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Actual Result: Shaq/Kobe take their first title, the Lakers beat the Pacers 4-2.
MVP: Shaquille O'Neal
East Semis: Pacers d. Sixers (4-2)
Knicks d. Heat (4-3)
West Semis: Lakers d. Suns (4-1)
Blazers d. Jazz (4-1)
Simulation: The Indiana Pacers won the title in '94, '98, '99 and are back in the East Semis; its a rematch from last years Semis, the Pacers facing a Knicks franchise that has never won the NBA Championship. In the West, the Blazers are the defending conference champions and return to the West Semis, they are also looking for their first ever NBA Title and they face the Lakers, the most dominant franchise in NBA history, this is the longest stretch ever without a Laker title, their last win was '85.
East Finals: Indiana Pacers (56-26) v. New York Knicks (50-32)
West Finals: LA Lakers (67-15) v. Portland Trail Blazers (59-23)
East Finals Game 1 (Ind) Pacers 110 Knicks 79
Dale Davis goes 20 and 10 and the Pacers blow the Knicks out in game 1. 15 assists for Mark Jackson against his former team. Latrell Sprewell scores 21 and Patrick Ewing double/doubles in the loss.
East Finals Game 2 (Ind) Pacers 103 Knicks 91
34 year old Reggie Miller scores 27, Dale Davis has 20 rebounds and the Pacers are 2 wins from returning to the NBA Finals. Sprewell scores 22 for the Knicks.
East Finals Game 3 (NY) Pacers 118 Knicks 84
In NBA history only the Lakers and Celtics have had threepeats, the Pacers are about to head back to the NBA Finals with a chance to win their third straight title. Dale Davis appears on his way to a East Finals MVP, he goes 22 and 14. Rik Smits and Reggie Miller both score 21. Allan Houston scores 27, Latrell Sprewell 25 in the defeat.
East Finals Game 4 (NY) Pacers 109 Knicks 90
A 4 game sweep, the Pacers win their 3rd consecutive East Title, Reggie Miller scores 31 in the clincher. Another Dale Davis double/double and he does take the series MVP. 25 for Sprewell in the loss.
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 95 Blazers 86
The Lakers last Finals appearance was 1989, they are 3 away from returning after taking game 1. Shaq goes 25 and 18. Steve Smith scores 20 in the loss, a double/double for Scottie Pippen
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 99 Blazers 90
The Lakers take both home games to open the series. Shaq has a dominant game, 36 and 12, Kobe adds 20. Scottie Pippen won 4 titles with Phil Jackson and the Bulls, he double/doubles on the opposite side from Phil in the loss.
West Finals Game 3 (Port) Blazers 95 Lakers 92
The Blazers win game 3 and move a game from leveling the series. LA led by 16 through 3 quarters but the Blazers rally to stay in the series. Steve Smith scores 28 for Portland. Double/double for Arvydas Sabonis and Rasheed Wallace. Shaq is 30 and 15 in the loss. Kobe scores 22.
West Finals Game 4 (Port) Blazers 98 Lakers 96
Rasheed Wallace jump shot in the paint over the outstretched Shaq at the buzzer evens the series. Wallace goes 20 and 11, Damon Stoudamire scores 24. Shaq goes 33 and 14. 25 and 11 for Kobe
West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 115 Blazers 107
The home team has won every game in the series, Shaq is undeniable, 41 points and 11 boards. Kobe adds 21. Pippen really steps into the wayback machine with 25 and 10. Sabonis double/double
West Finals Game 6 (Portl) Blazers 100 Lakers 91
We will go to a game 7 back in Los Angeles, winner heads to the NBA Finals. 35 year old Arvydas Sabonis plays 46 minutes, goes 26 and 15. Rasheed and Scottie both double/double. 31 and 15 for Shaq in the loss, he will be the series MVP regardless of result. Kobe is held to 3 points on 1 of 7 shooting.
West Finals Game 7 (LA) Lakers 103 Blazers 84
For the first time since 1989, the Los Angeles Lakers are Western Conference Champions. Shaq goes 31 and 14 in the closeout, he is the series MVP, Glen Rice scores 20. Double/double for Sabonis
NBA FINALS: LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. INDIANA PACERS
The Indiana Pacers are 2 time defending champions and look for their 4th title in 7 seasons. Larry Bird seeks his 9th NBA title, 6 as a player, then two as the head coach of the Pacers. Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Dale Davis and Derrick McKey have been together for all 3 Pacers NBA Championship teams, McKey seeks his 5th NBA Championship ring.
Phil Jackson won 4 titles as HC of the Bulls and he brings the Lakers back to their first NBA Finals since 1989.
Lakers Finals History:
1949 d Capitols
1950 d. Nationals
1953 L Celtics
1954 d Nationals
1955 d Celtics
1959 L Nationals
1962 d Celtics
1963 L Royals
1965 L Sixers
1966 d Celtics
1968 d. Celtics
1969 d. Knicks
1970 d. Knicks
1972 d. Celtics
1973 d. Celtics
1982 L Lakers
1983 L Sixers
1984 d. Bucks
1985 d.Sixers
1987 L. Celtics
1988 L. Celtics
1989 L. Pistons
12 Time NBA Champions
PACERS
HC-Larry Bird
C Rik Smits (33)
PF-Dale Davis (30) All Star
F-Jalen Rose (27)
PG-Mark Jackson (34)
SG-Reggie Miller (34) All Star
F - Austin Croshere (24)
F - Sam Perkins (38)
F-Derrick McKey (33)
G-Travis Best (27)
LAKERS
HC-Phil Jackson
C Shaquille O Neal (27)
PF AC Green (36)
SF Glen Rice (32)
PG Ron Harper (36)
SG Kobe Bryant (21)
F Robert Horry (29)
F Rick Fox (30)
G Derek Fisher (25)
G Brian Shaw (33)
NBA FINALS GAME 1 (LA) PACERS 102 LAKERS 91
The 2 time defending champion Pacers go into LA and take game 1 from the 67 game winning Lakers. 5 Pacers in double figures in the balanced attack, Rik Smits leading with 18. Shaq goes 26 and 14 in the loss.
NBA FINALS GAME 2 (LA) LAKERS 107 PACERS 96
Shaq evens the series at 1, 38 pts and 14 rebounds. Ron Harper double/double in the win. Reggie Miller hits for 25 in the defeat. Dale Davis double/double. Kobe played just 14 minutes and left with injury
NBA FINALS GAME 3 (Ind) LAKERS 91 PACERS 91
The Lakers take game 3 on the road and are 2 wins away from the 13th championship in franchise history. Shaquille O Neal had an all time dominant game, 37 pts and 25 boards, he has taken over this series as Kobe missed the game with injury. Jalen Rose leads for the Pacers with 21.
NBA FINALS GAME 4 (Ind) LAKERS 106 PACERS 103
Shaq broke a tie with a minute left with an 8 footer and LA is 1 win away. 36 points and 17 rebounds for O'Neal. Kobe returns from injury with 23. Glen Rice double/double. Jalen Rose, Dale Davis, Austin Croshere all double/double in the loss.
NBA FINALS GAME 5 (Ind) PACERS 89 LAKERS 79
The Pacers force a return to LA with a game 5 win. Reggie Miller leads for Indiana with 17. Kobe has 24, Shaq double/double.
NBA FINALS GAME 6 (LA) LAKERS 105 PACERS 89
The Los Angeles Lakers are World Champions, the 13th title in Laker history. 38 pts and 15 rebounds for Shaquille O'Neal, the Finals MVP. 26 and 11 for Kobe, 24 for Jalen Rose in the loss. Phil Jackson wins his 5th NBA Title. Jerry West wins - hell, this is Jerry West's 10th NBA Championship.
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 (Celtics)
G Bill Sharman (Celtics)
2nd Team
C Bill Russell (Celtics)
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)
1991 Chicago Bulls d. Portland Trail Blazers (4-1) MVP Michael Jordan (SG, 27)
1992 Cleveland Cavaliers d. Portland Trail Blazers (4-2) MVP Mark Price (PG, 27)
1993 Seattle Super Sonics d. Chicago Bulls (4-2) MVP Shawn Kemp (PF, 23)
1994 Indiana Pacers d. Houston Rockets (4-1) MVP Reggie Miller (SG, 28)
1995 Houston Rockets d. Indiana Pacers (4-0) MVP Hakeem Olajuwon (C, 32)
1996 Chicago Bulls d. Seattle Super Sonics (4-1) MVP Michael Jordan (SG, 32)
1997 Utah Jazz d. Chicago Bulls (4-1) MVP Karl Malone (PF, 33)
1998 Indiana Pacers d. Utah Jazz (4-2) MVP Reggie Miller (SG, 32)
1999 Indiana Pacers d. Portland Trail Blazers (4-1) MVP Rik Smits C, 32)
1990s Playoff All NBA
1st Team
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets)
PF Karl Malone (Jazz)
SF Scottie Pippen (Bulls)
G Michael Jordan (Bulls) - Playoff Player of the Decade
G Reggie Miller (Pacers)
2nd Team
C Rik Smits (Jazz)
PF Shawn Kemp (Sonics)
SF Chris Mullin (Pacers)
G Mark Price (Cavs)
G Clyde Drexler (Blazers)
2000 Los Angeles Lakers d. Indiana Pacers (4-2) MVP Shaquille O'Neal C, 27)
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