PARISH: : Quiet Man Has Lakers on the Run

In an attempt to convince Robert Parish that he should share his thoughts with the media on Wednesday, reporters asked Boston assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers to plead their case to the Celtic center.

Rodgers returned from the locker room several minutes later to report that Parish had declined the honor.

CBS’ Dick Stockton still thought he would give it a shot. Maybe Parish wasn’t talking to the newspapers, but how could he turn down the eye in the sky?

Firmly.

When reporters related their difficulties to an NBA public relations man, he had a suggestion.

“Have you tried smoke signals,” he said.

During the playoffs, the man called Chief has only been sending signals to his critics.

All indications are that they are getting the message. One Boston columnist compared Parish’s performance during the playoffs to the way Bill Russell played when titles were on the line. In Boston, that is the ultimate compliment.

Philadelphia’s Moses Malone didn’t have to read during the Eastern Conference finals to realize he wasn’t dealing with the same double zero. That’s Parish’s uniform number, not a comment on his personality of late.

Malone has always had his way with Parish, just as he has with almost every other NBA center.

This season was typical. In six regular-season games against each other, Malone averaged 26.5 points and 16.3 rebounds to Parish’s 13 points and 8.5 rebounds.

But in five playoff games for the Eastern Conference championship, Parish held Malone to a draw. Malone averaged 18.2 points and 13.4 rebounds to 17.4 points and 13 rebounds for Parish. In three games, Parish outrebounded Moses.

Parish’s assertiveness carried over into Game 1 of the championship series, when he had 18 points and 8 rebounds to 12 points and 3 rebounds for the Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

If a Most Valuable Player had to be selected for the playoffs today, Larry Bird said he would vote for Parish.

But then his teammates have always been Parish’s most ardent admirers.

“Russell said the measure of a player is to count his accomplishments,” M.L. Carr said. “This is Robert’s fifth year with the Celtics. We’ve been in the finals three of those years. What more can you ask of Robert than he’s given us over the last five years?”

Overhearing the conversation, Cedric Maxwell said, “Everybody has their critics. For example, some people say I talk too much.”

Oh?

Parish’s critics say he usually disappears in the playoffs, which is not what you want your 7 foot, 1/2 inch center to do. He heard that after the third game of the championship series against the Lakers last season. Furious, he had 25 points and 12 rebounds in Game 4.

In the first game of the playoffs this season, Parish took only five shots and scored five points against Cleveland.

The next day, he really did disappear. He didn’t go to practice.

One newspaper reported that Coach K.C. Jones wasn’t aware until 10 minutes before the workout that Parish would be absent. The article speculated that the center was irritated because his teammates didn’t look for him more on offense.

The other newspaper reported that Parish woke up that morning with a bad back and called trainer Ray Melchiorre, who didn’t tell Jones until 10 minutes before practice that the center wouldn’t be there.

Both reporters stand by their stories.

Guess which one Parish allows to interview him.

He has shut out everyone else.

When he’s in the mood, Parish, 31, can be engaging.

Kevin McHale set the team’s scoring record with 56 points in a game this season, bested a few days later by Bird’s 60.

Asked when he planned to match the point totals of McHale and Bird, Parish said, “They got the green light. I don’t got the green light.”

What color is your light, he was asked.

“Blinking yellow,” he said. “Caution.”

His value to the Celtics in this series will not be for the points he scores but for the points he prevents Abdul-Jabbar from scoring.

Parish is recognized as the NBA’s best running center, and the Celtics believe he can best achieve that by dashing to the offensive end of the court whenever Boston gets the ball.

If Abdul-Jabbar, who prefers to linger for a second or two before making the journey downcourt, tries to run with Parish for an entire game, the Celtics feel fatigue will overcome the Lakers’ 38-year-old center.

If Abdul-Jabbar chooses not to join the chase, one of the other Lakers is forced to attach himself to Parish until their center arrives.

That leaves a Celtic open.

In the first quarter Monday, it was Danny Ainge, who made 7 of his first 9 shots.

Then, it was Scott Wedman, who was 11 for 11.

As long as the Celtics have an open man, and he’s making his shots, the Lakers can’t expect to beat them.

Laker Coach Pat Riley was asked Wednesday what instructions he would give Abdul-Jabbar to assist him in coping with Parish before Game 2 tonight at Boston Garden.

“Run faster,” Riley said.

Abdul-Jabbar said it will take more than that, emphasizing that Parish’s total game has improved since he arrived in Boston from Golden State in 1980.

“He’s greatly improved his fundamental skills since he’s been with the Celtics,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He’s always been able to run the court, but he’s handling the ball and recognizing situations better.

“When Boston got him, there were some questions about him. But he’s really realized his potential.”

Laker assistant coach Dave Wohl said Parish, along with Abdul-Jabbar and Malone, is one of the NBA’s three best centers.

Parish would like to make that a consensus opinion.

In one of two interviews recently with the Boston Herald’s Mike Carey, the only times Parish has spoken with a reporter in more than two weeks, he was asked if he enjoyed playing against Malone and Abdul-Jabbar.

“Well, enjoy is definitely not the right word,” Parish said. “But I do like the challenge. I like going up against the best--Kareem, (Jack) Sikma, Moses. There’s a point I want to prove.”

NHL CHAMPIONSHIP

EDMONTON VS. PHILADELPHIA

BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES

Game 1 Philadelphia 4, Edmonton 1 Game 2 Edmonton 3, Philadelphia 1 Game 3 Edmonton 4, Philadelphia 3 Game 4 Edmonton 5, Philadelphia 3 Game 5 Today at Edmonton 6 p.m. Game 6 Sunday at Philadelphia 4:05 a.m. Game 7 June 5 at Philadelphia 4:35 p.m. NOTE: Games 6 and 7 if necessary. All times PDT.