[0:02]Stand by now for Laker Championship basketball, live and direct. This is Harry Barrell in KNX News Central at 7:50.
[0:16]The Laker pre-game show is brought to you by Pepsico. Take the Pepsi challenge and then decide. Brought to you by Union Bank, the business bank. By all Dairy, the Dairy that cares about your health. And brought to you by Hungry Tiger restaurants, serving fresh fish specials daily at all locations. Hello again everybody, from high above the Western sideline in the world's most beautiful sports theater, the Fabulous Forum. I'm Chick Hearn along with Lin Shafer and we welcome you to our first pre-game show of the 1977 NBA Championship playoffs. The Lakers preparing to go in a best of seven series against the Golden State Warriors who got by in a two out of three tilt against the Detroit Pistons. It's going to be a tough one all the way for both clubs. They are beautifully coached, they are well balanced, they will match up and pair off against each other extraordinarily well on the year they're two and two. And with Lin Chackford, we'll be back and discuss the merits of both ball clubs, what the officiating, non-NBA referees might have to do with the outcome right after this word. A small can make a summer to what your world could be. And with every brand new moment you're alive, you're feeling free. Make this day a celebration. Come and taste a Pepsi way. Life is what it should be when you have a Pepsi day. Come on, come on, come on and taste a Pepsi way. Come on, come on, come on and have a Pepsi day. Wrap a thirsty smile around it. Raise the Pepsi up and down it. Come on, come on and have a Pepsi day.
[2:13]The crowd seems alive for this one. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Laker superstar. Rick Barry, the superstar of the Golden State Warriors. Both of them could be categorized as the best in their business down through the years or certainly as good as anybody at their position. Only two people have scored more points in a playoff game than Rick Barry, Will Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. Barry Barry has a career high in the playoffs of 55 points. Kareem's high is 49. They're both great stars and you figure in playoff competition that the great stars and the established stars come alive. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time average leader for playoffs. He's only played in some 50-some playoff games averaging 29.7. Jerry West has made the most points ever scored in the playoffs. Jerry played in 153 games and averaged 29.1. He had a game one night of 53, another game of 52, another one of 49. So the coaches know where it's at too. Al Adles has done a fantastic job. This year his record disappointing, they say at 46 and 36, but Lynn, I would think that he's brought him along very, very precisely. They won their last three of the regular season, they won five of their last seven, for a change. They had some problems, some injury problems. But they seem to have put it together towards the the last part of the season. They have been kind of an inconsistent team all year long. You never know what's going to happen. They started off the playoffs round, they lost at home against the Detroit Pistons then they came back and just swamped them back in Detroit. They could do that here tonight or they could call fall flat on their face. Absolutely. One danger spot for the Lakers, we'll talk about that. The tremendous round of applause is for Jerry West as he makes his first appearance in the building tonight. Jerry heading for the Laker bench gets a standing ovation and Jerry we think will be the coach of the year. We'll be back right after this word. This reporter has been under the opinion that a 10 game day lay off should not have an effect on a great basketball club. That's been refuted however a little bit by the occurrences of two games played. Houston was off for eight days, got beat last night by Washington first round at Houston. And on Sunday, you know, Philly lost at home to Boston. Philly even that tonight, beating Boston, 113 to 101. Lynn quickly about the referees. Joe Crawford and Richie Jackson are their name. Joe Crawford, of course, is not an ever typical NBA referee. He has worked in the Rocker Summer League. That's in Bronx, New York. The other one's worked in the Baker Summer League in Philadelphia. He's from Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania. Like in any playoff game, we have an alternate, that'll be Terry Durham. He has worked back eight games, he's from Beaverton, Oregon. Once again, Joe Crawford and Richie Jackson. The Golden State Warriors like to get out and run. They are so confident, they can out rebound the Los Angeles Lakers, that when the Lakers take a shot, only about one or two will go to the defensive board for them and rebound. I don't mean the Lakers, I mean Golden State. They will release at least one guard and one forward on a fast break. They demolish the Lakers the last time they met. That score was 132 to 103. The two clubs have split on the year. Rick Barry, since he had a very low scoring ball game here. The last time in, Barry had a total that night of just six points. And since then though, in 15 games, he shot 51% and averaged 26 and a half points a game. The Lakers will have to shut off their fast break. The Lakers are going to have to reach back and get some extraordinary rebounding and I think that maybe Connie Warner will have to help out there. ladies and gentlemen from high above court side, Chick Hearn, Lynn Chafford, ready to bring you our words I view, the first meeting of the 1977 second round action in the Western Conference. Tonight, Portland is at Denver and Lynn has a halftime on that for you. The Portland Trail Blazers lead the Denver Rockets 50 to 45. We've already given you the one final score. The Philadelphia 76ers even their series with Boston at one game a piece with a 113-101 victory. Which means so far in the playoffs this year, the home team has won nine out of 14, that's 64% of the time. During the regular season in NBA this past year, the home team won 68% of the time, so there's not too much difference so far. The Lakers better when here at the forum, they haven't won in Oakland in 12 consecutive games. You have to go back to a playoff game played in 1973 when the Lakers last won. They won that one convincingly, 126 to 70. That's the last time they won up there. Jamal Wilkes, great forward, UCLA product. Has not started the last two games, we expect him to start tonight. He's been under a tremendous mental strain. His wife gave birth to a baby about three weeks ago and the baby had a hole in his heart. I asked if there was a medical term and somebody threw it at me and I don't know how to say it, let alone remember it. But what it means is that there's a murmur and we're happy to tell you that now the medicals are saying that the child has picked up enough strength and it was a small Caesarean baby at birth. Picked up enough strength that they're going to be able to operate and repair the damage. And I understand that that kind of word plus the therapeutic results of practicing getting out with the guys in the floor has really been a boon to Jamal and his wife Lynn and we're all happy about that. He's an outstanding basketball player, one of the best forwards in the NBA and it's to the Warriors' credit that they were able to win that series against Detroit with him sub par. We'll be back with the lineups right after this word. The Lakers with the best record in the NBA, 53 games won. The Warriors, they won 46. The starting, oh, they're going to introduce the entire roster of the Golden State Warriors. And since this is the first game, let's give them to you. They've got Robert Parrish, a 7-foot reserve. Charlie Johnson, at 6 feet. Sonny Parker. Charles Dudley, a little reserve guard at 6-2, plays so well. Marshall Rogers, Larry McNeil, 6'9" reserve forward. They have two players that are hurt down there. Derek Dickey and Dwight Davis, they both will be out of this playoff series. The head coach of the Warriors of course is Al Attles. The assistant coach is Joe Roberts. The starting lineup will be at one guard, Phil Smith, 6'4", 187. The other guard from USC in his second year, 6-2, Gus Williams. At center, he wears number 44, Clifford Ray. In his sixth year at 6'9". The forwards are Jamal Wilkes in his third year out of UCLA, former rookie of the year at 6'6", 190. And the other forward, Rick Barry. He gets the boo. He's at 6'8", he's a great veteran, his 11th year professionally. The lights go off now. Wow, we've gone Hollywood. Yeah, the spotlights go on all over as they are moving about. Chicago Stadium. I guess you could call this what, the fun-filled fantastic forum. The Laker team went back into the locker room. After finishing warm-ups, while the coaching staff stayed out there. And as the players come out, they're going to introduce the entire team. They're going to come out of the hallway and onto the floor near the free throw line. The first one to come out is Abernathy, Tom Abernathy. The next one, Ball Lamar.
[9:16]Connie Warner. Warner is at 6'9". Can play both forward and center. Johnny Newman, 6'6" guard. Marv Roberts wears number 30. He's at 6'8". And CJ Kuback at 6'8". Earl Tatum, playing in his very first playoff game ever in this his rookie year at 6'5". Lakers have four players in their first playoff game. They introduced and he gets a very fine hand. Kermit Washington, who will be in straight clothes on the bench this evening. The guy with the spotlight can't find the bench. No, he's on the coaches. The starting lineup will be Cassie Russell. He'll be matched up against Barry and that'll be a fun a fun one to watch. They're not terribly close in the personal relationship department. The other forward is Don Ford, is 6'9", 215. He'll be matched up against his high school teammate, Jamal Wilkes. At one guard is Don Cheney, who has played on two championship teams with Boston at 6'5". Lucius Allen, who played on a championship team 1971 with Milwaukee. He's fired up, 6'2", he comes roaring out on the floor. And the other center to complete the starting five is Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 7'2". The assistant coaches of the Lakers are Stan Albeck and Jerry West and Jack McCroskey. The head coach is Jerry West. The Laker trainer Dell Cannon. Okay, at center Kareem against Ray. Ray and Parrish will use a lot of pick and rolls with Barry, he's a great passer.
[11:02]A ball tipped by Kareem, the Cheney, battered from Cheney, but he gets it back. Twice a world championship player with Boston. Donald Cheney 6'5", top the key to Kassie. These are important minutes for the Lakers. Into Kareem, turn 10-foot jumper won't go. Rebound to Ford underneath. He's got it. He puts it up. He didn't get it. Slam dunk for Kareem. Kareem flew three feet above the room and slammed it with both hands after Ford kept it alive in the front. 20 feet to rise the goal to Lucius Allen. Allen one bounce double, 20-foot Allen looks good. It is good. He drilled it over Rick Barry. The Laker lead is 17 to 14. They've never led by more than the three. Phil Smith comes to front court. Out of front to Williams, drive down the middle, drops the ball, gets it back, fumbles it. Phil throws it in the floor. Ford's got it. Fast break to Allen. Allen one on one against Smith. Allen all the way, put it up and in. Allen's playing brilliantly after a slow start. He may have twisted his ankle though, Lucius Allen. He's holding it. He did, he's hurt. 19 to 14, 7 minutes gone. The Lakers lead it in the first quarter. Gus Williams with it. Williams holds it up, out of front, the ball to Wilkes. Wilkes goes to dribble and here's a foul on Allen. He's hurt. He's got to leave the game. Lucius Allen will leave the game. He and the Dudley, Dudley's pass to Barry. Barry comes in deep, ball away 10-footer. Brilliant shot. Just brilliant. 28-26. No way you can stop a fall away jumper like that when he's turning around. Not get it. Rebound is off. Barry muscles it away. It's a free ball to Dudley and the quarter's over. At the end of the quarter, the Lakers lead, 28-26. Back right after this word. Cheney lost body control. Wilkes front court over the left side to Gus Williams. Back out to Jamal Wilkes. Wilkes drives, stop, fakes Ford out of position. Cross court pass to Barry. He's alone, fires a 20-footer, good again, Barry. This is one of the great shooting exhibitions you'll ever see from outside. I just said earlier, normally in L.A., he doesn't have a good game. He's had a great half here. 22. 50 to 48, Los Angeles. good. The rebound is a free ball. Barry's after it. So Chaney, Barry's got it. Throw it on the floor. Great play to Williams. Beautiful play. Williams back to Barry in the corner. 25-footer out of the corner. Go. Oh, is he hot? 52 to 50, Los Angeles. And Rick Barry has done the right thing, his coach says. 44 points for him and that was out of the dead corner, 25 feet. 13 seconds left. The ball in front court, Smith. You think Barry wants it? He's got his hands out hollering, give me the ball. Smith down the middle. Smith moves the ball, picks it up, throws it over to Parker. Dribble drive all the way. Score. He got a garbage play basket as the ball fell loose from Smith. It rolled to Parker who was standing there curling his mustache and he drove under uncontested. At the end of the half, the Lakers lead 54-52. years. Now Clifford Ray's got in the front court.
[14:08]Holds it up just inside the 10 second line in one hand. Give the ball off to Phil Smith. Smith dribbling against Cheney. Cheney's done a great job on him. Over to Rick Barry. Barry shoots over Kassie from 20. It's on the way and good. Barry would eat up King Kong in a ladder tonight. 63-62. The Laker lead is one. And seven and a half to play and Barry with 26. In front. Two in a row for him. 79 to 71. Now we got the ball of Dudley. Dudley coming into the attacking zone. Comes to the right side, stops, holds it up and Tatum covers him up. Dudley pivots, Tatum knocks it loose and fouls him. Oh no. Earl Tatum and Jerry West is really mad. Because there's no reason for a play like that. You got the guy stopped. He's used his dribble. He's 30 feet out on the floor. You reach in and try to take his watch. What good is watch? You know the time. 79-71. Los Angeles will see Golden State go to the line. That's just like a Christmas present here in April. 83-74 and the Lakers by nine again. Trying to break it open here in the last two minutes of the quarter. Dudley front court around a pick by Parrish. Dudley back to Parrish. 16-foot wide right. He's a good shooter and he hits it. Parrish. Oh, I think he's going to be a star in this league, Lynn. Never be a fast player, but they can wait for him. 83-76. Tatum with it in the front court. A minute and a half to play. Nine seconds. Nine top of the key. Dudley comes in deep. Dudley brings it over to Barry. Where else? Four seconds left. Three, two. He's around. Casey stopped, 10-footer. That's good by Barry at the buzzer. He hung Kassie out to dry and Kassie was flapping in the breeze as Barry went to the base and hit. 87-82 and Barry continues to be magnificent with 34. 91-90, inbound pass, the Lakers by one. It comes off to Warner. Warner front court. If Lakers don't get something going to Kareem, they're in a heap of trouble. It goes into Kareem. He turns, takes it over to Cheney. He's alone. 16 ft wide right. He hits it. Cheney. Pressure Phil basket that they really needed. Nine and a half to play. Three-point lead, Los Angeles. We're in the fourth quarter and we got the ball belonging to Charlie Johnson. Johnson dribbling the ball, takes it over to Dudley. Dudley in low to Parrish. Drives on Kareem and kicks it out of bounds trying to dribble. You don't see many good 7-foot dribblers. Back, I'm still looking for my first one. 93-90. Inbound pass to Ford at the 10 second line. Johnson to the base. 17-footer by Johnson. No. Rebound is off, taken by Kareem. He goes to the dribble. He's in the front court dribbling. Left side to Kassie. Kassie in deep, a back of six is good. Kareem ignites two baskets in a row with a pass, then a dribble drive. Lakers by seven. 6:45 to play. Phil Smith will be in when it's dead for Golden State. Great shot. Oh yeah, two. Rick Barry at the line, almost an automatic two. He missed one tonight. That'll take care of the month of April. The free throw is good. It's 100-195. If you've never seen him play, he shoots him underhanded, two-handed style. Obviously the best way to shoot. The free throw is good, 101-96. Did he got 40 yet? 38. 38, that gives him 78 in his last two games against the Lakers. Wow. On his way to 40. Six and a half to play. Tatum with it in the front court through the last quarter. Kassie Russell gets it, gives out in front to Cheney. He's swing it over to Ford. Ford sets, takes it in low to Kassie, working on Barry. Kassie throws it away to Ford. Ford's back at 12 is in and out. No rebound to Kareem. Put it up and in. Kareem ignites two baskets in a row with a pass, then a dribble drive. Kareem got the offensive basket. When Kassie turned, he threw it wildly. Listen to this crowd. The inbound is to Cheney. Don Cheney's had a spectacular game. Dribble top of the key. Give to Kassie. 19 ft wide right. Into the post to Kareem. Swing left at the base. Sky hook at 12. Is good. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. What a fourth quarter he's played. 107 to 98. Five minutes to play. Smith with it front court is good. The Laker lead is seven. One time out left to the Warriors.
[18:21]They don't exercise the option. Dudley front court, 38 seconds to play. Dudley gets top to key, didn't give it to Barry. I'd give it to him. Over to Wilkes. 20-footer by Wilkes on the way. Won't go. Rebound to Kareem and the Lakers got this one in the refrigerator. I didn't think Golden State played that smartly at all. They didn't go to Barry. Here with the ball in the front court. The crowd, standing ovation. Cheney dribbling the ball. They'll have to foul him if they want it. Another ball rolls on the floor and they'll stop play to retrieve it. The ball boy had a slip out of his hand in the basket. The Lakers will get it out with nine in the clock and 19 in the game clock. They'll get it out over here along this sideline. The Lakers have the ball game one and they're the only team of the four teams in the best of seven series that have won on their home floor in the first round. Denver lost, Houston lost, Philadelphia lost. Ford brings it into Kareem. Kareem cross courts to Kassie. Kassie with six in the clock. Dribble around Barry in the lane. 10-footer by Kassie. It's good. 115 to 106 and the Lakers draw first blood. 115, 106, 12 seconds left. Here Smith with it, come in deep, go to the baseline, do a handstand, beat it out to Barry, top of the key, feeds it underneath to Ray, puts it up, miss, rebound is off, taken by Cheney. This game is all over. Final score, ladies and gentlemen, Los Angeles 115, Golden State 106. We'll be back right after this word. Hello again, everybody, from the Fabulous Forum. Chick Hearn speaking and if you're ever going to run a restaurant, you've got to have a great chef. If you're ever going to run a basketball team, you've got to have at least one super basketball player. Los Angeles is blessed with that player. He will be voted, we predict, as the most valuable player in the league for the fifth time in his eight years. And again tonight, he sparked the Lakers all the way with 27 points, but it was the other things that he did that were so important. The rebound, the outlet pass, the dribble drive to midcourt, setting up another basket here and there. The block shot late in the game to discourage the Golden State Warriors. I'm talking about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And we'll be back with Kareem momentarily. He played 41 minutes. He had 27 points making 10 of his 19 shots. He had 16 rebounds, three blocks and seven assists as the Lakers post before 15,928 screaming fans a very impressive 115 to 106 win over a very outstanding Golden State machine, led by Rick Barry's 40 points. Good game, big fellow. Thank you very much, C. It's always good to get the first one, I guess under your belt. You never know after a 10-day layoff what could happen out there. I was very concerned about that, uh for the whole layoff. I would have much rather been playing uh regularly. And uh I I was really really uh worried about that because uh there's no way you can avoid having a mental letdown. You you get home, you relax, you get rested and your mind starts going toward other things. It appears that this is the way the Warriors are going to defense you throughout the playoffs. You have played of course when the Milwaukee Bucks against the Warriors quite often and they are going to double and sometimes triple team you down there. So your scoring average might go down, but other teammates are going to be open more often, I guess. I think so, Lynn. The uh the way they're playing us, they're going to give us some open shots uh at the top of the key and in the corners because uh those men that should be uh defensing men at those positions are dropping in the lane or uh dropping back on me to to keep me from turning in the middle. So as long as we uh stay alert and uh we're able to pass the ball, we'll be able to overcome that, I think. Congratulations on your first win. We'll see you Friday night. Thanks a lot, Lynn. Okay, Chick. We'll be back here on Friday night, 8:20 on KNX and our radio network. We certainly enjoyed working on this station. Bobby Wall has been our technical director. Len Shackelford is with me. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was our special guest. And this is Chick Hearn, bidding you a pleasant good night with a reminder that the final score was Los Angeles 115, Golden State 106.
