Chaos in team history

[Mike Dynon <mdynon@ix.netcom.com>]

As something of a Celtics historian, I'm now reminded of two other times
when the team has gone through chaos similar to today.

The Celts began the 1977-78 season by losing 8 of their first 9 games.
One was a 30-point destruction at home vs. the NBA champion Trailblazers
(Walton, Lucas, etc.). Another was an ugly beating by San Antonio.  Fans
were booing.  Heinsohn benched some starters. Red went into the locker
room after a home loss and criticized the team's effort.  Jo Jo White, a
proud man who hadn't missed a game in years and who was playing with
painful bone spurs in both heels, took offense and quit the team for a
couple of days.  Heinsohn was soon fired, and the team went on to its
worst record at that point in team history. Havlicek retired and the
next season was even worse. Only the Miracle of Larry Bird turned it
around.

In the playoffs of 1983, the team quit on coach Bill Fitch. After a home
loss in Game 1 of a series vs. the Bucks, Game 2 in Boston was a
must-win. But Bird sat out with the flu, and Milwaukee won again.  The
whole team went through the motions of games 3&4 as delirious Bucks fans
waved brooms in their faces. It was humiliating. Bird vowed to work hard
over the summer to make amends. He did. KC Jones was named head coach,
Dennis Johnson was acquired, and Boston beat Milwaukee in 5 on the way
to a championship.

If history repeats itself, something drastic will happen to change this
year's team--although since the deadline is past, nothing can be done
until the summer. Therefore, we can save the "trade for Walker for
Stojko Vrankovic" nonsense for now.
--
Mike Dynon
North Kingstown, RI