9.18.2019

Champs Vulnerable?

May 6, 1985

MOWED DOWN IN MOTOWN: PISTONS SQUARE IT, 102-99

DETROIT

The NBA staged its own version of VJ (as in Vinnie Johnson) Day at Joe Louis Arena yesterday.

Reserve Pistons guard Vinnie Johnson drained 22 points through the nets in the fourth quarter, leading Detroit to a 102-99 comeback victory over the Celtics, and squaring this best-of-seven conference semifinal at 2-2.



"Today is one of the times to eat crow," said Cedric Maxwell, who had predicted victory. "We had this team down and out. They were under water and had two fingers sticking up. We had 'em submerged. But we let 'em up."

A little background on Mr. Johnson: He's got Charlie Bradley thighs, answers to the nicknames "VJ" and "Brooklyn Bridge" (he's from Brooklyn and built like a bridge) and has never had a game like yesterday's in his six- year pro career. VJ's sawed-off Bernard King imitation (which resulted in a game-high 34 points) was saved for national television and one of the most important games in Piston history.

The Celtics grudgingly toasted VJ's performance, but looked in the mirror to explain this defeat.

"We just gave it to 'em on a silver platter," said Kevin McHale (24 points, 10 rebounds). "For a team that's been through a lot of games, we sure didn't play smart basketball down the stretch . . . They have outscrapped us two games in the fourth quarter, and that's it."

Some Celtic lowlights:

- The Futile Fourth - The Celtics went 6:21 without a basket at the start of the fourth. Boston scored only 12 points in the final 12 minutes, the sixth-lowest fourth-quarter total in NBA playoff history. The Celtics made only three of 14 shots and committed eight turnovers in the final period.

- The Willie Hernandez Factor - The Celtics led, 87-76, at the end of three quarters. Prior to yesterday, Boston was 58-3 when it led at the end of three.

- Idle Bird Watching - Larry Bird (21 points) made only nine of 23 shots and scored two points in three of the four quarters. Bird's two-point fourth period marked the second straight game in which he was held to a deuce while the Celtics were losing in the final 12 minutes. Going back to the final quarter of Thursday's loss in Detroit, Bird has scored two points in four of the last five periods. Yesterday he had two airballs, and most of his other misses were way off.

- No Glass Plus - The Celtics were outrebounded (44-41) for the first time in the series. One week earlier, Boston crushed Detroit, 59-33, off the glass.

- Pine Problems - Boston's bench was outscored, 58-13.

Two straight losses in Detroit means that the Celtics are in the midst of their first legitimate losing streak of the season. Boston played its first 73 regular-season games without losing two straight. The Celtics dropped two in a row twice at the end of the year, but Bird didn't play the first set, and the final "losing streak" came when K.C. Jones gave three of his starters vacations in the final two games.

Bird says his elbow feels better than usual, but you had to wonder when he shot 1 for 6 in the first period, which ended with Detroit leading, 26-23. It was the lowest-scoring opening quarter in the series.

Boston trailed, 54-53, at intermission, but the Celtics shot 74 percent (14 for 19), and Bird exploded for 15 in the third period, which ended with the Celtics leading by 11.

There was no reason to take note of a VJ jumper that closed Detroit's scoring in the third. Johnson had a modest 12 points at the end of three and it seemed possible that coach Chuck Daly might go with starter John Long in the final period.

Instead, VJ's quarter-closing bucket proved to be a harbinger of one of the greatest individual performances in NBA playoff history.

With his team trailing, 87-76, at the end of three, VJ erupted for six straight baskets at the start of the fourth. The Pistons led, 88-87, before Robert Parish broke the ice with a pair of free throws with 7:28 showing. It was a memorable torching by the fireplug guard.

"I don't know if he mesmerized other people, but he did me," said Dennis Johnson. "He made one over Robert, then two or three over me, then three more and so on and so on. He played fantastic and anything else you want to add."

"The ball just went in and it just felt good," said VJ, who goes 6 feet 2, 200 pounds. "When I get it going, I feel it."

Johnson made 10 of 11 shots in the quarter, scoring 22 of Detroit's 26 points. DJ would overplay VJ to the right, but VJ would fake right, jump straight up, pump-fake while DJ sailed by, then shoot a liner down into the basket.

The Celtics still had plenty of chances to win. Boston led, 96-94, with 4:49 left, but VJ tied it on a pair of free throws. After Bird (1 for 6 in the fourth) missed a couple of shots that would have put the Celtics ahead, VJ put the Pistons on top for good with a double-pumper from eight feet. Then Bill Laimbeer rebounded another Bird miss and VJ hit another double-pump jumper to make it 100-96 with 58 seconds left.

A Danny Ainge three-pointer with 44 seconds left cut the lead to one, and the Celtics got the ball back when Parish rebounded a Laimbeer miss. However, Bird's 15-footer over Kelly Tripucka was off, Isiah Thomas scrambled for the rebound and hit two free throws with three seconds left to set the final score.

The Celtics went for a potential game-tying three-pointer, but M.L. Carr caught an Ainge pass and stepped on the sideline with one second left.

Boston had been mowed down in Motown once again.

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