= Page 8 LION’S EYE October 25, 1977 N.H.L. Ready to Face-Off by Larry Gallone with Jim McIntyre The NHL is currently looking for a team, or a player, or a prayer as an alternative to the Montreal Canadiens. Once again this year as in the past two years, the Montreal Canadiens will win the Stanley Cup in a cakewalk. The honor will be the right to play the mighty Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals. Once again the Canadiens weak- ness can be found nowhere. From Guy Lafleur to Murray Wilson, the Canadiens have speed, strength and depth. We all know the Canadiens will win the Stanley Cup for the third year in a row, the question remains who will face the Canadiens in the finals? The answer is, the Flyers, Islanders, or Bruins. Patrick Division This is the year that many hockey writers feel the New York Islanders will dethrone the Flyers for top honors in the NHL’s toughest division. The Islanders main prob- lem was the lack of a consistent scorer. They think they have found him in draft pick Michel Bossy and have added another goaltender in Swedish import Goran Hogasta. This leaves room for either Glen Resch or Billy Smith as possible trade bait. The Islanders are tough on defense, strong in goal, and deep on the bench. They have all the tools to win the Patrick division. The team that will fight all the way down to the last game with the Islanders is the Flyers. The Flyers’ questions-marks remain, Bernie Parent, Bill Barber and Reggie Leach. If these three players can come back to their old form, the Flyers will also improve from the lack luster per- formance displayed in last years’ playoffs. On the plus side for the Flyers is Barry Dean. This addition gives the Flyers three of the first five draft picks in the 1975 draft (Mel Bridgeman, 1st, Barry Dean, 2nd, Rick Lapoint, 5th). Paul Holmgren had a fantastic pre-season scoring 7 goals. The race between the Flyers and Islanders is too close to call. Our nod will go to the Flyers for 2 reasons. 1) An outstanding home record, 2) more depth than New York. The other two teams, New York Rangers and Atlanta Flames, will battle for 3rd place. The nod here goes to the Rangers with upgrading of their goaltending, by ac- quiring Hardy Aastrom, from Sweden and Wayne Thomas who they picked in the in- tra-league draft from Toronto. However, with the new playoff format the Flames will probably make the playoffs as a wild card team. N.B.A. Basketball by Betty Jean McMenamin NBA Preview Sports The 1977-78 NBA season is Now. Who will be rookie of the year? MVP? What ‘team will be the NBA champion in 1977-78? Those questions won't be answered here. ‘However, attempts will be made to review ithe favorites and non-favorites and why. There is a specific look into the “We Owe - You One’ Philadelphia 76’ers who were runners- up to Portland Trailblazers in 76- 77, and this reporter’s prediction of who the four semi- finalists will be this season. Let’s ‘get dribbling! There are two conferences. in the NBA, ‘each of which has two divisions. The Eastern Conference is made up of the Cen- tral and Pacific divisions. So much for basics. In the Atlantic Division of the NBA, perhaps the toughest division of the four, are the Philadelphia 76’ers, the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks; the Buffalo ‘Braves, and the New York Nets. ~The Philadelphia 76’ers, last year’s Eastern Conference Champs, have basically the same team as last year. They are led by the electric “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, George Mc Ginnus and Doug Collins to ‘name a few. What they have, the rest of the Atlantic Division doesn’t. The 76’ers should finish ‘above Boston again and should be one of the four semi-finalists. The Midwest Division of the Eastern Conference boasts six teams, two of which have the best chance to win the division. The Houston Rockets, who lost to the 76’ers in the Eastern Conference Cham- pionships, should reach the same heights this season. With Moses Malone dominating the boards, the Rockets should finish first and give the 76’ers fits in the playoffs. Houston’s main concern are the Washington Bullets. The Bullets have the talent in Kupchak, Hayes, and Henderson. What they don’t have is a championship. If ~ Washington gets off to fast start, they could give Houston a challenge. At worst, Washington should finish second. The Western Conference of the NBA con- sists of the Central and Pacific divisions. The Central Division has six teams, perhaps three of which have a shot at the _top spot in the Central Division. Chicago, a tenacious defense-minded team, rose after a poor start(2-14) to make the playoffs. With Scott May, Johnson and ‘Holland, the Bulls could win the Central division via a fast start. Should finish first in Central. : | The Denver Nuggets with David Thomp- son, Bobby Jones, and Dan Issel, play well enough to reach a playoff spot each season. However, they flounder in the playoffs. Nonetheless, Denver will challenge Chicagc for the top spot in the central division but should finish second. The Pacific Division of the NBA is possibly the second strongest division. The Lakers, Trailblazers, Suns, Warriors, and Supersonics are five of the leagues best. The L.A. Lakers, winners of 53 games last season improved their team by adding Jamaal Wilkes and three first round draft choices. Should have slight problem with Portland but will end up first in Pacific. The NBA Champion Portland Trailblazers basically have the same team that won everything last year. They will have a tough time beating L.A. for the top spot in the Pacific but should finish second ‘and make the playoffs. : The 1977-78 NBA season should end with the 76’ers, Rockets, Bulls, and Lakers in first place in their respective divisions. What other surprises there are could come in trades and playoff winners and losers. ‘And despite all rumors, my predictions are ‘strictly my opinion and I alone will take the blame for any wrong guesses. NBA basket- ball is exciting and in this 1977-78 season try to attend a game. Maybe you, too, can predict the eventual winner. ' Predicted NBA Final Standings | For The 1977-78 Regular Season Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Central Division . Philadelphia 76’ers TEA Chicago Bulls . Boston Celtics 2. Denver Nuggets . New York Knicks 3. Detroit Pistons . Buffalo Braves 4. Kansas City Kings 5 6 Qu ib WON = . New York Nets . Milwaukee Bucks . Indiana Pacers 3 Midwest Division = a 1. Houston Rockets Pacific Division 2. Washinton Bullets 1. Los Angeles Lakers 3. San Antonio Spurs . Portland Trailblazers 4 5 6. . Golden State Warriors 1 2 . New Orleans Jazz 3. Phoenix Suns 4 5. Seattle Supersonics . Cleveland Cavaliers . Atlantic Hawks Eastern Conference Houston Western Conference - Angeles - Philadelphia and Chicago and Los Smythe Division The Chicago Blackhawks have a new coach in Bob Pulford, who this year won’t have to put up with the asinine dictates of superrich, but totally ignorant Jack Kent Cooke. The Blackhawks should win the division with their returning talent and the presence of Bob Pulford’s work ethic, and inspiration of assistant coach Bobby Orr. The Minnesota Northstars and St. Louis Blues will struggle for second. The reason they will fight it out is both teams are un- predictable and inconsistent. The Van- couver Canuks are still trying to find them- selves and the Colorado Rockieslet a good coach get away in Johnny Wilson. Neither will contend. Adams Division A struggle could take place in this the most balanced division in the N.H.L. Boston again looks like the team to beat in this division. The Bruins are solid on de- fense with all-star Brad Park and Gerry Cheevers. However, what the Bruins do lack is a complement to go with their big threat Jean Ratelle. Wayne Cashman will be captain and again try to impress his teammates with his fists. Terry O'Reilly World Series In Review by Steven M. Walters Reggie Jackson tied the immortal Babe Ruth’s record of three home runs in one World Series game and set a new all time record for home runs in a six game series as the New York Yankees clinched the 1977 World Series with an eight to four victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jackson, a target .of controversy throughout the season, came through for the Yankees when the stakes were high. He belted two run blasts in the fourth and fifth innings, smashed a solo shot in the eighth inning and was voted the series’ Most Valuable Player. The Yankees disconnected Dodger manager Tom Lasorda’s hot line to the Big Dodger in the sky by squeaking out a 4-3 victory in twelve innings in the series opener at Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers bounced back and evened the series at one game apiece by winning the second game. The series then moved to Los Angeles where the Dodgers desperately needed to win at least two out of three games to keep alive any reasonable hopes of clinching a world championship. It was not to be. The Yankees, clubhouse turmoil and all, won the first two games in Los Angeles and sent the Dodger fans into a state of consternation. The mood in L.A. was ‘Dodger blue.” Game five was do or die for the Dodgers and their fans. Don Sutton aka “the ice man’ because of his coolness in pressure situations, rose to the occasion and pitched a complete game as the Dodgers walloped the Yanks 10-4. That victory only served to delay the inevitable. Game six moved the series back to the madhouse in New York. Only three times in World Series history had a team been behind three games to one and come back to win the series. It would not happen in 1977. The Yankees unleashed a hurricane named Reggie Jackson that cut all communication lines to the big Dodger in the sky. The Philadelphia Phillies 1977 baseball season ended in disaster early this month. Victims of the powerful Blue Tide of the Los Angeles Dodgers the Phils lost the National League Play-offs for the second straight year. Saying “wait till next year” is becoming a bad habit specifically associated with the Phillies but, alas, it must again be said. 1977 Phillies, RIP. will try to show his usual hustle which is a valuable asset to the Bruins. A team that may surprise many people is the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is basically the same ‘team that almost upset Philadelphia last year. Borje Salming will again be the big gun this year for the Leafs, but Toronto must find a complement for Salming who generally tends to get tired towards the end of games. Darryl Sittler will be the of- fensive thrust for the Leafs. The team that three years ago played Philadelphia in the Stanley Cup Finals is the Buffalo Sabres. This team is very pro- ductive scoring wise, but they lack an ef- fective defense and goalie. The Cleveland Barons who almost went out of business last year will wish they did when the season opens. Norris Division This is the division where all five teams know where they belong. Montreal has already won the division. Without Pulford Los Angeles wil struggle despite the duo of Vachon and Dionne. Pittsburgh has some scoring punch but are weak on defense. This is all they’ll need because the other two teams, the Washington Capitals and Detroit Redwings have potential but little else. Campus Sports by Michael Pietrangelo ‘Ogontz appears to have the soccer title wrapped up, but Delco and Mont Alto cam- pus are locked in a victorious battle for the Temaining play-off spot. As we go to press, Delco has yet to play Mont Alto. The game is scheduled for 10/22. Steve Read, a con- verted half-back is the team’s leading scorer; Jim Haley has looked impenetrable in goal. Schedule: 10/26 Hazleton Away 11/5 York Home, 1:00 p.m. 11/8 Capital Away 11/11-13 Tournament Away Basketball tryouts — November 7 Gould, P.E. Instructor ~~ Contact Mr. Bill BATT SPORTING GOODS Athletic Shoe Center Front & Jackson Sts. Media Pa. LO 6-4151 aad
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