Old Math

PRO BASKETBALL

One plus four does not necessarily equal five, as the Boston Celtics proved last week. Bedeviled by injuries, belittled by sportswriters, the perennial champions (seven straight years) of the National Basketball Association walloped the Philadelphia 76ers in the finals of the Eastern Division playoffs, thereby winning the right to meet the Los Angeles Lakers for the N.B.A. title, and demonstrating once again that Wilt Chamberlain is not the best basketball team in the world.

Boston Guard K. C. Jones was wearing so much adhesive tape that he looked like a fourth dynasty mummy. Forward Sam Jones was suffering from water on the knee. Center Bill Russell's right leg was so bandaged up that it looked as if he was wearing long Johns under his shorts. Forward Willie Naulls was suffering from a bad attack of the bads; he could not find the basket, which caused Coach Red Auerbach to start John Havlicek in his place. Of such accidents are great coaches made.

A 6-ft. 5-in. cornerman, Havlicek has often been called "the best sixth man in basketball." His greatest value has been his ability to come in cold from the bench and salt away a game with a dozen quick points. He finally broke into the starting lineup against the Cincinnati Royals, with the Celtics trailing two games to one in the best-of-five semifinal playoffs. In the next two games he scored 41 points and sparked Boston to victory. Against Philadelphia in the finals, he scored 127 points, as Boston won the best-of-seven series four games to one. Chamberlain's problem just might have been an accumulation of rust. With the 76ers trailing the Celtics 2-1, Philadelphia Coach Dolph Schayes announced that there would be a practice session next day. "No, Dolph," said Wilt. "I'm tired."

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