Bird's Rookie Year: December 19, 1979

December 19, 1979

WHO'S NO. 1?

THE 76ERS FIGURED TO BE ON TOP OF THE PACK GOING INTO TONIGHT'S GAME AT THE GARDEN, BUT THEY'VE HIT AN OBSTACLE - THE CELTICS

Who is the best? Is it a mirage, or are the Celtics really that much better than the 76ers, who will make their first appearance of the season tonight at the Garden?

Could the experts have been so wrong? Could the 76er team that had been the odds-on favorite on paper to win the Atlantic Division be just second best?

"Predictions don't mean a thing," says Celtic veteran Nate Archibald. "You still have to go out and win games. Talent on paper doesn't mean anything. You still have to play the games and win."

When they arrive in town tonight (7:30 p.m., WBZ radio), the Philadelphia 76ers will find a full house waiting for them at the Garden. That in itself is not unusual, because this is still a team that is led by The Doctah, Julius Erving, and is so deep at forward it can afford to use Bobby Jones and Steve Mix, both with All-Star credentials, coming off the bench.

But are they coming to see the 76ers? Or are they coming to see a Celtic club that over the recent weekend won three straight thrillers and is rapidly gaining believers? Or are they just coming to see what looks like a good game?

"You can call it a glamour game if you like," says Celtic coach Bill Fitch. "I don't think crucial is the right word. Not this early in the season. It's a very important game, but no matter what happens, we will still be in first place, so there have been other games that have meant more. I know it's not like when we played at Cleveland when they tried to call it the Ultimate Game.' But it is an important game."

The 76ers are minus Doug Collins, and Jones is bothered by a bruised knee suffered in stunning back-to-back losses to Atlanta. Yet, the 76ers are a classy team and have no illusions about the Celtics they're now facing and the Celtics they beat Nov. 10 in Philadelphia, 95-94.

"We're expecting a real good game whenever we face Boston," says Pat Williams, the Philadelphia general manager. "When you think about it, the start the Celtics have had this year is the story in pro basketball this year. We've won 22 games this year (before last night's victory), and can't shake them. It's unbelievable what they've accomplished in such a short time.

"Last summer at our meetings, we talked about the teams and didn't even consider the Celtics. The last two years they were floundering, struggling and embarrassing themselves. They had been the height of frustration in the NBA. All of a sudden, wow! They're taking off. It is a remarkable story. Ours had not been a good rivalry in the last two years. But now all that has changed."

The 76ers and Celtics have both been devastating at home. Boston is 14-1 and Philly is 15-3. But Boston's 11-6 record on the road thus far is the best of any NBA team (only Milwaukee has won as many as 10). After their 114-102 win over the Pistons in Pontiac, Mich., last night, (leaving them two games behind the Celtics) the 76ers were only 8-6 on the road. They've lost twice to Atlanta and are 0-4 for the season against the Hawks. The Celtics are 3-1 against Atlanta, with two wins on the road.

"It's fair to say that we've improved since the last time we met," says Fitch of his Celtics. "We're not shooting as well as we're capable. But we're helping out each other more on defense. Our bench is getting more minutes. Whether you can interpret that as a sign that we have more confidence in each other or not is hard to say at this time of year. When we get in a situation like at New Jersey when our bench can help, we'll use it. However, keep in mind that each game is different."

The 76ers are a different team from any the Celtics have met recently if for no other reason than they have The Doctah (37 points last night), who took advantage of the inexperience of Larry Bird (among others) and did his thing for 37 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the first meeting. The Celtics had a six-game winning streak stopped that night.

"They beat us that night by clearing out a whole side and letting Julius work one on one," says Archibald. "We're going to try not to let that happen this time. They're a team that plays two centers in (Darryl) Dawkins and (Caldwell) Jones, and Julius as a small forward. Neither Dawkins nor Jones is particularly good shooters, and their guards (Maurice Cheeks and Clint Richardson) are not necessarily shooters."

Archibald has a good memory of the 76ers. His club fell behind 15 points in Philadelphia but almost won.

"We're not going to sit back," says Archibald, "and play their game. We're going to come out smoking. We want to see what happens when somebody besides Julius has to handle the ball or shoot it."

Williams says his club has played remarkably well despite losing a talent like Collins, although it has put a lot of pressure on rookie Richardson, a second-round pick out of Seattle who has been starting the last three weeks ahead of Henry Bibby and No. 1 draft choice Jim Spanarkel.

"Actually, he began starting a month ago," says Williams, who added that injury to Collins and not talent was the principal reason for the change. "We don't like to do that with rookies, and he has been sort of thrown into the breach. But he's responding well and has a chance to become a solid player.

"Bibby and Spanarkel have to play well, too. But right now the bench is a major reason for our success. We can move Julius to guard if the situation calls for it."

Tonight could be the night.