Actual Result: The Lakers win 69 games and beat the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
MVP: Kareem Abdul Jabbar
East Semis: Celtics d. Hawks (4-2)
Knicks d. Bullets (4-2)
West Semis: Lakers d. Bulls (4-0)
Bucks d. Warriors (4-1)
Simulation: The Bucks swept the 3 time defending champion Lakers in last year's West Finals before beating the Knicks in 7 to win the Championship. Its Bucks/Lakers again in this year's West Finals, Wilt v. Kareem and Oscar v. West. The Knicks have had their hearts broken in 3 straight seasons, the only team in NBA history to lose 3 consecutive NBA Finals, the last two in 7 games. They are still alive and facing the Celtics, who are now without Bill Russell.
East Finals (April) Boston Celtics (56-26) v. New York Knicks (48-34)
West Finals (April) Los Angeles Lakers (69-13) v. Milwaukee Bucks (63-19)
East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Knicks 124 Celtics 103
It's not Bill Russell v. Willis Reed, it's Dave Cowens v. Jerry Lucas with Russell retired and Reed out with injury. Game one goes to Walt Frazier, 27 pts. Double/double for Dave DeBusschere. 22 for John Havlicek. Double/double for Cowens.
East Finals Game 2 (NY) Knicks 102 Celtics 98
The Celts never led in the 4th quarter, the Knicks are two games away from reaching the NBA Finals for the 4th consecutive season. 23 pts and 23 rebounds for Jerry Lucas and another double/double for DeBusschere. Havlicek again leads the Celtics with 28. 21-15 for Cowens.
East Finals Game 3 (Boston) Knicks 128 Celtics 126 (OT)
Knicks had an 11 point lead with 5 minutes left in regulation, but the Celtics were down 1 when Don Nelson was fouled with 2 seconds left, he hit just one of the FT to send the game into OT. The Celtics were again down in OT when Cowens was fouled with 15 seconds left, he hit both shots to tie the score - and at the buzzer it was Bill Bradley calmly stroking from deep to take game 3 for the Knicks. It's now 3-0 and New York has 4 chances to win their 4th straight East title. Bradley scored 31. 29 for Earl Monroe. 22 and 18 for Lucas, 22 and 17 for DeBusschere. Jo Jo White goes 29 and 10 in the loss. 25-11 for Havlicek. 23-13 for Cowens. 22-11 for Nelson.
East Finals Game 4 (NY) Celtics 118 Knicks 116
The Celtics were up 7 with 4 to play, but needed a Jo Jo White 14 footer with 8 seconds left to give them a win and keep the series alive. 25 for Don Nelson to lead the way for Boston, Havlicek scored 20. Double/double for White and Cowens. Lucas scores 26 in the loss. 23-14 for DeBusschere. 21 for Frazier. Phil Jackson double double off the bench.
East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 114 Knicks 104
Boston takes game 5 and back we head to MSG, the Knicks lead now 3 games to 2. Jo Jo White scores 28 to lead the Celts in scoring. 21 for Havlicek and a double/double for Cowens. Lucas goes 24 and 17 in the loss. 22-15 for Frazier.
East Finals Game 6 (NY) Celtics 120 Knicks 113
The Celtics trailed 3 games to 0 - but now will head back to Boston for Game 7. Huge for Havlicek, 39 pts and 11 rebounds. 23 and 14 for Cowens. 20 and 19 for Nelson. Walt Frazier triple doubles in the loss, 31-10-10. Monroe scores 21. 24 rebound game for Lucas.
One to go - will the Knicks win their 4th straight East title or will the Celtics return to their first NBA Finals since '68?
East Finals Game 7 (Boston) Celtics 122 Knicks 115
Boston does it, coming all the way back from the 3-0 deficit to pull the reverse sweep, winning the East and returning to the NBA Finals. 30 pts and 10 assists for Havlicek, he's the series MVP. Don Nelson scores 33 with 13 rebounds, just an enormous game 7 for Nellie. Cowens goes 20 and 20. 33-12 for Clyde in the loss.
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 109 Bucks 96
A year ago it looked like the Laker dynasty was done when the Bucks swept them in 4 games in the West Finals and went onto win the NBA Championship - but the Lakers are back and they win game one. Gail Goodrich is the Lakers leading scorer with 21. 22 boards for Wilt and a double/double for Happy Hairston. Kareem was the regular season MVP again and he has a huge day, 34-14.
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 118 Bucks 105
The Lakers take both games at home. 27 pts, a dozen assists for Jerry West. Double/double for Wilt and Hairston. Kareem again is a monster in the loss, 37 pts, 24 rebounds.
West Finals Game 3 (Milwaukee) Bucks 122 Lakers 113
The Bucks take the first game on their home floor. Kareem has been the best player in the series, 40 pts and 17 boards. 24 and 12 for Bob Dandridge, Wilt had 23-26 in the defeat. 27 pts and 18 assists for West.
West Finals Game 4 (Milwaukee) Lakers 126 Bucks 112
The Lakers go up 3-1 and are now 1 game away from facing the Celtics in the NBA Finals one more time. Gail Goodrich leads the Lakers with 32. 27 for Jim McMillan. 22 rebounds for Happy Hairston as its the non legends leading the way for LA. Double/double for the legends, both Wilt and West. 27-13 for Kareem in the loss. 24 for Lucius Allen. Double/double for Dandridge and Curtis Perry.
West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 115 Bucks 113
For the 6th time in history, we will have a Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals. The Bucks were down 4 with 40 seconds left - Kareem hit a sky hook and then blocked a shot on the other end leading to an Oscar fast break layup. But at the buzzer - it was West, from near halfcourt, to end the series and send the Lakers to their 14th Finals. 26 points, 12 assists for West, 24 pts and 17 boards for Wilt. 24 for Goodrich, Double/double for Hairston. Despite the loss, Kareem is series MVP, 35-22 in this one.
NBA FINALS (April/May) LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. BOSTON CELTICS
1953: Celtics d. Lakers (4-3)
1955: Lakers d. Celtics (4-3)
1962 Lakers d. Celtics (4-2)
1966 Lakers d. Celtics (4-3)
1968 Lakers d. Celtics (4-2)
The Minneapolis Lakers split two Finals in the 50s with the Celtics - but once they moved to Los Angeles they won 3 straight without a loss. The Lakers are the dominant franchise in NBA history, 9 Championships including the only 3-peat in history. The Celtics have 4, but its been a decade since their last win. The Lakers head coach is now a Celtics Hall of Famer, Bill Sharman, who was on the 1st Team All Playoffs for the decade of the 50s. Elgin Baylor is gone, but the other two future inner circle Hall of Famers, Wilt and West, remain. Wilt's 35, in his second to last NBA season. West is 33 with two years still to play. Red Auerbach is strictly in the front office and Bill Russell is gone entirely for the Celtics, their head coach is another Celtics Hall of Famer, Tom Heinsohn. Their leader is now John Havlicek, 31, in the middle of his Hall of Fame Boston career, he's joined by Dave Cowens, just 23 and early into his Hall of Fame career.
It's Lakers/Celtics VI. The 1972 NBA Championship.
LAKERS
HC-Bill Sharman
C Wilt Chamberlain (35) 3rd MVP, 2nd All NBA
F Happy Hairston (29)
F Jim McMillan (23)
G Jerry West (33) 2nd MVP, 1st Team All NBA
G Gail Goodrich (28) All Star
CELTICS
HC-Tom Heinsohn
C Dave Cowens (23) All Star
F Don Nelson (31)
F John Havlicek (31) 4th MVP, 1st Team All NBA
G Jo Jo White (25) All Star
G Don Chaney (25)
NBA Finals Game 1 (LA) Celtics 103 Lakers 94
Boston takes game 1 on the road. 22 for John Havlicek, this year was Havlicek's career best MVP finish (4th). 20 points and 17 rebounds for Dave Cowens. Jerry West led the Lakers with 21, double/double for Wilt Chamberlain and Jim McMillan.
NBA Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 126 Celtics 117
The Lakers even the series and we head to Boston for Games 3-4. Gail Goodrich leads with 28. This is Goodrich's second Lakers run; he spent the first 3 years of his career in LA, was taken by the Suns in the '68 expansion draft, and came back to LA before the '70-71 season in a deal for Mel Counts. 23 points and 16 assists for West. 21 boards for Wilt. Happy Hairston double/double. Monster game for Havlicek, 39 pts, 10 boards, 12 assists. Double/double for Cowens.
NBA Finals Game 3 (Boston) Lakers 127 Celtics 89
The Lakers hand the Celtics their worst ever home playoff loss. 28 for Jerry West; this season was West's 4th second place MVP finish. Goodrich scores 27. 24 more boards for Wilt. Double double for Hairston and Jim McMillan. 20 pts for Don Nelson to lead Boston. Double/double for Cowens.
NBA Finals Game 4 (Boston) Lakers 140 Celtics 115
Los Angeles overwhelms the Celtics, it's 3-1, the Lakers 1 game away from their 10th championship. Gail Goodrich leads the way with 36 points - he has been the best player in this series. 26 and 16 for Wilt. 26 for West. 20 for McMillan and a double/double for Hairston. 26-13 for Cowens in the loss. 25 for Jo Jo White.
NBA Finals Game 5 (LA) Celtics 124 Lakers 113
Boston cuts the deficit to 3-2. 24 for Havlicek and Don Nelson. After 2 seasons as a Laker, Don Nelson signed off the street with Boston for the '65-66 season and will remain with them until the retiring in '76. 23 points and 24 boards for Cowens. Jerry West scores 34 in the loss. 21 boards for Wilt. Double/double for Hairston.
NBA Finals Game 6 (Boston) Celtics 125 Lakers 119
In the East Finals, the Celtics came back from a 3-0 deficit -- here, they trailed 3-1, but win games 5 and 6 and we will head to LA for Game 7. It's Jo Jo White who leads the way with 29 points. 28 for Havlicek, 23 for Nelson and a double/double for Cowens. 26 for both Goodrich and McMillan in the loss. 25 pts and 11 assists for West. Double/double for Wilt and Hairston.
For the 4th time, a Laker/Celtics NBA Finals goes to Game Seven. Lets go to LA.
NBA Finals Game 7 (LA) Lakers 128 Celtics 101
The Lakers are 10 Time World Champions. Jerry West goes for 24 with 12 assists and wins his second Finals MVP. Goodrich scores 24. 22 with 15 rebounds for Wilt. 20 and 12 for McMillan. Double/double for Hairston. Great series for Havlicek, he scores 39 in the loss.
Check out all the Finals MVPs from '64 forward. The last 9 seasons:
Wilt
Wilt
Elgin
Wilt
Elgin
West
Wilt
Kareem
West
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)
