Actual Result: Back to back titles for the Bad Boy Pistons, they beat the Blazers in 5
MVP: Magic Johnson
East Semis: Pistons d. Knicks (4-1)
Bulls d Sixers (4-1)
West Semis: Suns d. Lakers (4-1)
Blazers d. Spurs (4-3)
Simulation: The Celtics get bounced in the first round for the second straight year, the Lakers lose in the West Semis - the 1980s are over. The Pistons have a chance to go back to back and again, they will face Jordan's Bulls in the East Finals. In the West, the Suns, who lost in last years West Semis, are back and they face Portland; the Blazers lost the '77 Finals, 13 years later they are back one round away from returning.
East Finals (May) Detroit Pistons (59-23) v. Chicago Bulls (55-27)
West Finals (May) Portland Trail Blazers (59-23) v. Phoenix Suns (54-28)
East Finals Game 1 (Det) Bulls 98 Pistons 95
Michael Jordan scores 7 in the final minute and the Bulls take game 1. 31 for Jordan, double/double for Scottie Pippen. 18 pts, 13 assists for Isiah Thomas. Dennis Rodman double/double.
East Finals Game 2 (Det) Pistons 105 Bulls 103
Jordan scores 8 in the final 90 seconds, but Pippen misses at the buzzer and the Pistons take game 2. Joe Dumars scores 23, double/double for Isiah and Bill Laimbeer. 38 for Jordan in the loss
East Finals Game 3 (Chi) Bulls 120 Pistons 116
BJ Armstrong scores 6 in the last two minutes; each game tight at the end, the Bulls go up 2-1. 42 pts, 13 rebounds for Jordan. Mark Aguirre scored 23 off the bench for the Pistons. 21 for Dumars, 20 and 13 assists for Isiah.
East Finals Game 4 (Chi) Pistons 120 Bulls 106
The Pistons even the series, we head back to Detroit for game 5. Dumars leads for the winners with 21. Double/double for Rodman and Isiah. Jordan scores 33 for the Bulls.
East Finals Game 5 (Det) Pistons 111 Bulls 100
The Pistons move within a game of back to back Eastern Conference titles and returning to defend their NBA Championship. Again, Dumars leads for the Pistons with 21. Rodman double/double. Jordan scores 31. Bill Cartwright goes 24 and 10. Pippen double/double.
East Finals Game 6 (Chi) Bulls 110 Pistons 101
The Bulls force game 7. Horace Grant has the big game, 30 points and 21 rebounds. Jordan adds 24. 21 pts, 10 assists for Isiah in the loss.
The two greatest words in all of sports....
East Finals Game 7 (Det) Bulls 103 Pistons 90
The Chicago Bulls return to their first NBA Finals in 15 years. Michael Jordan is the series MVP, he scores 36 with 13 rebounds to lead Chicago. Great series for Horace Grant, 20 and 18. Dumars scores 22 in the loss. Laimbeer double/double.
West Finals Game 1 (Port) Blazers 113 Suns 81
The Blazers blow Phoenix out in game 1. Clyde Drexler leads the way with 18. Double/double for Buck Williams, Terry Porter, Kevin Duckworth. Tom Chambers leads for the Suns with 19.
West Finals Game 2 (Port) Blazers 102 Suns 101
Kevin Johnson ties the game with a 14 footer with 21 seconds left, Clyde Drexler is fouled with 6 seconds to play - he hits 1 FT, giving the Suns a chance to win, Dan Majerle misses from long range, Kurt Rambis is there with the putback - but it happens just after the buzzer and Portland takes both at home. 21 for Drexler. Buck Williams double/double. 26 and 12 assists for KJ in the defeat. 24 with 12 boards for Tom Chambers.
West Finals Game 3 (Pho) Blazers 112 Suns 101
Portland moves a game from heading to their second ever NBA Finals appearance. Kevin Duckworth leads with 20. Double/double for Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey. Eddie Johnson led with 17 in 15 minutes for the Suns
West Finals Game 4 (Pho) Suns 125 Blazers 112
No sweep in this one, the Suns take game 4. Tom Chambers goes for 35 with 11 boards. 21 for KJ and Jeff Hornacek. Clyde drops 32 in the loss. 25 points and 16 assists for Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey double/double
West Finals Game 5 (Port) Suns 118 Blazers 99
The Suns roll through Portland in game 5 and now it's 3-2. Again, Chambers dominates, 38 points and 11 rebounds. Hornacek scores 28 and a KJ double/double. 21 for Jerome Kersey in the loss, double/double for Clyde and Porter.
West Finals Game 6 (Pho) Suns 107 Blazers 92
Portland had a 3-0 series lead - but the Suns have evened it up, they won it all in '76 and are a game away from returning to the Finals. Jeff Hornacek scores 24, the Suns winning without Kevin Johnson in the second half. Clyde with 23 in the loss, 22 for Duckworth.
Lets do it - Game 7 back in Portland, winners faces the Bulls in the NBA Finals
West Finals Game 7 (Port) Suns 116 Blazers 107
A stunner in Portland, the Suns come back from 3-0 and take 4 straight from the Blazers to win the West. Tom Chambers scores 28 and is the series MVP. Double/double for Hornacek, KJ plays just a few minutes here, word is he will go in the Finals. 25 with 13 boards for Clyde in the loss.
NBA FINALS (June) CHICAGO BULLS v. PHOENIX SUNS
The Chicago Bulls were swept in the NBA Finals in '74 and '75, a decade later, they drafted Michael Jordan. Rookie of the Year in '85, 2nd in the MVP in '87, MVP in '88, second last year and third this year. Next to Jordan in the backcourt is 29 year old John Paxson. 29 year old Craig Hodges and 22 year old BJ Armstrong come off the bench. In the front court, 24 year old Scottie Pippen was an All Star this year, 24 year old Horace Grant and 32 year old Bill Cartwright round out the starting 5. 23 year old Stacey King, 24 year old Will Perdue, 29 year old Ed Nealy round out the rotation.
The Phoenix Suns won the NBA Championship in '76, they reached the conference Finals in '79 and then again a decade later. They return to the NBA Finals now, 30 year old Tom Chambers was second team All NBA, joining him on the front line are 29 year old Mark West and the former Laker, 31 year old Kurt Rambis. 30 year old Eddie Johnson comes off the bench. 23 year old Kevin Johnson was also second team All NBA, he strained a hamstring in the conference finals, but will give it a go here. 26 year old Jeff Hornacek is the off guard, 24 year old Dan Majerle rounds out the rotation.
The first NBA Finals since '79 that doesnt have either the Celtics or the Lakers.
CHICAGO BULLS
HC-Phil Jackson
C Bill Cartwright (32)
PF Horace Grant (24)
SF Scottie Pippen (23) All Star
PG John Paxson (29)
SG Michael Jordan (26) 3rd MVP, 1st Team All NBA
F Stacey King (23)
F Ed Nealy (29)
G BJ Armstrong (22)
G Craig Hodges (29)
PHOENIX SUNS
HC-Cotton Fitzsimmons
C Mark West (29)
PF Kurt Rambis (31)
SF Tom Chambers (30) 2nd Team All NBA
PG Kevin Johnson (23) 2nd Team All NBA
SG Jeff Hornacek (26)
F Eddie Johnson (30) 3rd 6th Man
G Dan Majerle (24)
NBA FINALS GAME 1 (Chi) Suns 109 Bulls 95
The Suns win the last 4 in the Western Conference Finals and they take game 1 here. 23 points for Tom Chambers in the win. 26 apiece for Jordan and Pippen. Horace Grant double/double.
NBA FINALS GAME 2 (Chi) Suns 111 Bulls 93
The Suns win 6 straight playoff games. Kevin Johnson scores 24 points in 23 minutes to lead the way. Jordan scores 27 in the loss. Pippen double/double
NBA FINALS GAME 3 (Pho) Suns 109 Bulls 96
The Suns go up 3-0, they've won 7 straight after falling behind 3-0 in the Western Finals, Tom Chambers scores 27 with 10 boards. Eddie Johnson scores 24 off the bench. Jordan scores 39 in the loss. Grant double/double
NBA FINALS GAME 4 (Pho) Bulls 111 Suns 110
Suns led by 7 with 70 seconds to play, Paxson was fouled, hit both, Suns missed the other way and Jordan came back with a driving score, Suns up 3 with 40 seconds left. Suns missed again and with 15 seconds left, Jordan drilled an 18 footer and the Suns lead was 1. Chambers was fouled, hitting 1, 2 point game with 9 seconds left, Jordan goes into the lane - kicks to a wide open Paxson in the corner --- he hits the corner 3 and the Bulls survive. 30 pts and 10 rebounds for Jordan in the win, 24 and 19 for Horace Grant. 23 and 12 for Pippen. In the loss, Chambers scored 23, Hornacek 22, KJ 21.
NBA FINALS GAME 5 (Pho) Bulls 113 Suns 110
One minute left, Suns by 1, Jordan steals the ball- soars home for a dunk, Suns miss the other way and Jordan drives and scores, down 3, Chambers has to settle for a 2 - the Suns send Jordan to the line, he hits them both and the Bulls will head home, down 3-2. A 49 point game for Michael Jordan, he has taken over this series. 26 for Eddie Johnson in the loss, Dan Majerle double/double.
NBA FINALS GAME 6 (Chi) Bulls 101 Suns 98
In the West Finals, the Suns lost the first 3 to Portland, stormed back to win the next four and the series - they opened up these Finals by taking the first 3, but Chicago has taken the next 3 and we have a game 7 coming in Chicago. Bulls up 6 with 2 minutes left, Suns score the next 6, Chambers, KJ, West - tie score with 30 seconds left, it's Jordan, falling away with a jumper to give the Bulls the lead, Chambers misses the potential game winning 3 the other way, Jordan goes 1 of 2 from the line with a second left and we'll see you for game 7. Jordan continues to dominate, 34 pts, 10 rebounds. Pippen double/double. Mark West 19 in the loss.
Both conference finals and the NBA Finals all go 7 games, lets do it
NBA FINALS GAME 7 (Chi) Bulls 103 Suns 89
The Chicago Bulls are World Champions for the first time in their history, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win it at home. Michael Jordan is the Finals MVP, 31 pts and 10 assists. 24 pts and 16 rebounds for Horace Grant. 28 for Tom Chambers in the loss, A double/double for Kevin Johnson, playing on one leg throughout the series.
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)
1980 Boston Celtics d. Seattle SuperSonics (4-1) MVP Larry Bird (PF, 23)
1981 Boston Celtics d. Kansas City Kings (4-0) MVP Larry Bird (PF, 24)
1982 Boston Celtics d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) MVP Larry Bird (PF, 25)
1983 Philadelphia 76ers d.LA Lakers(4-3) MVP Moses Malone C 27/Julius Erving(SF 32)
1984 Los Angeles Lakers d. Milwaukee Bucks (4-3) MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar (C, 36)
1985 Los Angeles Lakers d. Philadelphia 76ers (4-2) MVP Magic Johnson (PG, 25)
1986 Boston Celtics d. Houston Rockets (4-1) MVP Larry Bird (SF, 29)
1987 Boston Celtics d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) MVP Kevin McHale (PF, 29)
1988 Boston Celtics d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-1) MVP Larry Bird (SF, 31)
1989 Detroit Pistons d. Los Angeles Lakers (4-2) MVP Isiah Thomas (PG, 27)
1980s Playoffs All NBA
1st Team
C Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lakers)
PF Kevin McHale (Celtics)
SF Larry Bird (Celtics)- Playoff Player of the Decade
PG Magic Johnson (Lakers)
SG Sidney Moncrief (Bucks)
2nd Team
C Robert Parish (Celtics)
PF Marques Johnson (Bucks)
SF Julius Erving (Sixers)
PG Dennis Johnson (Celtics)
SG Byron Scott (Lakers)
1990 Chicago Bulls d. Phoenix Suns (4-3) MVP Michael Jordan (SG, 26)
