9.07.2019

Bird's Elbow

April 23, 1985

DESPITE PAIN, BIRD 'PLAYABLE'

RICHFIELD, Ohio

John Havlicek bit the bullet and played lefthanded for the final three games of the 1973 Eastern Conference finals. Butch Hobson rearranged bone chips in his right arm before making throws to first base in the 1978 pennant race. Now you can add Larry Bird to the list of Boston athletes who played in pain when the games mattered most.



Bird's right elbow is hurting. He has bursitis and bone chips ("flecks of calcium," according to Celtics team physician Thomas Silva), and it hurts when he extends the arm to pass or shoot. It's even worse when he lands on the elbow.

Bird was in obvious pain when the Celtics beat the Cavaliers, 108-106, in Game 2 of their best-of-five series, which continues tonight in the Richfield Coliseum. He scored 30 on Saturday (after getting 40 in Boston's Game 1 victory) and did not practice with the Celtics Sunday or yesterday.

Bird would not discuss the injury yesterday, but when asked if he should be listed as probable, questionable or doubtful for tonight, he responded, "I'm playable."

Silva and coach K.C. Jones said a decision on Bird's availability won't be made until before tonight's game, but Jones admitted, "If he wants to go, he'll go. That's the way it's been, and that's the way it's gonna be."

Bird was X-rayed at Beth Israel Hospital before Saturday's game. Bird said Sunday that he thinks he'll need elbow surgery after the season, but Silva said yesterday, "There are absolutely no plans, nor has there been any contemplation of surgery on the elbow of Larry Bird."

An orthopedic expert not associated with the team said that Bird's rebounding game is most likely to aggravate his bursitis or bone chips. As his elbow gets hit, more inflammation can occur, which can reduce his elbow's range of motion. The elbow then would become tighter, affecting his shot.

"It's premature to say he needs any (surgery)," said general manager Jan Volk. "I think we've got to determine what's really wrong with it before we can say what the cure is."

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