Why Is This Man Eating Popcorn?

It is difficult not to imagine San Antonio advancing to a Gatling-gun rendezvous with the 76ers at which Gervin and Julius Erving and Kenon and Darryl Dawkins will play Dueling Jammos. Best lock up the women and children.

While the Spurs are lightweight, unphysical and incapable of defensing your grandmother, they are never out of a game as long as their arms stay cocked. On learning that Thompson had overtaken him only hours before for the scoring lead, Gervin used his final game to throw in 63 points and grab the title back; if Bill Walton is not basketball's MVP, Gervin certainly is.

Still, Philadelphia would seem to have more weapons than San Antonio—specifically Doug Collins' slapping defense on Gervin and Henry Bibby helping out. Also the Sixers no longer quiver at the mention of "Spurs," because they have whipped their Texas cousins three of four this winter after losing all but one of their meetings last season.

"We need more love than any team in the history of basketball," says George McGinnis, the same beleaguered "McGoonis" of last spring's playoffs, who has returned smoking less but enjoying it—well, don't ask.

New Coach Billy Cunningham gave the 76ers much affection, but the team still floundered. With all the Lloyd Frees juking and the Joe Bryants skying and the Dawkinses spouting off about "interplanetary funksmanship," the 76ers were embarrassed down the stretch by the likes of Atlanta's Tree Rollins and New Orleans' Rich Kelley. So whither, really, Philly?

The tranquil Erving says, "The opportunity does not exist for me to carry Philadelphia on my back; it isn't necessary for me to perform up to potential." But wait a minute. Isn't this the same guy who in the 1977 finals was obliged to do just that? And can anybody forget him showing everyone what interplanetary really means?

"Obviously you'd like to see me turned loose, have total freedom and be freaky," says Erving. "But what would be the result?"

Who knows?

Perhaps the 76ers will romp. Or collapse. Or scream and yell at each other again. Maybe the sky will fall and the Hawks will upset everybody.

In this most competitive of playoff seasons anything could tip the balance. But here is one vote for teamwork, cohesion, character, finesse. Here is a vote for the Phoenix Suns.