Actual Result: The Celtics have an all time team, 67 regular season wins and NBA Championship.
MVP: Larry Bird
West Semis: Lakers d. Mavs (4-2)
Rockets d. Nuggets (4-2)
East Semis: Celtics d. Hawks (4-1)
Bucks d. Sixers (4-3)
Simulation: The Celtics/Lakers/Sixers have won 8 of the last 9 NBA Championships; Philly is out, bounced in the East Semis by Milwaukee, the Bucks returning to the East Finals for the first time since winning the East two years prior. The Celtics and Lakers are both returning to the conference finals, Boston hasnt won the East since '82 and the Lakers are back to back NBA Champions. The 4th team in the conference finals is Houston, the Rockets have never played in the NBA Finals.
West Finals (May) Los Angeles Lakers (62-20) v. Houston Rockets (51-31)
East Finals (May) Boston Celtics (67-15) v. Milwaukee Bucks (57-25)
West Finals Game 1 (LA) Rockets 133 Lakers 131 (OT)
Hell of a way to start the conference finals. Lakers up 1 as the 4th started, they led by as many as 5 - 4 minutes into the quarter, Robert Reid 14 footer gave the Rockets their first lead. They traded buckets the next 6 minutes, with 2 to play, Houston led by a bucket after a Lewis Lloyd slashing drive. Magic tied it with :30 to play, but Lloyd came back with a corner triple, Rockets up 3 with 20 seconds left in regulation. Magic took the last shot - a triple from the top with 4 seconds left - he drains it and we headed to OT. In OT, no one led by more than 2, the clubs trading buckets, at 2 minutes, Olajuwon went bank to tie the score, a minute later he added 2 FT and Michael Cooper hit a triple, Lakers by 1, 45 seconds left. Olajwuon with the fadeaway, Rockets by 1, 31 seconds to play. The Lakers couldnt convert, Lloyd in traffic the other way made it Houston by 3, Byron Scott got the quick 2, Lakers down 1, 9 seconds left, they foul Olajuwon, who hits 1, the Lakers got the ball to Kareem, but he couldnt get a clean shot off and it was done. 35 points and 27 rebounds for Hakeem, 25 and 14 for Ralph Sampson, 20 for Lloyd. Kareem led LA with 29, Scott had 24, Magic had 23 and 16 assists, Rambis double/double.
West Finals Game 2 (LA) Rockets 135 Lakers 132 (OT)
They ran game 1 back, Houston wins both game 1 and 2 at the Forum and head home. Again, the Lakers needed a shot near the buzzer (Kareem) to extend the game into OT and again, had a chance to tie (Magic) at end of game but could not. Lewis Lloyd scored 35 points to lead the Rockets. 24 and 17 for Olajuwon, 20 and 16 for Ralph. Double/double for Rodney McCray and Robert Reid. Kareem went 27 and 10 in the loss, Magic was 23 with 17 assists. Scott had 26, Worthy 20, and Maurice Lucas double/double.
West Finals Game 3 (Hou) Lakers 121 Rockets 110
The Lakers needed it, they got it - Lakers winning on the road. Huge game for the 38 year old Kareem, 38 points, 10 rebounds. Triple double for Magic. Olajuwon went 29 and 19 in the defeat, 23 for Ralph, double/double for McCray.
West Finals Game 4 (Hou) Rockets 112 Lakers 111
Rockets led by 8 with 6 to play, 90 seconds later LA had scored 7 straight (5 by Magic) to cut the deficit to 1. Rockets back up 5, 2 to play. Byron Scott hit back to back triples and LA led by 1 with 80 seconds left. Olajuwon scores. Rockets up 1. Magic scores. Lakers up 1. Rodney McCray gets 3 the hard way, Rockets up 2 with 22 seconds left. Kareem skyhook with 8 seconds left - and the foul - he hits the shot and LA led by a point. Rockets last possession is to Ralph in the paint - turnaround at the buzzer is good - and the Houston Rockets go up 2 games to 1. 26 and 16 for Olajuwon, 26 for Reid and a double/double for McCray. Huge Magic game, 27 pts, 18 assists, 11 rebounds. Double/double for Lucas
West Finals Game 5 (LA) Rockets 116 Lakers 114
The Houston Rockets win the Western Conference and head to their first ever NBA Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon goes 27 and 11 to win the series MVP. Ralph is 26 and 18. 23 with 10 assists for Lloyd. Worthy score 24, Kareem 25, and Magic had his third triple double of the series in the loss.
East Finals Game 1 (Bost) Bucks 127 Celtics 125 (OT)
The East series starts off matching the West in excitement and upset potential. It took a Bird corner 3 with 7 seconds left to force OT, a Terry Cummings FT with 23 seconds left gave the Bucks a 2 point lead, the ball went into McHale, but he misses an 8 footer and Milwaukee takes game 1. Bucks playing without Sidney Moncrief, Craig Hodges leads with 19 pts, double/double for Randy Breuer and Alton Lister. Larry Bird goes for 26 and 10 in the loss, 21 for McHale.
East Finals Game 2 (Bost) Celtics 101 Bucks 98
Bucks up 3 with 3 minutes left, Celtics score 6 over the next 90 seconds, DJ/McHale/Parish. The Bucks never get closer than 3, Bird hitting FT down the stretch. 18 pts and 22 boards for the Chief, double/double for McHale/Bird/DJ. Moncrief back in the lineup, he scores 19, double/double for Pressey, Hodges, Breuer.
East Finals Game 3 (Mil) Bucks 118 Celtics 116
Every game a nailbiter, Celtics led throughout, Bucks go up 1 on a Moncrief triple with 3 left. 2 buckets a piece over the next 90 seconds. Bucks still up 1. A Moncrief dunk with 40 seconds left and its a 3 pt game. Celtics come up empty, Cummings intentionally fouled, hits them both - Ainge triples, but it's not enough, the Bucks go up 2-1. Huge Terry Cummings game, 30 pts, 20 rebounds. 21 for Moncrief. Bird went for 30 in the loss, McHale had 26 with 18 boards.
East Finals Game 4 (Mil) Celtics 107 Bucks 87
The Celtics square the series and we will head back to the Boston Garden for crucial game 5. 32 points, 16 rebounds for Larry Bird. Double/double for Bill Walton off the bench. 18 for Paul Pressey in the loss, Cummings double/double.
East Finals Game 5 (Bos) Celtics 133 Bucks 125
Boston wins a rollicking game at home, moving 1 win from their 17th NBA Finals appearance. Larry Bird with an all timer, 40 points, 15 boards, 10 assists. McHale scores 25, Ainge 23, and Parish double/double. Terry Cummings goes 32 and 13, 37 points for Moncrief, Paul Pressey double/double.
East Finals Game 6 (Milw) Bucks 120 Celtics 108
Who wants to see Game 7 in the Boston Garden? 25 for Cummings, Craig Hodges scores 23, Paul Pressey double/double. 25 for Bird in the loss, double/double for Parish, McHale, Walton.
East Finals Game 7 (Bos) Celtics 129 Bucks 76
Wow! The 1986 Celtics were on the bring of going home, down 2-1, then tied at 3 - this is...the biggest game 7 spread of all time? Boston beats the Bucks by 53! 53!! Larry Bird is series MVP, he scores 34, 13 rebounds. The Chief has his best game of the series, going 30 and 16. Double/double for both McHale and Walton. Cummings double/double in the loss.
Celtics NBA Finals History
1953 W Lakers
1955 L Lakers
1957 W Hawks
1958 W Hawks
1960 L Hawks
1961 W Hawks
1962 L Lakers
1966 L Lakers
1968 L Lakers
1972 L Lakers
1973 L Lakers
1974 W Bulls
1976 L Suns
1980 W Sonics
1981 W Kings
1982 W Lakers
W 8 L 8
NBA CHAMPIONSHIP (June) BOSTON CELTICS v. HOUSTON ROCKETS
CELTICS
HC KC Jones
C Robert Parish (32)-All Star
PF Kevin McHale (28)- All Star
SF Larry Bird (29) - MVP, 1st Team All NBA
PG Dennis Johnson (31)-2nd Team All Defense
SG Danny Ainge (26)
C Bill Walton (33)- 6th Man of the Year
G Jerry Sichting (29)
F Scott Wedman (33)
ROCKETS
HC Bill Fitch
C Hakeem Olajuwon (23) 4th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA
PF Ralph Sampson (25)- All Star
SF Rodney McCray (24)
PG Lewis Lloyd (26)
SG Robert Reid (30)
C Jim Petersen (23)
F Mitchell Wiggins (26)
F Alan Leavell (28)
The Celtics won NBA Titles in the first 3 seasons of Larry Bird's career, after a 3 year absence they return to the NBA Finals. Bill Fitch was the Celtics head coach for all 3 of those titles and last season moved to the Rockets. He was replaced by Celtic Hall of Famer KC Jones, who had served as Fitch's assistant. Bird is now 29, 2 time MVP, 3 time Finals MVP, only Wilt has won it 4 times. He's been joined for all 3 titles by the Chief, now 32 years old, Robert Parish was an all star this year. Kevin McHale came off the bench in his two Finals seasons, now 28, he was also an All Star this year. The 6th Man of the Year is 33 year old Bill Walton, Walton led the Blazers to a Western Conference title in '77, won the MVP in '78, and then missed 3 of the next four seasons with injuries. This is his second year in Boston. The PG is 31 year old Dennis Johnson, NBA Finals MVP with Seattle in '79 and has been with Boston since '84. 26 year old Danny Ainge rounds out the starting 5.
The Houston Rockets made the Western Finals back in '81, losing to the Kings - 5 years later, with the Celtics old coach, they've reached their first ever NBA Finals. The Rockers are led by the Dream, 23 year old Hakeem Olajuwon, finished 4th in the MVP in his second NBA season. Next to him is the other Twin Tower, 25 year old Ralph Sampson who was an All Star this year. 24 year old Rodney McCray joins them on the front line. The Rockers lost their point guard, John Lucas, he's been replaced by Lewis Lloyd, 30 year old Robert Reid started just 5 regular season games, but he is in the Finals backcourt.
NBA FINALS GAME 1 (Bos) Celtics 113 Rockets 95
Easy game 1 win for the Celtics; 31 points/17 rebounds for Larry Bird, 32 for Kevin McHale. 17 pts/10 rebounds for Hakeem Olajuwon to lead for the losing Rockets.
NBA FINALS GAME 2 (Bos) Rockets 112 Celtics 111
Rockets led by as many as 5 in the 4th, at 2:30, Jerry Sichting hit a triple to give the Celtics a 2 pt lead. Back to back buckets by Olajuwon and Ralph put the Rockets up 3 with 90 seconds to play. 15 seconds later, a 4 point play for Larry Bird put the Celtics up 1. Lloyd and Bird both score on the next two trips. Rockets go to Ralph in traffic, kissed off the backboard and Houston is up 1, last possession for Boston. Bird from just outside the paint - back iron - and the Rockets steal one in Boston. Ralph Sampson leads the way, 21 points/16 rebounds. Double/double for Hakeem. Bird scores 29, McHale 22 in the loss, Parish double/double.
NBA FINALS GAME 3 (Hou) Celtics 106 Rockets 89
The Celtics defense clamps down and Boston is 2 games from the 9th NBA Championship in franchise history. 25 and 14 for Bird, Olajuwon and Sampson both double/double in the loss.
NBA FINALS GAME 4 (Houston) Celtics 109 Rockets 96
The Celtics take both in Houston and go up 3-1, a game from their 4th NBA Title in 7 seasons. Dennis Johnson leads in scoring with 24, McHale goes 23 and 10, Robert Parish double/double. Hakeem goes 24 and 15 in the loss, 23 for Robert Reid. Double/double for Ralph.
NBA FINALS GAME 5 (Bost) Celtics 104 Rockets 93
The Celtics are NBA Champions. Larry Bird scores 25 and wins his 4th Finals MVP, tying Wilt as the most decorated Finals performers of all time. Double/double for Walton, who wins his first NBA Championship. Olajuwon goes 21 and 11, double/double for Reid.
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)
1986 Boston Celtics d. Houston Rockets (4-1) MVP Larry Bird (SF, 29)
