELTICS NEARING RECORDS

The magical mystery tour moves to the suburban tundra of northwest Detroit tonight. Playing the 9-9 Pistons at the Silverdome (SportsChannel, 7:30), the Celtics will attempt to stretch their winning streak to 11 games, while raising their overall record to a franchise-best 16-1.



"It's going to be a tough ballgame," says Robert Parish, who'll have to deal with Detroit renaissance center Bill Laimbeer. "They always play well against us, but as long as we come ready to play hard, we shouldn't have any major problems."

There have been no major problems thus far. Except for a Saturday night massacre in Washington Nov. 10, the Celtics have been perfect.

"Being 15-1 really doesn't surprise me," says Larry Bird. "We've had a relatively easy schedule so far, and our tough games have all been at home. We're still on a roll from last year (25-2 in regular-season play since March 27). We knew we had the best team last year, and when we came back this year we wanted to get off to a good start."

They are approaching some good-start milestones. The franchise's best start is 15-1 (1957-58 and this year). By winning tonight and tomorrow night (at home vs. Denver) the Celtics can match the 1970-71 and '71-72 Bucks, teams that went 17-1. That was thought to be an NBA record, but further research by the NBA office yesterday revealed that the 1969-70 Knicks got off to a 23-1 start. If you're thinking further ahead, Boston's longest regular-season winning streak is 18 games.

"It matters to the players and it's motivation for them," says coach K.C. Jones. "But I just think about the next ballgame."

"M.L. (Carr) mentioned something about breaking a Celtic record, and we'd like to do that, but our main concern is not to get lackadaisical just because we're off to a great start," adds Parish.

What about speculation that they're peaking too early?

"We certainly haven't reached our peak yet," said Kevin McHale, who didn't make the trip here after scoring 30 points while playing with a broken nose against Cleveland Sunday night. "We're going to get better the rest of the year. This is a peak now, but we're still going to have some valleys. We just have to keep the valleys to one or two games."

The Pistons are trying to regain some credibility with the oft-burned Michiganders. Detroit was a consensus favorite to win the Central Division this year ("they were world champs before the season started," - McHale), but struggled through the first month. Dan Roundfield has been hurt, Kelly Tripucka is still hurt (hamstring, doubtful for tonight) and guard John Long didn't sign until last week. The Pistons have won only three of eight home games.

Roundfield will start up front with Terry Tyler and Laimbeer. Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson are the starting guards, unless Tripucka is activated. Long has played in two games and scored 21 points in 14 minutes in his second appearance. He's ready, as is Brook Steppe, who is averaging 13 points in three games since he was signed as a free agent last week. Kent Benson and Earl Cureton provide backup help up front.

"I think Dettroit is back on the track again," says Jones. "We expect another battle right until the end of the fourth quarter again."

The Celtics defeated the Pistons, 130-123, opening night in Pontiac, and again in Boston, 127-116, a week later. Detroit beat the Celtics twice last season. Celtic-Piston games have become as entertaining as any on the schedule (with the obvious exception of Philadelphia).

"They play well and are always up for us," said McHale. "We've got to play very good basketball if we expect to beat Detroit, but as long as we get up for the game, we usually do OK."