Chief gonna take care of him real fast" - Nate Archibald recalls Robert Parish always keeping Darryl Dawkins "in his pocket - RAW CHILI

The battles between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers for Eastern Conference supremacy in the early 1980s were defined by intensity, physicality and relentless high-stakes. In those moments, some players rose to the occasion, such as Andrew Toney, who famously scored 34 points to lead his team to a Game 7 victory in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals.

Others, however, struggled to impose themselves. According to Tiny Archibald, one such player was Darryl Dawkins.

Despite Dawkins’ reputation as a ferocious dunker, Archibald emphasized how Robert Parish consistently denied him rhythm and confidence. Parish, in Archibald’s words, kept him in his “pocket,” making it clear who the superior force in the paint was.

“He was a dominant force, if he ever came to play. That’s Double D. Chief would put him in his pocket, Chief would get off on him early. Darryl Dawkins would get maybe one dunk, maybe no dunks,” Archibald recalled on the “Cedric Maxwell Podcast.” “Chief wasn’t a dominant back-to-the-basket center. He was a turnaround guy that faced him up. Chief would run and go by him and get easy shots. So he had a difficult task about that…. Chief gonna take care of him real fast.”

Parish knew how to dominate Dawkins

The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals series between the Celtics and the 76ers was filled with gritty games. Even though Philly jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, it was Boston who mounted an impressive comeback.

And while most of the limelight was on Larry Bird for scoring game-high points in games 5, 6 and 7 and finishing the series with 26.7 points and 13.4 rebounds per game, Parish showed glimpses of keeping Dawkins in check — restricting him to single-digit scoring in two of those seven contests.

Their rivalry continued in high-stakes scenarios as the two teams met in the 1982 ECFs as well, and Parish’s dominance over Dawkins became more apparent. The Chief averaged a team-high 19.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, while Chocolate Thunder was just limited to 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game

Although the Sixers won that gritty seven-game series, Parish’s impact was undeniable. He forced Dawkins into a reduced role, making him average just 19.6 minutes per contest.

Robert demands more respect

In many ways, Parish’s influence went far beyond individual matchups. It’s safe to say that a big reason behind the Celtics’ three championships in the 1980s was his consistency in the post — anchoring the defense, protecting the rim, and delivering timely scoring.

While he may not have carried the same “alpha” aura as legends like Hakeem Olajuwon or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Parish’s effectiveness and impact against elite big men helped define the Celtics’ identity.

Over his 14-year run in Boston, Parish’s average of 16.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, and his seven consecutive All-Star nods, only tell part of the story. The Chief’s real value was in making sure no big man ever dominated the Celtics in the paint, and Dawkins knew all about it.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chief gonna take care of him real fast” – Nate Archibald recalls Robert Parish always keeping Darryl Dawkins “in his pocket