Dr. J’s latest shot was way off target

As the Golden State Warriors tried to complete a perfect, four-four-fourfour postseason, it was time for one of the 1983 76ers to respond with the two-thumbs-to-the-chest, look-at-us routine.

As usual, Julius Erving demanded the ball.

“We had four centers, four guards and four forwards, so a lot of the parts were interchangeable,” Erving recently was caught telling the Washington Post. “We would have figured out how to play against this team and how to beat this team.”

Well, could the 1983 Sixers, largely remembered for Moses Malone’s legendary demand for four-four-four playoff success, have found a way past the 2017 Warriors? Um … no. No.

Four times no. Four, four, four, four times no.

For their time, those Sixers were special. Then, defenses, even at the highest levels, were unsophisticated, simple man-to-man assignments with coaches hoping only to exploit matchups. And at that time, outside shooting was considered special if a player could swish a few mid-range

jumpers.

While not everything in sports is better now (sports science is a scam), basketball has left its past in a vapor cloud.

As recently as the ‘70sto-’80s turn, when the Sixers were at their best as they grew toward that 1983 championship, the sport was relatively rudimentary. Big men – guys with the dimensions of Kevin Durant and LeBron James – were expected to remain inside to rebound. Magic Johnson was the exception and, with that, was the first hint of the hyper-leap the sport was about to take.

In 1983, Malone was basically unstoppable at 6-10, 250, working the offensive glass with authority. Kevin Durant is 6-9, 245 — about the same size — and runs, shoots and defends over 94 feet. In 1983, Maurice Cheeks was a splendid point guard, a Hall of Fame near-miss. And, yes, he did make a three-point shot in 1983. One. One of ‘em. He was 1-for-6 for the season from beyond the arc. That would not have matched up well against Steph Curry.

Of course, the 1983 Sixers had that spectacular shooter, Andrew Toney, the Boston Strangler. Never missed. Mr. Automatic. Toney was a 28.9-percent three-point shooter, connecting on 22 of his 76 attempts for the season. Care to guess how many threepointers the four-four-four Sixers made? How’s about 25? And remember: Few were even pressing out on three-point shooters at that time; they were wide open.

The ‘83 Sixers were champions. And championship DNA is strong evidence in any case. As Erving said, they would have figured something out. He may have dragged Durant into foul trouble. Cheeks would have entered the ball inside to Malone, who would have scored, even if from the line. Maybe Clint Richardson could have handled Curry defensively … for a couple of possessions. Bobby Jones would have made some defensive stops.

But a series between the 1983 Sixers and the 2017 Warriors? Make it Golden State in ... well, you know the number.

***

Those devices that monitor how many steps you take in a day … I don’t get it. **** Ever get a bad feeling about something, even with no evident reason?

Well, if not, think about The Basketball Tournament, a growing phenomenon that will unfold at, among other places, Philadelphia University beginning June 17.

Simply, it is a tournament of independent teams, mostly comprised of former college players, assembled to compete for a $2.4 million grand prize. The championship rounds are televised nationally.

Since there has never been a competitive independent basketball game without at least one dirty play and a resulting shouting match, imagine the atmosphere for tension when the reward is not just to keep the court but to win a lifetime of riches. Now compound it by understanding that the teams have to buy in at $5,000 a pop. Some cultures may call that gambling.

Since the tournament has been around since 2014 without worldchanging incident, perhaps it can work. But with that kind of money, how long can it be until somebody finds a way to collect it in an outside-the-box way? It’s not like the NBA commissioner’s office, the NCAA or even a PIAA is watching. There are no owners or athletic directors to answer to. There are referees. But, still, it’s glorified shirts-vs.-skins for a megabucks payoff.

The reward is enormous. The risk is even

higher. *** Get fidgets?

*** Brent Celek has seen too many clocks run out before he has achieved football fulfillment. He’s trying not to look at one more.

He’s 32 and he’s preparing for his 10th NFL season, all with the Eagles. He’s on his third coach and an on eternal physical regimen. And as he surveys the point-producers surrounding him in the NovaCare Complex clubhouse, he has to try not to dwell on the past … or the immediate future.

“You try not to think about that kind of stuff,” Celek was saying after a recent OTA workout. “All I am focused on is today. And then when I wake up tomorrow, focus on that day. At the end, it will reveal itself.”

He has lost his No. 1 tight end job, but not his will. That’s why he has maintained the same weight he has through a consistent Eagles career. So, he thinks: Maybe this time.

“You never know when it is your turn, so you have to take advantage of every opportunity,” he said. “You want to try to seize the moment.”

• As for the best professional football team to represent Philadelphia since the 1940’s, it will reunite Saturday night at 7 at Chickie’s and Pete’s in South Philly. That would be the Stars, who dominated the USFL from 1983 through 1985, winning the championship in 1984 and repeated, as the Baltimore Stars, in 1985.

Among those likely to attend are Carl Peterson, Jim Mora, Kelvin Bryant, Chuck Fusina, John Bunting, Sean Landeta, Bart Oates, Scott Fitzkee, Ken Dunek, Joe Conwell and William Fuller.