Hide Article Text (OCR)
By TOM WHITFIELD UPI Sports Writer SANDOVER, Md. (UPI) — The Washington Bullets begin the season with a new coach and a new outlook — but most of the same players who were eliminated early in last sea son's playoffs. Not too long after Cleveland edged the Bullets for the NBA's Central Division title and beat them four games to three in the playoffs, owner Abe Pollin decided to change things. So he fired coach K.C. Jones and brought in Dick Motta, who had just finished a 2458 season with the Chicago Bulls. But, except for Motta and three rookies who are expected to stick, not much else has changed. Motta even kept Bernie Bickerstaff, Jones’ as sistant for two seasons. The new coach's main task would appear to be making the Bullet veterans — including starters Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, Leonard Robinson, Phil Chenier and Dave Bing—forget the nightmare that started two seasons ago when Golden State whipped them four straight games in the playoff finals. “That history,” said Motta. “I mean, I like to go down to the Washington Monument and visualize if I could throw a basketball over it. But you get paid for what you're going to do tomorrow, not what you did today or what you did yesterday. “I look at the Bullets as if I were a 73 or 74 golfer. You don't improve par easily. You're there, you've got it. Only a couple of little things have to be improved, but that’s all the Bullets need to win four, five or six more games.” Among disappointments last season was Hayes, who had his poorest statistical year of his eight in the NBA, averaging 19.8 points and 10.8 rebounds at forward. “This will be my year,” promised Hayes, popularly known as “The Big E’. “Even more so than two years ago when we won so many games. I feel we'll win it all. That's how much I believe in this team. “I also think I have a lot to prove—not to anyone else, but to myself.” Unseld, an eight-year vete ran, is the Bullets’ center, but both his backups this season are expected to be 6-foot-10 rookies — Mitch Kupchak of North Carolina and Joe Pace of Coppin State. Kupchak, the No. 1 draft choice, chose the Bullets over a more lucrative offer from an Italian team at the last minute. Robinson, who won a starting forward spot late last year, can also play the pivot, a key position in a fast break offense, and the result could mean an outright release for Tom Kozelko, who backed up Unseld last year. The third forward is Nick Weatherspoon, hoping for a new start after spending most of last year in Jones' doghouse. Second-year man Kevin Grevey and veteran Mike Riordan watch the numbers game carefully as the cutdown date nears. Guard is the Bullets’ thinnest position, despite the presence of Chenier, who averaged 19.9 points per game last season, and veteran Bing Chief backup Jimmy Jones has chronic knee problems. Rookie Larry Wright from Grambling appears to have a spot locked up, and veteran Clem Haskins, like Riordan, hopes to avoid the ax.
Newspaper Details
Lebanon Daily News
Lebanon, Pennsylvania, US
Mon, Oct 11, 1976
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert G.
USA 09 Jun 2026
Other Publications Near Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon Daily News
Lebanon Daily News and the Lebanon Daily Times
Lebanon Semi Weekly News
Lebanon Advertiser
Daily News
