The Bullets Are Biting

Detroit's Cobo Hall was jumping. In one sector of the huge entertainment complex pro tennis players were trading shots with muscular precision. A second area was awhirl with the lithe acrobatics of a track meet. On the Arena's basketball court the hometown Pistons were preparing to play the Washington Bullets. In that three-ring atmosphere, the management appropriately promised that costumed "clowns will perform throughout the game." The unintended reference ultimately proved embarrassing to the Pistons. Treating them like part of the sideshow, the Bullets won by 25 points and reinforced the claim that under the N.B.A.'s big top they are now the main attraction.

After six seasons of second billing in the play-offs--usually below the New York Knicks--the Bullets appear to be on target at last. With one month to go in the regular season, they have gunned their way to a 13-game lead over their closest rivals in the league's Central Division. More important, they have surged in front of the Boston Celtics in the race to ring up the best record in the N.B.A. Should they finish ahead of the Celtics--and everyone else--they will earn the advantage of playing the extra game of a seven-game play-off series on their home court. That is no trifling benefit. The Bullets are well nigh unbeatable at home with a record of 27-3 and a winning streak that by last week had stretched through 20 games.

Center Wes Unseld, the shortest and burliest in the league, limps along on bad knees; yet he uses his bulk efficiently and leads the league in rebounds. Forward Mike Riordan is still noted for defensive tactics that befit a bouncer, but he has also developed into a competent shooter. Guard Kevin Porter, at 5 ft. 11 in. a Lilliputian by pro basketball standards, owns the league lead in personal fouls, but is also one of the liveliest players on any court.

Recent Convert. Offensive Stars Phil Chenier and Elvin Hayes do not evoke the raves accorded more publicized stars like Walt Frazier and Rick Barry. They should. Chenier is averaging 21.9 points per game and is fifth in the league in steals. He leads all N.B.A. guards in blocking shots. Hayes, a 6 ft. 9 in. forward with a deft jump shot from the left side of the court, is finally living down the reputation of being more interested in his own rather than the team's performance. He still leads the Bullets in scoring, with an average of 22.4 points per game, but he is also top man in blocking shots. Religion has played a role in Hayes' switch to being a team player. A recent convert to Pentecostalism, Hayes carries a Bible to study on trips.

To back up the starting five, the Bullets have a deep and able bench. Says Hayes, "You must have that dimension to win." Reserve Guard Jimmy Jones, a six-time All-Star in the rival A.B.A., and second-year Forward Nick Weatherspoon, a member of last year's All-Rookie team, provide that dimension.

The man who turned this disparate collection of players into a unified league beater is soft-speaking, second-year Coach K.C. Jones. A paradigm of defensive skill during his nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, Jones insists that his players complement their effective fast break with unrelenting defensive pressure. As a result, the Bullets are now the second stingiest team in the league. "We believe offense is for shooters and defense is for all five guys," says Jones. "Fortunately, our starters are all shooters."

"The biggest thing we have going for us," says Team Captain Unseld, "is our desire to win for the coach." Says Hayes: "He brought us a championship attitude. He's not a yelling, screaming kind of coach." Not that Jones is incapable of venting his wrath when the Bullets misfire. Says Unseld: "He can lose his temper and look at you, and you want to get right out of his way."

Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Bullets have given Jones few opportunities to show that temper. At this point, they rate as co-favorites with the defending champion Celtics to win the N.B.A. title, and all the signs are propitious. A recent home game marked the reappearance of Dancing Harry, a high-stepping fan who is a master at putting the funky hex on opponents. Harry abandoned the Bullets four seasons ago and began to prance for the Knicks. New York won the championship a year later. Last season Harry cast his shimmying spells for the New York Nets in the A.B.A., and they won their league championship. Now, with the '75 Bullets mowing down their opponents, they may not even need Harry's help.

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