Actual Result: Magic, Kareem and the Lakers usher the sport into the 1980s by beating the Sixers in 6.
MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar
East Semis: Celtics d. Rockets 4-0
Sixers d. Hawks 4-1
West Semis: Lakers d. Suns 4-1
Sonics d. Bucks 4-3
Simulation: The defending champion Sonics reach the West Finals, they face the dominant team in NBA history, the 11x champion Lakers. The Celtics have won 5 titles, they are in the East Finals, facing the Sixers who went back to back in '77-78.
East Finals (April): Boston Celtics (61-21) v. Philadelphia 76ers (59-23)
West Finals (April): Los Angeles Lakers (60-22) v. Seattle SuperSonics (56-26)
East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 114 Sixers 106
Larry Bird's first conference final game couldn't have gone much better, 44 pts/21 rebounds; he was a perfect 15/15 from the stripe. Double/double for Dave Cowens. 28 pts/12 rebounds for the Doctor in the loss.
East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Celtics 107 Sixers 98
The Celtics take the first two at home. Bird follows up his huge game one with 35 pts/13 rebounds on 15-21 from the floor. Cowens was an assist from a triple double and Cedric Maxwell chipped in a double/double. Mo Cheeks paced the losing Sixers with 23. Lionel Hollins had 20.
East Finals Game 3 (Philly) Celtics 110 Sixers 106
Boston moves within a game of its first NBA Finals since winning it all in '74. 34 pts/22 rebounds for a dominant Larry Bird. Julius Erving scores 30, Caldwell Jones double/double and the Sixers are really up against it now.
East Finals Game 4 (Philly) Sixers 123 Celtics 113
We wont see a sweep, the Sixers send the series back to Boston. Erving leads the way for Philly with 26. Mo Cheeks scores 22 and Daryl Dawkins double/double. 24/11 for Bird and a Cowens double/double for the Celts.
East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 107 Sixers 106
Julius Erving misses a 23 footer at the buzzer and the Boston Celtics return to the NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell leads the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Larry Bird is the conference finals MVP, he, Cowens, and Tiny Archibald all double/double. In the defeat, Dawkins goes 24 and 10. 20 pts for Erving.
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 119 Sonics 110
We are 3 games from Magic and Bird facing off as rookies for the NBA Championship. Magic scored 22 to beat the defending champs in game 1; 9 years prior a 23 year old Kareem was Finals MVP for the Bucks, he had 20 pts and 12 boards. Double/double for Jack Sikma and Lonnie Shelton.
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Sonics 124 Lakers 106
Hold off on that Lakers/Celtics Finals, the Sonics split the first two in LA and now head home. Gus Williams went to USC; he shows off for his old home crows with 30 points. Downtown Freddie Brown scores 22 off the bench. 31 and 11 for Kareem, Spencer Haywood double/double.
West Finals Game 3 (Seattle) Sonics 115 Lakers 108
The defending champs take the 2-1 lead. Gus Williams again leads the Sonics with 28. 20 for John Johnson and a double/double for Jack Sikma. 26 for Kareem in the loss, 20 pts and 12 boards for Magic, 24 for Jamaal Wilkes.
West Finals Game 4 (Seattle) Sonics 114 Lakers 110
Magic scored 5 points in the final 15 seconds but the Lakers fall short and now head home trailing 3-1. 23 for last years Finals MVP Dennis Johnson; 21 for Williams, a double/double for Jack Sikma and Lonnie Shelton. Huge game 4 for Kareem in the loss, 31 pts/17 rebounds. 21 and 12 for Magic.
West Finals Game 5 (LA) Sonics 119 Lakers 98
Seattle repeats as West Champs and will head to the 1980 NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics. Gus Williams is West Finals MVP, scoring 22. Double/doubles for DJ and Lonnie Shelton. 32 and 10 for Kareem in the loss.
NBA FINALS (May) BOSTON CELTICS v. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
Both real world conference final results are flipped here, allowing the defending Champion Sonics a chance to go back to back, as the Sixers did the two seasons prior. Lenny Wilkens remains the HC, he'll be in Seattle until the middle of the decade. The full starting five and critical backups also all return, this is the same group who beat the Bullets in 7 games last season. 25 year old guard Dennis Johnson won the 1979 Finals MVP and continued that play into the '80 regular season, finishing 5th in the MVP race. He'll be dealt to Phoenix in a big time deal this offseason. Next to him in the backcourt is 26 year old Gus Williams, who was just named West Finals MVP in the 5 game win over the Lakers; like DJ, he was second team all NBA this year. Williams sits out all next year with a contract dispute; so this is the final series these two play together. 24 year old center Jack Sikma was an All Star this year; 32 year old John Johnson and 24 year old Lonnie Shelton round out the front court. 31 year old Downtown Freddie Brown comes off the bench; the Sonics took him 6th overall in '71 (the best player from that draft was Artis Gilmore, picked 117th). 36 year old Paul Silas is in his final NBA season, he played with the Celtics the last time they won the NBA Finals.
Celtics NBA Finals History:
1953: NBA Champs (Lakers)
1955: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1957: NBA Champs (Hawks)
1958: NBA Champs (Hawks)
1960: Lost Finals (Hawks)
1961: NBA Champs (Hawks)
1962: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1966: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1968: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1972: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1973: Lost Finals (Lakers)
1974 NBA Champs (Bulls)
1976: Lost Finals (Suns)
The Celtics were the best team in basketball in the regular season, this is Bill Fitch's first season as the Celtics HC, he had the same position with the Cavs throughout the 70s. 23 year old Larry Bird was Rookie of the Year, he's on the same frontline as Dave Cowens, now 31, part of that last Celtics championship team in '74. 24 year old Cedric Maxwell fills out the frontcourt, he led the league in FG%. Bird was 4th in the MVP race, tied for 5th (with future Celtic Dennis Johnson) is 31 year old Tiny Archibald. 31 year old Chris Ford rounds out the starting lineup, seeing time off the bench is 32 year old Pistol Pete Maravich, in his final season.
CELTICS
HC-Bill Fitch
C Dave Cowens (31)- All Star
F Larry Bird (23)- Rookie of the Year, 4th MVP, All NBA, All Star
F Cedric Maxwell (24)
G Tiny Archibald (31) - 5th MVP, All Star
G Chris Ford (31)
SONICS
HC-Lenny Wilkens
C Jack Sikma (24) All Star
F Lonnie Shelton (24)
F John Johnson (32)
G Gus Williams (26) 2nd Team All NBA
G Dennis Johnson (25) 5th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA, All Star, All Defense
NBA FINALS GAME 1 (Boston) Celtics 123 Sonics 113
Larry Bird was Rookie of the Year, East Finals MVP, and he scores 32 with 15 boards in game 1 of the 1980 NBA Finals. 21 for Cornbread Maxwell, Dave Cowens was an assist away from a triple/double. Gus Williams pumped in 32 in the loss, 22 for Dennis Johnson and a double/double for Jack Sikma
NBA FINALS GAME 2 (Boston) Celtics 103 Sonics 87
Boston blows Seattle out, taking the first two at home as the series heads west. 23 and 19 for Bird and another double/double for Cowens. 22 for Williams, the Sonics held to 36% from the floor.
NBA FINALS GAME 3 (Seattle) Celtics 116 Sonics 108
Welcome to the 1980s, Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics are a game from becoming NBA Champions. 24 and 10 for Maxwell to lead Boston, Bird double/double. 26 for DJ, 20 for Williams in the defeat.
NBA FINALS GAME 4 (Seattle) Sonics 125 Celtics 100
The defending champs do not get swept, Gus Williams lights it up with 34, Jack Sikma goes 24 and 12. 19 apiece for Bird and Tiny Archibald.
NBA FINALS GAME 5 (Boston) Celtics 111 Sonics 106
The Boston Celtics win their 6th NBA Championship. Red lights the cigar again. 23 for Cedric Maxwell. Larry Bird is the Finals MVP, he and Tiny Archibald double/double. Gus Williams caps off a tremendous postseason with 30 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)
1980 Boston Celtics d. Seattle SuperSonics (4-1) MVP Larry Bird (PF, 23)
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