NBA Roundup : Thomas, Pistons Playing as If This Is the Year

Since he joined the Detroit Pistons six years ago, Isiah Thomas has been hearing about the future.

“People always talked about two-year, three-year plans and had this ‘wait until next year’ outlook,” Thomas said. “I’m tired of that. It’s time to do it now.”

Those remarks were made just before this season opened but were soon forgotten when the Pistons, with several new faces, including Adrian Dantley, were off to a 3-6 start.

It may be time to revive the brilliant guard’s remarks. The Pistons are acting very much as though their time has come.

With forwards Dantley and Sidney Green leading the charge, the Pistons trounced the Cleveland Cavaliers, 104-87, Wednesday night at Pontiac, Mich.

It was the Pistons’ fifth win in a row and 20th win in their last 24 games. With a 23-10 record they are only half a game behind Atlanta in the tough Central Division.

Dantley had 26 points, while Green had a season-high 22 points and 13 rebounds. Thomas, as usual was the big man in the clutch. When the Cavaliers, losers of seven of their last eight, rallied in the fourth quarter to pull within 91-85, Thomas scored five points in a row and turned it into a rout.

While many people are saying this is the season the Lakers’ Magic Johnson will be the Most Valuable Player, Thomas isn’t so sure his friend is the MVP.

“Why not me?” asks the 6-1 quarterback of the Pistons. “We had almost a new team, both forwards and a guard (Joe Dumars). I brought this team together in a hurry. Maybe I deserve the award.

“I thought at the beginning we had more talent than last season, when we finished third in the division behind Milwaukee and Atlanta. But that didn’t necessarily mean we would win.

“It didn’t look good after nine games, but things keep looking better. It’s up to me to make things work.”

Philadelphia 96, Atlanta 93--Jeff Ruland is back. Watch out for the 76ers. Ruland, who underwent knee surgery two months ago and missed 34 games, was impressive in a 24-minute stint at Philadelphia.

The 6-11 center, moving rather well on the knee, made seven of eight shots and had five rebounds. But, as it usually is when the 76ers win, it was largely the work of Charles Barkley.

Barkley had 24 points and 20 rebounds and led the rally that wiped out a 13-point third quarter deficit. His dunk on a feed from Maurice Cheeks put the 76ers ahead to stay with one minute left.

Ruland came to the 76ers in the Moses Malone trade. He was hurt in the second game of the season.

“It’s great to be out there again,” Ruland said. “Like the first night of my honeymoon, I had a great time. The knee felt great.”

Boston 117, Dallas 108--In his second game back, Larry Bird regained his shooting touch, took charge of the backboards and led the Celtics to another victory at Boston.

Bird, who was 8 for 15 after going 4 for 19 Tuesday night, scored 14 of his 25 points in the third when the Celtics scored 40 points and broke the game open.

The Celtics’ third quarter spurt was made easier when the Mavericks’ high-scoring forward, Mark Aguirre was ejected after picking up his second technical in the closing seconds of the first half.

“You have to pay attention to business when you play Boston and it was tough without Aguirre,” Dallas Coach Dick Motta said.

Washington 118, New Jersey 100--Bullet Coach Kevin Loughery put in his second unit in the second quarter at Landover, Md. and led by John Williams and Darwin Cook, it broke the game open.

The Bullets led, 40-36, when the second group took the court. By halftime it was 63-40. The reserves accounted for 58 points.

Moses Malone, playing only 29 minutes, had 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Seattle 130, San Antonio 104--Dale Ellis scored 25 of his 32 points in the first half at Seattle to help the SuperSonics build a big lead and coast to victory.

The Spurs, who have lost six of their last seven games, were led by rookie Walter Berry with 24 points.