Actual Result: Last year Bird beat Magic, this year, Magic beat Bird, Lakers win the title in 6.
MVP: Larry Bird
West Semis: Lakers d. Blazers 4-1
Nuggets d. Jazz 4-1
East Semis: Celtics d. Pistons 4-2
Sixers d. Bucks 4-0
Simulation: The Celtics/Sixers/Lakers have won 7 of the last 8 titles and all 3 are headed to the conference semis. The defending champs will be taking on the Denver Nuggets, they lost one of those NBA Finals, to the Sixers in '78, this is their first conference championship since. The Celtics beat the Sixers in the East Finals in 3 straight years, after a 2 year hiatus, they meet again.
West Finals (May) Los Angeles Lakers (62-20) v. Denver Nuggets (52-30)
East Finals (May) Boston Celtics (63-19) v. Philadelphia 76ers (58-24)
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 135 Nuggets 117
The defending champs have won 3 straight Western Conference titles and they win game one here, the leading scorer is improbably Mike McGee, with 23 off the bench. 21 for James Worthy, 20 for Kareem and Byron Scott and a double/double for Magic. Alex English scored 23 in the loss. Calvin Natt and Wayne Cooper double/double.
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 117 Nuggets 107
The Lakers take both at home, Kareem scores 22, Byron Scott 20. Calvin Natt with 20 in the defeat.
West Finals Game 3 (Den) Lakers 118 Nuggets 102
The Lakers are going to win their 4th straight Western Conference title, becoming the first team in NBA history to play in 4 straight NBA Finals. The 37 year old Captain leads the way, 25 points/10 rebounds. 23 for Scott and a double/double for Magic. Mike Evans leads for Denver with 16.
West Finals Game 4 (Den) Lakers 121 Nuggets 116
It's a sweep, the Lakers return to the NBA Finals for the 4th straight season. Kareem is the series MVP, 30 pts, 14 rebounds. Worthy goes 23 and 10, 21 for Magic with 14 assists. Alex English scores 27 for Denver, 21 and 14 for Calvin Natt.
East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Sixers 104 Celtics 94
Heavyweight fight in the East, round 1 to the Sixers. Moses dominates, 29 pts, 24 rebounds. Kevin McHale scores 20 with 17 boards for the Celtics, Double/double for Bird and Parish.
East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Sixers 116 Celtics 111
The Sixers take the first two in Boston and now head home, up 2-0, the rematch of the 1983 Finals is now looming. This one belonged to the Doctor, 31 pts. Moses went 20 and 13. Double/double for Charles Barkley and Mo Cheeks. 33 pts and 17 rebounds for Larry Bird in the loss. Big Danny Ainge game, 25 pts, 10 assists. 21 pts, 10 boards for McHale. Double/double for Parish.
East Finals Game 3 (Philly) Sixers 126 Celtics 105
Philly rolls at home; the Sixers are a game from sweeping Boston and heading to the NBA Finals. Moses goes 26 and 10, 23 for Erving, double/double for Barkley. Bird went for 29, 21 and 15 for McHale.
East Finals Game 4 (Philly) Sixers 129 Celtics 117
The Sixers sweep the Celtics and win the East, Philly won the NBA Championship in '77 and '78, lost the East Finals to the Celtics in '80, '81, '82 - then won the NBA Title, beating the Lakers in 7 in '83 and here we are again, the Lakers now the defending champs, facing off against Philly. Barkley moves into the starting lineup and is the best player on the floor, 29 pts 16 rebounds. Moses is the series MVP, 20 points, 18 boards. 21 for Andrew Toney. The Chief goes 31 and 11. 24 and 10 for Bird. Double/double for McHale.
NBA FINALS (June) LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
The 12 time World Champion Lakers, coming off last season's NBA Title, face a Sixer team that won the title in '77 and '78 and beat the Lakers in '83. The Lakers have lost just one game in 3 rounds to win their 4th consecutive West Title, the Captain is now 37 years old, he's both the youngest and oldest man to win the NBA Finals MVP, he was 4th in the MVP race this year. 23 year old James Worthy, 26 year old Kurt Rambis join Kareem on the front line. Mike McGee, Larry Spriggs, Mitch Kupchak are all in the rotation. Magic runs point, 25, 2nd in MVP, 23 year old Byron Scott is the off guard, 28 year old Michael Cooper was 4th Defensive Player of the Year and is the 6th man.
The Sixers have also only lost one game in their three rounds of playoffs and are coming off a 4 game sweep of the best team in the regular season, the Celtics. 29 year old Moses Malone was 3rd in the MVP race, 34 year old Julius Erving, a 2 time Finals MVP, was an All Star this season and the 21 year old rookie Charles Barkley fills out the front line. 33 year old Bobby Jones and 28 year old Clem Johnson come off the bench. Maurice Cheeks is the point guard, 29 years old, 5th in the Defensive Player of the Year race, 27 year old Andrew Toney joins him in the backcourt, 28 year old Clint Richardson comes off the bench.
NBA FINALS GAME 1 (LA) Sixers 121 Lakers 107
The Sixers took the first two in Boston in the East Finals and they grab game one in Los Angeles in the NBA Finals. 26 for Andrew Toney, 25 points and 20 rebounds for Charles Barkley, 20 and 14 for the Doctor and a double/double for Moses. Magic scores 21 in the loss.
NBA FINALS GAME 2 (LA) Lakers 106 Sixers 90
LA forces the split and we're off to Philly. Kareem led the way, 25 pts, 12 rebounds. 23 points and 18 assists for Magic. 20 for Byron Scott. 16 points/26 rebounds for Moses in the loss. Barkley double/double
NBA FINALS GAME 3 (Philly) Sixers 107 Lakers 92
The Sixers move 2 wins away from their 4th title in 9 seasons. Moses again carries the load, 21 pts, 24 rebounds. Double/double for Barkley. Kareem with 22 in the loss.
NBA FINALS GAME 4 (Philly) Lakers 120 Sixers 113
The Lakers once again even the series, which will head back to Los Angeles for game 5. Kareem again leads in scoring with 26, 20 pts/14 assists for Magic. 20 for Worthy. The Doctor has his best game of the series, 28 pts, 10 rebounds. 22 for Barkley, double/double for Moses.
NBA FINALS GAME 5 (LA) Lakers 111 Sixers 97
The Lakers go up 3-2, moving a win from the 13th title in franchise history. Byron Scott leads in scoring with 22, 21 and 11 for Kareem, double/double for Magic. Moses scores 19 for the Sixers
NBA FINALS GAME 6 (Philly) Lakers 130 Sixers 109
The Lakers leave no doubt, avenging their loss to Philly two years prior - back to back titles for LA. James Worthy scores 30 in the closeout win. 26 and 14 for Magic, he is the Finals MVP. 23 for Scott, 22 for Kareem. The Doctor goes 30 and 10 in what is likely his last Finals appearance. Double/double for Moses/Cheeks/Barkley.
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)
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)
