Another Big Bluff By Big Wilt

In St. Louis, Lucas hit on his first four shots, had missed on only three of nine at the half, and the East was ahead 75-61. Against the West's much taller front line, he had 10 rebounds. After a college career of shooting only when absolutely necessary with a supporting cast of good marksmen, he is finally adjusting to the offensive requirements of pro ball and to playing in a corner much of the time instead of with his back to the basket. Credit for his improvement must go to Robertson's floor generalship as well as to Lucas' own efforts.

A year of growth
The two-day show that St. Louis Owner Ben Kerner put on was a fitting display for a sport that shows attendance increases in most of its cities and whose franchises now command seven-figure fees ( Baltimore was sold for $1.1 million last month). Even without the bundle of TV money that NBA owners dream will one day be theirs, to match that of pro football, business is good. The quality of play is superb, and young pros like Willis Reed and Lucious Jackson will be getting better. So will that new center in San Francisco, Nate Thurmond, who already has gotten a pay raise to go with his new job. After all these certainties, there remains the question of how Wilt will do back in familiar Philadelphia. He still has immense pride in his abilities, and Schayes says he will even teach Chamberlain how to shoot fouls. Maybe. In any event, this ought to be the last time for the bluff.