Auerbach Dreaming of Bird, Maravich Combo

January 5, 1979 Picture the Boston Celtics with Pete Maravich at guard and Larry Bird at forward. Picture the Celts rising from the ashes next year. Bet your boots boss Red Auerbach is thinking along those lines.

Maravich, finally frustrated enough to want out of New Orleans, is on the NBA trade block. Eight clubs are in the bidding, and the Celts -- whose Jo Jo White has been bucking to be traded for some time -- are in the forefront. The Maravich deal could break any day now, letting the Jazz unload the knee-braced ace and the 3 1/2 years left on his big, big contract while maybe even getting N'Orleans forward Truck Robinson out of the mood to be traded, too, as he has wished aloud in the past because of the club's "special treatment" of Maravich.

Celtic owner John Y. Brown qualifies: "I'm aware that Red has always been fond of him, but I'm also aware of Maravich's contract." Meanwhile, Auerbach finds Bird-watching at Indiana State pure pleasure.

The Celts drafted Bird No. 1 last year as a junior and are enjoying a winter of anticipation, avowedly not unhappy that the 6-foot-7 All-America opted to play his senior year at Indiana State before going pro. The NCAA Division I statistics just out show Bird the only player among the top five in both scoring and rebounding -- No. 1 in scoring, 33.3; No. 4 in 'bounding, 14.6; but that's not all. Auerbach beams, after a visit to Terre Haute to watch Bird against Tulsa (27 points, 19 rebounds, six assists): "I don't think there is any forward in the pros now who can pass any better than he can. In fact, he's the best passing big man I ever saw."

Maravich "Always Wanted to be a Celtic"

Part 5 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series

January 5, 1988

Pete Maravich was born without a left main coronary artery, which carries life-sustaining oxygen and blood to the left side of the heart. Instead, a branch from the right coronary artery wound around to the left side of his heart, ensuring enough blood to sustain it.

Over time, the slower-than-normal flow of blood and oxygen scarred muscle on the left side of Maravich's heart -- leaving him vulnerable to the type of heart failure he suffered today playing a game of pick-up basketball.

Mr. Maravich, who was known as Pistol Pete because of his shooting prowess, averaged 44.2 points per game and amassed an NCAA record of 3,667 points in three years while playing for his father, Pete (Press) Maravich, at Louisiana State in the late 1960s.

Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the third selection in the first round of the 1970 NBA draft, Maravich averaged 23 points per game on his way to All-Rookie honors. After spending four seasons in Atlanta, Maravich was traded to the New Orleans Jazz for 8 players.

He made the All-NBA First Team in 1976 and 1977 and the All-NBA Second Team in 1973 and 1978. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1976-77 with 31.1 points per game. His NBA single game high, a 68-point explosion before fouling out, came against the New York Knicks on February 25, 1977.

The following year, he injured a knee while making one of his sensational behind-the-back passes. In January 1980, he was waived by the Jazz, who had moved to Utah, and the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers were matching offers trying to sign him.

"I actually weighed a lot of factors between both clubs," Mr. Maravich told Globe basketball writer Bob Ryan, "and it came down to one very simple end result: I've been trying to get here for 10 years. I've always wanted to be a Celtic."

Maravich averaged 11.5 points in 26 regular-season contests for the Celtics, then hit for 6 per game in the 1980 playoffs. He retired during preseason camp the following year.

In 1996 Maravich was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Pistol Calls it a Career

Part 4 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series

September 1980

Pete Maravich, who signed a new contract with the Boston Celtics less than two weeks ago, has quit the club, apparently ending a 10-year pro career.

"Pete told me he had had it," the Boston coach, Bill Fitch, said. "He just didn't feel he could get himself up for another season." The 32-year-old Maravich called Fitch yesterday morning before flying home to New Orleans.

Fitch said Maravich had told him, "I think I've shot one basket too many." Maravich, the leading collegiate career scorer, signed with the Celtics last January after the Utah Jazz bought out the remainder of his contract, reportedly for nearly $2 million for two and a half seasons.

He's retired," said Press Maravich, Pete's father and his former college coach at Louisiana State, in a telephone interview from Mandeville, La. "I guess he just lost his enthusiasm. You remember when Cowens quit a few years back. He just lost his enthusiasm and couldn't put up with the hassles."

"At age 32 and after 10 seasons," Fitch said, "he felt he simply didn't have the desire it takes to get over the hump and face another season of traveling, another season of not seeing his child grow up.

"The fact that he's financially secure was probably part of his decision," Fitch added.

Pistol Shows Some of his Old Magic

Part 3 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series

February 1980

Wait till they see this box score in Philadelphia.

No Cedric Maxwell (sprained ankle). Only three field goals for Larry Bird ("He was dealt," said Bill Fitch, "a pair of deuces and he still made the most of them"). Only three field goals for Dave Cowens. A four-point deficit after three quarters. All this, and still the fifth Celtic victory in large measure because of another fascinating entry in the box: Pete Maravich , 12-7-31.

These are the games coaches remember far more than players. They make decisions on personnel and they train people. Coaches know very well that good teams must survive adversity, and Bill Fitch, therefore, had to feel good about the Celtics' 114-102 triumph over the Indiana Pacers last night.

It was a grinder against a team that gives the Celtics an inordinate amount of trouble. "They match up very well against us," said M.L. Carr, a major contributor with 23 points and 9 rebounds in 44 minutes of floor time.

But the Pacers went home losers for the fourth time in six tries against the Celtics this season, and they did so for a variety of reasons, ranging from a bad start to an inability to deal with Mr. Bird (14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists) down the stretch. But there might have been no game at all were it not for the sensational shooting of Maravich, who shot 12 for 18 and who scored 31 of the first 88 Celtic points.

Pete had dropped a hint that he was ready to break loose offensively on Monday night by hitting five straight shots in the third quarter of the Nets' rout. Last night he found himself starting as Maxwell was forced to six out with a sprained left ankle and Carr was shifted back to his more familiar forward spot ("It was like going back home," quoth Michael Leon). And The Pistol was ready, scoring 10 points in the first quarter (29-19, Boston) and 11 in the second as the Celtics moved into a 60-49 halftime lead.

Included in his second-period performance was a one-minute burst that would have been very recognizable to the folks in Raleigh, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. With the Celtics leading by a 42-31 score, and with the fascinating quintet of Rick Robey, Carr, Jeff Judkins (as a forward), Gerald Henderson and Maravich on the floor, The Pistol went to work. A stutter step followed by a long turnaround for two. A high banked runner for a three-point play. A 4-on-2 pull-up fast-break jumper.

He had scored seven straight Boston points in 1:05 to give the team a 49-33 lead, and the capacity crowd of 15,622 was grooving on it.

The only problem was that he had little offensive help, especially since the gruesome officiating of the inept Bob Rakel and the confused Ralph Lembo had Bird and Cowens out of the game early with personals. Though each had only a pair, Fitch had them yanked pronto. "I just felt," he explained, "that it was one of those nights when I didn't want them with three at the half. I wanted them ready for the entire second half."

This offensive impotence was underlined when the Pacers erased a 69-55 third-period Boston lead with a 15-1 blast. That gave them a 71-70 lead with 3:57 left in the period. Mike Bantom scored 12 points and the Pacers were sitting on an 83-79 three-period advantage.

The turning point in the fourth quarter was - can't you guess? - the re- entry of Bird into the fray with 10:16 to play and the Pacers leading by an 87-83 score.

Bird broke an 88-88 deadlock with a spectacular lefthanded running hook, the first of several clutch baskets the team would score. A layup by Robey gave the team a nonrefundable lead at 96-94, but the key sequence came shortly afterward when, with Boston leading by a 99-96 score, Bird somehow found Carr sneaking in along the baseline for a layup; Robey rebounded a Billy Knight miss and Maravich fed Carr for another layup that gave the Celtics a seven- point (103-96) lead that not even the Rakel-Lembo combine or their own penchant for last-minute turnovers could overcome.

Fittingly, Carr, Mr. Showman himself, capped a nice evening for the fans with a 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer. He, as well as Maravich and Bird, had earned the applause.

Pistol Makes Celtics Debut

Part 2 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series

The chanting began in the third period. "We Want Pete!" But it was having a reverse effect on Bill Fitch, who gave serious thought to leaving his newest Celtic on the bench for the entire game last night.

"I didn't really want to put him in a game at garbage time," said Fitch, who finally unveiled Pistol Pete Maravich - to the delight of 15,320 screaming fans at the Garden. "He's not ready to play. I'd much rather the game have been close so that I could have taken advantage of it psychologically. But the crowd was yelling and I sent him in.

"But I'd rather have been able to use Gerald Henderson instead of putting in Pete in that situation. Henderson's got a hairline jaw fracture and I frankly didn't like the idea of playing this game without him."

The Pistol made his Celtic debut at 7:04 of the final period in Boston's 130-108 rout of the Indiana Pacers. A pass to Eric Fernsten brought the crowd to its feet. The Pistol then fired three times and hit one bullseye. That also prompted a standing ovation, since Fitch then removed Maravich after a six- minute stint.

"I thought I'd be real tight when I first went in there," said Maravich. "But the moment I got in there I was loose. I heard the crowd calling for me and I appreciated it very much. It came as quite a surprise and made me feel great.

Celtics Ponder Signing Maravich

Part 1 of 5 in the Pete Maravich Series

January 1980

Celtic general manager Red Auerbach met with Pete Maravich and his agent for about 85minutes before last night's Celtics' game, leading to speculation that the free-agent guard might be joining the Celtics. Auerbach and Maravich were to meet again after the game.

Maravich , 31, was placed on waivers by the Jazz last week and met Monday with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are looking for a guard to replace the injured Doug Collins. 76er general manager Pat Williams said Maravich wanted to talk with the Celtics before deciding which team to join.

Would Pete Maravich be good for the Boston Celtics?

As with any major issue, there are no easy answers. Signing a Pete Maravich would have ramifications, not only for this year but for several seasons to come.

Here are some positives:

- Maravich can score, and the Celtics at present are lacking in firepower off the bench, which is, presumably, where Maravich would be coming from.

- Maravich is experienced, and when Tiny Archibald is out of the game, the Celtics have nobody to run the team.

- Maravich should be motivated by playing on a winning team in front of enthusiastic fans and for a coach (Bill Fitch) he has known and liked for a long time.

- Maravich will come cheap. Maravich's contract settlement with Utah has removed the financial burden, and the Celtics would be making no serious financial commitment by signing him.

- By signing Maravich, the Celtics would keep him away from Philadelphia. Don't think this isn't a factor.

And here are some negatives:

- Maravich has sustained a major injury to his right knee, and there is no assurance he will hold up.

- By signing Maravich, the Celtics will raise fan expectations to new heights. The team needs more than just a Pete Maravich in order to be a champion. It still would need a frontcourt physical player along the lines of a Kermit Washington, Steve Mix or Paul Silas coming off the bench. But it will be difficult to convince fans that the signing of Maravich isn't a title guarantee.

- If Maravich comes, somebody must go, and this has been a closely knit team. That somebody would be either Eric Fernsten or Jeff Judkins, and it would most likely be the former. Much has been made of the chemistry on this team, and there is no question that the remaining players would feel bad about the plight of their fallen comrade.

- Maravich hasn't played in two months, and it would be anybody's guess when he would be able to help the team.

There is no question that Fitch would be delighted to have Maravich. Fitch has been seeking backcourt help all season, and he often has spoken fondly of Maravich. Nobody bothered to discuss the possibility of Maravich coming to Boston, however, as long as his contract with Utah remained unresolved. As coach, Fitch is prepared to accept the responsibility of having Maravich, which means blending him in with the rest of the team as well as standing up to the fan expectation, which is almost guaranteed to be unrealistically high.

The 76ers had Maravich's knee checked out at the Temple University Hospital by their team physician, and he declared that the knee had come along as any such knee possibly could. But because Maravich would be adding to the team and not taking away in any manner (i.e., nobody would be traded for him), his knee is considered an acceptable risk by the Celtics.

His very presence in Boston last evening indicates a strong desire to be a part of the latest Boston winning tradition. At least, that's the way the Celtics see it. The whole thing is fascinating.

A Pistol Pete Rememberance

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