Lubbock Evening Journal from Lubbock, Texas • Page 26

JOURNAL, Lubbock, April 25, J983 NBA roundup Follow the bouncing ball Portland Trail Blazers Kenny Carr (left) and Linton Townes (right) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson (center) focus their eyes on a loose ball dur- ing Sunday's playoff game in Los Angeles. The ball bounced the Lakers' way as they defeated Portland, 118-97, in the first game of their best-of-seven series. Boston Garden Venerable arena stands test of time By The Associated Press Historic Boston Garden, that venerable sports arena built atop North Station, has had its share of thrills in the 155 years since it was constructed. But for a single day' night program of continuous, decisive action, the old place will have to go some to match the latest exploits of the basketball Celtics and hockey Bruins. The Celts and Bruins went down to the last games in their respective playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks and Buffalo Sabres Sunday.

But because of their strong regular-season records, both Boston clubs were able to play those final, deciding contests in their cozy home building. So. the Hawks trotted out on to the parquet court for the showdown in their best-of-three mini-series against the Celtics and were greeted by an arena festooned with championship banners, testimony to the efficiency of the basketball dynasty that lives there. And the Sabres were reminded each time they glanced up from the ice that some of the National Hockey League's greatest players and teams have performed for Boston in the building that sits over over the railroad tracks. And.

in each case, the home team won. There are 14 National Basketball Association green and white pennants prominently displayed from the Garden's rafters, saluting Boston teams that established a standard of excellence unmatched by any franchise in the NBA. And when you finish counting those, you can start on the 14 retired uniform numbers that also" hang on two "other banners in the arena. No team in sports has more jerseys in mothballs. And sitting in his regular seat, massaging his victory cigar and ready to light it up at the appropriate moment, was the legendary president of the franchise.

Red Auerbach. Anybody got a match? The Hawks were not only facing Larry Bird, Tiny Archibald and Robert Parish, but they mig'ht have fel't the spirit of Celtics past such as Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn watching the action, too. That can be, well, unnerving. The patterned parquet floor, unique in the NBA, complete with green trim that's Celtic green, in case you were wondering was laid over the ice at the old Garden Sunday. That's because, a couple of hours after the CeJts dispatched Atlanta, the Bruins skated out to take on Buffalo in the seventh game of their Stanley Cup quarterfinal series.

That one went into overtime, but the Bruins came away with the victory. The hockey franchise has been somewhat less successful than its basketball brethren, at least in terms of league championships. The Bruins have won five Stanley Cup crowns, the first one in 1528-29, the year he arena opened for business. But there is no shortage of flags waving in the Garden for them because they display their yellow and black division pennants, as well, and there are 18 of them, including one for 1982-83. And of course, there are a half-dozen retired jerseys, just in case Hick Middleton, Hay Bourque and Pete Peelers require a spiritual lift from the likes of Bobby Orr, Dit Clapper or Milt Schmidt.

So there is a sense of history about the Garden. Was Sunday's doubleheader exciting? Certainly, but the old place has had some other moments, too. There was Bobby Orr's overtime goal clinching the Stanley Cup for the Bruins in 1970 and two-point victories in the seventh game of the NBA finals for the Celtics over the St. Louis Hawks in 1957 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966. The three-pointer over the Lakers for the NBA crown in 1962 wasn't exactly a laugher, either.

So Boston Garden look Sunday in stride. The old place is used to excitement. Dockets' job attracts top names -HOUSTON (AP, The Houston Rockets' coaching vacancy should be one of the National Basketball Association's most attractive, even though the Rackets sank this season to the league's worst record, general manag- erjlay Patterson says. really do believe that this is one oCthe plum jobs to come up in recent ygars," said Patterson, who accepted Harris' resignation as head coach last week. because of our high draft cjjoiccs, the city itself, which is still growing, the growing interest in basketball in town and the presence of a sfpble local ownership in Charlie Thomas.

don't think you could ask for njjchmoreinajob." £The Rockets own two of the first three picks in the NBA draft. The right oCfWst choice will be determined by a fljp qf the coin next month between the Rockets and the Indiana Pacers, and Houston has Cleveland's first pick, tfhich will be the No.3 choice. pro coaches reportedly being considered for the Rockets' job are Milwaukee Bucks coach Don Nel- son, Indiana coach Jack McKmnev. Kansas City's Cotton Fitzsimmons and Cleveland's Tom Nissalke. "I would like to get someone who recognizes that we are talking about a two-to-four-year program and who can map out a plan for each year of the program," Patterson said.

So Patterson didn't rule out the possibility of hiring a college coach, but said he preferred an experienced pro coach. "The fact that the ballclub is committed to a three-year program means it is feasible to look at the colleges," he said. "You might want a sharp, aggressive guy to come in here, make the adjustments from college to pro ball and grow right along with the ballclub. "I'd say right now, that would be a long shot, but we're not limiting ourselves. There are some excellent college coaches and you never know who might surface." Nunn Electric has a complete Selection of Decorator lamps 2425 TEXAS AVE.

Open fckxi. thru Fri. 765-5741 8 to 5 Nuggets get revenge with overtime win tty Associated Press The Denver Nuggets gave the Phoenix Suns a taste of their own poison. A year ago, Phoenix beat Denver to become only (he fil'lh team since 1975 to come back to win a National Basketball Association mini-series after losing the first game. On Sunday night, the Nuggets got even, beating Iho Suns 117-1)2 in overtime to advance to the second round against San Antonio, starting Tuesday.

"This team lias a lot of character and it showed lonight." center Dan Issel said. "We've been the underdog al! season, bill we've handled the adversity. We had to win three games last week or be eliminated and won them all." The Suns had won the series opener in Phoenix last week before the Nuggets evened it in Denver. Elsewhere in the NBA playoffs, Boston advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against Milwaukee with a 93-79 victory over Atlanta. The Celtics won that best-of-3 mini-scrics2-l.

In the openers of two second-round scries, defending champion Los Angeles whipped Portland 118-97 and Philadelphia outlasted New York 112-102. Denver, which won its first bcst-of- three series in four playoff appearances, got 42 points from NBA scoring champion Alex English and clutch shooting down the stretch from substitute guard Mike Evans. "We earned it," said Denver coach Doug Moe. "We played hard to get the breaks. We just kept gutting it out." Evans hit a three-point basket with 37 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime deadlocked 106-106.

A free Ihrnw by English and a basket by Evnns put Denver ahead 111-10(1 and a steal and layup bv Evans gave the Nuggets a 113-108 margin with 2:02 left. Kiki Vandeweghe added 28 poinl.s for Denver, while Issel had 1C and Evans 13. Walt Davis led Phoenix, which played without injured all-star Maurice Lucas, with 29 points. Celtics 98,1 lawks 79 Boston literally batlled i(s way past Allanta, but guard Danny Ainge was the only major casualty. Faced with elimination at Die hands of the Hawks, a team that lost 13 more games than Boston this season, the Celtics got 2G points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Larry Bird, who hit only four of 18 shots in Boston's second- game loss.

Midway through the third period, with Boston in front GB-52, the G-foot-o Ainge, afler being elbowed by Tree Rollins, put his head down and tackled the Hawks center. Both benches emptied, but Boston Garden security forces and cooler players prevented'a free- for-all. Ainge, however, was bitten on the finger and sustained a five-stitch cut. The Celtics guard blamed Rollins and photographs appeared to back him up, but Rollins denied it, "He just stuck my finger in his mouth and I thought he was going to bite it off." Ainge said. "When 1 play aggressive, people call me dirty," Rollins said, "When other players play aggressive, they call it aggressive." The Celtics, who play host to the Bucks on Wednesday, raced to 11-2, 21-8 and 32-13 leads in the first period.

They widened the advantage to 59-15 at halftime with Kevin McHale hitting 14 of his Ifi points in the second quarter. "We came out of the blocks pretty good," Boston coach Bill Fitch said'. "Our guys look their pride, their intensity, whatever it took and came right out and did it." Moses Malone. despite two injured knees, thoroughly dominated New York inside, scoring 38 points and pulling down 17 rebounds for Philadelphia. "The post-game questioning hunt's more lhan my knees," said Malone.

"You (the media) all make it seem-like I'm dying in here. I just like to keep a low profile." Malone, who hadn't played in two weeks because of tendinitis in one knee and inflammation in the other hit 15 of shots from the field. "I was very concerned about -his timing on the boards and his stamina." said Philadelphia coach Billy Cunningham. "But he played a perfectly outstanding game." Lakers 118. Blazers 97 Kareeni Abdul-Jabbar scored his 32 points in the first quarter as Los Angeles took a 29-12 lead eight minutes into the game and held off Portland rallies thereafter.

The Trail Blazers, who beat Seattle in isvn straight games to advance to (he second round, got within 91-87 in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers outscored them 27-10 the rest of the way: Jamaal Wilkes scored 25 points for Los Angeles, which Earvin "Magic" Johnson added 19 points and 18 assists. Mychal Thompson paced Portland with 22 points and Calvin Natt added 21. 1 men, 1 exas women SMU capture SWC tennis titles Evening Journal News Services CORPUS CHRIST1 Texas Tech's doubles team of Regina Revello and Leigh Mires, unseeded entering the competition, advanced all the way to the finals in No.3 doubles before losing to top-seeded Vicki Ellis and Tenley Stewart of Texas. Miss Revello and Miss Mires won their way through the draw before falling in Sunday's final. The tournament concludes Tech's 1983 season.

The Raiders ended the year with a 34-9 dual-match record. The Tech men's team finished in seventh place. SMU's Rodney Harmon allied back to defeat Jonny Levine of Texas, 3-6, 64, 7-5, Sunday to win his second consecutive No.l men's singles championship and lead the Mustangs to their second straight men's team title. Margaret Redfearn of Houston won the No.l women's singles championship, 6-3, 6-4, over Stephanie Fess of SMU. Texas won the women's team championship by taking four of the six singles fiights Gen Greiwe at No.2, Jane Johansen at No.4, Tenley Stewart at No.5 and Mary Jo Giammalva at No.6.

Ani Gelats of SMU won the No.3 singles. Miss Redfearn and Joy Tacon won the women's top flight doubles championship with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Celli Chase and Beth Wagner of Arkansas. Women's final point totals svere Texas 84, Rice 60, Houston 52, SMU 50, Arkansas 47, Texas 37, Texas Tech 28, TCU 28 and Baylor 1. Helping SMU earn the men's title were Eric Korita at No.2 singles and Jerome Vanier in the No.3 flight. Harald Rittersbacher of TCU took the No.4 singles match, Tim Siegel of Arkansas won No.5 and Gavin Forbes of Texas took No.6.

Peter Doohan and Pat Serret of Arkansas teamed to win the doubles championship, defeating David Pate and Corey Wittenberg of TCU 6-2, Final point totals for the men were SMU 76, Arkansas 72, TCU 63, Texas 57, Texas 38, Houston 34, Rice 22, Texas Tech 20 and Baylor 5. SWC TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday's fiVial resullj from Ihe Southwest Conference Tennis Championships: WOMEN Team Scores: I. Texas S4; 1. Rice 60: 3. Houston 52; I.

SMU 50; Arkansas J7; j. 37! TEXAS T6CH and TCU 23; a. Baylor l. No. I singles: Margaret Redfearn.

Houston. Oft Sleohanie Fess, SMU.4-3,6-j. No. I slnjles: Gen Greiwe. Texas, del.

Vanne AX- a9i. TeiasAiM. 6-1. No. sinsles: Ani Oelafs.

SMU. def. Kirsfen McKeen, Teias. No. 4 singles: Jane Johansen.

del Eileen Curreri, Rice. 6-1. 7-6. No. i sinsles: Tenlev Stewart, del.

Wendy Brockman, Rice.6-4, No. 1 singles: Mary Jo Giammalva, Def Tamara Ray, Rice. 7-5. 6-3. No.

I dcublei: Margaret Redtearn-Joy Tacon. Houston, def. Kelli Chasc-Belh Wagrtcr, 3.4. No. 3 Sleohame rV.arcrvSAW.

del. Amv Closs-Teresa Landry. Texas AIM, 6-? Ffl' No. doubles: Vicki EHH-Jenttr ittwarl, Jtttt, Resinj Reveiio-Ltigh Mires, Tech, MEN Team Scores: 1. SMU 76; 2.

Arkansas 76; 3 TCU 63; 4. Texas 57; 5. Tejras AIM 2fl; 6. Houston 7 TEXAS TECH 9. Baylori.

No. 1 singles: Rodney Harmon, SMU. def. Jonny Levine, Texas, 7-s. No.

2 sinsles: Eric Korita, SMU, del. Corey Wittenberg. TCLM-iS. 7-6. 6-3.

No. 1 singles: Jerome Vanier, SMU. del Pat Serrel. 7-5. 4-4.

No. 4 singles: Harald Rillersbacher, TCU. Jef John Ross, SMU, 7-6, A-4. No. singles: Tim Siegel.

def. Craig ton, TCU, No. i singles: Gavin Forbes. Texas, Banck. Ark.

No. 1 doubles: Peter Doo han at Serrcl Arl( David Pate-Corey TCU.6-2. 6-2 No. doublM: Kelly Siegel. Ark- del.

Rodney Harmon-Erik Van'l Hoi, SMU.6-4,6-4 No. 3 doodles: Kimmo Alkio-Van Barry, Texai Al M.det. Bobby Banr.k-tim Siegel. 7-5. 6-4' NOUU SCftVING VOU IN LOCUTIONS SOUTH PUMNS MALI 7W-5S77 Mil MTM STACCT.