Win One for KC

January 25, 1985

BIRD LECTURES ON 'INTENSITY' SONICS' LOSS HURTS

When the formal part of yesterday's practice ended, K.C. Jones had a little talk with his Celtics, then watched them disband. A few players bolted for the showers, while others started a three-on-three game.



Larry Bird took a rare break from his post-practice shooting ritual and walked over to address members of the fourth estate. The Celtic captain was still restless about Wednesday night's 107-97 Garden loss to the Seattle SuperSonics and wanted to make sure there is no repeat performance tonight (7:30) when the Celtics entertain the Indiana Pacers (who also upset Boston last week).

"We didn't have any intensity," said Bird. "That's why we got beat. We had a 14-point lead, then we let them right back in.

"This is a game of excuses, and when you lose there's always something you can blame it on. But we'd better come to play from now on. In this league, if you play a team you're supposed to beat and let them stay in it for three quarters, they start to think they can play with you. Then you have a 50-50 chance of losing and - whammo."

Bird obviously thought it was time for a spanking. In the first 2 1/2 months of the season, the Celtics lost only six games. All of the losses were to good teams, and five came on the second nights of back-to-back games. The first "no-excuse defeat" came last Friday when the Celts were upended in Indiana, 91-86, two days after beating the mighty Lakers. Wednesday's home loss to the Sonics came three days after an impressive victory over the Sixers.

The Celtics have done a lot of talking about "winning for K.C." in the coach's battle with Philadelphia's Billy Cunningham for the East's All-Star job. The man with the better record Sunday night will get the nod, and Jones was in the driver's seat until Wednesday.

"On Sunday we played like we wanted to win it for him," said Bird. "(Wednesday) night, we played like nobody cared. That's what happens when we lose to teams that shouldn't beat us.

"I don't buy it when some guys say they don't get up for all teams. You should have the intensity, the desire and the respect to go out and bust somebody. You've got to play hard and we haven't played hard. We had them down by 14 and we just quit. If you can't go out and hustle for the 30 or 40 minutes you're on the court, you don't belong in the league."

Bird wouldn't exclude himself from blame.

"When I look in the box score and see that I've only got five rebounds, it's sad. I know I wasn't hustling the way I should.

"Sometimes we get a little cocky and we take our ability for granted. This next game is a test for all of us to see how we come out. If we play hard, the winning takes care of itself."