3. 1960 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS v. 14. 2018 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Celtics: 59-16, 1st East Div, 5th Off/1st Def
d. Warriors East Finals 4-2
d. Hawks NBA Finals 4-3
#45 overall seed
Coach: Red Auerbach
Starters:
C Bill Russell 25-USF 18.2 PPG 20.1 PER 13.8 WS
F Tom Heinsohn 25-Holy Cross 21.7 18.4 7.7
F Bill Sharman 33-USC 19.3 18.5 7.9
G Bob Cousy 31-Holy Cross 19.4 18.7 7.8
G Sam Jones 26-NC Central 11.9 17.7 5.9
Rotation Reserves
C John Richter 22-NC St 4.3 8.1 .4
F Gene Conley 29-Wash St 6.7 10.1 2.1
F Gene Guarilla 22-G Wash 3 7.7 .5
G KC Jones 27-USF 6.3 12.6 3.7
G Frank Ramsey 28-Kentucky 15.3 14.5 5.3
Leaders: Russell 2nd Reb, 2nd Reb/Gm, 4th FG%, 4th Eff FG%, 2nd WS, 3rd WS/48
Cousy 1st Assts, 1st Assts/Gm, 3rd Def WS, 2nd Trip Doub
Sharman 4th FT%
Heinsohn 5th FT%
World Champion Celtics once again best defense in 1960; 25 year old Bill Russell crosses 20 PER with double digit Win Shares. 45th overall seed, but these old teams have really struggled so far.
Sixers: 52-30, 3rd East Conf, 12th Off/4th Def
d. Heat East 1st Rnd 4-1
Lost Celtics East Semis 4-1
#212 overall seed
Coach: Brett Brown
Starters:
C Joel Embiid 23-Kansas 22.9 PPG 22.9 PER 6.2 WS
F Dario Saric 23 14.6 15.8 6.6
F Robert Covington 27-Tenn St 12.6 12.9 6.1
G Ben Simmons 21-LSU 15.8 20 9.2
G JJ Redick 33-Duke 17.1 15.9 6.6
Rotation Reserves
C Richaun Holmes 24-BGSU 6.5 17.4 2.8
F Amir Johnson 30 4.6 14.9 4.1
F Trevor Booker 30-Clemson 4.7 14.5 1.7
G TJ McConnell 25Arizona 6.3 12.5 3.8
G Marco Belinelli 31 13.6 14.2 1.8
Leaders: Simmons 3rd Assts, 5th Assts/Gm, 5th Steals, 2nd Def WS, 2nd Def +/-, 3rd Trip Doub
Embiid 4th Blocks/Gm, 3rd Def Rtng
Belinelli 4th FT%
Covington 5th WS
Like the Celtics, the Sixers are a defense first squad. 21 year old Ben Simmons and 23 year old Joel Embiid hit 20 PER.
Matchup
C Russell (Celtics)
F Heinson (Celtics)
F Sharman (Celtics)
G Simmons (Sixers)
G Push
Bench: Sixers
Game 1
1 Qtr
9 Celtics 10 Sixers 8
Celtics Sharman, Sharman, Russell, Heinsohn, Cousy
Sixers Covington(3) Covington, Saric(3)
6 Celtics 16 Sixers 10
Celtics Heinsohn, SJones, Sharman
Sixers Saric
Underway. Boston's got almost 60 years to make up here.
3 Celtics 21 Sixers 20
Celtics Heinsohn, Russell(3)
Sixers Simmons, Redick(3) Redick(3) Okafor
1st Score Celtics 32 Sixers 27
Celtics Richter, Conley(3) KC Jones, KC Jones, Sharman
Sixers Redick(3) Redick, Redick
JJ Redick goes off; 13 points in 6 minutes, but Boston leads.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 38 Sixers 38
Celtics Ramsey, Conley, SJones
Sixers Saric, Booker(3) Embiid, Simmons, Embiid
6 Sixers 47 Celtics 43
Celtics Sharman, Ramsey(3)
Sixers Embiid, Johnson, Simmons, Redick(3)
Philly takes its first lead - if JJ Redick is going to bury Boston in 3s its a tough series for the Celts.
3 Sixers 55 Celtics 51
Celtics Cousy, Russell, Cousy, Ramsey
Sixers Belinelli, Simmons, Simmons, Covington
Half Score Sixers 66 Celtics 61
Celtics Heinsohn, Heinsohn, Sharman, Heinsohn, Heinsohn
Sixers Johnson(3) Embiid, Embiid, Redick, Covington
Offense in the first half; Simmons and Embiid both with 8 in the 2nd.
3rd Qtr
9 Sixers 76 Celtics 69
Celtics SJones, Russell, KC Jones, Cousy
Sixers Saric, Simmons(3) Simmons, Johnson(3)
6 Sixers 91 Celtics 80
Celtics Heinsohn, Ramsey, Ramsey, Cousy, Sharman
Sixers Covington(3) Belinelli, Belinelli, Embiid, Simmons, Redick, Embiid
That modern Philly offense starting to stretch this out on the 3rd seed in the regiobn; 7 more for Ben Simmons.
3 Sixers 99 Celtics 85
Celtics Cousy(1) Heinsohn, SJones
Sixers Booker, Redick, Belinelli, Redick
3rd Score Sixers 102 Celtics 91
Celtics Guarilla, Sharman, Sharman
Sixers Belinelli(1) Redick
Ton of points between two defense first teams, not the game you'd expect - but the Sixers just push the pace on the Celtics from 60 years ago. 6 more for JJ Redick, filling it up.
4th Qtr
9 Sixers 112 Celtics 106
Celtics Russell, Ramsey, Heinsohn, SJones(3) Heinsohn, Sharman, Heinsohn
Sixers Embiid(3) Redick, Embiid, Embiid
6 Sixers 120 Celtics 111
Celtics Russell, Sharman(3)
Sixers Embiid, Embiid, Embiid, Embiid
Boston got as close as 6 - but Joel Embiid takes over, just dominating with Russell starting the quarter trying to get a blow, 15 points to open the quarter.
3 Sixers 124 Celtics 121
Celtics Sharman(3) Sharman, Cousy, Sharman, Sharman, Cousy
Sixers Embiid, Embiid
Boston goes on the big run, Bill Sharman goes for 9 in the last 3 minutes and it is a 3 point game.
Starters on the floor for both sides.
2:02: PHI: Defense asserts itself, a minute passes before a Saric layup.
:26: PHI: This has been an offensive game for 45 minutes - but it's all defense in the last 3, Boston has to foul Embiid, he hits both and it's over.
Embiid picks up 4 more FT
Final Score Sixers 132 Celtics 121
Boston was down 3 with 3 left and didn't score again.
Embiid: 39 pts/14 boards-Player of the Game
Redick: 29 pts/5 boards
Simmons: 17 pts/13 assists/5 boards
Saric: 11 pts/8 boards
Covington: 12 pts/5 boards
Heinsohn: 24 pts/9 boards/4 steals
Sharman: 29 pts
Russell: 13 pts/22 boards
Cousy: 16 pts/8 assists/5 boards
SJones: 11 pts/10 boards/6 assists
Ramsey: 13 pts/5 boards
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Boston 10 Philly 2
Celtics Russell(1) Heinsohn(1) Russell, Cousy, Sharman, Sharman
Sixers Embiid
6 Celtics 16 Sixers 12
Celtics Sharman, Heinsohn, Russell
Sixers Redick, Embiid, Embiid, Redick, Redick
Boston sprints out, Philly comes back. Game 2 underway.
3 Celtics 24 Sixers 19
Celtics Heinsohn, Heinsohn(3) Cousy(1) Heinsohn
Sixers Saric, Embiid, Johnson(3)
1st Score Celtics 33 Sixers 21
Celtics Cousy, Conley(3) Ramsey, Ramsey
Sixers Redick
Boston's defense takes a huge step forward in game 2 and the lead is double digits.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 39 Sixers 33
Celtics Richter, Russell, Cousy
Sixers Belinelli, Anderson, Johnson(1) Embiid, Belinelli(3) Redick
6 Celtics 52 Sixers 42
Celtics Ramsey, Conley(1) Sharman(3) Conley, SJones(3) Sharman
Sixers Embiid(1) Embiid, Embiid, Simmons
The Philly offense revs up, doubling their first qtr pt total in the first half of the second.
3 Celtics 58 Sixers 50
Celtics Heinsohn, Cousy, Russell
Sixers Simmons, Johnson, Belinelli, Simmons
Half Score Celtics 65 Sixers 59
Celtics SJones, Ramsey, Heinsohn, Cousy(1)
Sixers Covington, Covington, Booker, Redick(3)
Boston still holding onto the lead, trying to force game 3.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 69 Sixers 68
Celtics SJones, Heinsohn
Sixers Saric, Belinelli (3) Embiid, Embiid
6 Sixers 80 Celtics 74
Celtics Sharman, Sharman, Richter(1)
Sixers Covington, Redick(3) Redick, Holmes, Redick(3)
8 for Redick in the last 3 minutes and the Sixers have caught up and gone ahead.
3 Sixers 81 Celtics 78
Celtics Richter, Heinsohn
Sixers Johnson(1)
3rd Score Sixers 89 Celtics 88
Celtics Sharman(3) SJones, Cousy(3), SJones
Sixers Simmons, Booker, Booker, Simmons
It's the Celtics with some late 3s and we head to the 4th.
4th Qtr
11:05: BOS: A minute into the 4th Tommy Heinsohn drills a 10 footer to give Boston the lead.
10:47: PHI: Redick passes up a contested 3 to find an open Simmons under the basket.
10:41: BOS: Heinsohn again with the quick deuce.
9:17: BOS: A minute and a half later it's Bill Sharman with the fadeaway from the left side.
9:06: PHI: Covington in traffic.
8:42: BOS: As the clock expires Heinsohn rainbows a long 2.
8:28: PHI: Embiid down low. Celtics 96-95.
7:33: PHI: A minute later Simmons hits a corner 3 and the Sixers go up 2.
6:50 PHI: Heinsohn misses a 3, Belinelli goes bank.
6:41: PHI: Simmons swipes a Cousy pass and Embiid dunks one home and now it's a 6 point Sixer lead. 102-96
3 Sixers 111 Celtics 104
Celtics Russell(3) Ramsey(3) Russell
Sixers Simmons, Booker(3) Covington, Embiid
Boston in real trouble here.
2:29: BOS: Heinsohn misses, but the big board from Sam Jones, kick out to Sharman for the 3 from the top.
2:22: PHI: Embiid goes high off glass.
2:16: BOS: Sharman hits a quick 2.
2:00: PHI: Great pass by Simmons to Covington for the open 3.
1:51: BOS: Cousy in traffic.
1:40: PHI: Embiid in the paint.
1:34: BOS: Sam Jones hits a long 2 - 118-113 Sixers.
1:19: PHI: Cousy fouls Simmons, he hits 1.
1:04: BOS: Russell gets a putback on a Cousy missed 3.
:55: PHI: They put Embiid on the line and he hits both.
:45: BOS: Cousy goes down the floor and scores in the paint. 121-117.
:21: BOS: This time Embiid misses both foul shots - Sharman scores from 10 feet and now it's 121-119.
Embiid fouled again. 17 seconds left.
He hits them both - big, as that makes it a 4 point game.
Boston can't score. It's over.
Final: Sixers 123 Celtics 119
Another 20 rebound game for Russell. but Boston goes home.
Embiid: 33 pts/14 boards/4 blocks - Player of the Game
Simmons: 18 pts/14 assists/10 boards
Redick: 21 pts/8 boards
Covington: 13 pts/6 boards
Saric: 4 pts/10 boards
Belinelli: 12 pts
All Region Team
C Embiid ('18 Sixers-2 PotG)
F LeBron ('20 Lakers-2 PotG)
F Durant ('14 Thunder-2 PotG)
G Simmons ('18 Sixers)
G Williams ('08 Jazz-1 PotG)
6. 2000 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS v. 11. 2006 NBA CHAMPION MIAMI HEAT
Blazers: 59-23, 2nd Pac Div, 3rd Off/5th Def
d. Wolves West 1st Rnd 3-1
d. Jazz West Semis 4-1
Lost Lakers West Finals 4-3
#84 overall seed
Coach: Mike Dunleavy
Starters:
C Arvydas Sabonis 35 11.8 PPG 20.3 PER 7.1 WS
F Rasheed Wallace 25-UNC 16.4 18.1 9.3
F Scottie Pippen 34-Cen Ark 12.5 16.4 7.8
G Damon Stoudamire 26-Ariz 12.5 15.5 6.1
G Steve Smith 30-Mich St 14.9 17.3 10.4
Rotation Reserves
C Jermaine O'Neal 21 3.9 13.1 2.1
F Detlef Schrempf 37 7.5 14.5 5.2
F Bonzi Wells 23-Ball St 8.8 17.3 3.1
G Greg Anthony 32-UNLV 6.3 13 4.1
G Stacey Augmon 31-UNLV 3.4 12.2 1.5
Leaders: Smith 2nd Off Rtng
Sabonis 3rd Def Reb %
The 6th seed in Region 13 is a fun Blazers team; top 5 in both offense and defense. Check out the all Running Rebel bench backcourt; 37 year old Detlef, 34 year old Scottie -- 35 year old Sabonis hits 20 PER and 30 year old Steve Smith double digit WS.
Heat: 52-30, 1st SE Div, 7th Off/9th Def
d. Bulls East 1st Rnd 4-2
d. Nets East Semis 4-1
d. Pistons East finals 4-2
d. Navs NBA Finals 4-2
Coach: Pat Riley, Asst Erik Spoelstra, Bob McAdoo
Starters:
C Shaquille O'Neal 33-LSU 20 PPG 24.4 PER 6.2 WS
F Alonzo Mourning 35-Georgetown 7.8 19.4 4.8
F Udonis Haslem 25-Florida 9.3 13.7 7
G Jason Williams 30-Florida 12.3 15 4.8
G Dwyane Wade 24-Marquette 27.2 27.6 14.4
Rotation Reserves
C Wayne Simien 22-Kansas 3.4 11.5 .8
F Antoine Walker 29-Kentucky 12.2 14.4 3.6
F James Posey 29-Xavier 7.2 9.8 4.2
G Gary Payton 37-Oregon St 7.7 10.7 4.1
G Jason Kapono 24-UCLA 4.1 9 1.2
Leaders: Wade 5th PPG, 4th PER, 4th WS/48, 4th +/-, 5th VORP, 4th Trip Doub
Zo 3rd Blocks/Gm
Shaq 1st FG%, 1st Eff FG%
Here's Pat Riley and the World Champion Heat - 24 year old DWade runs the show, well over 25 PER and double digit WS. Miami goes with the big front line - 33 year old Shaq playing next to 35 year old Zo.
Matchup
C Shaq (Heat)
F Wallace (Blazers)
F Pippen (Blazers)
G Push
G Wade (Heat)
Bench: Blazers
Game 1
1 Qtr
9 Heat 8 Blazers 6
Blazers Smith, Stoudamire, Sabonis
Heat Zo(1) Wade, Williams, Shaq(3)
6 Blazers 16 Heat 14
Blazers Pippen, Wallace, Pippen, Wallace, Stoudamire
Heat Williams, Zo, Zo
The Sixers await the winners of this one.
3 Blazers 22 Heat 17
Blazers Wallace, Sabonis, Pippen
Heat Haslem(3)
1st Score Blazers 30 Heat 27
Blazers Sabonis, Smith(3) Schrempf(3)
Heat Williams(3) Wade, Shaq, Payton(3)
The two sides exchanging buckets.
2nd Qtr
9 Blazers 38 Heat 29
Blazers Wells, O'Neal, Anthony, Wells
Heat Payton
6 Blazers 44 Heat 36
Blazers Wallace, Sabonis, Wallace
Heat Posey(3) Kapono, Wade
Portland stretches it out here, strong Blazer defense to start the quarter.
3 Blazers 48 Heat 41
Blazers Sabonis, Schrempf
Heat Williams(3) Shaq
Half Score Blazers 56 Heat 49
Blazers Wallace, Detlef, O'Neal, Stoudamire
Heat Zo, Wade, Payton, Shaq
Portland was top 5 in both offense and defense and they lead the NBA Champion Heat.
3rd Qtr
9 Blazers 61 Heat 56
Blazers Sabonis, Smith(3)
Heat Zo, Haslem(3) Williams
6 Blazers 63 Heat 60
Blazers Sabobis
Heat Kapono, Kapono
Miami, chip, chip, chipping away.
3 Blazers 76 Heat 64
Blazers Smith, O'Neal, Anthony(3) Wells, Wells, Anthony
Heat Simien, Wade
3rd Score Blazers 86 Heat 77
Blazers Smith(3) Smith, Pippen, Staoudamire(3)
Heat Shaq(1) Williams(3) Wade, Zo, Shaq
Big 9 point Portland lead.
4th Qtr
9 Blazers 91 Heat 85
Blazers Wallace, Smith(3)
Heat Haslem, Williams, Zo, Shaq
6 Blazers 94 Heat 94
Blazers Wallace, Stoudamire(1)
Heat Wade(3) Shaq, Simien, Haslem
There's the run - Udonis hits a 17 footer to tie this game. 6 minutes left.
5:37: POR: Sweet post moves by Arvydas, he scores.
5:26: MIA: Miami gets it to Shaq down low, he overpowers Sabonis, foul included - Heat up 1.
4:24: POR: A minute later, it's Sabonis again, off the Rasheed dish.
4:16: MIA: DWade is the best player on the floor - can he take over? He drills the pull up.
2:55: POR: Over a minute passes, Damon Stoudamire scores from the wing and the Blazers go up.
2:17: POR: Arvydas stuffs Wade at the rim - huge block - and Smith scores in the lane.
2:02: MIA: Antoine Walker - no conscience - he drains a 3 from the top to tie this at 102.
1:55: POR: Sheed is fouled. Hits 1. Starters now on the floor for both sides.
1:26: POR: Pippen swipes the ball from Wade - Rasheed scores down low - Blazers up 3.
1;12: POR: After a Mourning offensive foul, his fifth, Sabonis scores in the paint and it's 5.
1:03: MIA: Shaq. 107-104
:49: POR: Scottie comes through - scores from the line.
:36: MIA: Shaq. 109-106.
:24: MIA: Miami forces the turnover and DWade takes it hard to the goal. 109-108.
Big spot. Wade puts Steve Smith on the line....and he misses both.
Miami gets the board. Timeout. 19 seconds left.
What's Riley calling - is it Wade? Is it a Wade isolation?
Pippen denies Wade - JWill with the ball - Williams dumps to Shaq - he's immediately hammered.
Shaq goes to the foul line with 3 seconds left. Down 1.
Shaq hits the first FT. Tied.
Shaq hits the second. 110-109.
Blazers call time - Blazers looking for the last shot with just 3 seconds left - Rasheed gets the ball - not a good look - long turnaround --- its off the mark and the Heat have won game one.
Final Score Heat 110 Blazers 109
Shaq: 25 pts/10 boards/5 assists - Player of the Game
Wade: 19 pts/11 boards/11 assists
Williams: 20 pts/7 assists
Mourning: 13 pts/9 boards/6 blocks
Haslem: 10 pts/6 boards
Sabonis: 20 pts/14 rebounds/5 blocks
Wallace: 19 pts/10 boards
Smith: 20 pts
Pippen: 10 pts/7 boards/7 steals
Stoudamire: 12 pts/5 boards/5 assists
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Blazers 7 Heat 2
Blazers Sabonis, Smith, Pippen(3)
Heat Zo
6 Blazers 11 Heat 11
Blazers Wallace, Pippen
Heat Williams(3) Haslem, Shaq, Wade
Miami took game one on the Shaq foul shots - can they close this out?
3 Heat 19 Blazers 13
Blazers Smith
Heat Williams, Wade, Shaq, Shaq
1st Score Heat 23 Blazers 23
Blazers Pippen, Wallace, Wallace, Augmon, Wells
Heat Wade, Simien
All tied through 1.
2nd Qtr
9 Blazers 33 Heat 31
Blazers Anthony, Augmon, Wells, Wells, O'Neal
Heat Posey(3) Walker, Walker(3)
6 Heat 38 Blazers 36
Blazers Anthony(1) Wallace
Heat Walker(3) Zo, Zo
Okay - super tight here in game 2, Antoine Walker had just 3 points in game 1, he's got 8 in the last 6 minutes.
3 Heat 50 Blazers 42
Blazers Wallace, Sabonis, Smith
Heat Kapono, Williams, Williams(3) Wade, Williams(3)
Half Score Heat 53 Blazers 44
Blazers Smith
Heat Zo(1) Shaq
Miami grabs their biggest series lead; 8 points in that 3 minute stretch for JWill.
3rd Qtr
9 Heat 67 Blazers 46
Blazers Pippen
Heat Williams, Walker(3) Shaq, Payton, Haslem, Haslem
6 Heat 69 Blazers 53
Blazers Detlef, Smith, Damon(3)
Heat Williams
This series looks done; the Heat are up a ton.
3 Heat 76 Blazers 57
Blazers Stoudamire, O'Neal
Heat Shaq, Williams(3) Simien
3rd Score Heat 84 Blazers 59
Blazers Wallace
Heat Haslem, Wade(3) Shaq(1)
Miami just shuts Portland down; they'll move on.
4th Qtr
9 Heat 91 Blazers 68
Blazers Pippen(3) Wallace, Sabonis, Smith
Heat Shaq, Zo, Posey(3)
6 Heat 95 Blazers 78
Blazers O'Neal, O'Neal(3) O'Neal, Anthony(3)
Heat Posey, Wade
Too late for Portland.
3 Heat 97 Blazers 86
Blazers Augmon(1) Pippen, Sabonis(3) Pippen
Heat Wade
Final Score Heat 112 Blazers 102
Blazers Stoudamire(3) Stoudamire(3) Stoudamire(3) Wallace(1) Stoudamire(3) Stoudamire(3)
Heat Zo, Wade, Shaq, Haslem, Wade, Wade, Wade
15 points in the last 3 minutes for Stoudamire is wild - but not nearly enough.
Wade: 25 pts/9 boards/9 assists - Player of the Game
Shaq: 18 pts/15 boards
Williams: 20 pts
Mourning: 11 pts/6 boards/6 blocks
Haslem: 10 pts/8 boards
Walker: 11 pts
All Region Team
C Embiid ('18 Sixers-2 PotG)
F LeBron ('20 Lakers-2 PotG)
F Durant ('14 Thunder-2 PotG)
G Wade ('06 Heat-1 PotG)
G Simmons ('18 Sixers)
