The Puzzler
BY EMILY COX AND HENRY RATHVON
SHOOTING HOOPS
Solvers are invited to take shots at the hoop (empty, centermost circle) from various spots on the perimeter (1—20), as in the playground game of Horse. Each of these 20 words goes from outside to inside. If the word is 5 letters long, it will use a space in each concentric circle but fall short of the center hoop; if it is 6 letters long, its last letter will fall into the hoop. The 11 basket-scoring letters, clockwise from 1, will spell our salutation to players. To make the game interesting, the 20 shots are clued randomly and must be located with the aid of the Circle words, entered clockwise and consecutively starting from their lettered spaces (a-e). Answers include one proper noun and one foreign word.
See page 130 for Puzzler contest details. The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 116.
SHOTS_
Hoops’ sounds Forbid guard’s shots Dribble ball, avoiding all touch? Numbers of spectators following a shooting game’s balls Like a basketball player, usually round with fat
Seattle’s opening many positions Regarding a number in basket (Confront defense of a (Chicago team? Not comprehending the Spanish, Russell misconstrued insults Bird to pivot incompletely Flapping of Dr. J’s long arms Marine group members recalled I shoot 100-0
Show a lot of feeling for Cleveland’s center spot
Big league traveling gear Boston University rejected one good Mexican
Unbridled wrath grips leader of Miami Heat
Terrific bench player squeezes by
Passionate members of Garden throng Joins rebuilding Nets, stifling hesitation
Upset slated for fans?
CIRCLES_
a. Pass is thrown with a hand (6)
Shot preceding a play (5)
A help maintaining top defense against Blazers? (8)
Bug Bucks’ starter, making mistake (4)
Clipper’s forward turned, ran, and rotated shakily (7)
b. Old Tarkanian team having hoop in game, and not caring (8)
NBA center taken in by European money (9)
Before second halves, Jazz guarding Wildcat (6) Fast-breaking feature exciting to a male (7)
C. Maverick now put in city section (6)
State article about Cowens rebounding (6)
By losing opener, Wilt is not on the level (5)
Magic is apologetic about pair of Celtics (7)
Unseld, making error out, is not convinced (6)
d. Goon’s technical-foul embrace (4) Sees Cavalier onset (5)
Agitated for role to change the parquet? (7)
Shooter chewed gum—an indefinite amount (6)
“Threw a bad ball,” Ewing finally said (8)
e. Freshly establishes tone before court games (6)
Little ball-holder leads New York (5)
Bent, Doc circles gym, beginning to dunk (7)
Hot center holds it back (6)
Last of fans pays attention to Clippers (6)
NOTE; The instructions above are for this month s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher cities, bor a complete introduction to clue-solving, send an addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.
Answers to the February Puzzler
“CRYPTIC VALENTINE”
Across answers are given in the order of their clues’ occurrence in the verse. Across. MY-OCARD-I(U)M; O-READ; EROS (rev.); (r)ELATES; ENMITY (anag.); TREMOLOS (anag.); A-DAM (mad rev.); PE(O)N; SUED (anag.); ALA-S; THINE (hidden); STERN-A; STUD-I-O; TOO-THY; DIAL (rev.); SI(G)N; SWA(I)NS; T(R)OPES (r + anag.) Down. 1. DRAG-OMAN’S 2. KE(E)N 3. EARS-HOT 4. CH(A-OT)IC 5. L(IM)P 6. UNDERMINE (anag.) 7. ON(I)-ON 8. E-BONY 9. OSTI-A (anag. + a) 10, SU-GARY (US rev.) 11. AD-ORE-S 12. S-NAIL 13. CUTLERS (anag.) 14. DO-WE-LED 15. S-MUT(t) 16. DIGS (double def.) 17. A-MOUR 18. TOPED (rev.)