The Dave Cowens Interview
By:
Michael D. McClellan
|
Saturday, March 5th, 2005
That Cowens and the Celtics prevailed, 128-126, was only a sidelight one of the greatest – if certainly not one of the most bizarre – games in NBA Finals history. An 87-80 Game 6 win in Phoenix gave Boston its second title in three seasons. It also represented a high-water mark for the 1970s Celtics. Paul Silas was sent packing during the offseason – a move met with anger and disappointment by Cowens, who had come to rely on the power forward’s gritty board work. Eight games into the 1976-77 season, Cowens walked into Auerbach’s office and dropped a bombshell: He wanted a leave of absence from the team. Burnout was cited as the reason. Auerbach granted it without dispute, and the temporary “retirement” lasted nearly thirty games. When Cowens returned he was effective, but he was hardly playing at the same extraordinary level. Thus began a downward spiral for an aging team, one that would produce only 29 wins during the 1978-79 season – a season in which Cowens found himself asked to serve as both player and coach, the same type of role filled so famously by Bill Russell a decade before.
The turmoil and heartbreak of 1978-79 gave birth to a new era, as Larry Bird joined the Celtics and helped the team win 61 games and capture the Atlantic Division title, at the time the most remarkable turnaround in NBA history. It was also Cowens’ last season with the Celtics. There would be another retirement following that magical season, until friend and former teammate Don Nelson coaxed him back onto the court in Milwaukee. The Bucks swept the Celtics to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were dismantled by Dr. J, Moses Malone and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers. It would be Cowens’ last taste of NBA action, as the fiery redhead – one of the truest gladiators of our times – walked away on his terms.
Was Dave Cowens the second coming of Bill Russell? Or was he the precursor to Larry Bird? A bridge between the two greatest eras in team history? However you choose to view him, Cowens wasted little time placing his indelible mark on the game of basketball. He finished his career with 13,516 points (17.6 ppg) and 10,444 rebounds (13.6 rpg). Cowens also appeared in 89 postseason games, averaging 18.9 points and 14.4 rebounds. In six All-Star Games he averaged 12.7 points and 13.5 rebounds. He played on two championship teams and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for 1972-73, and was selected as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players.
Celtic Nation is honored to bring you this interview.