Boston Beats Indy Behind Bird's 45-Point Barrage

February 25, 1985

BIRD'S 45 FUEL CELTICS

INDIANAPOLIS

Naturally, the Celtics found a way to spoil what could have been their finest moment in two weeks. But they won again, nonetheless, and in doing so seemed to be saying, "So what? We're human."



The long trail that began two weeks ago - when the Celtics first ventured West, then came home for a coffee break at Hartford on Friday night - ended at Market Square Arena yesterday with a 113-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers. That it took a 45-point barrage by Larry Bird and a two-minute explosion by Robert Parish in the fourth quarter was only fitting because, despite their 5-3 trip, the Celtics seldom do things easily. And yesterday was no exception.

Not even the sellout crowd of 16,920 was fooled by the fact that Boston had a 24-point lead in the third quarter. The Celtics had their usual letdown and, while visions of a plane ride home danced in their heads, Indiana made its run. The crowd was still there with 2 minutes, 55 seconds to play as the pesky Pacers battled back to within six points at 102-96.

But it was just then Parish and the rest of the Celtics got their wakeup calls and what had been only a trickle toward the exits became a stampede as Boston went on an 11-4 tear.

How many times has it happened this way? Bird had worn the Pacers out with his off-balance, falling-away, how-do-you-do jump shots. Kevin McHale was driving them nuts with jump hooks. So who wins the game? Parish, of course. That's simply the Celtic answer to any club that makes a run based on missed shots and turnovers.

"When it was six points," said Bird, "Robert was the guy who really did put it away. We try to go to him in big situations. They knew that I was going to have the ball in my hands. But at the end of the game it was time to give the ball to Robert. I was getting a little tired."

Funny, Parish said he was happy to see Bird shooting so well early (18 for 31) because that was the key to the best fast-break basketball the club has played in a week. But he added that the Celtics' key to winning has always been going to the hot man at the right time.

"The momentum kept shifting around for us," said Parish. "Larry had it for awhile, Dennis, Kevin. We just passed it around, doing what was going well at that time. But then we hit that little slump and started missing.

"But the good thing about this team is that they really don't like to lose. We've always got people who are trying; nobody ever gives up. I think that is a very important ingredient to have."

With their lead cut to six, the Celtics went back to basics - set plays starting with Bird and going toward the middle, which is their true strength despite Bird's 27-point scoring average. With 2:25 to play, McHale missed a jumper, but Parish was fouled going for the rebound.

Parish got another big offensive rebound with 1:41 to play, then wheeled around Steve Stipanovich for a layup that gave Boston a nine-point lead.

Just that swiftly, and also that deadly, the Celtics had struck. And any thoughts Indiana had of an upset were completely dashed a few seconds later when Bird finished off his scoring with a three-point play that made it 109-97.

"We did some great things to get to that 24-point lead," said Celtics coach K.C. Jones, who was more relieved than angry. "Then, all of a sudden, we thought the game was over and it was garbage time. Well, you don't do that against a team like the Indiana Pacers. They cut it down to six points, we had to struggle, and the fun we were having became work."

Winning is fun, noted Bird, ading that every now and then the Celtics are guilty of forgetting the work that is necessary to make it happen.

"Sometimes," he said, " Once you get a big lead with a lot of minutes to go in a game, you just lull yourself to sleep. You let teams get back in. We didn't finish up that well, but this is the end of a long road trip and we're glad to get it over with. We're glad to be finally going home for a time. Now maybe we can run off 15 in a row."

Of his 45-point effort, Bird was modest, saying simply that someone has to pick up the slack until Cedric Maxwell returns. "The scoring burden was left to me and Kevin and Robert. We've all come out and scored a lot of points lately. But I really don't like to play like that. I like to keep it moving. Today we did it pretty well until they started catching up. Then we started isolating people and missing shots.

"It's different playing with Kevin (in comparison to Maxwell). He comes into the game and turns things around right away. He's going to get more rebounds and score more points than Cedric. But then I have to play better defense on the small forwards.