jim jividen

Simulated 1982 NBA Finals

Friday, May 8, 2026

1981

Actual result: the Lakers win their second title in three years, beating the Sixers; Magic and Bird trade off titles in their three NBA seasons.

MVP: Moses Malone

East Semis: Celtics d. Bullets 4-1

Sixers d. Bucks 4-2

West Semis: Lakers d. Suns 4-0

Spurs d. Sonics 4-1

Simulation: The Celtics have won back to back titles, the "real" NBA Title has been in the East Finals the last two years, Boston beating Philly both times - and sure enough, round 3 between the teams with the two best records is coming up in this year's Eastern Conference Finals. After a year away, the Lakers are back in the West Finals, they'll take on Ice Gervin's Spurs. They started in the ABA in Dallas in '68, moving to San Antonio in '74, joined the NBA in '77 (losing to the Celtics in the East playoffs). The Spurs have made the playoffs in every season since the move to the NBA and here they are in the West Finals.

East Finals (May) Boston Celtics (63-19) v. Philadelphia 76ers (58-24)

West Finals (May) Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) v. San Antonio Spurs (48-34)

East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 116 Sixers 99

The Celtics attempt to take out the Sixers in the East Finals for the 3rd straight year opens with an easy home win. 28 points and 13 rebounds for Larry Bird, back to back MVP of those East Finals. Double digit scoring for 7 Celtics. The Sixers leading scorer was Bobby Jones, with 17 off the bench. Julius Erving held to 13 points on 6 of 17 from the floor.

East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Celtics 118 Sixers 100

Boston cruises in game 2 and the series heads to Philly with the Sixers down 2-0. The Chief leads the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Bird has his first conference finals triple double, 12 pts, 16 rebounds, 10 assists. 22 points for Tiny Archibald. 25 pts, 11 rebounds for the Doctor in the defeat.

East Finals Game 3 (Philly) Sixers 115 Celtics 111

Philly holds on at home to take their first game. The Doctor scores 31, the Sixers trailed by as many as 11 in the 4th, not taking their first lead until 2 minutes to play, Caldwell Jones blocks Bird with 12 seconds left on an attempted game tying shot. Jones double/double. Cedric Maxwell scores 23 in the loss, 20 pts/15 rebounds for Bird.

East Finals Game 4 (Philly) Sixers 118 Celtics 89

Tiny Archibald is out with injury and it may have tipped this series; the Sixers blow the Celtics out, evening the series at 2. Darryl Dawkins comes off the bench and scores 23 with 12 rebounds in 26 minutes. 10 of 13 from the floor. 22 and 13 for Erving, Andrey Toney scores 21. 20 and 10 for Bird in the loss. Double/double for Parish.

East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Sixers 135 Celtics 126

The difference between the teams is slight, Boston won games 1 and 2, lost Archibald to injury very early in game 3 and Philly has controlled ever since, winning game 5 on the road. Erving scores 24, 23 for Toney. 31 points and 14 rebounds for Bird in the losing effort, 22 for Gerald Henderson, filling in for Archibald.

East Finals Game 6 (Philly) Celtics 115 Sixers 97

For the second straight year, the Eastern Finals will go 7 games. Robert Parish scores 24, 12 rebounds to pace the Celts to the road win. Danny Ainge comes off the bench for 21, double/double for Bird. The Doctor goes for 30 in the loss.

One more time, the two greatest words in all of sports - Game Seven.

East Finals Game 7 (Boston) Celtics 122 Sixers 112

For the third consecutive year the Celtics take out the Sixers in the East Finals and they will head back to the NBA Finals with an opportunity for the threepeat. Robert Parish scored 42 in game 4 of last year's NBA Finals and he continued that domination in this year's playoffs, he's the East Finals MVP, 28 pts, 19 rebounds. 23 for Danny Ainge, double/double for Bird and Kevin McHale. 32 for Julius Erving and once again, the Sixers fall just short; fair to say they have been the second best team in the league each of the past 3 years.

West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 141 Spurs 105

I'm not going to say this series is over, it's one game, despite it being a 36 point margin, however, hard not to look forward to Lakers/Celtics, Magic/Bird, it would, as Gorilla Monsoon said, be a happening. Kareem scores 27, 14 rebounds to lead the way. 26 for Jamaal Wilkes, 24 for Michael Cooper off the bench. 22 points and 12 assists for Norm Nixon and a double/double for Magic. Ice Gervin scored 23, Mike Mitchell 22 in the loss

West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 125 Spurs 94

Never in doubt, the Lakers overwhelm San Antonio. 23 points and 16 rebounds for Magic, 20 for Kareem and a double/double for Norm Nixon. 29 for George Gervin in the defeat.

West Finals Game 3 (SA) Lakers 127 Spurs 105

Get ready to rev up the bus - we're about to see the 8th NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Lakers. Not yet though, LA still has 1 win to go, Bob McAdoo is the Lakers leading scorer with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Both Magic and Kareem double/double. 27 for Gervin and a double/double for Dave Corzine in the defeat.

West Finals Game 4 (SA) Lakers 106 Spurs 103

The 11x champion Lakers return to the Finals for the first time in 9 years. Kareem Abdul Jabbar scores 30 in this closeout game and is named West Finals MVP. Double/double for both Nixon and Magic. 22 points and 20 rebounds for Mike Mitchell, 20 and 12 for Mark Olberding.

NBA FINALS (May) BOSTON CELTICS v. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The Lakers are the most storied franchise in NBA history, sporting 11 titles; they've faced the Celtics in 7 NBA Finals and have won the last 6.

1953: Celtics 4-3

1955: Lakers 4-3

1962: Lakers 4-2

1966: Lakers 4-3

1968: Lakers 4-2

1972: Lakers 4-3

1973: Lakers 4-1

The rivalry renews; this time Boston comes in riding back to back championships, looking to become the only franchise, other than the Lakers, to win 3 straight. They do so with 2 time Finals MVP Larry Bird; in 1979, he and Magic Johnson met in what will almost certainly forever be the highest rated NCAA Finals game of all time. Magic won that game - and once again they are on opposite sides of the floor.

It's Celtics v. Lakers, it could hardly be a bigger, most eagerly anticipated series.

Boston is largely the same group that has won the past two years, Parish (4th in MVP) Bird (2nd in MVP) Maxwell on the front line, McHale now getting nearly as much run as Cornbread. Archibald/ML Carr is the backcourt; Tiny (once again, an All Star) suffered a dislocated shoulder in the East Finals, we will go, but in partial minutes, in this series. Gerald Henderson absorbs most of Tiny's minutes; Danny Ainge/Rick Robey/Chris Ford round out the rotation.

Pat Riley took over the head job in LA early this season; in the middle is the captain, Kareem is 34, finals MVP with the Bucks in '71, he's been a Laker since '76 and is making his first Finals appearance in 11 years. Joining him on the front line are 28 year old Jamaal Wilkes and 23 year old Kurt Rambis; Wilkes was Rookie of the Year with the Warriors in '75 and has been a Laker since '78. The PF during most of the regular season was Mitch Kupchak, but he's lost with injury in the playoffs, the rookie Rambis draws the starting assignment but the lions share of those minutes go to 30 year old Bob McAdoo, who is with his 6th NBA team including a short 1979 run with the Celtics. McAdoo was NBA MVP in '75 as a Buffalo Brave. The backcourt is 26 year old Norm Nixon and 22 year old Magic Johnson; both All Stars this year. Short bench for the Lakers, 25 year old Michael Cooper absorbs a lot of minutes and essentially thats the end of the playoff rotation.

CELTICS

HC Bill Fitch

C Robert Parish (28)-4th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA

PF Larry Bird (25)-2nd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

SF Cedric Maxwell (26)

PG Tiny Archibald (33)-All Star

SG ML Carr (31)

LAKERS

HC Pat Riley

C Kareem Abdul Jabbar (34) All Star

PF Kurt Rambis (23)

SF Jamaal Wilkes (28)

PG Norm Nixon (26) All Star

SG Magic Johnson (22) 2nd Team All NBA

SG Michael Cooper (25) 1st Team All Defense

NBA FINALS GAME 1 (Boston) Celtics 120 Lakers 118

Game 1 lives up to expectations. With 3 left Robert Parish gave the Celtics a 6 point lead with a dunk - Kareem then scored 3 straight buckets to the score with 90 seconds left. A Norm Nixon foul line jumper with 70 seconds left gave the Lakers their first lead of the qtr. Danny Ainge hit two FT to tie the score, the Lakers came up empty on their final trip, missing 3 shots on goal - the Celtics had the final possession, Bird misses from deep - but it's the Chief with the putback at the buzzer to give the Celtics the win. 36 points, 11 rebounds for Parish, 32 points, 18 rebounds for Bird. Double/double for Maxwell. Magic's first NBA Finals game is a triple double, 28 pts, 19 rebounds, 10 assists. Nixon scores 22, Silk Wilkes and Kareem both go for 21.

NBA FINALS GAME 2 (Boston) Celtics 123 Lakers 93

The Celtics win by 30 and are 2 games away from the threepeat. 29 points and 11 rebounds for Larry Bird to lead the Celts. 20 and 15 for Parish. Kareem is 21 and 10 in the loss, double/double for Nixon.

NBA FINALS GAME 3 (LA) Lakers 123 Celtics 105

The Lakers take game 3 at home; Norm Nixon scores 31 to pace LA. 21 apiece for Wilkes and Kareem and a double/double for Magic, 26 and 16 for the Chief in the loss, Bird scores 22.

NBA FINALS GAME 4 (LA) Celtics 135 Lakers 107

The Celtics whip the Lakers in game 4 and they will head back to Boston with a 3 games to 1 lead. Larry Bird has a triple double of his own, 35 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists. Robert Parish is at the top of his game, 31 points, 20 rebounds. Kareem goes for 26 and 12. 24 points/16 assists for Magic.

NBA FINALS GAME 5 (Boston) Lakers 124 Celtics 114

A win here might have bee one of the biggest of Red Auerbach's life, to close out the Lakers at home, winning their 3rd straight title - the Celtics first Finals win over the Lakers since '53...but it didnt happen, the Lakers win game 5 and we head back to LA. Kareem scores 27, going 10 for 14 from the field. 24 and 11 for Jamaal Wilkes and Magic has his second triple double of the series, 20 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists. Bob McAdoo scores 21 off the bench. The best player in the series has been Robert Parish, 31 points, 11 rebounds. 23 and 11 for Bird

NBA FINALS GAME 6 (LA) Lakers 125 Celtics 122 (OT)

Why not? Lets go 7 games. Neither team led by more than 3 in the 4th quarter, it took a Bird game tying triple with under ten seconds left in regulation to force OT. Boston scored the first 5 in OT, with 2 left the Lakers has taken the lead on a Wilkes 16 footer. Boston doesnt score in the final 3 minutes, Bird missing 2 potentially game tying triples and the Lakers had forced game 7. Jamaal Wilkes led the Lakers with 27. Magic Johnson had his third triple double of the series, 26 pts, 16 rebounds, 13 assists. Kareem also scored 26. Gerald Henderson led the Celtics in scoring with 22, Bird went 20 and 10 and Parish double/doubled.

For the 5th Time in NBA History - a Lakers/Celtics Finals is going to game 7. Lets go to the Boston Garden.

NBA FINALS GAME 7 (Boston) Celtics 125 Lakers 114

The Boston Celtics threepeat, beating the Lakers in the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 3 decades, its Boston's 8th NBA Championship, second only to the Lakers 11. Larry Bird triple doubles in the closeout, 21 points, 16 assists, 13 rebounds, he wins the Finals MVP for an unprecedented 3rd straight year. Tiny Archibald, playing through his dislocated shoulder, scores 20 in 28 minutes, going 8 of 11 from the floor in an all time gut check game. In the loss, Magic triple doubled for the 4th time in the series (Bird had 3, the two headliners did not disappoint; this was every drop the series the NBA wanted/needed at this point in its history, really ushering the league into the modern TV era) 21 pts, 16 rebounds, 15 assists. 26 for Kareem. Larry Bird has won the NBA Finals MVP in the first 3 seasons of his career. Welcome to the 1980s.

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)

Simulated 1981 NBA Finals

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

1980

Actual Result: This is the year Bird's Celtics win their first NBA Title, beating the Rockets in 6.

MVP: Julius Erving

East Semis: Celtics d. Bulls 4-0

Sixers d. Bucks 4-3

West Semis: Rockets d. Spurs 4-3

Kings d. Suns 4-3

Simulation: Boston's back, a year after beating the Sixers in the East Finals on their way to the 6th NBA Title in franchise history, they are tied with Philly for the best record in the league and the two will once again square off in the East Finals. The West Finals look different, The Rockets swapped conferences, went 40-42, knocked off the Lakers/Spurs in the first two rounds to reach the conference finals for the first time. The Rockets were a San Diego expansion team in '68, they moved to Houston in '72, they won their first playoff series in '75 (Knicks), won the Central division in '77, got swept by the Celtics in last years East Semis, and now in the West, will face the Kansas City Kings for the right to go to the NBA Championship. The Rochester Royals won back to back titles in '51 and '52, in '58 they moved to Cincinnati and 5 years later Oscar Robertson led them to the franchises 3rd NBA Title. A decade later, they moved to Kansas City, coached by Bob Cousy. The Kansas City Kings made the playoffs in '75, won the Midwest Division in '79, and lost in the first round to Phoenix last year. This year, they knocked off the Blazers and Suns and find themselves 4 wins away from the NBA Finals.

East Finals: (Apr) Boston Celtics (62-20) v. Philadelphia 76ers (62-20)

West Finals (Apr) Houston Rockets (40-42) v. Kansas City Kings (40-42)

East Finals Gm 1 (Boston) Celtics 116 Sixers 111

These two teams have won 3 of the past 4 NBA Championships and the Celtics take game 1 in '81. Larry Bird was last years Finals MVP and he leads the way with 24 pts and 15 rebounds. The big change from last season is that Dave Cowens has been replaced with Robert Parish; the Chief scored 23 with 15 boards. The Boston Stranger, Andrew Toney, came off the bench and scored 25. Double/doubles for Darryl Dawkins and Bobby Jones.

East Finals Gm 2 (Boston) Sixers 125 Celtics 110

The Sixers will head home having squared the series at 1. Bobby Jones scores 23 bench points in 26 minutes, adding 14 rebounds to pace the Sixers. Kevin McHale led the way with 20 off the Boston bench. Double/double for Larry Bird.

East Finals Gm 3 (Philly) Sixers 107 Celtics 96

The Sixers take a 2-1 lead. 29 points/13 rebounds for the Doctor. 22 for Caldwell Jones. 27 and 15 for Bird, Double/double for Tiny Archibald and Rick Robey.

East Finals Gm 4 (Philly) Celtics 110 Sixers 105 (OT)

All tied at 2, we go to the Boston Garden for Game 5. The Sixers led by as many a 14 in the 4th, with 90 seconds left, Boston took their first lead on a short Maxwell jumper. The Celtics hit all their FT in the final minute, leading by 3 when Lionel Hollins hit a 40 footer to send the game into OT, probably the most significant 3 pointer ever made to that date. The Celtics led through the entirety of the extra period to even the series at 2 games apiece. 24 points for the Chief led the way. 21 and 17 for Bird, double/double for Maxwell. Erving went 26/15 in the loss, double/double for Caldwell Jones

East Finals Gm 5 (Boston) Sixers 114 Celtics 98

Philly takes pivotal game 5 and will head home, one win from sending the defending champs home and returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since their back to back title wins of '77-'78. 23 for both Julius Erving and Bobby Jones. Bird with 20 in the defeat.

East Finals Game 6 (Philly) Celtics 113 Sixers 109 (OT)

The Celtics take their second OT game on the road in the series and force game 7. The Sixers led by as many as ten in the 4th, Boston not tying the score until a Bird foul line jumper with 9 seconds left in regulation. Rick Robey, in for a fouled out Parish, blocks Erving's shot as regulation ends. Erving's the only Sixer who scores in OT, but when Chris Ford hits a triple with a minute to play, it puts Boston up for good. 23 and 16 for Bird, he plays 50 minutes. Parish double/double and Robey scored 19 off the bench. 30 for Erving in the loss.

The two greatest words in all of sports. Game. Seven.

East Finals Game 7 (Boston) Celtics 100 Sixers 82

The Boston defense cranks it up, holding Philly to 82 and its the Celtics who will return to the NBA Finals. 20 pts for the Chief, a double/double for Bird, who once again is the East Finals MVP. Just 16 for Erving in leading the Sixers in scoring.

West Finals Game 1 (KC) Rockets 104 Kings 87

28 points and 19 rebounds for Moses Malone. 20 and 12 for Robert Reid. The real world result was a Celtics/Rockets series and Houston is 3 games from making that happen. 17 from Scott Wedman leads the way for the Kings.

West Finals Game 2 (KC) Kings 113 Rockets 107

Dont write the Kings epitaph quite yet, they even the series at 1. 28 points and 10 assists for Phil Ford; 22 for Wedman, 21 points and 13 boards for Reggie King. Moses isnt going to be stopped in this series, 29 points, 19 rebounds.

West Finals Game 3 (Hou) Rockets 109 Kings 100 (OT)

Moses scores 11 in OT and the Rockets go up 2-1. It's the top playoff performance of the 80s so far, 43 points, 24 rebounds. Double/double for Billy Paultz and Robert Reid. 23 and 17 for Sam Lacey in the loss. Reggie King double/double.

West Finals Game 4 (Hou) Kings 109 Rockets 99

Kansas City has made this a real series, taking game 4 in Houston, we will head back to Kansas City for game 5. Otis Birdsong is playing just a little bit in the series, just 18 minutes in this one, but he scored 20 to lead the way for the Kings. Double/double for Ernie Grunfeld and Sam Lacey. Moses again did Moses things, 31 and 17 in the loss.

West Finals Game 5 (KC) Kings 118 Rockets 109 (OT)

The Kansas City Kings are a game away from a very unlikely Western Conference Title. The Rockets are held to just 2 points in OT. 22 for Reggie King, 21 and 12 assists for Phil Ford, double/double for Sam Lacey. Moses does score 43 with 19 boards, but has 13 turnovers. Robert Reid and Tom Henderson double/double.

West Finals Game 6 (Hou) Kings 111 Rockets 101

The Kings! The Kansas City Kings were NBA Champions as the Cincinnati Royals in 1963 - and here we are, nearly 2 decades later - they head back to the NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics. 22 for Scott Wedman, 20 off the bench for Otis Birdsong, double/doubles for Reggie King and for Phil Ford. Moses is the obvious MVP even with the loss, 30 pts and 25 rebounds in this one. 22 for Calvin Murphy.

NBA FINALS (May) BOSTON CELTICS v. KANSAS CITY KINGS

On paper, one of the biggest mismatches in finals history, the Celtics having a 22 game regular season advantage on the Kings. The defending champion Celtics come in searching for their 7th NBA title, and go back to back for the first time since the late 50s. Boston won the Atlantic, swept the Bulls in the East semi and then beat the Sixers in the 7 game series played above. 24 year old Larry Bird was last year's Finals MVP and was second in the MVP race this year, leading the league in defensive win shares. Cedric Maxwell is now 25, and joining them on the front line this year is 27 year old Robert Parish, in his first Boston season after 4 with Golden St. 23 year old rookie Kevin McHale comes off the bench, he was 4th in the Rookie of the Year race. The backcourt from last year's title team remains, 32 year old Tiny Archibald, who was second team All NBA, and 32 year old Chris Ford. ML Carr, Rick Robey, Gerald Henderson round out the rotation.

Kansas City head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons is in his 4th head coaching job since 1971, the Kings are led by 2nd Team All NBA Otis Birdsong, a 25 year old guard - Birdsong's minutes were limited in the West Finals, but he is a full go in this series. 24 year old Phil Ford is next to him in the backcourt, he was MVP of the West Finals. On the front line, 32 year old Sam Lacey, 23 year old Reggie King, and 28 year old Scott Wedman, 2 years from now, Wedman will head to Boston where he finishes his career. 34 year old Jo Jo White came to the Kings for 13 games this season to retire (he went to Kansas) but not playing in this series.

CELTICS

HC Bill Fitch

C Robert Parish (27)-All Star

PF Larry Bird (24)-2nd MVP, 1stTeam All NBA

SF Cedric Maxwell (25)

PG Tiny Archibald (32)- 2nd Team All NBA

SG Chris Ford (32)

PF Kevin McHale (23) 4th ROY

KINGS

HC Cottom Fitzsimmons

C Sam Lacey (32)

PF Reggie King (23)

SF Scott Wedman (28)

PG Phil Ford (24)

SG Otis Birdsong (25) - 2nd team All NBA

NBA FINALS GAME 1 (Boston) Celtics 107 Kings 105

8 minutes left, the Kings led by 12 - 8 minutes from stealing game 1 in the Boston Garden and shocking the sports world. Bird with 3 the hard way at 7:30; McHale from the post at 7. Parish hits 2 FT at 6:15, that's 7 straight to cut it to 5, 6 minutes left. A minute later, the deficit is 2. With 4 left, Bird's hit twice and the Celtics take the lead. 2 minutes left - Celtics by 1 after a Sam Lacey 6 footer. Parish misses the other way - Lacey responds with a dunk and the Kings lead by a point. Parish and Birdsong exchange baskets, Kings by 1, Celtics ball, under a minute to play. Bird hits a 16 footer with 30 seconds left. Celtics by 1. Birdsong misses with 12 seconds left, Chris Ford gets the ball, is fouled, hits 1 to give the Celtics a 2 point lead, the Kings get the ball to Lacey in the paint, McHale blocks his shot and the Celtics survive. 29 point/12 rebounds for Parish. 28 and 13 for Bird. Birdsong scores 20 in the loss; double/double for Lacey and Reggie King.

NBA FINALS GAME 2 (Boston) Celtics 106 Kings 101

The Kings again keep this one close, but the Celts take both at home. 20 points, 16 rebounds for Larry Bird. Scott Wedman scored 22 in the loss, Otis Birdsong had 20, Double/double for Phil Ford and Reggie King.

NBA FINALS GAME 3 (KC) Celtics 111 Kings 97

Boston goes up 3-0, moving within a game of their 7th NBA Title. Rick Robey scores 15 off the bench to lead the way; 7 in double figures for the Celtics in their balanced attack. Double/double for Bird. 24 for Phil Ford, 20 more for Birdsong, and a double/double for Reggie King in the loss.

NBA FINALS GAME 4 (KC) Celtics 127 Kings 123

The Boston Celtics go back to back, a year after beating the Sonics in 5 games they sweep the Kings, it's the 7th NBA Championship in franchise history, second only to the Lakers 11. Game 4 belonged to the Chief, 42 points and 14 rebounds in the closeout. Larry Bird goes 22 and 12 and once again is the Finals MVP, only Wilt previously was named back to back Finals MVP. 20 and 10 for Cornbread Maxwell. 28/12 for Reggie King in the loss, 24 for Birdsong, 21 for Wedman.