THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Nine
THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Nine
Blue
BY GEORGE!
_____ I4
George Hastings
New Detroit attack h...
*.. old Chicago court
THIS SATURDAY afternoon when they turn on their TV sets,
a lot of basketball fans across the nation who haven't kept
up on NBA standings are going to be in for a shock. For on the
tube Saturday before a nationwide audience, a new team will
participate in the National Basketball Association playoffs-the
Detroit Pistons.
Over the past several years, the first round of the NBA play-
offs have settled into a rut. It seems that every year the Knicks
take on the Bullets, the Celtics maul the Hawks, the Lakers
stop the Bulls, and the Bucks and Warriors skirmish.
But this year there are going to be a couple of new
teams in the running. At long last the Pistons have crashed
the NBA's elite, along with the Buffalo Braves, and the
result will be some new match-ups to add some spice to pro
basketball's "second season."
. The match-up which will be of most interest to Detroit fans
will be that tof the Pistons against the Chicago Bulls. When the
Pistons take the floor in Chicago for the opening game, it will
mark their first appearance in post-season play since 1969.
Detroit retains only one player from those 1969 playoffs.
Dave Bing was finishing his third season in the NBA then, and
he put on a fantastic show as the Detroiters surprised everyone
that'year by winning two of their first three games against Bill
Russell and the Celtics.
Playoff fever gripped the Motor City after that second
win against Boston, and there were mob scenes outside
Cobo Arena in Detroit as fans desperately tried to get tickets
for the fourth game of that series. But Russell & Co., en
route to their last NBA championship, established who was
the better basketball team and went on to eliminate the
Pistons in six games.
Ever since that loss to Boston, loyal Detroit rooters have
waited patiently for another chance. This year coach Ray Scott
and his charges have finally rewarded them by coming up with
the Pistons' greatest season ever. Detroit won 52 games and
lost only 30 this year, good enough for the fourth best mark in
the whole league, but only third position in the rugged Midwest
division.
As a result, the Pistons are thrown in the first round
against the team with the third-top record in the loop, the
Bulls, who finished two games ahead of the Detroiters in
season play. More ominous for Detroit, though, is the fact
that Chicago defeated them five out of seven times during
the regular season.
Scott, however, insists that the losing record to Chicago
during the year is not that important. "The playoffs are a
whole new year," says the Detroit mentor. "What happened dur-
ing the season doesn't count anymore. Besides, of the five we
lost to Chicago, four of them were close games that could have
gone either way."
The greatest weapon Scott has, of course, is his 6-11 center,
Bob Lanier. Ranked among the league leaders in scoring,
shooting, rebounding, and blocked shots, he finished third in the
balloting for Most Valuable Player this season. Detroit's only
clear advantage will be in the pivot, where Lanier ranks head-
and-shoulders above the Bulls' Clifford Ray, who is a strong
rebounding but nothing special on offense.
At guard, neither team seems to be much better off than
the other. Bing, already voted to several all-NBA teams this
season, will be the best backourt man on the floor, but
none of the other Detroit guards have been especially con-
sistent. Chicago's Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier are both
tenacious defenders, good balhandlers, and adequate shoot-
ers, and Bob Weiss in reserve makes them a tough three-
man unit.
The Pistons may be hurting, though, at the forward match-
ups, where the Bulls' Chet Walker and Bob Love are both of
all-star ability. But Scott feels that his group of Curtis Rowe,
Don Adams, and George Trapp is more physical and will be
effective under its new more forward-oriented offense.
In this series, however, individual match-ups could easily
be over-rated. Both these teams got into the playoffs by playing
co-ordinated team basketball, and the team that plays better
in that respect will win.
Two factors working against the Pistons will be their lack
of playoff experience and the fact that four of the seven pos-
sible games will be in Chicago. Scott admits that he doesn't
know yet whether either of those factors will make a difference
in the series. But he does acknowledge that the first game in
Chicago is very important.
"How well we play the first game will be the key-win
or lose," he explains. "We have to play our game and estab-
lish ourselves for the rest of the series."
No matter what happens, of course, the basketball season
will have been a success for Detroit. "We had a good year,"
asserts Scott. "Nothing can change what we've already done."
But if the Pistons can regain the form they displayed for
two heady months in January and February when they played
the best ball in the league, the season could last a few weeks
longer for those long-awaiting fans in Detroit.
netters
chase
YCAA
best record. Senich, Miller,
Karzan have worse records,
each has beaten players who h
better records. In general, the
By JEFF SCHILLER ence is Alex (Sandy) Mayer. He
What goals do you set for an ath- was a semi-finalist at Wimbleton
letic team which scored 159 of 162 last year, and has beaten twenty
possible points in last year's con- or twenty-five players of interna-
ference championship meet, re- tional caliber over the past three
turns five of its top six players, years. He gives Stanford a defi-
including the top four, and posses- nite advantage."
ses in addition, a freshman who
may well surpass most if not all of NONETHELESS, EISNER is
them? If you're Brian Eisner and predicting great things for the
you coach the Michigan tennis Wolverine netters, and it's easy to
team, you aim for the national see why. The talent on this squad
championship. And with the talent is so strong and so deep, that
on this Wolverine squad, you just many of the toughest matches the
might get it. netmen will play will be in inter-
THIS YEAR'S Michigan team is squad competition. Consider the
ranked between fifth and seventh awesome array that Eisner has
nationally in preseason ratings. brought together.
Eisner thinks they are better than * Leading t h e returnees is
that. 1sophomere 6-5 lefty Vic Amaya,
"USC is rated second in all the last year's Big Ten number one
polls and UCLA is third in many, singles champion and a national
but I'll be very disappointed if we quarterfinalist. Amaya recently
don't beat both of them," the Mich- captured the Western Indoor title
igan mentor commented. "We'll (Michigan incidentally closed out
definitely be contenders for the the semis) and was a finalist in a
national title and we might win it." World Invitational Tournament for
"The team to beat is Stanford," players twenty-one and under held
Eisner continued, "And the differ-! in London. Eisner gushes about
Freddie DeJesus
Amaya's talent and claims that
"Victor is one of only two players
in college today who could beat
Sandy Mayer, if Vic was at the
top of his game. He's so strong, I
think he'd just overpower him."
1 Two years ago Freddie De-
Jesus was the most sought after
junior player around. At various
times, he had been top ranked in
three age groups, and was a mem-
ber of the U.S. Junior Davis Cup
squad. But the Puerto Rican suf-
fered through a disappointing sea-
son of injuries last year, and is
working to regain his previously
invincible form. Eisner thinks he'll
make it.
"Freddie is back in excellent
physical shape," the coach com-
mented, "And I'm extremely
pleased with the way he's been
playing the last few weeks. He re-
cently made the finals of the South
American Championships playing
for Puerto Rico, and it looks like
BRUINS WIN
he'll perform the way we know
he can."
* The Wolverines' prize recruit
I is New Jersey lefty Peter Flem-
ing, the eleventh ranked eighteen
and under player in the country
last season. Eisner feels the rat-
irg was fair on the record but ar-
gued that, "In terms of talent, Pet-
er was actually closer to number
five." Fleming and DeJesus reach-
ed the national twenty-one and un-
I der doubles final last year, and
beat USC's top doubles team in the
process.
O Last year's Big Ten singles
champ at the number two position
is sophomore returnee Eric Fried-
ler. Friedler compiled an impres-
sive 20-4 match record in his fresh-
man season alternating between
the number two and three spots,
and extended Mexican Davis Cup-
per Paul Ramirez to the limit be-
fore bowing 7-6, 6-2 at the na-
tionals. Though Friedler's forte is
amazing quickness, Eisner is also
impressed with his strength claim-
ing, "Pound for pound, Eric is
stronger than anyone on thet
squad." Friedler also teamed with"
the graduated Dick Raverby to!
capture the Big Ten number two!
doubles crown last season.
0 Another player who suffered
through an injury shortened cam-
paign last year was Jerry Karzan
but Karzan's injury was of a dif-
ferent type; he had mononucle-
osis. However Jerry rebounded to
place second in the Big Ten at the
number three singles position and;
teamed with Amaya to win at
number one doubles.
! To demonstrate the depth this
team had last year, Jeff Miller,
the 1972 number two Big Ten sin-
gles champ (as a freshman) could
not crack last season's starting
lineup. Eisner claims that Miller
is playing much better this season,
and will definitely contend for an
important role. ,
* The Wolverine's captain and
the only senior in the top seven
is the defending Big Ten champ at
the number five singles position,
Kevin Senich. Senich, who extend-
ed Amaya to three sets beforet
succumbing in the semis of the
Western Indoors, compiled a 17-7
match-record last year. He posses-
ses great power and his perform-
ance this year will be a key fac-
tor in determining how far' the:
Wolverines go.
AS CAN BE INFERRED, no po-
sitions have been set as yet. In'
team challenge matches, Amaya
is undefeated while Friedler, Flem-
ing, and DeJesus all have five
losses apiece to tie for the next
title
and tersquad competition has produced
but very strong competition.
ave As Eisner put it, "Right now
in- we're way ahead of where we
were at a comparable point last
season. We've done more condi-
tioning and added weight training,
and the results seem good."
Eisner has -also been experi-
menting with various doubles com-
binations. He leans to matching
power with quickness and present-
jy has Fleming paired with De-
Jesus and Amaya with Friedler.
Captain Senich has called Amaya-
Friedler, " .. . the best doubles
combination on the squad," but
Eisner hedges claiming the two
are roughly equal. He does think
that both have the potential "...to
at least make it to the NCAA semi-
finals and maybe to win it all."
Brian Eisner has problems too.
< But they're primarily a question
of how to keep what, quite possi-
bly, are the seven best tennis
players in the Big Ten happy and
give all of them enough playing
time. It's a problem most coaches
would love to have.
Capt. Kevin Senich
Attention Graduate Students
The Pilot Program is seeking graduate students for
Resident Fellow positions. We need creative people
committed to personal and social change, who
want to teach and participate in an experimental
education program. Room and board plus GSTA
stipend.
Apply through April 15, 1974
CALL 764-7521
ALICE LLOYD HALL
Victor Amaya
By The Associated Press
DETROIT - Defenseman Jack
Lynch scored a power-play goal
early in the °third period to snap
a 1-1 tie and the Detroit Red
Wings went on to beat the Buf-
falo Sabres, 3-1, in a National
Hockey League game last night.
The defeat virtually eliminated
the Sabres from a playoff berth
in the NHL Eastern Division.
The victory was the first of
the season in six tries for the
Wings over Buffalo.
Lynch, who was traded by
Pittsburgh to Detroit in January
for Ron Stackhouse, got his op-
portunity when Buffalo defense-
man Jim Schoenfeld was penal-
ized for hooking Mickey Red-
mond at 3:17.
Lynch took a pass by team-
mate Nick Libett behind the Sa-
bres' net and jammed the puck
past goalie Gary Bromley into
the right corner at 4:48 for his
second goal in 30 games wit:h the
Wings.
Guy Charron scored an insur-
ance goal with 4:48 left in the
game when he stole the puck
from Buffalo's Jerry Karab in
front of Bromley and beat t1-e
goaltender with a backhander.
Gerry Meehan gave Buffalo a
1-0 lead with a goal at 5:19 of
the first period, but Detroit
rookie Bill Hogaboam sent a soft
shot past a sprawled Bromley
at 4:10 of the second period to
tie the game and set the stage
for the Wings' winning stare.
triuimphat
Bruins held off a frantic New
in 00 York rally for the triumph.
Eric Friedler
sports
NIGHT EDITORS:
JEFF SCHILLER
MARCIA MERKER
Rangers reek
NEW YORK-Johnny Bucyk's
29th goal of the season at 14:14
of the second period lifted the
Boston Bruins to a 3-2 National
Hockey League victory over the
New York Rangers last night.
After first - period goals by
Bobby S ch mau t z and Terry
O'Reilly had given the Bruins a
2-1 lead, Bucyk slapped a 15-
footer past goalie Ed Giacomin
to put Boston ahead 3-1.
Walt Tkaczuk had given the
Rangers their only lead at 7:23
of the first period with the first
of two power-play goals. Tkac-
zuk, playing with a helmet and
face mask, to protect a broken
jaw, sent a 10-foot shot past
Ross Brooks..
Then Schmautz blasted a 30-
footer past Giacomin at 8:17 of
the first period, and O'Reilly
scored on a breakaway eight
minutes later.
Tkaczuk cut the margin to 3-2
with 7:51 remaining, but the
Stars fade
PITTSBURGH - Lowell Mac-
Donald scored three consecutive
goals as the Pittsburgh Penguins
overcame a three-goalwdeficit
and salvaged a 3-3~ tie with the
Minnesota North Stars last night
in a National Hockey League
game.
The Stars took a 2-0 lead in
the first period on goals by Jean
Paul Parise and Buster Harvey,
and stretched the margin to 3-0
in the second period on a goal
by Danny Grant.
Then P itt s b urgh made its
comeback w i t h MacDonald's
three goals, assisted by Syl Apps
all three times.
* * *
Flyers fly
ST. LOUIS - Left wing Ross
Lonsberry scored his 26th goal
and chipped in two assists as the
Philadelphia Flyers skated to a
6-2 victory over the St. Louis
Blues in the National Hockey
League last night.
"FOOLISH AND FIENDISH"
EMU PLAYERS SERIES
IS PROUD TO PRESENT
Harold Pinter's COMEDY OF MENACE
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Celts lose
PHILADELPHIA (P-Fred Car-
ter dropped in 31 points, 16 in the!
third period, to pace the Philadel-
phia 76ers to a 117-108 win over the
Boston Celtics in a National Bas-
ketball , Association game at the
Spectrum last night.
The win came in Philadelphia's
last game of the season and was
the 76ers' first victory over Boston
this season.
The score was knotted at 22-all
at the end of the first quarter but
trPhiladelphia, paced by 10 second-
period points from Larry Cannon,
finished the half with a 59-48 ad-
vantage.
-o il
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$100
except Fri., Sot.,
Sun., $1.50
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LSCIOES
NBA
Philadelphia 117, Boston 108
NHLf
Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 2
Boston 3, New York 2
Detroit 3, Buffalo 1
Pittsburgh 3, Minnesota 3
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