5. 1981 CEN DIV CHAMP MIL BUCKS v. 12. 1988 ATL DIV CHAMPS BOSTON CELTICS
Bucks: 60-22, 1st Cen Div, 2nd Off/3rd Def
Lost Sixers East Semis 4-3
#73 overall seed
Coach: Don Nelson
Starters
C Bob Lanier 32-St Bonaventure 14.3 PPG 19.7 PER 6.8 WS
F Mickey Johnson 28-Aurora 12.5 16.3 5.3
F Marques Johnson 24-UCLA 20.3 22 11.2
G Quinn Buckner 26-Indiana 13.3 15.1 5.4
G Sidney Moncrief 23-Arkansas 14 18 9.9
Rotation Reserves
C Pat Cummings 24-Cincinnati 8 15.2 2.7
F Len Elmore 28-Maryland 2.9 8.6 1.6
F Harvey Catchings 29-Hardin Simmons 4.2 10.4 3.1
G Brian Winters 28-S Carolina 11.6 12.5 3.5
G Junior Bridgeman 27-Louisville 16.8 17.1 6.7
Leaders Buckner 2nd Steals, 3rd Steals/Gm, 3rd Steal%
Catchings: 5th Blocks, 2nd Block %
Bridgeman: 5th FT%
Ma Johnson WS/48, 3rd +/-, 5th VORP, 5th Trip-Doub
Moncrief 5th VORP, 1st Off Rtng
Mi Johnson: 5th Trip-Doub
2nd in Offense, 3rd in Defense, the 1981 Bucks were super strong in the regular season but got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. 24 year old Marques Johnson's PER is over 20 with double digit WS.
Celtics: 57-25, 1st Atl Div, 1st Off/17th Def
d. Knicks East 1st Rnd 3-1
d. Hawks East Semis 4-3
Lost Pistons East Finals 4-2
#184 overall seed
Coach: KC Jones
Starters
C Robert Parish 34-Centenary 14.3 PPG 17.2 PER 6.4 WS
F Kevin McHale 30-Minnesota 22.6 21.9 10.2
F Larry Bird 31-Indiana St 29.9 27.8 15
G Dennis Johnson 33-Pepperdine 12.6 14 5
G Danny Ainge 28-BYU 15.7 15.9 8.6
Rotation Reserves
C Artis Gilmore 38-Jacksonville 3.5 10.2 .8
F Mark Acres 25-Oral Roberts 3.6 9.3 2.2
F Fred Roberts 27-BYU 6.1 12.6 1.9
G Jim Paxson 30-Dayton 8.7 13.3 1
G Darren Daye 27-UCLA 6 13.6 1.2
Leaders Bird 3rd PPG, 2nd FT%, 2nd PER, 3rd WS, 3rd WS/48, 2nd +/-, 2nd VORP
McHale 1st FG%, 2nd Eff FG%, 2nd TS% 1st Off Rtng
Parish 2nd FG%, 3rd Eff FG%
Ainge 5th Eff FG%
Boston's got the top offense in '88, but doesn't get a lot of help defensively; 31 year old Larry Bird is top 5 in PER, WS, WS/48 and VORP, 30 year old McHale also has 20+ PER and double digit WS
Matchup
C Lanier(Bucks)
F McHale (Celtics)
F Bird (Celtics)
G Buckner (Bucks)
G Moncrief (Bucks)
Bench: Bucks
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Bucks 12 Celtics 10
Bucks Lanier, MiJohnson, Lanier, Moncrief, MiJohnson, MaJohnson
Celtics McHale(3) McHale, Bird, Ainge(3)
6 Celtics 20 Bucks 18
Bucks Lanier, Winters, MaJohnson
Celtics Parish, DJ, McHale, Parish, Parish
We might see some points scored in this series.
3 Bucks 27 Celtics 27
Bucks Cummings(3) Cummings, Cummings, Catchings
Celtics Bird, McHale, McHale, Bird(1)
1st Qtr Score Celtics 37 Bucks 31
Bucks Winters, Cummings
Celtics Ainge(3) McHale, Ainge, Gilmore(1) Paxson
13 first quarter points for Kevin McHale and the Celtics are up.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 40 Bucks 40
Bucks MaJohnson, Moncrief(3) Moncrief, Moncrief
Celtics Gilmore(1) Bird
6 Celtics 44 Bucks 42
Bucks MaJohnson
Celtics Paxson, Paxson
Whew. Sidney Moncrief hits 7 in the first 3 minutes of the quarter and we are tight halfway through the second.
3 Celtics 51 Bucks 46
Bucks Lanier, Buckner
Celtics McHale, Gilmore, Ainge(3)
Halftime Score Celtics 60 Bucks 56
Bucks Bridgeman, MiJohnson, Lanier, MiJohnson, Moncrief(3)
Celtics Ainge(3) McHale, Ainge, Parish
8 for Danny Ainge in the back half of the 2nd, Celtics up 4.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 67 Bucks 64
Bucks Moncrief, Winters, Bridgeman, Lanier
Celtics Bird, Parish(3) McHale
6 Bucks 75 Celtics 71
Bucks Lanier, MiJohnson, MiJohnson(3) Bridgeman
Celtics Parish, Ainge
The Bucks pull out in front; you know Don Nelson would love to take his old franchise out.
3 Bucks 85 Celtics 75
Bucks Lanier Buckner, Buckner, Lanier, MiJohnson, Bridgeman
Celtics DJ, Parish
3rd Score Bucks 93 Celtics 85
Bucks Moncrief, Lanier, Winters, Catchings
Celtics DJ, Parish(1) Bird, McHale(3) McHale
Boston's gonna need to stop the Bucks at some point to make up this ground.
4th Qtr
9 Bucks 101 Celtics 95
Bucks MaJohnson, Lanier, Lanier, Bridgeman
Celtics McHale(1) Bird(3) Daye, Daye, McHale
6 Bucks 105 Celtics 101
Bucks Lanier, Buckner
Celtics Parish, DJ, Paxson
6 minutes left in this one; Celtics draw w/n 4.
5:57: BOS: Paxson's the only backup on the floor for Boston - he finds the Chief underneath to cut the deficit to 2.
5:50 MIL: Quinn Buckner pull up J.
5:08: BOS: Boston misses twice - but Bird is there to cut it to 2.
4:28 BOS: Empty Bucks trip - Ainge drains a corner 3 and Boston has the lead.
3:40: MIL: Turnovers both ways, Marques Johnson scores from the lane.
3:28: BOS: It's the Chief with the hook shot. 110-109 Boston.
2:27: BOS: A minute later the bank is open for Bird.
2:15: MIL: Marques Johnson rips home a dunk.
1:56: BOS: Bird from 8.
1:49: MIL: Marques Johnson from the foul line.
1:07: BOS: Boston misses a couple of times, but keeps possession and The Chief eventually hits a FT and it's 115-113.
:39: BOS: The Chief on the defensive end, he rips the ball away from Lanier, he'll be fouled again and again hit 1.
:22: MIL: Buckner goes off glass.
:19: BOS: Bird's fouled. Hits both. 118-115
DJ steals the ball - gets it to Bird - he's fouled. Hits both. After another Bucks miss he'll hit two more for the final.
Final Score: Celtics 122 Bucks 115
15 point 4th quarter turnaround and the Celtics take game one.
Bird: 26 pts/12 boards - Player of the Game
McHale: 27 pts/9 boards
Parish: 24 pts/8 boards/5 assists
Ainge: 21 pts/5 assists
Lanier: 26 pts/6 boards/4 blocks
MaJohnson: 16 pts/8 boards/8 assists
Moncrief: 16 pts/7 boards/7 assists
MiJohnson: 14 pts
Buckner: 12 pts/6 assists/5 steals
Bridgeman: 10 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Celtics 6 Bucks 4
Bucks MaJohnson, Moncrief
Celtics Ainge(3) DJ(3)
6 Celtics 16 Bucks 6
Bucks MaJohnson
Celtics Bird, McHale, Parish, Bird, Bird
Boston comes out playing defense; the 12th seeded Celtics looking to bounce the 5th seeded Bucks.
3 Celtics 28 Bucks 17
Bucks MaJohnson, Buckner, Bridgeman, Catchings, MaJohnson(3)
Celtics McHale, Bird, DJ, McHale, Bird(3) Bird(1)
Score Celtics 38 Bucks 20
Bucks Bridgeman(3)
Celtics Parish, Daye, Parish, Parish, Roberts
Goddamn - the Celtics are up a game and up nearly 20 points.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 46 Bucks 26
Bucks Bridgeman, Cummings, Moncrief
Celtics Daye(3) Roberts(3) Roberts
6 Celtics 50 Bucks 33
Bucks MiJohnson, Lanier, Winters, Moncrief(1)
Celtics McHale, McHale
Like you'd expect, Fred Roberts scores 5 to open the quarter.
3 Celtics 58 Bucks 42
Bucks Cummings, MaJohnson, Bridgeman, Cummings, Cummings
Celtics McHale, DJ, McHale, Parish
Score Celtics 62 Bucks 51
Bucks Bridgeman, Buckner, Buckner, Winters(3)
Celtics Daye, DJ
6 Pat Cummings points and the Bucks chip away; the lead is down from 20 to 11.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 66 Bucks 61
Bucks Buckner, Elmore, Winters, Winters, Lanier
Celtics Gilmore, McHale
6 Celtics 69 Bucks 69
Bucks MaJohnson, Buckner, MaJohnson, MiJohnson
Celtics Ainge, Gilmore(1)
The Bucks come all the way back; they trailed by 20 and now halfway through the third this game is tied and the Milwaukee crowd is going banana.
3 Celtics 77 Bucks 76
Bucks MiJohnson(1) Bridgeman, Winters, Buckner
Celtics Paxson, Parish, Bird, DJ
Score Celtics 88 Bucks 82
Bucks Lanier, Bridgeman, Buckner
Celtics DJ(1) Bird, Parish, Parish, Paxson, Paxson
The Celts have blown a 20 point lead, Paxson scores twice in the last 34 seconds and the lead is 6.
4th Qtr
11:00: MIL: A minute into the 4th, Junior Bridgeman hits a turnaround off the Buckner dish to cut it to 4.
10:49: BOS: Ainge is there with the runner.
10:39: MIL: Moncrief finds Bridgeman, he hits from the wing.
10:16: BOS: Fred Roberts J as the clock expires.
9:57: MIL: Marques Johnson from 14.
9:44: BOS: McHale bank from the wing.
9:22: BOS: Moncrief misses and Larry gets a layup to push the lead to 8.
9:12: MIL: Pat Cummings dunk.
9:00: BOS: Ainge hits a long 2 - Boston 98-90
6 Celtics 104 Bucks 94
Bucks MiJohnson, Cummings
Celtics Bird, Acres, Ainge
Looks like Boston is headed for the second round.
3 Celtics 101 Bucks 102
Bucks Lanier, Lanier, Buckner, Bridgeman
Celtics McHale, Paxson, McHale
Final Score Celtics 122 Bucks 106
Bucks Bridgeman, Moncrief
Celtics Bird, McHale, DJ, DJ, Ainge(3)
The Bucks had to think they were positioned to get over the Celtics - instead it's Boston taking them out 2-0 and moving on to face the winners of the next series.
McHale: 25 pts/12 boards/4 blocks - Player of the Game
Bird: 22 pts/10 boards/7 assists
Parish: 16 pts/11 boards
Ainge: 14 pts/7 boards/7 assists
Johnson: 16 pts
All-Region Team
C Mourning ('99 Heat-1 PotG)
F Bird ('88 Celtics - 1 PotG)
F McHale ('88 Celtics-1 PotG)
G Magic ('86 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Harden ('12 Thunder)
4. 2005 PAC DIV CHAMPION PHOENIX SUNS v 13. 2014 HOUSTON ROCKETS
Suns: 62-20, 1st Pac Div, 1st Off/17th Def
d. Grizzlies West 1st Rnd 4-0
d. Mavs West Semis 4-2
Lost Spurs West Finals 4-1
#56 overall seed
Coach: Mike D'Antoni
Starters
C Amar'e Stoudemire 22 26 PPG 26.6 PER 14.6 WS
F Shawn Marion 26-UNLV 19.4 21.7 12.5
F Joe Johnson 23-Arkansas 17.1 15.1 7.6
G Steve Nash 30-S Clara 15.5 22 10.9
G Quentin Richardson 24-DePaul 14.9 13.6 5.8
Rotation Reserves
C Steven Hunter 23-DePaul 4.6 14.7 2.6
F Walter McCarty 30 Kentucky 3.5 6.9 .3
F Jimmy Jackson 34-Ohio St 8.8 11.4 .6
G Leandro Barbosa 22 7 12.8 1.8
G Casey Jacobsen 23-Stanford 5.3 8.4 1.1
Leaders Stoudemire: 5th PPG, 2nd FG%, 2nd TS%, 4th PER, 3rd WS, 4th WS/48
Marion: 2nd Reb, 3rd Reb/Gm, 4th Steals, 4th Steals/Gm, 5th WS
Nash: 1st Assts, 1st Assts/Gm, 5th Off +/-, 4th OffRtng, 2nd Asst%
Johnson: 2nd 3 Pt %
The best offense in 2005 belonged to the Suns; not much on defense; 22 year old Amare Stoudemire's over 25 PER and approaching 15 Win Shares. 26 year old Shawn Marion and 30 year old Steve Nash also over 20 PER with double digit WS.
Rockets: 54-28, 2nd SW Div, 4th Off/13th Def
Lost Blazers West 1st 4-2
#201 overall seed
Coach: Kevin McHale
Starters
C Dwight Howard 28 18.3 PPG 21.3 PER 8 WS
F Terrence Jones 22-Kentucky 12.1 19.1 7.3
F Chandler Parsons 25-Florida 16.6 15.9 7.6
G Jeremy Lin 25-Harvard 12.5 14.3 4.4
G James Harden 24-Arizona St 25.4 23.5 12.8
Rotation Reserves
C Omer Asik 27 5.8 14 2.4
F Omri Casspi 25 6.9 12.9 2.4
F Francisco Garcia 32-Louisville 5.7 9.3 1.8
G Aaron Brooks 29- Oregon 7 11.9 1.1
G Patrick Beverley 25- Arkansas 10.2 12.4 4.2
Leaders: Harden 5th PPG, 5th TS%, 5th WS
Howard: 5th Rebounds, 4th Reb/Gm, 3rd FG%
4th best offensive team in 2014 was the Rockets; 24 year old James Harden's over 20 PER wth double digit WS. 28 year old Dwight Howard also has 20+ PER
Matchup:
C Stoudemire(Suns)
F Marion (Suns)
F Push
G Nash (Suns)
G Harden (Rockets)
Bench: Rockets
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Suns 11 Rockets 8
Suns Amare, Amare(1) Richardson, Richardson, Amare, Richardson
Rockets Harden, Parsons, Jones, Howard
6 Suns 19 Rockets 17
Suns Johnson(3) Johnson(3) Amare
Rockets Jones, Harden, Asik, Parsons(3)
Get ready for some points. 7 for Amare Stoudemire to start this one,
3 Suns 26 Rockets 26
Suns Marion(3) Amare, Richardson
Rockets Jones, Smith(3) Jones, Smith
1st Q Score Suns 35 Rockets 34
Suns Marion, Johnson, Marion, Marion
Rockets Brooks(3) Jones, Garcia
9 for Shawn Marion to close the half. Points, man. Points.
2nd Qtr
9 Rockets 44 Suns 39
Suns Hunter, Nash
Rockets Lin, Garcia(3) Casspi, Howard(3)
6 Rockets 53 Suns 45
Suns Barbosa(3) Jackson(3)
Rockets Beverley, Howard, Jones, Beverley(3)
13th seeded Rockets got a little bit of a lead. So many points.
3 Rockets 58 Suns 47
Suns Hunter
Rockets Harden(3) Howard
Halftime Score Rockets 64 Suns 52
Suns Nash(3) Nash
Rockets Harden, Harden, Howard
James Harden goes for 7 to end the quarter and now McHale's Rockets are up a dozen.
3rd Qtr
9 Rockets 67 Suns 59
Suns Nash, Marion, Marion(3)
Rockets Casspi(3)
6 Rockets 71 Suns 68
Suns Marion, Barbosa, Amare(1) Johnson, Richardson
Rockets Lin, Brooks
Here come the Suns, 7 for Shawn Marion to open the half.
3 Rockets 79 Suns 72
Suns Amare, Marion
Rockets Brooks, Parsons, Parsons, Howard
3rd Qtr Score Rockets 79 Suns 74
Suns Nash
Rockets
Defense to close the quarter, Rockets by 5 as we hit the 4th.
4th Qtr
9 Suns 83 Rockets 82
Suns Amare, Nash, Marion, Marion(3)
Rockets Harden(3)
The Matrix scores 5 in the last 33 seconds and Phoenix has the lead at the 9 minute mark.
8:42: PHO: Barbosa hits a 3 from the top. Suns by 4.
8:26: HOU: Howard down low.
8:19: PHO: Barbosa the long 2.
7:01: PHO: A minute later Marion gives the Suns their biggest lead.
6:41: HOU: Harden finds a wide open Casspi
6:34: PHO: Amare dunk gives the Suns an 8 pt lead.
5:57: HOU: The Rockets get a couple of chances and Harden scores.
5:35: HOU: A Suns turnover leads to a Howard dunk.
5:22: PHO: Amare comes back with a two handed stuff.
5:06: HOU: The bank's open for Harden.
4:41: HOU: A Suns turnover leads to a deep Harden 3 -- and the Rockets trail by 1.
4:00: PHO: Richardson misses, but Steven Hunter gets the offensive board and Marion will get a layup.
3:42: HOU: Harden quiets this Suns crowd - another big 3 and the score is tied at 98.
3:07: PHO: Richardson misses and again Hunter gets the board - Richardson comes back with a goal.
2:56: HOU: Howard from the low block. 100-100
2:16: HOU: Huge offensive foul on Nash - he's got 5 - and Jeremy Lin hits a corner 3 the other way.
1:58: HOU Howard blocks Joe Johnson leading to a Terrence Jones acrobatic dunk. 105-100
1:40: PHO: Amare turnaround.
:38: HOU: Both sides miss - and then there's Lin again, driving and scoring. That could do it.
:24: PHO: Amare layup. 3 point Rocket lead.
:21: HOU: 2 Lin FT. 7 for Lin in the last 2 minutes.
:16: PHO: Amare's fouled, hits 1.
:14: HOU: Howard's fouled. Hits 1.
:12: HOU: Game one is over - 2 more Howard FT. Lin gets 1 to end it.
Final Score Rockets 113 Suns 105
The Suns had an 8 point lead just about halfway through the quarter - but runs by Harden and Lin put this one away for the visitors.
Howard: 22 pts/15 boards/4 steals-Player of the Game
Harden: 24 pts/7 assists
Jones: 14 pts/14 boards
Lin: 12 pts/5 assists
Stoudemire: 25 pts/17 boards
Marion: 28 pts/6 boards/4 steals
Nash: 13 pts/7 assists
Johnson: 10 pts/6 boards/5 assists
Richardson: 12 pts
Barbosa: 10 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Suns 8 Rockets 6
Suns Nash, Nash, Johnson, Stoudemire
Rockets Lin (3) Parsons (3)
6 Suns 11 Rockets 10
Suns Nash, Stoudemire(1)
Rockets Lin, Jones
Underway in game 2 - Nash had just 13 in the Suns game one loss, comes out with 6 here.
3 Rockets 17 Suns 15
Suns Marion, Stoudemire
Rockets Howard, Howard(3) Jones
1st Q Score Rockets 24 Suns 23
Suns Stoudemire, Nash(1) Hunter, Johnson(3)
Rockets Howard, Asik Beverly(3)
A half dozen for Dwight Howard, Rockets up 1.
2nd Qtr
9 Rockets 33 Suns 29
Suns Marion, Nash, Hunter
Rockets Casspi(3) Beverley, Howard, Howard
6 Rockets 39 Suns 37
Suns Stoudemire, Richardson, Stoudemire, Stoudemire
Rockets Howard, Asik, Parsons
Tight - halfway through the quarter, 6 for Stoudemire to open the quarter.
3 Rockets 53 Suns 45
Suns Marion, Johnson(3) Jacobsen(3)
Rockets Parsons(3) Howard, Beverley(3) Parsons(3) Jones (3)
Halftime Score Rockets 63 Suns 49
Suns Marion, Stoudemire
Rockets Beverley(3) Harden, Jones, Casspi(3)
This looks done - Rockets hit 6 3s in the last 6 minutes and now have a double digit lead.
3rd Qtr
9 Rockets 69 Suns 51
Suns Marion
Rockets Harden(3) Howard, Howard(1)
6 Rockets 75 Suns 57
Suns Marion, Johnson, Richardson
Rockets Howard, Harden, Harden
They might start heading to the exits in Phoenix, the Rockets are just pounding the Suns.
3 Rockets 83 Suns 63
Suns Nash(3) Jackson(3)
Rockets Lin, Harden, Parsons, Lin
3rd Q Score Rockets 88 Suns 70
Suns Johnson, Richardson(3) Richardson
Rockets Parsons(3) Jones
The 13th seeded Rockets will meet the 12th seeded Celtics in the second round.
4th Qtr
9 Rockets 93 Suns 78
Suns Stoudemire, Marion, Johnson, Nash
Rockets Howard(1) Lin, Parsons
6 Rockets 99 Suns 87
Suns Stoudemire, Richardson(3) Nash, Richardson
Rockets Jones, Harden(3) Howard(1)
12 is probably too much to overcome - but Phoenix does have a little hope.
3 Rockets 107 Suns 91
Suns Richardson, Voskuhl
Rockets Beverley(3) Harden, Howard(1) Jones
Final Score Rockets 115 Suns 96
Suns Tabuse, Lampe(3)
Rockets Brewer, Daniels(3) Smith, Daniels(1)
The Rockets go 46% from 3 and just bury the Suns.
Harden: 18 pts/10 boards/6 assists-Player of the Game
Jones: 15 pts/13 boards
Howard: 21 pts/8 boards
Parsons: 18 pts/6 assists
Lin: 11 pts
Beverley: 14 pts
All-Region Team
C Mourning ('99 Heat-1 PotG)
F Bird ('88 Celtics - 1 PotG)
F McHale ('88 Celtics-1 PotG)
G Magic ('86 Lakers-2 PotG)
G Harden ('14 Rockets-1 PotG)
