9.12.2019

Celts go up 2-0 Over Philly

May 16, 1985

GAME 3 IS 'PIVOTAL'

The Celtics may hold a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals, but they apparently don't hold a comfortable 2-0 lead. "You can't put these guys in the grave," Kevin McHale said yesterday after the Celtics completed an hour-long workout at Boston Garden.



"In a series like this it seems the next game is always the biggest. If we can win that third one (Saturday in Philadelphia) we'll be in great shape. It's a disheartening feeling to be down, 0-3. I know. I remember when Milwaukee did it to us."

Larry Bird, who has been struggling with his shooting touch while still scoring 24 points in Tuesday's 106-98 victory, also seemed to look at Game 3 as a pivotal contest.

"It's really to our benefit to win that first game and we'll give it all we've got, but we've always been able to come back the next night after a loss," Bird said. "We've always been a team that likes to play back-to-back.

"If you're competitive, you want to get right back and play again if you lose. What Philly can't do is let us get one of those games."

McHale said, "Defensively, it looked like they were trying to read what plays we had and then trying to switch the double team to who was posting up. I started off the last game with Moses (Malone) on me, but he got caught out of position a couple of times early trying to double team. They may change that a little."

According to Bird, the NBA's decision to conduct the Patrick Ewing Lottery, involving all seven teams that failed to make the playoffs, made about as much sense as trying to use next week's Megabucks ticket as a down payment for new home in Weston.

"They should have taken Golden State and the (Indiana) Pacers and drew it out of a hat," Bird said. "It was unfair to poor Golden State for them to have to pick seventh. What are they going to do now?

"Sure, they made some mistakes with personnel, but you don't punish them for that. If a league takes a chance like that, then someone gets burned and one team that didn't need to get burned was Golden State. Besides, I'd like to see the West Coast get a little bit better."

With the increasing interest in the Celtics throughout the city, Bird has begun to find it increasingly difficult to go anywhere but into the locker room at the Garden or into his house in Brookline.

"I love Boston, but off the court I kind of wish nobody knew about me," Bird said. "It's a tough city, but it's a great city. People see you walk down the street after you get 30 points and they'll say, 'Why didn't you get 40? We know you can do it.' I suppose it's better than them saying, 'Hey, at least score five points, will you?'

"With the (TV) ratings we're getting it'll become a bigger problem down the road. I think 90 percent of the people in Boston know who I am now. What makes me mad is I wonder what

them other (Boston) teams are doing."

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