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Simulated 1979 NBA Finals

Saturday, December 27, 2025






Actual Result, last year the Bullets beat the Sonics in the NBA Finals, this year they flip it, Seattle wins their only NBA Championship, beating the Bullets in 5.

MVP: Moses Malone

East Semis: Spurs d. Sixers 4-3
                    Bullets d. Hawks 4-3
West Semis: Suns d. Kings 4-1
                     Sonics d. Lakers 4-1

Simulation: There will not be a Sixers threepeat, they got bounced in the East Semis by the Spurs.  San Antonio makes their first conference final, taking on the Champs from 1975, the Washington Bullets.  The '76 Champs are also back, the Suns, and they'll face a Seattle team that lost in last year's West Finals.  

East Finals (May) Washington Bullets (54-28) v. San Antonio Spurs (48-34)
West Finals (May) Seattle SuperSonics (52-30) v. Phoenix Suns (50-32)

East Finals Game 1 (DC) Spurs 111 Bullets 106
The Spurs win game 1 on the road.  James Silas leads in scoring with 29. 28 points and 14 rebounds for Larry Kenon.  George Gervin scores 25. 26 for Bob Dandridge in the loss.  Double/double for Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld.  

East Finals Game 2 (DC) Bullets 126 Spurs 100
The Bullets tie the series on 28 from Kevin Grevey.  Triple double for Wes Unseld, 22 pts, 22 rebounds, 10 assists.  Larry Kenon goes 29-13 in the loss.  22 for Gervin.  

East Finals Game 3 (SA) Bullets 121 Spurs 90
The Bullets roll into San Antonio and roll through the Spurs.  Kevin Grevey again leads in scoring with 22. Double/double for Unseld and Hayes.  George Gervin scores 23 in the loss. Kenon double/double.

East Finals Game 4 (SA) Spurs 119 Bullets 110
The series is tied at 2.  James Silas paces the Spurs with 26.  20 and 14 for Larry Kenon.  20 for Ice Gervin.  Elvin Hayes goes 29 and 13 in the loss.  Wes Unseld double/double.  

East Finals Game 5 (DC) Bullets 129 Spurs 100
The Washington Bullets move a game from the NBA Finals.  Bob Dandridge scores 32 in the win.  Double/double for Hayes and Unseld.  23-10 for Gervin in the loss.  Double double for Kenon and Mike Green.  

East Finals Game 6 (SA) Bullets 109 Spurs 95
The Washington Bullets won the NBA Championship 4 years prior, they head back to end the decade.  23 points and 10 boards for Bob Dandridge.  21 for Grevey, it's Wes Unseld who is series MVP with a double/double.  22 for Gervin in the loss.

West Finals Game 1 (Seattle) Suns 114 Sonics 112
Down 4 with 45 seconds left, Gus Williams scored twice to tie it up for the Sonics, but with 2 seconds left, Alvan Adams scored in traffic to give Phoenix a game one road win.  Walter Davis ran all over Seattle with 36 points. Adams double/double.  Williams scores 25 for the Sonics.  Double/double for Jack Sikma, John Johnson, Lonnie Shelton.

West Finals Game 2 (Seattle) Suns 120 Sonics 119
Dennis Johnson hit from the top of the key with 9 seconds to go to give Seattle a 1 point lead, but Walter Davis dropped one from 27 as the clock hit :00 and the Suns take both games 1-2 in Seattle and head home.  25 and 13 for Alvan Adams, 25 for Paul Westphal, double/double for Truck Robinson. Gus Williams scores 23 in the loss.  20 for John Johnson. Shelton/Sikma double/double.

West Finals Game 3 (Phoenix) Sonics 117 Suns 93
The Sonics had to win on the road and they do.  22 and 15 for Jack Sikma. 21 for Dennis Johnson. Lonnie Shelton double/double.  Paul Westphal scores 28 in the loss.

West Finals Game 4 (Phoenix) Sonics 103 Suns 91
Alvan Adams was hurt early in game 3, misses game 4 entirely and the size disparity really shows up in favor of Seattle, who ties the series.  Lonnie Shelton scores 22, 18 points and 20 rebounds for Jack Sikma. Walter Davis double/double in the loss.

West Finals Game 5 (Seattle) Sonics 99 Suns 86
The first home victory of the series - the loss of Adams too much for the Suns to overcome.  Downtown Freddie Brown scores 21. Double/double for Sikma.  Truck Robinson double/double in the loss.

West Finals Game 6 (Phoenix) Sonics 135 Suns 125
Seattle wins 4 straight after dropping the first two and they win the West and head to their first NBA Finals to take on the Bullets.  Jack Sikma is the series MVP, he feasts without Adams on the other side, 38 points and 22 rebounds. 22 for Gus Williams, 21 for Lonnie Shelton, 20 for Dennis Johnson. 31 in the loss for both Westphal and Davis.

NBA FINALS (May/June) WASHINGTON BULLETS v. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
The Bullets won in '75, the decade is closing and they have a chance for another.  KC Jones was coaching the Bullets then - and then, it was the Chicago Bulls who the Bullets beat to win the title.  Their head coach was Dick Motta - who now is coaching these Bullets. Elvin Hayes was the Finals MVP in '75 and remains the team's best player, now 33, 3rd in the regular season MVP this year.  Bob Dandridge was in his second season in 1971 when, as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, he won the NBA Title.  He's now 31, on the front line with Hayes, 5th in the MVP race this year.  In the middle is Wes Unseld, 32, a Bullet lifer, post peak, in his 11th season, that Title team in '75 was his last All Star appearance.  In the backcourt is 27 year old Tom Henderson and 25 year old Kevin Grevey.  24 year old Larry Wright is the third guard, 24 year old Greg Ballard the first big off the bench.  

Lenny Wilkens is the HC of the Sonics, competing in their first NBA Finals.  They had two All Stars this year, 23 year old center Jack Sikma, who was MVP of the West Finals, and 24 year old Dennis Johnson, first team All Defense, working as the off guard.  Next to DJ is 25 year old Gus Williams, 2nd in the Rookie of the Year race in '76 as a Warrior, signed with the Sonics as a free agent before last year.  Downtown Freddie Brown is a 30 yard old combo guard off the bench.  Joining Sikma in the front line is 23 year old Lonnie Shelton and 31 year old John Johnson.  Paul Silas is the first big off the bench, he's now 35, he played with Wilkens (and Bob Pettit!) with the St Louis Hawks, won a Championship with the '74 Celtics.  Next year is his final season.  

BULLETS
HC-Dick Motta
C Wes Unseld (32)
F Elvin Hayes (33) 3rd MVP, 1st Team All NBA
F Bob Dandridge (31) 5th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
G Tom Henderson (27)
G Kevin Grevey (25)

G Larry Wright (24)
F Greg Ballard (24)


SONICS
HC-Lenny Wilkens
C Jack Sikma (23) All Star
F Lonnie Shelton (23)
F John Johnson (31)
G Gus Williams (25)
G Dennis Johnson (24) All Star, First Team All Defense

F Paul Silas (35)
G Freddie Brown (30)

NBA Finals Game 1 (DC) Sonics 110 Bullets 104
The Sonics take game one on the road.  Jack Sikma keeps his conference finals dominance going, 30 pts and 14 rebounds. Gus Williams drops 25. Double/double for Dennis Johnson and Lonnie Shelton.  Bob Dandridge scored 27 in the loss.  21 for Kevin Grevey. Double/double for Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld. Sikma is in year 2 of what will be a 14 season career.

NBA Finals Game 2 (DC) Bullets 105 Sonics 98
Washington ties the series.  Bob Dandridge dominates, throwing up a 42 point game. 20 for Kevin Grevey.  Elvin Hayes double/double.  Lonnie Shelton scores 21 in the loss.  20 and 10 for DJ. Sikma double/double.  Dandridge left the Bucks last season in free agency.  

NBA Finals Game 3 (Seattle) Sonics 117 Bullets 110
The first Finals game in Seattle goes to the home team. Dennis Johnson scores 29 to lead Seattle. 24 for Gus Williams. 22 for Lonnie Shelton. Double/double for Sikma and John Johnson.  Elvin Hayes scores 27 with 18 rebounds in the loss.  23 for Dandridge. 21 rebounds for Unseld. This is the third year of DJs career, his first of 4 straight All Star selections.  A year from now, he's headed to Phoenix for Paul Westphal.  

NBA Finals Game 4 (DC)  Bullets 121 Sonics 114
We got a good one, the Bullets square the series as we go back to DC for game 5.  Elvin Hayes again leads the Bullets, 24 pts and 17 rebounds.  25 and 16 for Sikma in the loss.  24 for Williams. This is Hayes 11th season, he's been an All Star in all 11 years, next year will be his final appearance.  

NBA Finals Game 5 (DC) Bullets 114 Sonics 112
Gus Williams hit from the corner to cut the Sonics deficit to 2 with 6 seconds left, but didn't get another chance and the Bullets move within a game of the 3rd NBA Title in franchise history.  29 for Bob Dandridge.  Hayes again goes 24 and 17, will he become the 4th man to win 2 Finals MVPs? DJ scores 27 in the loss.  23 for Williams.  Double/double for Sikma. 

NBA Finals Game 6 (Seattle) Sonics 123 Bullets 113
Great conclusion to the decade, we're going to game 7.  Gus Williams takes over with a 33 point game.  20 for DJ.  24 rebounds for Sikma.  Hayes gives all he can in the loss, 24-10.  Unseld double/double.

Here we go, the two greatest words in sports.  Game Seven.

NBA Finals Game 7 (DC) Sonics 109 Bullets 100
The Seattle SuperSonics take game 7 on the road and are the Champions of the World.  Dennis Johnson is the Finals MVP, he scores 24 to pace the Sonics.  20 and 12 for Lonnie Shelton, 20 for Gus Williams. Double/double for Sikma.  33 for Dandridge 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)
1977 Philadelphia 76ers d. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3) MVP Julius Erving (SF, 26)
1978 Philadelphia 76ers d. Denver Nuggets (4-2) MVP Doug Collins (SG, 26) 
1979 Seattle SuperSonics d. Washington Bullets (4-3) MVP Dennis Johnson (SG, 24)

1970s Playoffs All NBA

1st Team
C Wilt Chamberlain (Lakers)
F John Havlicek (Celtics)
F Julius Erving (Sixers)
G Jerry West (Lakers) Playoff Player of the Decade
G Jo Jo White (Celtics)

2nd Team
C Dave Cowens (Celtics)
F Elvin Hayes (Bullets)
F Bob Dandridge (Bullets)
G Doug Collins (Sixers)
G Walt Frazier (Knicks)

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