European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 08, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday May 8, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 17 blazers rap la. In opener 121-109 by Jack Stevenson los Angeles a coach Jack Ramsay of Portland said we ran the Way we wanted after his Trail blazers took away the Home court advantage of the los Angeles takers and beat hem 121-109 with four players scoring 20 Points or More Friday night. We stressed Ball and player move ment and As a result got some key baskets. We did t try to set up one player because this usually helps the other team More we tried to play together said Ramsay. The teams meet in the second game of the Best of seven Aba Western conference final series sunday afternoon. Maurice Lucas led Portland with 28 Points Lionel Hollins had 25, Bill Walton 22 and Johnny Davis 20. Walton did a Good Job on Kareem Abdul Jabbar Ramsay said of the Battle of centers. Losing coach Jerry West said we Don t want to give up 121 Points again. But i have said it before Portland has the Best team in basketball. They have a talented Center a Good Power Forward and Good Small Forward and Ideal quickness in the backcourt. They were a lot quicker than we the Trail blazers led by 22 Points at 60 38 late in the first halt and the closest the lakers could come after that was 99-92 in the final period. Then Lucas scored three Points and Hollins hit a Field goal to boost the Lead again. Los Angeles had won 41 games including four in the quarterfinal playoff against Golden state while losing Only four at its forum Home this season. But Portland came out with a running game before the crowd of 16.975 and took control with its balanced attack. Rookie Earl Tatum who like Lucas played College Ball at Marquette Ted the lakers with a career High 32 Points. Kareem Abdul Jabbar tallied 30 for the lakers but had Only 10 rebounds com pred to 13 for Walton and is for Lucas. Tabbed As a Battle Between the two former Urcla All America centers Walton and Abdul Jabbar the Edge appeared to go to the younger Walton this time although the Over All Speed of the Trail blazers proved a major started in place of Lucius Allen who has been hampered by an injured toe since the playoffs started. Portland grabbed a 33-22 Lead after on Quarter and led the lakers at halftime 61 43. Hollins Lucas and Bob Gross sparked the Trail blazers to a 12-2 Lead before los Angeles could get unt racked. With Walton helping the visitors built their 18-Point Lead at halftime and that proved insurmountable even though the lakers outscored Portland by eight Points in the second half. Tatum scored 14 Points in the third Quarter leading the lakers attack but again Portland came up with balance As Walton scored eight and Lucas and Gross six apiece. Goal percentage Portland hit 55 per cent of its Field goal attempts 47 of 85. The lakers hit 48 per cent connecting on 46 of 95.at the free throw line Portland hit 27 of 34 attempts and the lakers 17 of 20. The Trail blazers led in rebounding 41 36.the crowd became excited with 7 i min utes left in the game when the lakers Cut the margin to 97-88. Then in a display of temper Abdul Jabbar Drew a foul when he twice pushed promptly Sank the free throw but cazzie Russell hit two for the lakers hol Lins one for Portland and Tatum Sank his 15th Field goal of the game cutting the margin to seven before the Trail blazers hit for seven Quick Points putting the game out of reach. Trail blazers 121. Lakers 109 the new York Yankees Willie ran Dolph is out at second trying to stretch a single into a double in the third inning puffing Willie tuesday night at Yankee stadium against California. He was tagged out by Bobby Grich on a throw from Bobby a Igei Bonds. Perhaps inspired by the puff of wind Randolph seems to be emitting new York won in a Breeze 8-1. A Portland Ull gym tsp 1 ii. Luctta ii Tell. Walton 101 311, Day hot lint m2i. St0el3044. Jonctoi-31.gilliam 3 ii i. Ami i o 03 totals 4 Iru m. Lo&angelesii04iford t 0-0 10. Rel 1 is Andul Jamr ii it �. Charier 3036 Talun 160031. Ulnar 0000. Abt Ralhf i1h. Warner loot Neumann 3 of i. Kupsc 1 00 1 fault 4fe ii 39 in Portland. 33 � h 11-111ln no in. 11 31 ii 3i-l� fouled out Tatum total lout Portland 30, lot Ano of Las 3� Tec Naicai Lucas. A is. Shue was f sure that or. J would Supply right Medicine for the 76ers must win order has mets Seaver running at Grant san Francisco a Tom Seaver has had his ups and Downs with the new York mets management but Friday his disenchantment reached a new Low. Seaver who has expressed unhappiness in the past Over contract difficulties was particularly irked Over a reported must win edict from chairman of the Board m. Donald Grant in monday night s mayor s trophy game with the new York Yankees. The Man is a maniac said Seaver. The Man is image conscious that s All. I never wanted to leave this organization. Never. But the time is now. Can you imagine Here we Are in our worst slump of the season we be lost four in a Row and All he s worrying about is an continued an Page it by Ralph Bernstein Philadelphia a the Philadel phia 76ers have won their division title and Are just three victories away from the National basketball association finals but this has been the most testing season of Gene Shue s nine year coaching career. Shue talked about his season before Fri Day s practice for sunday s second game of the Best of seven Eastern conference finals against the Houston rockets. The 76crs won the opener thursday night 128 117."it certainly has been an interesting experience said Shue who candidly admits that he had great misgivings when he okayed the acquisition of Julius or. Erving last was t that Shue did t appreciate the fantastic ability of or. J. He simply was Tsure that Erving would mix on the floor with George Mcginnis. Already a super Star in his own right. As a matter of fact Shue finally was persuaded to take Erving to keep him out of the hands of the new York kicks. Adding Doc to the team All of a sudden made us the most talked about team the most written about Shue said. The fact that we had Doc and George made the press radio and to curious to see if it was really going to site said he was concerned and just As curious As the Media. After All the idea of picking up do when the Forward position was t our weakness bothered me. I did t know if it would make us any Shue then repeated a question. Has it worked up to this Point i d have to say yes be cause we finished with one of the Best re cords in the league and now we re in a group of four in the playoffs. I d have to say it has worked. But mainly because of the kind of people Doc and George Shue observed that it s easier to have superstars on the same team in baseball football and hockey because in those sports it is More of an individual thing than in basketball. There is More communication Between players in basketball because there Are just five out there Shue pointed out. "1 think it is More of a team Shue said that what happened withering and Mcginnis was an immediate Mutual respect. Both worked hard to work Shue said. It definitely is a tribute to both. Neither one has the Type of ego that would allow this not to said that at the outset a lot of writ ers tried to get something bad going be tween the two stars. But they handled themselves so Beauty Shue said. Never an utterance or a problem. It feud or jealousy did t happen. Without any doubt Doc is a real asset to the team. He is a great player a Coa Chable said the meshing of Erving and Mcginnis did t happen Over night. It takes time with a player before he understands the Way you want things the coach said. George wanted to do every thing himself when he first came Here. Now he executes plays. They find there always is an easier Way to do ironically the problems Shue was con fronted with were from players other than Erving and Mcginnis. The users Are a team of stars and they All want to play 48minutes a game. Shue had to keep in mind that the first objective was to win. And in so doing try and give everybody enough playing time to keep them at East out Wardly contented. Despite a playoff series Victory Over continued on Page 20
