NBA Playoffs Roundup : Akeem Throws Punch, Jazz KOs Rockets

When anyone claims the players in the NBA are better than they used to be, oldtimers point to Billy Paultz and say:

“How can you say that when the Whopper is still around?”

The Whopper, a good-luck charm over the years for teams seeking a spot in the playoffs, had one of his finest hours Sunday at Houston when he gave the Utah Jazz the second-half lift they needed to knock the Rockets out of the playoffs.

Paultz came off the bench to score six points and grab five rebounds, survive a punch from Akeem Olajuwon and help the Jazz rally for a 104-97 victory that gave them a 3-2 win in the first round of the playoffs.

The Rockets, with their Twin Towers of Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, appeared to have the deciding game of the series in the bag when massive shot-blocker Mark Eaton went out late in the first half with a hyperextended knee.

Olajuwon took advantage of the absence of the 7-4 Eaton and scored 14 points in the third quarter as Houston extended its lead to 76-67.

But early in the fourth quarter, Olajuwon, angered by close guarding, punched the 36-year-old Paultz. That seemed to fire up the Jazz.

Utah finished with 37 points in the fourth quarter to win going away. Thurl Bailey scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and reserves Jeff Wilkins, Fred Roberts and John Stockton also contributed to the blitz.

“It just shows what emotion and intensity can do,” Paultz said. “We played with great emotion down the stretch and it took them out of their pattern.

“Either Akeem can’t punch or I can really take a punch. It wasn’t much.”

Beginning with the New York Nets of the old American Basketball Assn. in 1970-71, Paultz, never considered much more than a journeyman center, has made it to the playoffs every one of his 15 pro seasons. In 1974 Paultz, a former St. John’s player, helped the Nets win the ABA championship.

Utah is the fourth NBA playoff team Paultz has been on in nine seasons.

“The old Whopper earned his money today,” Utah Coach Frank Layden said. “I kept him because he’s smart, he’s huge (6-11), he has playoff experience and today he made me look good.”

It was a disappointing finish for the Rockets, who many thought could give the Lakers a battle for the championship of the West. They knotted the series by winning at Salt Lake City Friday night and they dominated the finale for three quarters before the Whopper and friends did them in.

Boston 133, Detroit 99--Before the opener of the best-of-seven second-round series at Boston, the defending champions were moaning and groaning.

They moaned about injuries to Larry Bird (elbow), Kevin McHale (back), Ray Williams (ankle) and Cedric Maxwell (knee) and they groaned about the way Cleveland’s front line manhandled the Celtics up front.

The poor Celtics, with all those cripples and other problems, still managed a 34-point victory, as the Pistons lost their seventh straight in Boston.

The Celtics’ front line, with Robert Parish scoring 27 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, outscored the Pistons’ front line, 106-42.

Center Bill Laimbeer was an example of Detroit futility. He had one point, three rebounds and five fouls in 20 minutes.

The Celtics led by 10 at halftime and by the end of three, their lead was 27.

Bird, playing only 33 minutes which is almost like a day off for him, scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds.

Philadelphia 127, Milwaukee 105--The last three times these teams have met in a best-of-seven playoff, the 76ers have swept to victory. But with the homecourt edge, the Bucks were thinking this one might be different.

Wrong. Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Clint Richardson made themselves at home in Milwaukee as Malone dominated a trio of Milwaukee big men (Alton Lister, Randy Breuer and Paul Mokeski), Dr. J. made a basket every time the Bucks threatened to get into the game and Richardson came off the bench to hit 11 of 12 shots.

The Bucks led briefly, only because the 76ers missed five of their first six shots. The Bucks rallied behind Sidney Moncrief to cut a 51-37 lead to seven points late in the second period. Then, Erving drove through for a layup and was fouled, made the free throw and the rout was on once again.

Moncrief scored 16 points, all in the first half, and the Bucks’ other big scorer, Terry Cummings, got lost in pursuit of the 76ers’ fast break and scored only 17.