5. 1985 EAST CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 12. 2005 EAST CHAMP DETROIT PISTONS
Celtics: 63-19, 1st Atl Div, 2nd Off/5th Def
d. Cavs East 1st Rnd 3-1
d. Pistons East Semis 4-2
d. Sixers East Finals 4-1
Lost Lakers NBA Finals 4-2
#76 overall seed
Coach KC Jones
Starters
C Robert Parish 31-Centenary 17.6 PPG 17.6 PER 9 WS
F Kevin McHale 27-Minnesota 19.8 20.7 11
F Larry Bird 28-Indiana St 28.7 26.5 15.7
G Dennis Johnson 30-Pepperdine 15.7 14.4 6.4
G Danny Ainge 25-BYU 12.9 14.2 6.6
Rotation Reserves
C Cedric Maxwell 29-UNCC 11.1 14.2 4.6
F Scott Wedman 32-Colorado 6.4 12.7 2.2
F ML Carr 34-Guliford 3.2 9.9 .4
G Quinn Buckner 30-Indiana 2.4 7.5 .5
G Ray Williams 30-Minnesota 6.4 10.9 .4
Leaders Bird 2nd PPG, 4th Def Reb, 3 Pt%, Bird 1st PER, 1st WS, 1st WS/48, 1st +/-, 1st VORP, 2nd Trip Doub
McHale 5th WS/48, 5th Off Rtng
Top 5 in both offense and defense, the '85 Celtics are led by 28 year old Bird, the best player in the NBA - he runs the table, first in PER, Win Shares, Win Shares/48 and VORP. 27 year old McHale joins him in 20+ PER and double digit WS. Some of these 80s Celtics teams had real bench issues.
Pistons: 54-28, 1st Cen Div, 17th Off/3rd Def
d. Sixers East 1st Rnd 4-1
d. Pacers East Semis 4-2
d. Heat East Finals 4-3
Lost NBA Finals Spurs 4-3
#181 overall seed
Coach: Larry Brown, GM Joe Dumars
Starters
C Ben Wallace 30-V Union 9.7 PPG 17.4 PER 8.5 WS
F Antonio McDyess 30-Alabama 9.6 17.2 5.7
F Tayshaun Prince 24-Kentucky 14.7 16.2 9.4
G Chauncey Billups 28-Colorado 16.5 19 12.1
G Rip Hamilton 26-UConn 18.7 16 7.4
Rotation Reserves
C Rasheed Wallace 30-UNC 14.5 16.4 7.1
F Darvin Ham 31-T Tech 1 5.6 .3
F Ronald Dupree 24- LSU 3.2 11.8 1
G Lindsey Hunter 34-Jack St 3.8 9.6 1.4
G Carlos Arroyo 25-FIU 5.4 10.7 .9
Leaders BWallace 3rd Reb, 2nd Reb/Gm, 2nd Blocks, 5th Blocks/Gm, 1st Def WS, 3rd Def Rtng, 5th Reb%
Billups 5th TS%
Like the Celtics, the '05 Pistons won the East Conf, it's a top 5 defensive team but will likely struggle to score enough to keep up with Boston. 28 year old Billups has double digit WS
Matchup
C Push
F McHale(Celtics)
F Bird (Celtics)
G Billups (Pistons)
G Hamilton (Pistons)
Bench: Pistons
Game 1
1 Qtr
9 Celtics 8 Pistons 2
Celtics Bird, Parish, Bird, Bird
Pistons McDyess
6 Celtics 14 Pistons 4
Celtics McHale, DJ, Bird
Pistons Hamilton
Pistons will somehow have to find a way to score some points in this series. 8 for Bird.
3 Celtics 20 Pistons 10
Celtics DJ, McHale, McHale
Pistons Billups, BWallace, Hamilton
1 q Score Celtics 29 Pistons 16
Celtics Parish, McHale, McHale(3) Carr
Pistons Arroyo, Dupree, McDyess
9 for McHale in the back half of the quarter and game one looks like it's over already.
2 Qtr
9 Celtics 36 Pistons 21
Celtics Bird, Wedman(3) Bird
Pistons RWallace, Billups(3)
6 Celtics 44 Pistons 29
Celtics Maxwell, Maxwell(3) Parish(3)
Pistons Billups(3) RWallace, Billups(3)
Chauncey rips down 3 triples to open the quarter, but also picks up his third foul.
3 Celtics 51 Pistons 32
Celtics DJ, Maxwell(3)
Pistons Prince(3)
Half Score Celtics 57 Pistons 43
Celtics DJ, Parish, Ainge
Pistons Billups(3) McDyess, RWallace, Hamilton, Billups
5 more for Billups, Pistons still trail by 14 despite this run.
3 Qtr
9 Celtics 65 Pistons 52
Celtics Ainge, Bird, Parish, Parish
Pistons Hamilton, McDyess(1) Prince, BWallace, BWallace
6 Celtics 73 Pistons 61
Celtics Bird, Bird, McHale, Maxwell
Pistons Billups, RWallace, Hamilton(3) Prince
Detroit's revved up the offense, but it's just enough to hang with Boston, who maintains a double digit lead.
3 Celtics 83 Pistons 64
Celtics Bird, DJ, McHale, Bird, Parish
Pistons Hamilton(1) BWallace
3 Q Score Celtics 93 Pistons 66
Celtics Parish, McHale, Ainge, Ainge, McHale
Pistons Billups
Boston just getting whatever it wants in game one.
4 Qtr
9 Celtics 97 Pistons 71
Celtics Bird, Bird
Pistons Hamilton, Prince(3)
6 Celtics 106 Pistons 74
Celtics Maxwell. Maxwell, Bird(3) DJ
Pistons McDyess(1) Hamilton
7 more for Larry, just for the hell of it.
3 Celtics 113 Pistons 82
Celtics Ainge(3) McHale, Bird
Pistons McDyess, McDyess, BWallace, Hamilton
Final Score Celtics 115 Pistons 92
Celtics Bird
Pistons BWallace, Delfino(3) Delfino(3) Jenkins
Boston leads the whole way; never in doubt.
Bird: 33 pts/9 boards/8 assists - Player of the Game
McHale: 21 pts/11 boards
Parish: 17 pts/13 boards
Ainge: 11 pts/7 boards/5 assists
Johnson: 12 pts
Maxwell: 16 pts
Billups: 20 pts/5 assists
Hamilton: 18 pts
BWallace: 12 pts/19 boards
McDyess: 12 pts/6 boards
Prince: 10 pts
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Celtics 8 Pistons 7
Celtics DJ, Ainge(3) Bird(3)
Pistons Hamilton(3) Prince, Hamilton
6 Celtics 16 Pistons 16
Celtics Bird, Bird, Ainge, Ainge
Pistons Billups(3) Hamilton, Prince, BWallace
Bird and Ainge each have 7 as we start game 2.
3 Pistons 24 Celtics 22
Celtics DJ, Ainge, Parish
Pistons Billups(3) BWallace, Hamilton(3)
1 Q Score Pistons 31 Celtics 29
Celtics McHale, Parish(3) Buckner
Pistons Billups(3) RWallace(3)
Detroit brings the offense in game 2 - Rip Hamilton goes for 10 in the quarter.
2 Qtr
9 Pistons 39 Celtics 33
Celtics McHale, Maxwell
Pistons Prince, Hunter, BWallace, RWallace
6 Pistons 46 Celtics 41
Celtics Maxwell, Bird, Bird, DJ
Pistons Billups, RWallace, Ham
The Pistons not going away quietly.
3 Pistons 53 Celtics 46
Celtics McHale, Bird(3)
Pistons BWallace, RWallace(3) Prince
Half Score Pistons 59 Celtics 52
Celtics Bird, Ainge, DJ
Pistons RWallace, RWallace, Hamilton
7 for Rasheed in the back half of the 2nd - the Pistons maintain the lead.
3 Qtr
9 Pistons 61 Celtics 57
Celtics Bird(3) Bird
Pistons Billups
6 Pistons 64 Celtics 64
Celtics Buckner(1) Parish, Carr, Parish
Pistons Hamilton(1) BWallace
Dead flat tied.
3 Pistons 71 Celtics 68
Celtics Parish, Carr
Pistons Hunter, BWallace, Hamilton
Score Celtics 76 Pistons 73
Celtics McHale, McHale, Bird, McHale
Pistons McDyess
McHale gets 6 in the last 3 and we head to the 4th.
4 Qtr
11:29: BOS: DJ misses, but McHale gets the board and Bird scores from 7.
11:05: BOS: Detroit misses and it's Bird again, scoring just outside the paint. 80-73
9:43: BOS: Detroit can't find the basket, Maxwell scores from short range.
9:34: DET: Ben Wallace down low.
9:27: BOS: Maxwell hits a corner 3 - the Celtics are up 10.
6
Celtics Bird, Parish, McHale
Pistons McDyess(3) Prince, Hamilton(3) Hamilton(3)
Rip Hamilton hits back to back triples and the Celtics lead is cut in half.
3 Celtics 97 Pistons 90
Celtics McHale, Ainge, Bird
Pistons Hamilton, McDyess
Final Score Celtics 107 Pistons 98
Celtics DJ, DJ, DJ, Kite(1) Williams(1) Williams
Pistons Billups(3), Prince(3) Prince
Boston holds Detroit to 14 third qtr points and takes both games.
Bird: 31 pts/7 boards/6 assists - Player of the Game
McHale: 16 pts/15 boards
Parish: 13 pts/11 boards
DJ: 14 pts/8 assists/5 boards
Ainge: 13 pts
All Region Team
C Ewing ('95 Knicks-1 PotG)
F Bird ('85 Celtics-2 PotG)
F LeBron ('10 Cavs-1 PotG)
G Magic ('90 Lakers-1 PotG)
G Jordan ('98 Bulls-2 PotG)
4. 2019 NBA CHAMPION TORONTO RAPTORS v. 13. 2000 PHOENIX SUNS
Raptors: 58-24, 1st Atl Div, 5th Off/5th Def
d. Magic East 1st 4-1
d. Sixers East Semis 4-3
d. Bucks East Finals 4-2
d. Warriors NBA Finals 4-2
#53 overall seed
Coach Nick Nurse
Starters
C Serge Ibaka 29 15 PPG 18.7 PER 6.1 WS
F Pascal Siakam 24-N Mex St 16.9 18.7 9.3
F Kawhi Leonard 27-SD St 26.6 25.8 9.5
G Kyle Lowry 32-Nova 14.2 16.5 6.6
G Danny Green 31-UNC 10.3 13 5.9
Rotation Reserves
C Jonas Valanciunas 26 12.8 24.4 2.6
F Marc Gasol 34 9.1 16 2.1
F Normal Powell 25-UCLA 8.6 13.3 2.4
G Delon Wright 26-Utah 6.9 14.5 2.3
G Fred Van Vleet 24-Wichita St 11 13.7 4.3
Leaders Lowry 7th Assts, 2nd Assts/Gm,
Green 2nd 3 Pt%
Top 5 in bothh offense and defense, the 2019 Raptors won the whole thing and are the 53rd overall seed. Light on the leader board, it's a team more about depth than top end; 27 year old Kawhi's PER is over 25.
Suns: 53-29, 3rd Pac Div, 16th Off/3rd Def
d. Spurs West 1st Rnd 3-0
Lost Lakers West Semis 4-1
#204 overall seed
Coach Scott Skiles
Starters
C Clifford Robinson 33-UConn 18.5 PPG 17.3 PER 9.6 WS
F Tom Gugliotta 30-NC St 13.7 16.4 5.2
F Rodney Rogers 28-Wake 13.8 17.1 7.4
G Jason Kidd 26-Cal 14.3 18.4 8.5
G Penny Hardaway 28-Memphis 16.9 17.9 7.8
Rotation Reserves
C Luc Longley 31 6.3 8.8 1.3
F Oliver Miller 29-Arkansas 6.3 15.5 3.4
F Shawn Marion 21-UNLV 10.2 17.1 4.1
G Todd Day 30-Arkansas 6.8 13.2 2.5
G Rex Chapman 32-Kentucky 6.6 9.4 1.4
Leaders Kidd 5th Assts, 1st Asts/Gm, 5th Stls/Gm, 5th Asst%, 1st Trip-Doub
Rogers 4th Eff FG%
The 13th seed in Region 12 is the 2000 Suns; similar profile as the Pistons squad in the prior matchup, without going as far. No one hits 20 PER or double digit WS.
Matchup
C Push
F Siakam (Raptors)
F Kawhi (Raptors)
G Kidd (Suns)
G Penny (Suns)
Bench: Push
Game One
1 Qtr
9 Suns 11 Raptors 6
Raptors Siakam, Lowry, Ibaka
Suns Kidd(3) Penny, Rogers(1) Kidd(3) Rogers
6 Suns 22 Raptors 13
Raptors Kawhi, Siakam, Kawhi(3)
Suns Kidd, Kidd, Robinson(3) Gugliotta, Penny
A white hot start for the Suns; Jason Kidd's got 10.
3 Suns 34 Raptors 22
Raptors Siakam, Green, Green, Green(3)
Suns Penny, Kidd(3) Kidd(3) Kidd, Robinson
Score Suns 40 Raptors 32
Raptors Gasol(3) Valanciunas, Valanciunas, Gasol(3)
Suns Robinson, Longley, Day
Wow. Just a bombardment. The Suns are a defensive team - but they just detonate in the first; 16 points for Jason Kidd.
2 Qtr
9 Suns 47 Raptors 35
Raptors Jonas(3)
Suns Marion, Marion, Penny, Marion
6 Suns 48 Raptors 40
Raptors Kawhi(3) Green
Suns Penny(1)
Deficit into the single digits.
3 Suns 50 Raptors 48
Raptors Kawhi, Green(3) Kawhi(3)
Suns Miller
Score Suns 58 Raptors 55
Raptors VanVleet, Jonas, Lowry(3)
Suns Miller, Chapman, Gugliotta, Penny
Triples bring the Raps back into the game.
Qtr
9 Suns 64 Raptors 63
Raptors Ibaka, Siakam(3) Siakam(3)
Suns Robinson, Day, Rogers
6 Suns 70 Raptors 70
Raptors Kawhi(1) Ibaka(3) Kawhi, VanVleet(1)
Suns Marion, Marion, Robinson
Toronto rides the 4 ball to come all the way back and tie this up.
3 Raptors 76 Suns 72
Raptors Ibaka, Ibaka, Siakam
Suns Penny
Score Suns 79 Raptors 78
Raptors Kawhi
Suns Robinson, Gugliotta, Robinson(3)
Uncle Cliffy hits from halfcourt at the buzzer and the Suns regain the lead.
Qtr
11:08: PHO: Rodney Rodgers banks one home.
10:44: PHO: After a Raps miss, Rogers drives and scores.
10:22 PHO: Kawhi misses a 3 - Rogers again from the lane.
10:11: TOR Kawhi from the line.
9:50: PHO: Oliver Miller gets a putback on a Robinson miss.
9:40: TOR: Danny Green goes back door. 87-82 Suns
6 Suns 92 Raptors 85
Raptors Ibaka(3)
Suns Miller(1) Kidd, Kidd
3 Suns 100 Raptors 92
Raptors Siakam, Lowry, Lowry(3)
Suns Kidd(3) Gugliotta, Rogers(3)
11 seconds Suns 103 Raptors 100
Raptors Ibaka, Lowry(3) Kawhi(3)
Suns Robinson(1) Gugliotta
Kawhi hits a triple at 15 seconds to cut the deficit to 3 - Rodney Rogers is fouled - just one FT will probably end it. He misses both.
Siakam gets the board. Raptors call time. They have a chance at the last shot to force OT.
It's Kawhi, obviously -- and he dribbles it off his foot. Robinson now has it - he's fouled and hits both and that's all. Danny Green hits a 3 at the buzzer but the 13th seeded Suns have taken game one
Final: Suns 105 Raptors 103
Phoenix had an 8 pt lead with 3 to go - but the Raptors had a chance to tie this up - Kawhi turns it over and the Suns take game one.
Kidd: 25 pts/11 assists/10 boards-Player of the Game
Robinson: 19 pts/7 boards
Rogers 14 pts/7 boards
Gugliotta: 10 pts/12 boards
Hardaway: 12 pts/5 boards
Marion: 10 pts/7 boards
Leonard: 23 pts/11 boards
Green: 20 pts
Ibaka: 16 pts/15 boards
Lowry: 10 pts/12 assists
Siakam: 16 pts/6 boards/5 assists
Game 2
1 Qtr
9 Suns 7 Raptors 6
Raptors Kawhi, Lowry, Green
Suns Robinson, Rogers, Gugliotta(1) Penny
6 Suns 13 Raptors 10
Raptors Siakam, Ibaka
Suns Penny(3) Kidd(3)
A Toronto blowout might be a game 2 expectation - but Phoenix takes an early lead.
3 Suns 17 Raptors 16
Raptors Ibaka, Siakam, Siakam
Suns Gugliotta, Kidd
1 Q Score Suns 21 Raptors 18
Raptors VanVleet
Suns Marion, Miller
Phoenix upset the Raptors in game 1 -- and they come out with the lead again.
2 Qtr
9 Suns 26 Raptors 20
Raptors Van Vleet
Suns Marion, Rogers(3)
6 Suns 33 Raptors 31
Raptors Siakam, Ibaka, Kawhi, Kawhi, Van Vleet(3)
Suns Gugliotta(3) Day, Robinson
Good late run by the Raptors - much more of a defensive game than game one.
3 Suns 43 Raptors 37
Raptors Jonas(1) Van Vleet, Siakam(1) Ibaka
Suns Chapman, Marion, Rogers, Penny, Gugliotta
Half Score Suns 47 Raptors 41
Raptors Lowry, Lowry
Suns Rogers, Marion
It's still Phoenix - there have been bigger upsets - two 1 seeds are gone, but I don't recall any bigger sweep than a 4 being bounced by a 13, if this happens
3 Qtr
9 Suns 55 Raptors 44
Raptors Jonas, Van Vleet(1)
Suns Marion, Marion, Chapman, Gugliotta
6 Suns 61 Raptors 49
Raptors Kawhi(3) Ibaka
Suns Gugliotta, Rogers, Penny
Biggest lead of the series; the Phoenix Suns just shutting down the 2019 Champs.
3 Suns 66 Raptors 57
Raptors Van Vleet, Siakam, Kawhi, Lowry
Suns Rogers(3) Kidd
Score Suns 77 Raptors 65
Raptors Kawhi(3) Jonas, Green(3)
Suns Penny, Rogers, Robinson(3) Penny, Marion
The Suns take a double digit lead into the 4th - they are 12 minutes from the sweep.
4 Qtr
9 Suns 83 Raptors 72
Raptors Wright(3) Kawhi, Kawhi
Suns Rogers(3) Kidd(3)
6 Suns 87 Raptors 79
Raptors Kawhi, Ibaka, Kawhi(3)
Suns Marion, Robinson
Kawhi takes over - 9 to open the 4th, Suns still up 8.
3 Suns 98 Raptors 86
Raptors Green(3) Lowry, Anunoby
Suns Rogers(3) Kidd(3) Miller, Gugliotta(3)
Final Score Suns 106 Raptors 92
Raptors Brown(3) Boucher(3)
Suns MacLean, MacLean, KJ, Blount
Toronto never gets closer than 8 - Phoenix pumps in those three triples at the middle of the 4th and they upset the Raptors in 2 straight.
Rogers: 22 pts/10 boards - Player of the Game
Kidd: 13 pts/12 assists/7 boards
Gugliotta: 15 pts/8 boards
Penny: 13 pts/7 boards/5 assists
Marion: 16 pts/9 boards
All Region Team
C Ewing ('95 Knicks-1 PotG)
F Bird ('85 Celtics-2 PotG)
F LeBron ('10 Cavs-1 PotG)
G Magic ('90 Lakers-1 PotG)
G Jordan ('98 Bulls-2 PotG)
