Buse Putting Go in Pacers
Cleveland – In a gathering of NBA players, Indiana’s Don Buse probably would be lost in a crowd of three. To the basketball buff, he is recognizable, but seldom eye-catching.
However, the more you become a Buse-watcher, the more you appreciate the 6-4 guard. The 10-year veteran from Evansville is having his best year as a pro, and he’s undoubtedly enjoying it.
Pacers Coach Jack McKinney has given him a license to take three-point shots. Buse has responded by leading the NBA in three-pointers with 58 though March 1.
“I have confidence with the shot,” said the 31-year-old sharpshooter. “Jack has given me that shot and if I miss, I know I’m not going to get chewed out.”
Buse is averaging more than 10 points per game, but probably more important is his ability to protect the basketball. Among the ball-handling guards, who control the ball around 75 percent of the time, Buse made just 71 turnovers though 58 to games lead the NBA.
Buse also plays tough defense, usually assigned to the opponent’s best backcourt scorer, but he doesn’t want to be looked on as a specialist.
“Don is very important to us,” said McKinney. “It’s the little things he does, things you don’t notice – handling the ball, setting up the offense, making steals, and disrupting the other team’s offense.
“He isn’t real fast or quick, he doesn’t jump real high, but he sure is smart,” added Detroit rookie guard Isiah Thomas. “Buse is very aware of what is happening on the floor.”
George McGinnis is another Buse booster. “Boo is the guy we always count on,” said the Pacers Big Mac. “He hasn’t lost his touch on the threes. I just can’t think of many other point guards doing the job Boo is doing for us.”
Buse said of his contributions, “I don’t like the role of just a defensive player. I feel I contribute other things. In the past, I’ve passed up a lot of shots, but I’m looking for my shot now.
“I’m enjoying it this season. I feel good and, maybe, I’ll want to play two more years. I’m on the last year of my contract.
“I’d like to stay with Indiana and, if I had my choice I’d like to sign something before the season ends. I’m not going to try to break the bank. If I continue to have the season I’m having, there might be a team interested in me.”
Buse was drafted by the Virginia Squires of the old ABA in 1972. The Squires sold his rights to the Pacers and he played four years with Indiana in the ABA, plus one in the NBA, before being traded to the Phoenix.
The Suns traded him back to Indiana in 1980 and he has been a big part of the Pacers’ success ever since.
This season, McKinney had Buse slotted as the third guard. However, when the Pacers played an exhibition game at Buse’s alma mater as Evansville, he started in the place of Johnny Davis. Buse has started every game since.
If the NBA ever gets around to naming an all-underrated team, Buse probably will be the captain.
* * *
Milwaukee Bucks Coach Don Nelson has a happy problem, what to do with Junior
Bridgeman. The forward-guard has missed 22 games this season because of injuries,
but now is ready to play full tilt. However, Scott May has done a solid job
as the third forward while Quinn Buckner, Sidney Moncrief and Brian Winters
have handled the backcourt load with ease. Somehow, Nelson will have to find
some minutes for Bridgeman, one of the better talents in the NBA and on the
talent-rich
Bucks… On February 28 at the Boston Garden, Nelson celebrated his 1,500th
NBA game as a coach and a player… The Bucks’ recent 12-game winning
streak was the longest in the league in two seasons.
The list of candidates for the Chicago Bulls’ coaching job next season grows by the hour, but one name already scratched is Atlanta’s Kevin Loughery. The Hawks’ coach is a close friend of Rod Thorn, Bulls general manager and now interim coach, and could well be Thorn’s first choice, but Atlanta will not release Loughery from his contract, which has two years to run… Other names in the rumor mill are Chuck Daly, whose days in Cleveland are just about over; Hubie brown and Paul Westhead, former NBA coaches; Stan Albeck, who is supposed to be unhappy in San Antonio; Phoenix assistant Al Bianchi, and Bobby (Slick) Leonard.
Under Thorn, the Bulls ran off four straight victories, their best streak of the winter… During this stretch, guard Reggie Theus averaged 21 points, 8.5 rebounds and nine assists… In the month of February, Atlanta center Wayne (Tree) Rollins averaged 12 points and 12 boards, hitting on 72 percent of his floor shots. He also averaged 5.5 blocks during a six game stretch.
This article by Bill Nichols appeared in The Sporting News March
20, 1982.
Reproduced with permission of the author.