The Big Three

Only the most fanatic supporters of the Boston Celtics will want to read this account of the careers of the three men who comprised arguably the most proficient frontcourt in pro basketball history: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Boston Globe sports scribe May writes in detail of the team's best and worst games, and of the determination of Bird and McHale to hang on even when serious injuries eroded their skills. He also relates how the great team of the 1980s was assembled, largely in 1979 and 1980, and therein lies the major problem: he devotes the better part of the first 100 pages to describing the trades, draft choices and other machinations that enabled the Celtics to acquire the three stars--material of only small interest to the majority of hoops fans. Still, the book should do well in the Bay State. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)