FACE TO FACE

WHO REALLY IS SUPERIOR—THE ABA'S TOP CENTER, ARTIS GILMORE, NOW WITH THE BULLS, OR THE LAKERS' TOWERING KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR? ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, ALLAN MARDON PAINTS FIVE OF THE SEASON'S INTRIGUING NEW FACEOFFS

IN THE BACKCOURT: CELTICS' JO JO WHITE AND EX-ABA-ER RON BOONE OF THE KINGS

UP FRONT: DAVID THOMPSON OF DENVER LEAPS AGAINST BOSTON'S SIDNEY WICKS

MUSCLE IN THE CORNERS: BULLET ELVIN HAYES VS. MARVIN BARNES OF THE PISTONS

SMOOTH FORWARDS: BOBBY JONES OF DENVER AND RICK BARRY OF GOLDEN STATE

FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS