Examining the Playoffs

Examining the playoff series which begin tomorrow night:

1. BOSTON-HOUSTON

Regular Season - Boston 6, Houston 0

In his mind, Fitch does not see a regular-season series sweep. He sees three close games in Houston, all blown by the Rockets more than won by the Celtics. He sees two competitive Boston Garden games. He sees that 6-0 being 3-3 or worse. He sees Malone, the Inside Monster. He sees additional firepower in the persons of Murphy, Reid, Tomjanovich and even rookie guard Allan Leavell, who averaged 13 points per game while shooting 66 percent against the Celtics. What he does not see in his mind's eye is Houston's essential defensive ineptitude and its basic lack of game smarts. It's true that the Rockets will
come here charged up after blowing out the Spurs, and that the Texans are counting on possible Celtic rustiness in hopes of stealing the first game. But the 20-game victory difference between these two teams was no clerical error, and the fact is that a Rocket series triumph would be one of the all-time playoff upsets. Give the Rockets one game on the basis of a Malone freak-out, and maybe even another if somebody else gets especially hot, but that is it.


2. LOS ANGELES-PHOENIX

Regular Season - LA 3, Phoenix 3

First, let's assume that Kareem's migraine headaches disappear. Then let's assume that Truck's ailing knee will get better. Subtract either one of these people from his team's lineup and this whole analysis is useless. Subtract them both, and, well, wouldn't you trade Truck even up for the Big Fella? That aside, this will be a helluva series. Why doesn't anybody believe me when I tell them that Phoenix could win it? LA simply can't guard Paul Westphal, and Alvan Adams always spends a lot of time shooting foul-line jumpers and running away from Kareem for sneakaway dunks. And now the Suns have Rich Kelley to come in and bang Abdul-Jabbar around. There were significant stretches of this season when LA played better ball than anybody, but Phoenix is one team that LA can't psych out. It's been a home-court deal all the way, and so it should remain. LA in seven,
but it's hardly, as they say, a lock.




3. SEATTLE-MILWAUKEE

Regular Season - Seattle 4, Milwaukee 2

Yeah, well since Lanier showed up, it's Milwaukee 2, Seattle 0, and nothing else matters. Since nobody I've talked to thinks Lanier is playing all that spectacularly, his value must be as much psychological as it is physical. Apparently, all the Bucks needed was any professional center. Larry Foust might have sufficed. The Sonics, meanwhile, are a cocky bunch that seems to have embraced a we-can-turn-it-on-when-we-want-to philosophy. Logic favors Seattle, which remains the league's most reliable defensive team, and which will enjoy the backing of 30,000-35,000 fans in its home games. But the Bucks played absolutely incredible ball after getting the Big Tuna, and there is a fascinating aura about them. Look for at least three masterpiece games, and look for a surprise. Milwaukee in seven.