NBA CHAMPIONSHIP : Lakesrs vs. Celtics : Notebook : Isiah Is Coming to Town Thursday to Discuss Remarks on Larry Bird

The Detroit Pistons, who have been bombarded by phone calls from irate fans and inquiring reporters since comments by Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman about Larry Bird, plan to issue a statement from Thomas on Thursday.

Thomas will be in Los Angeles that day to appear on CBS’ halftime program, and team publicist Matt Dobek said Thomas intends to issue a statement before he goes on the air.

After the Pistons lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 Saturday in the Eastern Conference finals, Rodman, a 26-year-old Piston rookie, said that Bird was overrated because he was white.

“He’s not God,” Rodman said. “He ain’t the best player in the NBA, not to me. . . . He’s white. That’s the only reason he gets (the MVP award). Nobody gives Magic Johnson credit. He deserved it last year, too . . . I don’t care. Go right ahead and tell him. You’ll put it in the paper, anyway.”

Apprised of Rodman’s comments, Thomas said: “I think Larry is a very, very good basketball player. An exceptional talent. But I have to agree with Rodman. If he were a black guy, he’d be just another guy.”

Dobek said that his office has received between 100 and 150 calls in the last two days alone.

“There’s been more calls on this than anything else in the four years I’ve been with the club,” Dobek said Tuesday night.

“People have basically brushed off Rodman as the comments of a dumb rookie, but Isiah is one of the great players in this league.”

Dobek said he spoke to Rodman at a Piston team meeting Tuesday night.

“He says he was misquoted, that he never said anything like that,” Dobek said.

Bird was asked about the situation again.

“Dennis Rodman, he’s a 26-, 27-year-old rookie (26). I don’t know where he’s coming from,” Bird said Tuesday.

“But Isiah, I didn’t understand. I know Isiah. I’m sure he was so disappointed in losing. . . . I’m not upset about it. I don’t know why anybody else would be if I’m not.”

Worthy, on why the Lakers ran at will: “We used more than one point guard. Byron (Scott), myself, Coop. When everybody went to Buck (Magic Johnson) to stunt him, somebody else had the ball, to take it upcourt.”

Worthy, when it was suggested that Boston Coach K.C. Jones would have a long night trying to think of ways to stop him: “It’s always interesting for a player to envision what they’re going to try to do. It might be a tough night for him, but it’ll be a tough night for me, too.”

The Celtics started out with Kevin McHale trying to guard James Worthy. Eventually, Larry Bird, Darren Daye and Fred Roberts all had their chances.

“They put Kevin on him because James is a post-up player. and Kevin is a low-post player,” Riley said. “That’s why we couldn’t keep posting up James. He had to pick and choose, pop out, move to the ball.

“He was facing up on Kevin most of the day.”

In the second quarter, Laker publicist Josh Rosenfeld said he received the following phone call.

Woman’s voice: “Hello, may I please speak to Earvin Johnson?”

Rosenfeld: “I’m sorry, he can’t come to the phone right now.”

NBA Finals Notes Clipper guard Norm Nixon spent the game sitting next to Jack Nicholson. Nixon, for what it’s worth, was wearing green sneakers. . . . When a fan yelled to referee Jake O’Donnell, “Jake, you’re the worst,” the official turned around, put a finger to his own chest and mouthed the words, “Who, me?” . . . Since May 13, the Celtics have played 11 games, the Lakers 5. . . . Both teams entered this series having won 246 playoff games. . . . The Lakers had not faced a team that had won 50 or more games since March 26 (Detroit).