Celtics ‘Stole’ the Final Piece of Puzzle When They Acquired Johnson From Suns

The trade seemed too good to be true: Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey.

The Boston Celtics received an All-Star guard who could defense Magic Johnson and Andrew Toney, possibly the last cog needed for the Green’s 15th world championship.

The Phoenix Suns, in return, received a poor-rebounding second-string center who played little last year and is out this season with an injury.

But of all the uneven swaps engineered by Red Auerbach, this seemed too easy: No team would agree to it unless there was an unknown element. As a result, Celtic fans wondered if Johnson’s reputation as a malcontent wasn’t the x Factor: On-floor stats negated by a me-first attitude.

Instead, the 6-foot-4 Johnson played to win, without complaint or excuses. The fans’ lingering worries ended with the seventh game of the NBA finals last winter when Johnson broke his wrist in the first period but finished the game.

Frank Layden, coach of the Utah Jazz, says that Johnson, 30, who helped the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1978-19 NBA title, likes the feel of a championship.

“He’s had a taste of winning, he likes it and he wants to do it again. D.J. is an older player but he has improved, he’s better now than than he has ever been, and I think that’s the influence of Larry Bird, some of the other players, good coaching and the Celtics tradition.

“Years ago it was said that if you put on a Yankees uniform your average automatically went up, and I think that was true. Now, if you get traded to the Celtics, maybe you’re better than you ever were in your life,” Layden wondered.

Johnson’s teammate, M.L. Carr, says Celtics’ style fits Johnson.

“Put a guy in a situation where it is conducive to his personality and his style of play and he is going to give you a higher level of play. D.J.’s very happy and he has come into a situation where everybody appreciates what he does.

“The rap he had when he came here, the label about being a moody guy, didn’t stand up. D.J.’s a winner, he’s a competitor. Red (Auerbach) knew that, that’s why he went to get him, and this team will make a great player that much better,” Carr explained.

Although defense is his pride, Johnson’s shooting is a new plus. After 36 games this season Johnson is averaging better than 18 points.

Until this year, Johnson shot less than 44% from the floor; now he is hitting over half his shots. One of the NBA’s best post-up guards, he now is taking and hitting the 14- to 18-foot jumper.

“It took me about eight years in the league to find out that the one thing I wasn’t doing was concentrating. I would let the defensive player bother me,” he acknowledged. With the addition of extra arc to his shot, the percentages rose and defenders can’t only play him to drive.

But defense is still the key to Johnson.

Boston coach K.C. Jones says that his guard’s play flows from his defensive work.

“If he is playing good defense, then the rest of his game will fall together. When you see Dennis get down and play ‘D’, thats when he is on. His offense feeds off of his defense.”

But Johnson’s defense isn’t of the flashy nature of the Lakers’ Michael Cooper.

“D.J. is quick,” said Jones. “He looks slow, but speed and quickness are two different things.”

“I’m deceptive, quick,” said Johnson, “Most people don’t think I’m very fast, but I anticipate a lot on defense and that’s what really gets me by. I know everyone in the league well enough that I can anticipate their moves. And I don’t let anyone run wherever he wants.”

For Dennis Johnson, described by teammates and opponents as a winner it is probably appropriate that he is now playing beneath the 15 banners in Boston Garden.

“He’s found a home,” said Layden.