Actual Result: Portland wins their first (and through 2025, only) NBA Championship, beating the Sixers in six.
MVP: Kareem Abdul Jabbar
East Semis: Rockets d. Bullets (4-2)
Sixers d. Celtics (4-3)
West Semis: Lakers d. Warriors (4-3)
Blazers d. Nuggets (4-2)
Simulation: The Suns missed the playoffs and the Celtics got knocked off in the East semis, so we will see a new matchup in the Finals. The Lakers, now with Kareem in the middle, are still alive and on the hunt for World Championship #12. They face a 1970 expansion team making its first appearance in a conference championship, the Blazers, in the east, the Sixers are led by an ABA superstar, Julius Erving - and they face the Rockets, a late 60s expansion team that began in San Diego who are led by Moses Malone.
East Finals (May) Philadelphia 76ers (50-32) v. Houston Rockets (49-33)
West Finals (May) Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) v. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)
East Finals Game 1 (Philly) Sixers 121 Rockets 100
The Sixers last Finals appearance was a decade prior, Wilt was Finals MVP. They take game one of the East Finals. Julius Erving paces the squad with 27. George McGinnis and Darryl Dawkins double/double. Double/double for Moses Malone in the loss.
East Finals Game 2 (Philly) Sixers 108 Rockets 104
Sixers were up 7 with 23 seconds left and held on. 25 pts and 11 boards for the Doctor. 22 and 15 for George McGinnis. Rudy Tomjanovich leads the Rockets with 18.
East Finals Game 3 (Houston) Sixers 124 Rockets 115
The Sixers go up 3-0 and now are one game from their first East title in a decade. Doug Collins scores 30 to pace Philly. 20 for the Doctor. George McGinnis double/double. Calvin Murphy scores 30 in the loss. 23 points and 20 rebounds for Moses. Double/double for Rudy T.
East Finals Game 4 (Houston) Sixers 118 Rockets 91
Philly sweeps their way into the NBA Finals. 24 and 15 for Julius Erving, he's the series MVP. 24 for Henry Bibby. Double/double for McGinnis. Double/double for Moses in the loss.
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Blazers 120 Lakers 114
First conference championship game for the Blazers, first win. 20 and 17 for Maurice Lucas. 20 for Johnny Davis. Cazzie Russell scores 30 for the Lakers in the loss. Earl Tatum drops 23. 21 and 17 for Kareem.
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 120 Blazers 114
The Lakers even the series as it shifts to Portland. Huge Kareem game, 31 and 13. Cazzie Russell scores 26. In the loss, Bill Walton is 21-15 and Maurice Lucas has 17 rebounds.
West Finals Game 3 (Portland) Blazers 125 Lakers 118 (OT)
Cazzie Russell hit a halfcourt shot to tie the score for the Lakers at the end of regulation, but the Blazers win it in OT to take the 2-1 lead. 33 points and 19 rebounds for Maurice Lucas; 33 points for Lionel Hollins, 27 points and 26 rebounds for Walton. Kareem scores 29 with 26 boards in the loss. 21 for Russell
West Finals Game 4 (Portland) Lakers 118 Blazers 99
All tied at 2 and going to LA for game 5. 29 and 13 for Kareem in the win. Cazzie Russell scores 21 and Lucius Allen gets 20. Walton is 21-18 in the loss. Double/double for Maurice Lucas.
West Finals Game 5 (LA) Blazers 101 Lakers 98
Kareem scored the Lakers last 8 points, but the Lakers just couldn't quite catch the Blazers, Maurice Lucas hitting 2 FT with 6 seconds left to seal it. Portland is a game from the NBA Finals. Bill Walton scored 29 with 17 rebounds. 20 and 14 for Lucas, double/double for Lionel Hollins. 29-20 for Kareem.
West Finals Game 6 (Portland) Blazers 118 Lakers 97
The real world result is replicated here - it's Sixers v. Blazers for the 1977 NBA Championship. Bill Walton is the series MVP, 28 and 17 in the close out. 26-18 for Lucas. Kareem goes 25-14 in the loss.
NBA FINALS (May/June) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS v. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Syracuse Nationals lost the NBA Finals 3 times before winning it all in '59; they then moved to Philly, became the 76ers, and won titles in '65 and '67. A decade later, they're back. The star is, of course, one Julius Winfield Erving II. 26 year old Dr J spent the first 5 years as the signature performer in the ABA, the leagues merged and he was sold to the Sixers, this is his first NBA season. Next to Erving on the front line is another ABA refugee, 26 year old George McGinnis who, like Erving, was 2nd Team All NBA this season. 26 year old Caldwell Jones, in his first NBA season after 3 in the ABA, is in the middle. In the backcourt is 25 year old All Star Doug Collins, who will spend his entire 8 year career in Philly, and 27 year old Henry Bibby who was purchased from the Jazz before the season.
The Blazers, like the Suns the previous year, are new Finals blood. They're led by 24 year old Bill Walton, in his third NBA season, he was second in the MVP vote. Next to him on the front line is 24 year old Maurice Lucas, a fellow All Star. Like the Sixers front line, Lucas arrived from the ABA. 23 year old Bob Gross fills out the frontcourt. Very young backcourt, 23 year old Lionel Hollins and 21 year old Johnny Davis.
76ERS
HC-Gene Shue
C Caldwell Jones (26)
F George McGinnis (26) 2nd Team All NBA
F Julius Erving (26) 5th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
G Henry Bibby (27)
G Doug Collins (25) All Star
F Steve Mix (29)
G World B Free (23)
C Darryl Dawkins (20)
TRAIL BLAZERS
HC-Jack Ramsey
C Bill Walton (24) 2nd MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
F Maurice Lucas (24) All Star
F Bob Gross (23)
G Lionel Hollins (23)
G Johnny Davis (21)
G Dave Twardzik (26)
G Larry Steele (27)
G Herm Gilliam (30)
NBA Finals Game 1 (Philly) Sixers 113 Blazers 99
The Sixers take game one at home. Doug Collins paces Philly with 28. 26 points and 12 rebounds for Julius Erving. Double/double for George McGinnis. 25 for Lionel Hollins in the loss. Bill Walton goes 22 and 25. Chronic injuries will end Collins career after 8 seasons in '81.
NBA Finals Game 2 (Philly) Sixers 123 Blazers 111
Philly takes both games at home and move two away from the 4th NBA Title in franchise history. Doug Collins again leads with 31. Double/double for George McGinnis. 25 pts and 18 boards for Walton in the defeat. 20 and 14 for Maurice Lucas. McGinnis was a Pacer in the ABA, was ABA MVP in '75 averaging nearly 30 a game.
NBA Finals Game 3 (Portland) Blazers 109 Sixers 106
Portland took their first 4th qtr lead with 70 seconds remaining and didnt give it back. 22 pts and 19 assists for Bill Walton. Double/double for Maurice Lucas. Erving and McGinnis are both 20 and 12 in the defeat. Bill Walton played just 468 regular season games in his NBA career due to injuries, the only year he'd play more than 67 games was '86.
NBA Finals Game 4 (Portland) Blazers 117 Sixers 107
Portland evens the series and we head back to Philly for pivotal game 5. 20 points and 10 assists for Lionel Hollins. Double/double for Walton. Steve Mix scores 26 off the bench to lead the Sixers. Double/double for McGinnis. Hollins was 4th in the Rookie of the Year vote the prior season, 3 years from now he'll be dealt to to the Sixers at midseason.
NBA Finals Game 5 (Philly) Sixers 101 Blazers 90
Home teams have won the first 5 games of the series and that means the Sixers are up 3-2. Dr J has his signature moment of the series, 30 pts, 12 rebounds to carry Philly to within one game of the Title. Double/double for Lucas and Walton in the loss. Erving had 3 MVP awards in the ABA, he'll win the NBA version in '81.
NBA Finals Game 6 (Portland) Blazers 125 Sixers 101
I think this is the first NBA Finals where home teams are 6-0, Portland stays alive and for the first time in 5 years, the NBA Finals heads to a game seven. The Big Redhead carries the day, 30 points and 17 boards for Walton. Johnny Davis scores 28. Double/double for Maurice Lucas. Doug Collins scores 21, George McGinnis 20 in the loss. Lucas was in an ABA deal for Sixers center Caldwell Jones. In 1985 Lucas will be dealt from the Suns to the Lakers in exchange for a draft pick which will turn out to be Steve Kerr.
So, here we go. The two greatest words in all of sports....Game Seven.
NBA Finals Game 7 (Philly) Sixers 109 Blazers 103
Home teams win all 7 games and the Philadelphia 76ers are Champions of the World. Julius Erving could not have been any bigger here, 40 points and 19 rebounds, he takes it on himself to bring to the title home to Philly and is the series MVP. 20-17 for McGinnis, 20 for Collins. Double/double for both Walton and Lucas 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)
