Actual Result: Another Celtics title, their second in 3 years. They beat the Suns in 6.
MVP: Kareem Abdul Jabbar
East Semis: Celtics d. Braves (4-2)
Cavs d. Bullets (4-3)
West Semis: Warriors d. Pistons (4-2)
Suns d. Sonics (4-2)
Simulation: The World Champion Bullets are knocked out in the East Semis, and the West Champion Bulls missed the playoffs, so we'll have a new Finals. The Celtics won the East the prior 3 years and they are once again in the East Finals, they'll be taking on one of the 1970 expansion teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers, making their first conference finals. The Warriors lost the West Finals last year and they return to the conference title series, facing a 1968 expansion team, the Phoenix Suns, who are playing in their first conference finals.
East Finals (May) Boston Celtics (54-28) v. Cleveland Cavaliers (49-33)
West Finals (May) Golden St Warriors (59-23) v. Phoenix Suns (42-40)
East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 103 Cavs 90
The Celtics won the East 3 straight seasons prior to last year and are 3 games from doing it again. Jo Jo White leads with 20. Dave Cowens double/double. Jim Brewer double/double for the Cavs.
East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Celtics 91 Cavaliers 74
That Cav score is the lowest total we've seen for a conference final; John Havlicek scores 21. Cowens and Paul Silas double/double. Jim Brewer double/double for the overmatched Cavs.
East Finals Game 3 (Cleveland) Cavs 114 Celtics 96
The Cavs come home and they cut the series deficit to 2-1. Jim Brewer and Bingo Smith both score 20. Jo Jo White goes for 23 in the loss. 21 boards for Cowens, double/double for Silas and Charlie Scott.
East Finals Game 4 (Cleveland) Cavs 102 Celtics 90
The Cavs win both games at home and this series heads back to Boston all tied up. Bingo Smith scores 23 to lead the way. 22 for Jim Cleamons. Jim Brewer double/double. An injured John Havlicek doesn't score at all in the Celtic loss. Jo Jo White scores 20. Double/double for Cowens and Silas
East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 119 Cavs 91
Home teams have won all 5 games, Boston taking the 3-2 lead. Dave Cowens takes over, 29 pts, 16 rebounds. 26 for Charlie Scott. 23 for Paul Silas. Nate Thurmond double/double in the loss.
East Finals Game 6 (Cleveland) Celtics 106 Cavs 96
And its done - the Boston Celtics win their 13th East Championship and are going back to the NBA Finals. Dave Cowens is the series MVP, 22 pts and 27 rebounds. Jo Jo White scores 21. Nate Thurmond double/double in the loss.
West Finals Game 1 (GSt) Suns 106 Warriors 98
Less than a decade into their existence as a franchise, the Phoenix Suns are 3 games from the NBA Finals. Alvan Adams scores 26 with 13 rebounds. Double/double for Gar Heard. Gus Williams scores 24 for the Warriors. 22 and 10 for Jamaal Wilkes. Rick Barry double/double.
West Finals Game 2 (GSt) Warriors 111 Suns 99
The Warriors even it up and the series shifts to Arizona. 25 points and 10 assists for Rick Barry, 22 and 11 for Jamaal Wilkes. Gar Heard scores 22 with 16 boards for the Cavs. Double/double for Alvan Adams and Curtis Perry.
West Finals Game 3 (Phoenix) Warriors 120 Suns 112
The Warriors take game 3 on the road and are 2 wins away from their first Finals appearance in 9 years. Phil Smith and Gus Williams each score 21. Double/double for Jamaal Wilkes and Clifford Ray. 23 for Alvan Adams in the defeat. Double/double for Gar Heard.
West Finals Game 4 (Phoenix) Suns 114 Warriors 104
The Suns even the series and we will head back to Oakland for game 5. Gar Heard scores 29 with 19 boards. 21 and 10 for Adams. 24 for Jamaal Wilkes in the defeat. Clifford Ray double/double.
West Finals Game 5 (GSt) Suns 125 Warriors 123 (OT)
Rick Barry hits from distance with 6 seconds left in regulation to give the Warriors a 2 point lead, but Paul Westphal returns the favor from 40 feet to send the game into OT. In OT, Jamaal Wilkes hit a 14 footer with 12 seconds left to tie the score - but very controversially, Alvan Adams was fouled on an attempt at a game wining shot at the buzzer - he hit both FT and the Phoenix Suns take game 5 on the road and are now 1 game from the NBA Finals. 21 and 10 for Curtis Perry for the Suns. 21 for both Adams and Westphal. Double/double for Gar Heard. Rick Barry scores 22. Double/double for Clifford Ray.
West Finals Game 6 (Phoenix) Warriors 97 Suns 92
The Warriors win game 6 on the road and force a return to Oakland for Game Seven. Rick Barry goes 23 and 10. 20 for Phil Smith. 22 and 11 for Alvan Adams in the loss. Curtis Perry double/double.
The two greatest words in sports - Game Seven. Winner to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
West Finals Game 7 (GSt) Suns 109 Warriors 100
The Phoenix Suns win the Western Conference and we get the same matchup as we did in the real world, Celtics/Suns for the '76 Title. Alvan Adams goes 23 and 12 and wins the series MVP. 21 and 16 for Gar Heard. Rick Barry scores 27 for the Warriors.
NBA FINALS (May/June) BOSTON CELTICS v. PHOENIX SUNS
If the series goes 7 it's the first June NBA game. The Celtics will be playing in their 13th NBA Finals, they've won 5, most recently 2 years prior. The same basic Celtic group we've seen the past few years, Dave Cowens is 27, this is the last year of a 4 year run of top 5 MVP finishes. John Havlicek is 35, he was Finals MVP 2 years ago, and this is the last season of 11 that he was either first or second team All NBA. 32 year old Paul Silas joins them on the front line and was first team All Defense. Jo Jo White is 29, he's been a great postseason performer; along with Jerry West, White would be the top guard in the postseason for the first half of the decade. Next year is his last of 7 All Star appearances as you can definitely see this Celtics page turning. The fifth starter is Charlie Scott - Scott was initially drafted by the Celtics (Scott went to the ABA after college) and his rights were dealt to the Suns for Silas back in '72. In the offseason, the Celtics reaquired Scott from Phoenix in exchange for Paul Westphal and they meet here in the NBA Finals. Also in the rotation is 35 year old Don Nelson, in his final season (Nellie starts, plays a handful of minutes, Havlicek plays nearly the entire game but comes off the bench)
The upstart Suns are led by 21 year old Rookie of the Year center Alvan Adams, who was MVP of the West conference title series. Two 27 year olds, Gar Heard and Curtis Perry round out the front line. Heard came over at midseason in a deal with Buffalo - Perry and two bench pieces came over ina deal with the Jazz for a first round pick that turned into Adrian Dantley. 25 year old Paul Westphal runs the point, he was in the rotation when the Celtics won the title in '74, the off guard is 23 year old Ricky Sobers.
CELTICS
HC-Tom Heinsohn
C Dave Cowens (27) 3rd MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
F Paul Silas (32) 1st Team All Defense
F John Havlicek (35) 2nd Team All NBA
G Jo Jo White (29) All Star
G Charlie Scott (27)
F Don Nelson (35)
F Steve Kuberski (28)
SUNS
HC-John MacLeod
C Alvan Adams (21) Rookie of the Year
F Gar Heard (27)
F Curtis Perry (27)
G Paul Westphal (25)
G Ricky Sobers (23)
G Dick Van Arsdale (32)
F Keith Erickson (31)
NBA Finals Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 125 Suns 111
Boston aims for Title #6. Jo Jo White scores 32. 28 pts and 10 rebounds for Dave Cowens. Double/double for Paul Silas. Paul Westphal scores 21 in the loss. White spent the decade in Boston, drafted in '69 and dealt away to the Warriors during the '79 season.
NBA Finals Game 2 (Boston) Suns 102 Celtics 93
Phoenix gets a game in Boston and now goes home for games 3-4. 20 and 10 for Alvan Adams. Double/double for Gar Heard. 20 rebounds for Cowens, double/double for Silas in the loss. At 21, Adams is...I think...the youngest NBA Finals starter to this date, his was named to his only All Star team this year.
NBA Finals Gams 3 (Phoenix) Suns 123 Celtics 103
The Suns take a 2-1 lead. Keith Erickson scores 30 points off the bench, going 8 for 12 from the floor. 23 each for Adams and Westphal. Heard double/double. 20 and 13 for Silas in the loss. Cowens double/double. Erickson won 3 NBA Championships with the Lakers, he was sent to the Suns in late '73 as part of the Connie Hawkins trade.
NBA Finals Game 4 (Phoenix) Suns 98 Celtics 89
The Phoenix Suns are a game away from the NBA Championship. 21 and 12 for Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal scored 21. Cowens double/double in the loss. Seven years from now, Westphal will be Comeback Player of the Year with the Knicks.
NBA Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 115 Suns 105
The actual result here was a triple OT win for the Celtics, it only takes regulation, but the Celtics survive and the series goes back to Phoenix. Jo Jo White drops 36 in the win. 21 and 17 for Cowens. Double/double for Silas. 20-14 for Alvan Adams. Double/double for Heard and Perry.
NBA Finals Game 6 (Phoenix) Suns 113 Celtics 104
The Phoenix Suns are World Champions, the Celtics lose their 8th NBA Finals. Paul Westphal scores 30 points in the closeout game and is the NBA Finals MVP against his former team. Alvan Adams posts a triple double, 20 pts, 11 rebounds, 11 assists in a whale of a postseason. Gar Heard double/double. 30 pts and 16 boards for Cowens in the loss.
NBA Finals History
1947 (BAA): Philadelphia Warriors d. Chicago Stags (4-1)
1948 (BAA): Baltimore Bullets d. Philadelphia Warriors (4-2)
1949 (BAA): Minneapolis Lakers d. Washington Capitols (4-2)
1950: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2)
1951: Rochester Royals d. New York Knicks (4-3)
1952: Rochester Royals d. Syracuse Nationals (4-3) - MVP: Jack Coleman (PF 27 yrs)
1953: Boston Celtics d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-3) - MVP: Bob Cousy (PG, 24)Back
1954: Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse Nationals (4-2) - MVP: George Mikan (C, 29)
1955: Minneapolis Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) - MVP: Clyde Lovellette (C, 25)
1956: Philadelphia Warriors d. St Louis Hawks (4-0) - MVP: Neil Johnston (C, 26)
1957: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (C, 24)
1958: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-1) - MVP Bob Cousy (PG, 29)
1959: Syracuse Nationals d. Minneapolis Lakers (4-1) - MVP Dolph Schayes (PF, 30)
1950s Playoffs All NBA
1st Team
C George Mikan (Lakers)
F Bob Pettit (Hawks) - Playoff Player of the Decade
F Dolph Schayes (Nationals)
G Bob Cousy (Lakers)
G Bill Sharman (Lakers)
2nd Team
C Bill Russell (Lakers)
F Neil Johnston (Warriors)
F Clyde Lovellette (Lakers)
G Slater Martin (Lakers/Hawks)
G Paul Seymour (Nationals)
1960: St Louis Hawks d. Boston Celtics (4-2) - MVP Bob Pettit (PF, 27)
1961: Boston Celtics d. St Louis Hawks (4-0) - MVP Bill Russell (C, 26)
1962: Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-2) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 27)
1963: Cincinnati Royals d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) MVP Oscar Robertson (PG, 24)
1964: San Francisco Warriors d. Cincinnati Royals (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 27)
1965 Philadelphia 76ers d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 28)
1966 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 31)
1967 Philadelphia 76ers d. San Francisco Warriors (4-2) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 30)
1968 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-2) MVP Elgin Baylor (SF, 33)
1969 Los Angeles Lakers d. New York Knicks (4-1) MVP Jerry West (SG, 30)
1960s Playoffs All NBA
1st Team
C Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors/Sixers/Lakers) Playoff Player of the Decade
F Elgin Baylor (Lakers)
F John Havlicek (Celtics)
G Jerry West (Lakers)
G Sam Jones (Celtics)
2nd Team
C Bill Russell (Celtics)
F Bob Pettit (Hawks)
F Chet Walker (Sixers)
G Oscar Robertson (Royals)
G Hal Greer (Sixers)
1970 Los Angeles Lakers d. New York Knicks (4-3) MVP Wilt Chamberlain (C, 33)
1971 Milwaukee Bucks d. New York Knicks (4-3) MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar (C, 23)
1972 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-3) MVP Jerry West (PG, 33)
1973 Los Angeles Lakers d. Boston Celtics (4-1) MVP Jim McMillan (SF 24)
1974 Boston Celtics d. Chicago Bulls (4-0) MVP John Havlicek (SF 33)
1975 Washington Bullets d. Chicago Bulls (4-0) MVP Elvin Hayes (PF, 29)
1976 Phoenix Suns d. Boston Celtics (4-2) MVP Paul Westphal (PG, 25)
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