The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 68

10-D The S.C., Thursday, October 29, 1981 Fast On The Heels Of World Series It's NBA Time By GARY MYERS Associated Press After years of having its season openers overshadowed by the World Series, the National Basketball League decided to move back its starting date two weeks, assuming baseball would be out of the way. Everything was going according to plan until the powers in baseball decided to salvage the strike-ravaged season by going to a splitseason format, pushing the start of the World Series back a week. And if the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees go the full seven games, baseball will pack up tonight with the NBA opening Friday. Foiled again. But, for a league desperately in need of a facelift, not everything is rotten.

CBS has agreed to televise the league finals in prime time this year after a few years of delayed telecasts in the wee hours of the morning. More importantly, there are few apparent dogs among the 23 teams and that should make for a more i interesting season. A lot of interesting questions will be put to the test, such as: Can the Boston Celtics become the first team since the 1968-69 Celtics to repeat as NBA champions? Will Philadelphia's Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins find a way to destroy backboards now that collapsible rims will be used in all arenas? Will the New Jersey Nets, with a host of new players, a new coach and a new arena, capture interest in the metropolitan area with the New York Knicks just eight miles to the east? Will rookies such as Mark Aguirre, Isiah Thomas and Buck Williams be worth the millions they're getting paid? And what about free agents Otis Birdsong, Mitch Team-By-Team am Outlook seventh game of conference semifinals and lost by one point. Sidney Moncrief, Brian Winters, Mickey Johnson and Quinn Buckner could carry the team. Chicago Bulls Last year: 45-37 Coach: Jerry Sloan, third year Key Addition: Orlando Woolridge Outlook: With a healthy Ronnie Lester this year, Chicago could jump right to the top of the division.

The Bulls got some frontcourt depth with No. 1 pick Woolridge from Notre Dame, though he's still unsigned. The Bulls genuine small forward, with off-inlured Scott May failing to get past the final cut. David Greenwood, Dwight Jones and Woolridge will surround center Artis Gilmore. The backcourt of Reggie Theus and Lester could be one of the best in the league.

Indiana Pacers Last year: 44-38 Coach: Jack McKinney, second year Key Additions: Herb Williams, Tom Owens Outlook: Last year's surprise team with 44 victories, the Pacers aren't crying over loss of free agent center James Edwards to Cleveland. They drafted Ohio State's Williams and traded for Owens from Portland. McKinney experimented with 6-foot-8 Louis Orr at big guard during preseason. This year could be the end for George McGinnis. Cleveland Cavaliers Last year: 28-54 Coach: Don Delaney, first year Key Additions: James Edwards, Scott Wedman Outlook: Disarray.

Ted Stepien has 13 guaranteed contracts and only 12 roster spots. Signing of free agents Edwards, Wedman and Bobby Wilkerson plus acquisition of James Silas should mean some improvement. But not much. Cavs suffered the ultimate embarrassment last year when the NBA placed a moratorium on their trades. Detroit Pistons Last year: 21-61 Coach: Scotty Robertson, 2nd year Key Additions: Isiah Thomas, Kelly Tripucka Outlook: No.1 picks Thomas and Tripucka were wise selections but Pistons can't win playing two-on-five.

Robertson needs forward Gregory Kelser injury-free and needs center combination of Kent Benson, Paul Mokeski and Edgar Jones to hold off the NBA giants. WESTERN CONFERENCE MIDWEST DIVISION Kansas City Kings Last year: 40-42 Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons, fourth year Key Additions: Cliff Robinson, Steve Johnson Outlook: Many thought it was all over for the Kings, losing free agents Otis Birdsong and Scott Wedman. Buf the Kings shrewdly worked out a deal for Birdsong with the Nets, getting explosive forward Robinson. The Kings had an outstanding draft, getting Oregon State center Johnson and Alabama State forward Kevin Loder. When the Kings knocked off Phoenix in the playoffs, it was the backcourt combination of Phil Ford and Ernie Grunfeld that did the damage with Birdsong injured.

Houston Rockets Last year: 40-42 Coach: Del Harris, third season refired. San Antonio Spurs Last year: 52-30 Coach: Stan Albeck, second season Key Addition: Elvin Hayes Outlook: Any team that has Moses Malone has a chance. The Rockets upset the Lakers, the Spurs and the Kings before losing in six games to the Celtics in the finals. The Rockets got no help in the draft, but the addition of Elvin Hayes from the Bullets should take some of the scoring and rebounding pressure off Malone. Rudy Tomjanovich Key Addition: Gene Banks Outlook: The Spurs played some defense year, but that doesn't mean they liked it.

George Gervin can still light it up and George Johnson was surprisingly effective in the middle, but San Antonio seems to fold every in the playoffs. The Bruise Brothers Johnson, Dave Corzine, Mark Olberding will get some scoring help up front from Duke rookie Gene Banks. With James Silas in Cleveland, Ron Brewer takes over at point guard opposite Gervin. Denver Nuggets Last year: 37-45 Coach: Doug Moe, second year Key Additions: None Outlook: The trademark of Moe teams is constant running with little regard for Women's League Dying? Associated Press go NEW ORLEANS Only a new major sponsor can save the Women's Professional Basketball League from multimillion-dollar losses that threaten to eliminate any plans for a 1981-82 season, says the principal owner of the New Orleans Pride. Claudette Simpson said Tuesday she'd love to sell her own team to new investors.

"I had interest in Jackson but no one is going to buy a team if there is no league," Mrs. Simpson. Of the that game Chicago remain Simpson in New St. Louis either or are prospective EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION Boston Celtics Last year: 62-20 Coach: Bill Fitch, third year Key Additions: Charles Bradley, Tracy Jackson Outlook: Asked what it will take to stop the Celtics, Philadelphia's Billy Cunningham sald, "A batting instructor for Danny Ainge." It seems a matter of time and money before the Toronto Blue Jays make a settlement with the Celtics for Ainge, which is not good news for the Sixers. Ainge would fill the only major gap for Boston, the defending NBA champs shooting guard.

Even without Ainge, Boston appears capable of being the first NBA team to repeat since Boston did it 13 years ago. The frontline of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Cedric Maxwell with Kevin McHale and Rick Robey coming off the bench is the best. Philadelphia 76ers Last year: 62-20 Coach: Billy Cunningham, fIfth year Key Addition: Franklin Edwards Outlook: They lost 20 games during the regular season and only tied for the division lead, then blew a 3-1 advantage to Boston in the playoffs. Julius Erving is coming off his first NBA Most Valuable Player season. To win the title, the 76ers need Darryl Dawkins to mature at center.

The backcourt of Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks and Lionel Hollins is improved with the addition of Edwards, a speedy rookie from Cleveland State. New York Knicks Last year: 50-32 Coach: Red Holzman, 13th year Key Additions: Mike Newlin, Randy Smith, Maurice Lucas Outlook: They have a shot at finishing second in the division and doing some damage in the playoffs since they got forward Maurice Lucas from the Nets in exchange for free agent Ray Williams. Center Bill Cartwright (knee) will miss the first couple of weeks of the season. With Lucas, Sly Williams would move to small forward and Cam- py Russell to the bench. New Jersey Nets Last year: 24-48 Coach: Larry Brown, first year Key Additions: Otis Birdsong, Buck Wil- liams Outlook: They won't win many games this year, but they will be Interesting to watch, especially in their new Byrne Meadowlands Arena.

Rookie power forward Williams is the real thing, and youngsters Mike O'Koren, Albert King, Mike Woodson and Ray Tolbert give the Nets plenty of strength up front. But at center, Mike Gminski has looked pathetic in camp after a staph infection in his back had him hospitalized much of the summer. Washington Bullets Last year: 39-43 Coach: Gene Shue, third year Key additions: John Lucas, Frank John- Milwaukee Bucks Last year: 60-22 Coach: Don Nelson, sixth year son Outlook: Gone are Wes Unseld (retired), Elvin Hayes (traded to Houston), Mitch Kupchak (signed with Los Angeles), and Kevin Porter (out for year with torn Achilles). The nucleus is now Greg Ballard, Johnson, Don Collins, Jim Chones, Brad Holland and Jeff Ruland. Desperate for backcourt help, Washington gambled and gave up two second-round picks for Lucas.

CENTRAL DIVISION Atlanta Hawks year: 31-51 Coach: Kevin Loughery, first year Additions: Al Wood, Clyde Bradshaw Outlook: The most important addition is Loughery, who gets on the referees but not his players. After five years with Hubie Brown, even Loughery could appear mellow to the Hawks, who were devastated by infuries last year. No.1 pick Wood Is having problems adjusting to big guard, where he is needed most. Forward John Drew could have his best year and with Dan Roundfield and center Tree Rollins healthy again, the frontcourt is tough. Status of Eddie Johnson Is shaky.

Rookies Bradshaw and Rudy Macklin, combined with Wood, give Loughery three solid first-year men. Key Addition: Alton Lister Outlook: Biggest problems are holdout forward Marques Johnson, one of the five best players in the NBA, and center Bob Lanier, who doesn't have many more miles left in his aching knees. Many feel Bucks best chance was lasf year when they took 76ers to eight WBL teams participated in the 36- season, just Dallas, and San Francisco operational, Mrs. said. She said teams Jersey, Minnesota, and Nebraska have suspended operations languishing with no buyers.

The survival of the Pride is questionable, she said, because of the uncertainty surrounding the WBL, which did not even conduct a 1981 draft of college basketball players. Three co-owners formed the Pride in 1978 following the flight of the National Basketball Association New Orleans Jazz to Utah. One was Mrs. Simpson's husband, who bought out the other owners after the 1978 season and made his wife the team's principal owner and general manager. Sybil Blalock, the Pride's team captain, said another bleak indicator is the flight of many of the WBL's top players to women's professional basketball teams in Europe.

"I had the opportunity to Kupchak and Alex English? One-year dynasties have been the vogue in the NBA over the last decade. There have been some fairly awesome champions that, for one reason or another, failed to repeat the next year. The Lakers with Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, a team that won an NBA record 33 straight; the Knicks with Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier; the Celtics with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek; the Bullets with Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld. But, if any team seems capable of repeating, it's the 1981-82 Celtics. With Robert Parish, Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell, Kevin McHale and Rick Robey, Boston has the best frontcourt in the NBA.

And if the Celtics should wind 1 up with Danny Ainge before the season gets very old, they will be unstoppable. The backcourt of Tiny Archibald and Chris Ford is aging but rookies Charles Bradley and Tracy Jackson could help. Ainge, the former AllAmerican from Brigham Young, would be an unexpected bonus. But he's in limbo. The Celtics drafted him last year, even though he had a three-year contract to play baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays.

He's retired from baseball now, but his contract with the Blue Jays prevents him from playing basketball. A federal jury ruled recently that Toronto's management had not rescinded the contract. Boston's toughest competition will come from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks. THE 76ERS have emphasized the regular season and will concentrate on building momentum going into the playoffs. Seattle has Gus Williams and Lonnie Shelton back.

Paul Westphal is ready to sign a new contract when his foot heals, and rookie Danny Vranes is a bonafide player. The Lakers will be a contender if they can forget their petty jealousies. And, the dark horse candidate, the Hawks, when healthy, have as much talent as anybody. Atlanta's Kevin Loughery and New Jersey's Larry Brown are the only new coaches in what was an unusually tranquil summer on the unemployment line. Loughery, who spent eight years with the Nets, resigned last December after having what he called "philosophical differences" with owner Joe Taub.

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No Sales To Dealers. Quantities Limited On Some Merchandise. Larry Brown left after two years at UCLA to take over the Nets and replaces Bob MacKinnon now the Nets general manager who replaced Loughery. New Jersey has new players, Birdsong and No.1 picks Buck Williams, Albert King and Ray Tolbert. The Nets already have sold almost 12,000 season tickets to the new Byrne Meadowlands Arena, third best in the league behind Boston and Portland.

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defense. The Nuggets came on strong at the end of the year, barely missing the playoffs. Retaining free agent forward Alex English was pivofal. Kiki Vandeweghe is perhaps the most improved player in the NBA and last year's No.1 pick, James Ray, is healthy after missing all but 18 games last year. Center Dan Issel and guard David Thompson are both coming off good years.

The franchise is still for sale. Dallas Mavericks Last year: 15-67 Coach: Dick Motta, second year Key additions: Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman Outlook: Aguirre has been superb in the preseason and Blackman, a 6-6 shooting guard, joins Brad Davis the Mavs best player last year in the backcourt. Forward Jay Vincent, a steal on the second round, will see plenty of time, especially if Motta moves Tom LaGarde back to center to replace Scott Lloyd. Dallas is loaded with No. 1 draft picks and it won't be long before they are legitimate contenders.

Utah Jazz Last year: 28-54 Coach: Tom Nissalke, third year Key Additions: Dan Schayes, Howard Wood Outlook: Dismal. Adrian Dantley and Darrell Griffith constitute the best 1-2 scoring combination in the league. But neither player passes the ball and the Jazz have little else. No.1 pick Schayes, a 6-11 center from Syracuse, will need least a year to develop while Wood, a 6-7 forward from Tennessee, should fit right in at power forward. PACIFIC DIVISION Seattle SuperSonics Last year: 34-48 Coach: Lenny Wilkens, fifth year Key Additions: Gus Williams, Danny Vranes Outlook: Last year, Lonnie Shelton played in just 14 games, Paul Westphal in 36 and Williams saf out the season as a free agent before signing with the Sonics.

Shelton is healthy, Williams is happy and Westphal should be back by December. Vranes, a 6-7 forward from Utah, is an exceptional player who will replace John Johnson. Center Jack Sikma is one of the best. Seattle has a deep bench will Fred Brown, Bill Hanzlik, Armond Hill, James Bailey and James Donaldson. Los Angeles Lakers Last year: 54-28 Coach: Paul Westhead, third year Key Additions: Mitch Kupchak, Mike McGee Outlook: Magic Johnson missed a shot at the buzzer in the playoffs and was rewarded with a $1 million-a-year contract, which didn't make Kareem Abdulhappy.

Owner Jerry Buss spent almost $6 million for Mitch Kupchak, who becomes a starter for the first time in his career. The Lakers are loaded Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, Eddie Jordan and McGee, the rookie scoring machine, in addition to the big guns and could win it all if they don't die of jealousy first. Portland Trail Blazers Last year: 45-37 Coach: Jack Ramsay, sixth year Key Additions: Jeff Lamp, Darnell Valentine Bobby Gross is all that's left from the 1976 championship team, and he's injured. The Blazers are immensely talented with Mychal Thompson, Calvin Natt, Kermit Washington, Kelvin Ransey, Mike Paxson, Billy Ray Bates and rookies Lamp and Valentine. They would finish first in the Central and Midwest but they happen to be in NBA's toughest division.

Phoenix Suns Last year: 57-25 Coach: John McLeod, ninth year Key Additions: Larry Nance, Dudley Bradley Outlook: Nance provides needed bulk up front and Bradley is a good swing man. Dennis Johnson, Walter Davis, Truck Robinson and Alvan Adams are all solid. But this team seems jinxed in the playoffs. Golden State Warriors Last year: 39-43 Coach: Al Attles, 13th year Key Additions: None Outlook: The Warriors folded down the stretch last year despite a super season from comeback of the year winner Bernard King, who combines with Lloyd Free for a dynamic 1-2 punch. But second-year man Larry Smith, the Warriors leading rebounder, was a training camp holdout.

When Joe Barry Carroll is motivated, the Warriors are a true contender. San Diego Clippers Last year: 36-46 Coach: Paul Silas, second go to Italy, but decided to stay and play for the Pride," said Blalock. Key Addition: Tom Chambers. Outlook: The Clippers have some scorers Freeman Williams, Brian Taylor, Phil Smith some rebounders rookie Chambers, if he signs, and center Swen Nater and a pure small forward in Michael Brooks. But in this division, they will be lucky to escape the cellar.

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