European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday May 19, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 25 comments runs set on magical lakers i took a Call wednesday night from a fan in Nurnberg wanting to know tuesday nights Aba playoff results. A Well lets see. Phoenix eliminated the lakers in the Western semis 106-103.�?� a a laugh a a hello Are you still there a a i did no to think it would neither did i. You see magic a lakers were Down 3-2 to Isiah Thomas pistons in june �?T88 and came Back to win the last two games and their second straight Aba title and fifth of the 1980s. The lakers lost the �?T89 title in four games to the pistons bad boys revenge and Kareem Abdul Jabbary a Swan song. But magic and Byron Scott suffered hamstring injuries that wrecked the lakers drive in the �?T89 finals. You a think that with them healthy for 1990, magic steam could take up the Slack with James worthy Michael Cooper Mychal Thompson Orlando Woolridge and Rookie sensation Vlade Divac of Yugoslavia. But it did no to happen. This lakers loss combined with the Early elimination of the Boston celtics confirms the end of an Era. This is Only the third time since 1980 that magic wont be playing in the Aba finals. Houston beat out the lakers in 1981 and 1986, then lost to Boston both times. Magic steam had made every Western conference final since 1981. This is the first year since 1979 that the a bad a final four does not include either the lakers or the celtics. Now its Phoenix against either Portland or san Antonio in the West and Detroit Chicago in the East. The 1980�?Ts Aba championship slate looked like this los Angeles 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988. Boston 1981, 1984, 1986. Philadelphia 1983. Detroit 1989. The pistons reigning Aba champs Are the Lone juggernaut left from the �?T80s As they have advanced to their fourth straight Eastern conference final. The Days of Dick Stockton extolling the Virtues of the lakers and the celtics Are Over. Until this week 42 Points were the most magic had scored in a playoff game. He did that almost exactly 10 years ago on May 16, 1980. That 42-Point, 15-rebound performance in game 6 gave the lakers the Aba title Over or. Jas 76ers. Magic scored 43 Points in sundays game 4, but Phoenix won 114-101. Magic scored 43 Points in tuesdays game 5, but the lakers blew a 15-Point Lead in losing 106-103. Now we fans have to learn a new list of names of Star players for the �?T90s. We know there sewing in new York and air in Chicago sir Charles in Philly Dominique in Atlanta the mailman out there in Utah and David Robinson in san Antonio. But a lot of these Western teams do not get on the tube much until the Morrissette let Wal so until seeing Portland in the playoffs against san Antonio i wonder who arc these Guys Portland won 59 games with Clyde Drax scr and Buck Williams whom we be heard of. But did you know Terry Porter Kevin Duckworth Jerome Kersey or Cliff Robinson 1 saw their names in the Box scores but i was not familiar with their moves. The lakers lost four games to one to a Phoenix suns team led by Point guard Kevin Johnson Power Forward Tom Chambers and no. 2 guard a Chi Homack a who shot the lights out during the series. Had you Ever heard of Jeff Homack before he started playing for Phoenix neither had i. Well Kyj declared the suns the a team of the �?T90s�?� after arriving Back at the Phoenix Airport to the cheers of 9,000 Shell shocked fans. If this docs indeed come to pass Homack could become a household name. A dejected magic summarized the season to reporters this Way �?o1 came in this year thinking Well win it. I come in every year thinking Well win it. People thought we do it without Kareem. But we went out and won 63 then he summed up the reason Why they lost. A i Dunno. We had a lot of people who really did no to know what the playoffs Are All about like Divac Larry Drew and other Reserve players whom the lakers picked up from losing teams a translation magic took his game to a higher level in the playoffs his teammates did no to. A but you re supposed to lose like a Man a magic said. A when you lose you congratulate the Winner then you move even coach Pat Riley thinks he has seen the end of the ride. He stalking about quitting. Scott says magic should coach. If anyone is qualified to be a player coach he is. You saw it Here first a Mike Fratello will be the next coach of the celtics. The celtics Are the Best franchise available and Fratello is the Best coach available. Fratello a Atlanta Hawks won at least 50 games for four straight years before falling to 41-41 this season missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. Fratello resigned to save his wits. His Hawks arc a great collection of athletes who have developed the Knack of doing dumb things mentally to throw away winnable games. Plus they always faded Early in the playoffs. The players blamed it on frat Cllon a Bitchy coaching style saying it does no to work with older players. But Fratello would have sound More experienced players in Boston and he have to waste time explaining the basics that they take for granted in Boston. Magic Johnson could t make Dan Majerle disappear. They know How to win in Boston. They just need More Young bodies because the Larry Bird Keum Mchale Robert Parish Golden Triangle is past its prime. Fratello resigned after the los Angeles clippers coaching vacancy appeared. The first thing Fratello said was a a in a not going to Lake the first thing available. I want to win right you Knopow Fratello does no to want to coach the clippers. One More thing a if you think that fight Bill Laimbeer started by putting a basketball in Rick a Homes face was a War a wait until he knocks Michael Jordan Down with a a hard the bulls will stomp on Laimbeer so fast Detroit will need to put him in protective custody. During his appearance on a the Arsenio Hall show Quot Jordan was asked who is the dirtiest player in the league. A ooh Bill Laimbeer no question about it Quot Jordan said. A the can to jump. So he has to beat you m other i Hope two left Hooks from Charles Barkley and a $25,000 Fine from the Aba taught Laimbeer a lesson. But until the league starts suspending players for entire series for starting a fight. Laimbeer and other thugs like him will keep attacking Star players. If Scottie Pippen . Armstrong Stacey King and Horace Grant can support Jordan against Detroit like they did against Philadelphia the bulls will win this series. One Man shows done to have a Chance. Just ask Ewing. Tho stars and Stripe Lichti Hurt Friend killed Denver apr Denver nuggets Uard Todd Lichti was in stable Condi Ion but described As distraught Friday liter losing his Girlfriend in a one car incident in Nevada and undergoing sur Jery on his right foot. Doctors said the surgery for a broken tone in his foot was successful buttressed it was too Early to determine a non or if Lichti would fully recover. His emotional state was suffering bemused of the death of Girlfriend Kristin Gravrock 23, of Bellevue wash., said us Mother after speaking briefly to Richti by Telephone. Police said Lichti was a passenger in the a that ran off interstate 80, 30 Miles East 1 Lovelock nev., and overturned in the Mcdian at 7 15 . Thursday. Police said Gravrock apparently fell asleep. Mixers out not Down up Philadelphia Forward Charles Barkley. Quot we went As far As we could go Philadelphia apr Philadelphia Forward Charles Barkley believes the 76ers can be proud of their achievements this season despite being knocked out of the playoffs. A we can to sit around and Gripe. We accomplished things Only we thought we would do a he said. A a let a be honest. We went As far As we could go. We can be very Happy. We can feel Good about ourselves a Barkley told the Philadelphia daily news thursday. The Chicago bulls prevailed 4-1 in their Best of seven Eastern conference semifinal series. They finished off the mixers 117-99 wednesday night. A Chicago just played better than us Quot Barkley said. A we got beat by a better team. We be got a Good team. We improved from last year. But we just did no to have enough. The bulls just had More Talent top to looking to the future he said next years team could stand to make two improvements. A i think the main thing we need is a help to Derek Smith and 1 think we need another big Man who can score in double figures a Smith the backup shooting guard missed almost the entire playoffs with chronic tendinitis in his left knee. He was limited to one postseason appearance. Outgoing general manager John Nash said Philadelphia should stay with its nucleus but try to add a Premier shot Blocker and a big guard to contend Lor the Aba title. Nash who has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the month refused to apologize thursday Lor the 76ers�?T elimination from the playoffs. A we lost to a better team a Nash said. �?o1 done to want to make excuses. They won More regular season games. They were the favorite of those people who make a living figuring those things
