How Good Are Celtics? Those Who Know, Talk

If the Lakers and Boston Celtics make it to the NBA championship series, the Lakers will be playing the greatest Celtic team in history. At least, that’s the opinion of a few knowledgeable people. Here’s what they say:

K.C. Jones, Boston coach: “This team is more talented than any of the nine Celtic teams I played with and the best team I’ve ever coached.”

Dave Cowens, former Boston player and coach: “It’s the best team I’ve seen, on any level. Compared to the championship clubs I played for, Boston has more depth, more size and more long-range shooting.”

Don Nelson, Milwaukee Bucks coach: “This team is better than any team I played on at Boston, and I played on five championship teams. This is a team without weakness. They have some of the best outside shooters in the game today. I really enjoy watching films of them. They really play the game well.”

Kevin Loughery, Washington Bullets coach: “Their ball movement is the best I’ve ever seen, but what really impresses me is the way they are playing defense. Maybe it’s time K.C. Jones started getting credit for what this club has become.”

Add Boston: From a season review in the Denver Post: “Utah Jazz Coach Frank Layden had been pumping his team up for days before they went into Boston to play the Celtics. Ten minutes into the game, the Celtics led, 32-10, and Larry Bird had 16 points, prompting Layden to call time out. ‘To hell with Boston,’ he told his team, ‘let’s beat Bird.’ ”

Add NBA: More from the Denver Post: “Midway through the season, Atlanta’s Doc Rivers was whistled by Dick Bavetta for being out of bounds. Problem was, Bavetta was 50 feet away, on the other side of the court, when he made the call. ‘Dick!’ Hawk Coach Mike Fratello howled, ‘you couldn’t see it!’ Said Bavetta: ‘That’s why it was a great call.’ ”

Add Celtics: From Peter May of the Hartford Courant: “The Celtics had their team photo taken before the last game. And it will conclusively show for what few disbelievers are left that Bill Walton is taller than Robert Parish, who is listed at 7 feet. Walton is listed at 6-11 because he dislikes the label of being a 7-footer.”

Trivia Time: Name the only two men in baseball history whose numbers have been retired by teams in both leagues? (Answer below.)

Bill Jauss of the Chicago Tribune, covering spring practice at Notre Dame, reported that Lou Holtz isn’t using the two-story tower that was employed by Gerry Faust.

Holtz said: “If I ever climb up there, it’s because I would want to jump off.”

Trivia Answer: Henry Aaron, whose No. 44 was retired by the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers, and Casey Stengel, whose No. 37 has been retired by the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. Quotebook

Jimmy Jones, Hall of Fame horse trainer: “A man’s gotta make at least one bet every day, else he could be walking around lucky and never know it.”