Pitino and Fernsten Comfortable with Knicks

1983-84 Boston Celtics  

Record 43-15 3/1/1984 

The New York Knicks have a little Boston flavor these days. Ex-Celtics center-forward Eric Fernsten is toiling for the orange and blue, and one of his coaches is Rick Pitino, head coach at Boston University last season. 

"Eric's been doing an outstanding job for us the past two games," Pitino said. "He's moved ahead of Len Elmore as our main backup power forward. He'll probably be playing 15-16 minutes a game as long as he keeps playing like this." Fernsten averaged 12.6 minutes in his first 15 games with the Knicks.

 His services have been needed more since starting forward Truck Robinson sprained his right ankle. Last night was his first Boston Garden appearance since the spring of 1982. Fernsten still hasn't resolved his grievance with the Celtics. 

He was the last player cut from the 1982-83 Celtics and claims he had a hernia at the time. The grievance is more than a year and a half old and Fernsten is a little perturbed with Larry Fleischer, executive director of the NBA Players Assn. "He said he'd set an arbitration date last Monday, but I never heard from him," said Fernsten. 

"He's been dragging his feet. He's been signing people and there's been arbitration for David Thompson and Micheal Ray Richardson." Fernsten isn't about to give up the battle. "I feel there was a mis- interpretation of the rules and there was miscommunication within management," he said. "I've still not burned any bridges in this. 

I've been the good guy." Pitino, meanwhile, is comfortable in his role as Hubie Brown's assistant and thinks the Knicks have a good shot at their goal of 48 victories. "We feel like we're in a fight with Philly for second place," said Pitino. "We have a good schedule the rest of the way. If not for injuries, I think we'd have the kind of consistency we've been looking for." Pitino on Bernard King, who went into last night's game averaging 33.6 points while shooting 59 percent: 

"He's almost been a phenom. Working in Boston, I thought I saw the incredible in Larry Bird, but this has been something else. In our offense, everybody knows when we go to him, and he gets triple-teamed and he still gets his shot off. And he only takes high- percentage shots." Pitino will be in Boston tonight to scout college talent in the Boston University-Northeastern game.

Celtics Collar Kings

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 119, Kings 110
Record 36-9
February 1, 1984

Baseball folks weren't the only ones toasting ex-greats last night. Over on Causeway street, the Celtics and Kansas City Kings played host to a forgettable epic which could have been dubbed "A Salute to Earl Tatum." Predictably, the Celtics won the stand-around special, 119-110. The victory stretched Boston's winning streak to seven games, but only the Greenest of fans enjoyed all 48 minutes. The game featured the usual Renoir shooting of Larry Bird (32 points), some "Get back, Loretta" shot-blocking by Robert Parish (six rejections), and lots of Pete Rozellesque parity.

Bird Ready to Talk $$$

July 1983

Celtics forward Larry Bird said yesterday he will not talk contract with club management once the season begins - even if the ownership question is still unsettled. "I won't have nothing to do with it once the season starts," said Bird, who was in town to receive the Seagram's 7 Crowns award as the league's best player. "And they knew that last year. I told them before the season was over - if you want to get it done, get it done now."

Celts Meet Bucks for First Time since Playoff Sweep

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Record: 1-1
11/1/1983

Some folks remember the Maine. Others remember the Alamo. Still others try to remember the kind of September. The Boston Celtics remember the Milwaukee May Day Massacre. The NBA's schedule maker must be a clever fellow, blessed with either a macabre sense of humor or a keen feel for the dramatic. Here it is, two days after Halloween, and the Milwaukee Bucks are in town to help the Celtics open their 38th home season tonight at 8.

These are the same Bucks who spit on the once-proud Celts in four straight games last May. Milwaukee's flashdance sweep was the first ever suffered by the Boston franchise, and it opened up the gates for a tumultous summer that saw several key members of the Celtics' cast wave goodby. One of tonight's multiple subplots is the return of Tiny Archibald in a Bucks uniform. Boston's floor leader for five seasons was unceremoniously dumped in midsummer, then signed with the Bucks. Tiny will be Milwaukee's starting playmaker tonight, but memories of The Sweep remain the Celts' primary motivation.

"I think we'll have some extra incentive," said Cedric Maxwell. "It's unusual to be pumped up for an early game, but I think our pride is still probably wounded. We weren't prepared and they beat us handily last year. I think we'll be up a lot more this time. You can't gain it all back - what we lost as far as our pride goes - but this would be a start." "I'm sure we haven't forgotten the way we ended last year," adds Robert Parish. "This should be a very intense contest. We have to establish ourselves against a good ballclub, especially since our first outing (Friday's 127-121 loss in Detroit) wasn't exactly pretty."

"Ugly" is the best description of the Milwaukee Massacre. The Celts were beaten in straight sets, 116-95, 95-91, 107-99 and 107-93. The Bucks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals against Philadelphia while the Celtics staggered home for an endless summer of "What happened to you guys?" "The Bucks embarrassed us," says M.L. Carr. "I'd like to beat Milwaukee six times this year, then meet them in the playoffs and beat 'em again. I don't want to take aything away from them, but it could have been any team beating us the way we were playing then. It could have been Phoenix. It could have been New York. It just happened to be Milwaukee."

Bucks' coach Don Nelson, who burned some bridges with mentor Red Auerbach during the sweep, says, "This is just one of the early tough games for us. The sweep was nice, but it was just one step for us. Our goal last spring was to win a championship and we didn't, so I don't feel very triumphant coming back to Boston." Nelson will start Archibald in the backcourt with Sidney Moncrief. Marques Johnson, Bob Lanier and Alton Lister will start up front. Archibald and Lanier played only 21 and 23 minutes respectively in Milwaukee's season opener vs. Indiana. Charlie Criss, Junior Bridgeman, Paul Pressey and Kevin Grevey are Nelson's spare guards, and Harvey Catchings, Paul Mokeski and rookie Randy Breuer fill in underneath.

Listor plays some center when Lanier is out of the game, and Nelson has been looking at Pressey as a small forward. The Bucks are the oldest and most experienced team in the league. "I worry that older players have the tendency to get injured more and may not recover as quickly, but I like my squad," says Nelson. "We have respect for them, but we know we can beat them, " says Larry Bird. "They embarrassed us and the only way to get back at 'em is to go out and beat 'em." "Let's put it this way," adds Kevin McHale. "If we have to beat a team Wednesday night, there's nobody I'd rather beat than Milwaukee. We have to vindicate ourselves."

Negotiators for the NBA and the NBA Referees Assn. met for four hours yesterday and NBA
legal counsel Russ Granik reported "no significant progress." Granik also said, "We are prepared to go all season with the substitute officials. We think they'll get better each week." The NBA said it had filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against the referees' union for allegedly "engaging in a pattern of attempted coercion and intimidation" of substitute refs . . . Archibald hit 4 of 4 floor shots and 2 of 2 from the line in the Bucks' opener. "I think the fans will show their appreciation for the things Tiny did while he was here," says Carr . . . Moncrief has a slightly bruised shoulder but expects to play . . . Milwaukee assistant coach Gary St. Jean scouted the Celtics last weekend.

Preseason Jottings

1983-84 Boston Celtics

There was no news yesterday on the Parish front. Celtic assistant GM Jan Volk did not talk to Parish or his agent, Wayne Traynham. GM Red Auerbach has been in Washington for several days and plans to return to his Boston Garden office today. Auerbach was asked if he'd started searching for another center and replied, "I don't worry about it yet. When I'm sure nothing can be done, I'll start looking. Right now, I'm just watching the World Series."

The Lakers are taking some heat locally for Monday's trade which sent guards Norm Nixon and Eddie Jordan, plus one or two draft selections (depending on how much Swen Nater plays) to San Diego in exchange for backup center Nater and rookie guard Byron Scott. Nater has played 28 games in two years since breaking his right kneecap. The Lakers expect him to backup Abdul-Jabbar, who signed a two-year, $1.5 million per year contract Monday (Abdul-Jabbar isn't playing yet due to a case of viral hepititas). Scott was the first guard selected in last year's draft (fourth overall). The Clippers hadn't signed him, but the Lakers have agreed to give him a four-year deal worth $1.75 million. He averaged 21.6 points per game last year at Arizona State.

Suns Down C's in Exhibition Opener

1983-84 Boston Celtics

No, this doesn't mean the Celtics can't win without Robert Parish. Don't panic and/or beg Red Auerbach to cave in and start singing "Hail to the Chief." The Celtics lost to the Phoenix Suns, 117-114, on the Arizona State campus last night because coach K.C. Jones was willing to do what Ralph Houk wouldn't do - give the kids a shot.

Against Phoenix' formidable starting five, Jones had at least three rookies on the floor for the entire final quarter. Carlos Clark (seven points) and John Schweitz showed some cool and Greg Kite (nine fouls and no points in two games) banged around underneath, but it wasn't enough to overcome the high-wire act of Larry Nance (25 points), or the sledgehammer tactics of Maurice Lucas (17 points).

Phoenix led, 113-106, wih 2:25 left, but Scott Wedman (16 points, 7 of 10 from the floor), Charles Bradley and Clark led a late drive by the Celtics. With Phoenix leading by one point in the closing seconds, Kite rebounded a Walter Davis miss and fed Clark near midcourt. Clark hesitated, then double-dribbled. "Carlos got a little overanxious," said Jones. "But that's going to happen with a rookie."

Two free throws by Davis set the final score. The Celtics led for most of the first half thanks to a stellar effort by Larry Bird. Bird scored 20 of his team-high 22 in the first half and brought everyone out of their seats with a dazzling, 360-degree spinning layup in traffic. In 25 minutes, Bird had seven rebounds and eight assists. Kevin McHale played 27 minutes at center and scored 14 with four rebounds.

Red and Moses Square Off in Preseason Win

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Pre-season

This was right out of Syracuse or Fort Wayne, circa 1955: The Celtics and a hated rival in a free-for-all with Red Auerbach in the middle, taunting the enemy's big man by taking off his glasses and saying, "Go ahead, hit me you big SOB."

Unlike Fitch, KC Jones May Actually Use Employee #8

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Pre-season

He was an extra piece of cord wood stacked against the kitchen wall. He was hot fudge you didn't need on top of your favorite ice cream. When the Celtics acquired Scott Wedman last January, the league-wide question was, "What are they going to do with him?" The answer turned out to be, "Nothing." As the Celtics staggered and snarled toward their stunning no-show sweep in Milwaukee, Wedman pined away on the end of the bench wondering why Boston had bothered to trade for him.

Celtics Sweep Four Games from Lakers in NBAX

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Preseason

The final tuneup proved to be the highlight of the Celtics' 1983-84 exhibition schedule. Returning to this fertile land that yielded Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn and others, the Celtics overcame a 12-point third-quarter deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 102-100, at the Centrum last night.

ML Carr Re-Ups with C's

Summer 1983

Free agent forward/guard M.L. Carr is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Celtics over the weekend. "We expect to finish it tomorrow," Celtics general manager Red Auerbach said yesterday. "M.L. will probably be out at camp." Auerbach's annual rookie camp opens in Marshfield today. No. 1 pick Greg Kite, ex-CBA guard John Schweitz, free agents Greg Stewart and James Ray, plus nine other Boston draft selections will participate in the scrimmages which begin tonight at Marshfield High School at 7:30.

Auerbach said that veterans Gerald Henderson, Dennis Johnson and Kevin McHale also plan to participate before the rookie camp closes next Thursday. The 32-year-old Carr has been with the Celtics since 1979. His last contract, which paid him $315,000 in 1982-83, expired at the end of last season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were reportedly interested in his services. Auerbach wouldn't discuss Carr's contract terms, but the Celtics had made it clear they would expect Carr to take a pay cut after playing only only 11 minutes and averaging 4.3 points last year.

Bird Talks Begin

Summer 1983

Celtics general manager Red Auerbach and Bob Woolf, agent for Larry Bird, both said things went well yesterday in preliminary discussions for a contract that will keep the star forward in Boston. "We hope to get Bird signed for 10 years so that he'll always be a Celtic," said Woolf.

Bird has said he will become a free agent next year unless a new deal is worked out before the start of the season. Auerbach reported that discussions with free agent M.L. Carr also went well. "I'll think about the Celtics' offer over the weekend and then make a decision," said Carr, who also has an offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers to consider.

FERNSTEN'S FOLLIES

Don't look for Eric Fernsten at Auerbach's rookie camp that starts in Marshfield tomorrow night. The 6-foot-10 veteran center/forward, who was cut from the Celtics last October, has not taken a physical and plans to play in Rick Robey's golf tournament in Lexington, Ky.

"They (the Celtics) called me 15 minutes before my appointment for a physical and I told them I couldn't make the appointment," said Fernsten. "I have to work to pay a lot of bills I couldn't pay last year.

"Besides, I hadn't planned on being there (Marshfield) the way it was written. I can't because I'm not under contract. And you can't go into camp without a contract, especially knowing how well their medical staff takes care of people." The league arbitrator has yet to rule on a grievance Fernsten filed againstthe Celtics last fall. He claims he was injured with a hernia when he was cut. Would Fernsten drop his grievance if he returned to the Celtics?

"If they wanted to get me to camp and sign me properly, yes." The Celtics developed new interest in Fernsten when Robey was traded to Phoenix, leaving rookie Greg Kite as Robert Parish's backup (Boston prefers Kevin McHale at forward). Fernsten, who'll be 30 in November, is also talking with the Knicks and the Nets.

Celtics Rebound from Opening Night Loss

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 109, Cavaliers 89
Record: 1-1
10/29/1983

While you were cranking the night-table clock back an hour, the Celtics were wishing they could go back 24 hours and replay Friday's Detroit Disgrace. Instead, they put the first-game loss behind them and methodically defeated the all-new, but still lowly Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-89, last night. Boston's victory salvaged an opening weekend split and averted the humiliation of an 0-2 start against two perennial NBA doormats.

The Celts knew that another loss would have inspired sheer panic. Cries and whispers would have tracked them for weeks, or worse, they might have been sentenced to a season of prop-plane shuttling between Detroit and Cleveland. Accordingly, they came out and blowtorched the Cavs with a heat-seeking, 12-0 surge after the opening tap.

Robet Parish (nine in the quarter, three more than he scored all night in Pontiac) started it with a patented turnaround. Then Gerald Henderson (18) took a pass from Parish in the lane and laid it in. While Lonnie Shelton and the Cavs were missing their first nine shots, Larry Bird (16 points, 13 rebounds) took time for a routine jumper. A pop from out top by Dennis Johnson made it 8-0 and forced a time out. After the pause, Henderson drove for two more to make it 10-0, and Bird hit an 18-footer from the right to complete the shutout. The Celts hit nine of their first 11 shots and 14 of 20 in the quarter. So much for any fears you had about the unthinkable happening two nights in a row.

"It wasn't quite as ugly as last night," said Parish. "I wanted to make sure we got into the swing of things early. Tonight we were definitely ready to play from the first jump ball." "We gave them 16 fast-break points in the first quarter," said Cleveland coach Tom Nissalke. "You can't let any team get off on you like that, especially a team like the Celtics." Cav guard Geoff Huston got Cleveland on the scorebord with 7:21 left in the quarter, but the Cavaliers would never get closer than three the rest of the night. The Celts led, 18-6, midway through the period and 29-20 after one.

Cleveland's first-quarter total represented an 18-point defensive improvement by the Celtics, who allowed Detroit 38 in the first period Friday. Early in the second, the Cavs fought back and pulled to within three at 35-32 on a nice drive by ex-BC great John Bagley. K. C. Jones called time and after the pause, Boston scored seven straight to go back up by 10. Then, still-torrid Kevin McHale (22, 8 for 11 from the floor) undressed Cav center Ben Poquette, scoring 12 points in the period, and Boston led, 55-44, at intermission. The C's hit 60 percent (24 for 40) in the half and committed only seven turnovers.

Led by World B. Free (23), the Cavs pulled to within seven briefly in the third, but Henderson, Bird and DJ picked Cleveland apart and, when McHale scored with 2:30 left in the period, Boston's lead swelled to 79-58. The fourth quarter was a slow-motion special, featuring the debuts of Greg Kite and Carlos Clark. Both rookies scored their first pro points before the final buzzer. "Winning this game is a relief," said Henderson. "Last night's loss was not the way we wanted to start the season. The first half tonight - that's the way we wanted to get started."

Jones added, "We did a much better job putting pressure on them. That helped us get the fast break going and the ball was dropping. The 12-0 start showed that our running game is still effective." It also showed that the Cavs are still inept. New uniforms, new owners, a new logo, a new paint job on the floor, four new rookies and a still fat Lonnie Shelton couldn't change the fact that they are still the same old Cavs. Celtic fans should be happy that the Cavaliers came along just when Boston needed them.

ML Carr Gets Tossed for Elbowing Laimbeer

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 114, Pistons 99
Record: 11-5
11/28/1983

K. C. Jones wanted his Celtics to get physical at the start of the fourth quarter last night. Detroit had melted a 21-point Boston lead to six points, so Jones brought M. L. Carr off the bench to join Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale at the start of the fourth. M. L. lasted a total of 2:57 before he was heaved for tossing an elbow at Detroit center Bill Laimbeer.

What's wrong with the 1983-84 Boston Celtics?

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Knicks 117, Celtics 113
Record: 9-5
11/23/1983

Have we vastly overrated this bunch? Are Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell, Dennis Johnson, Quinn Buckner and Scott Wedman over the hill? Is Gerald Henderson capable of being the consistent guard the team has lacked? Is it time to give up on Danny Ainge? Are the team's fortunes too dependent on Larry Bird's shooting accuracy? Do they (gulp) miss Bill Fitch?

There are no easy answers to the questions, but one thing is clear: The Celtics have lost much of their intimidation. In the spirit of the Berlin Airlift, they've brought joy to decimated franchises around the league in the last 12 months. This benevolence has cost them dearly. They have forfeited their "big stick" mystique. They have to work harder to win now, because teams don't fear them anymore.

After New York's double-overtime victory over Boston Tuesday (the Knicks' fourth win in their last five games against the Celtics), Marvin Webster and Rory Sparrow issued telling statements.

Webster: "In the past, playing Boston, we always came in scared to lose. It was a psychological thing. Now we know we can beat them."

Sparrow: "We're no longer in awe of the Celtics' mystique."

There. The mere presence of Celtic Green is no longer enough to wilt opponents.

The Celtics are paying for bad habits acquired last year, when they lost to weak teams and had trouble handling mediocre ones. It's not like the good old days when opponents threw in the towel as soon as Fitch unleashed his formidable weaponry. Teams now think they can beat the Celtics. The Bullets do. So do the Hawks, and the Knicks and the Pistons. Even the Utah Jazz know they can beat the Celtics.

Coach K. C. Jones has noticed. "It's more of a problem this year than ever before," he says. "Utah, Detroit, New York, Indiana . . . all of them seem to have supreme confidence. Before, we'd walk on the court and we'd know that they knew that we were gonna win. Now they believe they can win, and it makes a difference."

One more thing. The Celtics are not viewed elsewhere the way they are here. Before Tuesday's game in New York, basketball scribe Harvey Araton of the Daily News wrote, "Another victory over the Celtics might create some doubt as to which team will chase the 76ers in the Atlantic Division."

Chuckle if you like, but the Celtics shouldn't be laughing. It's time for the Green Team to re-establish itself, or admit that it has dropped behind Philadelphia into that second-tier wasteland occupied by the Knicks, Nets and Hawks of this world.

Don Gaston Buys the Celtics

July 1983

Last spring, Harry Mangurian vowed to sell the Boston Celtics. Last night,the i's were dotted and the t's crossed to make a group of investors headed by Donald F. Gaston new owners of the team. "We've signed a contract for the sale of the team," announced Celtics' vicepresident in charge of finance Stephen Mehallis.

Mangurian, reached at his home in Florida, was pleased that the sale was complete. "I thought we had the team sold two to three weeks ago," he said. "I think we've sold the team to very solid, responsible people." In parting with the Celtics, "I feel bad," said Mangurian. "But it probably won't really hit me until later on, when the NBA approves the sale."

7,600 Fans Watch Celtics Down Bulls

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 118, Bulls 105
Record: 14-6
12/7/1983

CHICAGO

Times are tough here in the windy city. George Halas died, mayor Harold Washington is off to a rocky start, the Bears are effectively out of the playoffs, the Black Hawks are slumping, and there is talk about putting lights in Wrigley Field. Chicago's NBA entry offers no escape. The Bad News Bulls are 5-12 and making a serious run at the bottom spot in the Central Division. A trip to Chi-town was just what the Celtics needed after Sunday's draining overtime loss to the 76ers. Boston handed the Bulls their sixth straight loss last night, a 118-105 spanking at Chicago Stadium, the city's ancient West Side sports palace.

Bill Fitch Quits, Replaced by KC Jones

1983-84 Boston Celtics

Two days after Harry Mangurian announced he would sell the team, Bill Fitch, the Celtics' head coach for the past four seasons, quit. Less than a week later, he was named head coach of the Houston Rockets. This past week, the Celtics named long-time assistant K.C. Jones as the new head coach.

KC Jones is All Smiles

KC Jones is All Smiles

1983-84 Boston Celtics

If ever one smile was worth a thousand words, it was the one on K. C. Jones' face Monday. He now can look back at the last four years, and call it a meaningful experience.

Now he can say that all the sacrifices he made to remain an assistant under Bill Fitch were worth the pain and mental anguish that often were difficult to hide. Now K. C. Jones can return to being his own man, and maybe grab a microphone and croon a tune or two somewhere along the NBA trail, as he used to do when life was simpler and he had a few credit cards to pick up a tab with once in awhile.

Red Nabs DJ in Trade for Robey

Maybe Dennis Johnson will show up with an attitude that'll make Sidney Wicks look like John Havlicek. Maybe Rick Robey will prove to be the greatest thing to hit Phoenix since air conditioning.

Then again, maybe the venerable Redhead has done it again. Maybe Celtic fans will be sipping green beer next June, saying, "We knew we were on the right track when Red swapped Rick Robey for Dennis Johnson and a first-round pick last June."

Fundamentals Have Been Key to Celtics' Success

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 140, Nuggets 124
Record: 9-1
11/16/1983

Win nine in a row and everybody starts talking about pride, tradition and happy ballplayers, but the Celtics are winning because they are shooting and rebounding exceptionally well. The Green took a nine-game win streak into Utah's Salt Palace last night. Two important statistics explained the streak: the Celtics were outrebounded only once in their first 10 ballgames, and Boston led the league with a .534 shooting percentage after Tuesday night's 140-124 victory over the Nuggets in Denver.