Evening star., 1963-02-01

nAAu A1uAAiiAiCio obClil, ONcICdIIle
Royals, l28-l25, in a game in
which Bob Cousy a. Co. played
some of their best basketball
only after starting out with
some of their worst.
The Jekyll and Hyde Celtics
won it with a rollicking 3l-l9
fourth-quarter rally that left
the sellout crowd buzzing, the
Royals stunned and their coach
muttering.
What can you do?" Wolf
charged. "The big guy, Bill
Russell, sits back there in a
zone and the four little guys
chase the ball. We've been
arguing for years that they're
playing a zone, but l haven't
seen it called yet. 1t was worse
tonight. Russell was tired and
he wasn't feeling we'll, so he
hung back more. Late in the
game, we couldn't even get
through for a layup."
Sixth Straight Victory
Ridiculous" Celtics Coach
Red Auerbach shot back. He
didn't say we were playing a
zone when he led by l8 points.
II that's his excuse, he better
get another"
The zone defense IN pro
basketball is supposed to be
outlawed. but the NBA's East
ern Division probably would be
better off If the Celtics-or
Cousy - we're banned instead.
This was Boston's sixth straight
victory and ran its won-loSt
record to 1916, which is 8l2
games better than the runner
Up Syracuse Mats.
The Celtics we're ripe to be
taken last night, particularly
after they fell behind, 33-15.
after less than eight minutes of
play. This was their third game
in as many nights and they
showed the strain.
We've been on the dawn
patrol, Russell painted through
a heavy cold. "A game every
night, then up to catch a $50
plane in the morning. The only
thing good about it is that the
first Of the month is payday"
COusy Surprises Himself
But the Celtics, no matter
how bad they can look at times,
have that something extra and
last night Cousy. the 13-year
pro veteran with all the slick
tricks, provided it. He started
off missing his first six shots,
but with $40 remaining, when
1t counted the most. he broke
a ll8-l18 tie with a string of
six straight Boston points and
the Celtics led for good, 1874
100. All game long, his ball
handling was dazzling.
Il kind of surprised myself, 4"
Cousy said. II didn't feel that
flashy. But I'll say this, we
may lose some games at times,
but we don't get smashed. Even
when we we're trailing by 18,
l knew we'd come back and
make a game OF it."
The Royals got a game high
of 80 points from underrated
Jack Twyman. plus a brilliant
27-point outburst from Oscar
Robertson. They got their early
Jump because they controlled
Boston's offensive blackboard,
repeatedly turning missed Gel
tic shots into full-court passes
for easy layups. At the end OF
the first quarter. the Royals
led, 1927. and their point to-
tai was amazing-the equiva-
lent Of 16s-point game. (The
NBA record for a game is l73
points,.
Celtics Show Balance
At the half. Cincinnati still
led. 1886. The Royals were
beating the Celtics at their
own run-and-shoot game, but
not for long. Boston finally tied
1t for the first time at 1888.
fell behind again by a dozen
and then launched its final,
winning counter-attack.
The Celtics. showing that
awesome balance. had seven
players with is on more points.
paced by Sam Jones %. Cousy
finished with 10. while Russell
Clipped in with IS. plus a
game OF % rebounds. The