D Is for Dollars

Agile as a flea and not much larger, Ernie DiGregorio baffled the lumbering Russian basketball team last spring with his pinpoint passes and improbable jump shots. After DiGregorio led the American amateur team to one victory with eleven assists and 25 points, Soviet Coach Vladimir Kandrashin said in exasperation: "If we had him, we wouldn't lose any games."

The Buffalo Braves, who lost a lot of games last season (their 21-61 record tied them for the second worst showing in the N.B.A.), felt that DiGregorio could solve their problems too. They signed the playmaker from Providence for a fiveyear, $3,000,000 contract, which amounts to about $500,000 per ft. for the 6-ft. guard. Ernie D.--he was given the nickname by a Providence broadcaster who got tongue-tied describing DiGregorio's fast breaks--was clearly heading for the big time and the big money even before he humbled the Russians. As a college star, DiGregorio led the Providence Friars to a surprising fourth place at last year's N.C.A.A. tournament, averaging 24.6 points and 8.8 assists per game during the season.

Second Coming. On the court, DiGregorio was a whirling, twisting blur as he peppered teammates with lightning passes from behind his back and under his legs. Pro scouts predicted that Ernie D. could be the second coming of Bob Cousy, the small, flashy guard of the championship Boston Celtics a dozen years ago. Ernie D. himself had no doubts that he could be just that. "I can do it," he predicted brashly. "I'm not impressed by size or reputations. Those big guys are only human like me."

When it comes to offensive striking power, Ernie is right. He is averaging a solid 17 points per game with the Braves, while feeding adroit passes to his teammates; with 8 assists per game, he is leading the league. With the help of Bob McAdoo and Jim McMillian, the Braves this season are winning almost as many as they are losing.

But then there are those disastrous defensive displays. After humiliating DiGregorio by scoring 35 points against him while playing on an injured foot, Jerry West of the Lakers quipped, "I could have had a pretty big scoring night if I was in shape." Ernie quickly acquired a new nickname--"Ernie No D" (for no defense). Retorted Ernie: "The D is for dollars." More seriously, he says, "There are worse defensive players in the league, but I'm the guy with the big contract, so I'm supposed to be perfect." Nevertheless, the pressure is beginning to worry DiGregorio. "Every time I step onto the court now," he says, "I have to say to myself, 'I can't let the man score a bundle or I'll hear about no defense.' " At 22, Ernie is also having other rookie problems. "There was a closeness in college," he says. "The guys hung around together. In the pros you have men of different ages. They go their separate ways." He also feels that Coach Jack Ramsay's tactics do not set up enough plays for guards. But Ernie is not one to dwell on morale or excuses.

Ever since he started practicing basketball on the playgrounds of North Providence, where he grew up, he has concentrated on perfecting his shooting and passing skills. "I play the game to emphasize my best points," he says. As long as those points get baskets for the Braves --he has already set a club record for assists in one game with 14--Buffalo will be patient while he learns defense.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.