Not Bullish on Bulls, He’ll Take ’67 76ers

Here’s a vote not for the 1996 Chicago Bulls or the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, but the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers as the greatest NBA team ever. . . .

The 76ers were 68-13 and beat the San Francisco Warriors in six games for the NBA title. . . .

However, their finest achievement was eliminating the eight-time defending champion Boston Celtics in five games in the Eastern Division finals. . . .

Their strength was an awesome front line of Wilt Chamberlain at center and Lucious Jackson and Chet Walker at forwards. Forward Billy Cunningham came off the bench. The starting guards were Hal Greer and Wali Jones. . . .

Chamberlain was in his prime at 31. When he played for the 1972 Laker team that won 69 games, he was 36 and in the next-to-last season of his career. . . .

Coach of the 76ers was Alex Hannum. . . .

Hannum played center for USC in 1947. His Trojan teammates included forward Bill Sharman, who coached the 1972 Lakers, and Tex Winter, who is an assistant for the 1996 Bulls. . . .

The most regular-season games won by the Bill Russell-era Celtics was 62 in 1964-65. . . .

Their highest winning percentage was .787 in 1959-60, when they were 59-16. . . .

Of course, it is what you do in the postseason, not the regular season, that counts most. . . .

Three times, the Celtics didn’t win their division, but won the title. . . .

In Russell’s last season, 1968-69, they finished fourth in the Eastern Division behind Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, but beat the Lakers in the seventh game of the championship series, 108-106, at the Forum. . . .

Baseball souvenir hunters are advised to buy tickets in the left-field section at Anaheim Stadium over the weekend when Cecil Fielder and the Detroit Tigers visit. . . .

Mike Blowers isn’t the only former American League third baseman having difficulty making the transition to the National. Gary Gaetti is off to a slow start with the St. Louis Cardinals. . . .

Manager Felipe Alou must be doing it with mirrors at Montreal, which is leading the NL East. . . .

You know something about the caliber of middle relief pitching in the major leagues when on the same Monday night, the Angels blow a 9-1 lead, the White Sox a 10-0 lead, and San Diego a 9-4 lead. . . .

The way the Boston Red Sox are playing, Manager Kevin Kennedy should be getting a vote of confidence any day. . . .

*

Eddie Delahoussaye, who won his first Santa Anita Handicap aboard Mr Purple, will have a good opportunity to win his first San Juan Capistrano on Sunday. He will ride mare Windsharp, the probable favorite. . . .

Winningest horse at the Santa Anita meeting is Bit Of Petrone, despite being ridden by jockeys wearing Chicago Cub silks. The 8-year-old gelding, who has won five of his seven races and finished second twice, was owned by Cub fan Richard Baltas until a recent claim. . . .

Over the weekend, the Southland lived up to its old billing as sports capital of the nation. . . .

On Saturday, 75,000 showed up for Long Beach Grand Prix qualifying, 69,255 for the Galaxy-New York/New Jersey soccer game, and 46,059 for the Dodgers-Florida game. On Sunday, there were 88,000 for the Grand Prix, 49,728 for Dodgers-Florida, 18,060 for the Santa Anita races, 17,505 for Lakers-Phoenix and 17,174 for Mighty Ducks-Winnipeg. . . .

On Saturday, UCLA tackle Jonathan Ogden will be taken high in the first round of the NFL draft. On Sunday, he will be the shotputter in the Mt. SAC Relays with the brightest financial future. . . .

Kyle Wachholtz, who shared the USC job with Brad Otton most of last season, might be taken in the first five rounds of a draft that is quarterback thin. . . .

Larry Holmes says his next fight will be his last. Let’s hope so. Holmes, 46, struggled to win a 10-round decision over unknown Quinn Navarre on Tuesday. . . .

ESPN commentator Bill Clement was flabbergasted that the Montreal Canadiens didn’t go after the injured ribs of New York Ranger captain Mark Messier in the opening game of their playoff series. Clement, you must understand, was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers when they were known as the Broad Street Bullies. . . .

Ex-UCLA Bruin Trevor Wilson of the Sioux Falls Skyforce is facing ex-USC Trojan Duane Cooper of the Fort Wayne Fury in the Continental Basketball Assn. championship series. . . .

Former USC coach Charlie Parker has interviewed for the vacancy at Cleveland State. . . .

Hopeless campaign, like father, like son: Ross Perot Jr. is buying the Dallas Mavericks.