Simulated 1968 NBA Finals

 1967

Actual Result: The Celtics return after a year sabbatical and resume their place as NBA Champions, beating, of course, the Lakers.

MVP: Wilt Chamberlain

East Semis: Boston Celtics d. Detroit Pistons (4-2)

                    Philadelphia 76ers d. New York Knicks (4-2)

West Semis: Los Angeles Lakers d. Chicago Bulls (4-1)

                    San Francisco Warriors d. St Louis Hawks (4-2)

Simulation: It's now 7 years since the Celtics last championship, but they're in the East Finals, taking on the defending champion Sixers for the 4th straight season. In the West, it's Lakers v. Warriors. 

East Finals (April) Philadelphia 76ers (62-20) v. Boston Celtics (54-28)

West Finals (April) Los Angeles Lakers (52-30) v. San Francisco Warriors (43-39)

East Finals Game 1 (Philly) Celtics 128 Sixers 109

4th straight East Finals between the Celtics and Sixers; Boston takes game 1 with John Havlicek scoring 34. 22 for Sam Jones, a double/double for Bill Russell.  Wilt goes 20-20 in the defeat.

East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Sixers 122 Celtics 120

Sixers led by 2 as the 4th started. 2 minutes and 5 Havlicek points later the lead was 1.  After a 3 pt play from Sam Jones Boston had a 1 pt lead with 8 to play.  6 left - Celtics by 2.  Luke Jackson hit a baseline jumper with 4 to play and the score was tied.  Jackson hit a 14 footer with 2 to play, the score remained tied.  Wali Jones from the top of the key, Sixers by 2, 1:44 left.  Larry Siegfried 2 FT, tied with 41 seconds left.   Chet Walker hits a driving twisting layup and the Sixers led with 27 seconds to play.  Sam Jones 12 footer with 9 seconds left.  Tied.   At the buzzer - Hal Greer sweet stroke from 18 feet and the Sixers tie the series.  Wilt Chamberlain with the first quadruple double in playoff history, 30 pts, 20 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 blocks.  The greatest player of all time.  25 for Greer including that game winner.  Havlicek scored 32. Russell went 21-29.  23 and 10 for Bailey Howell. Sam Jones with 24.

East Finals Game 3 (Philly) Celtics 127 Sixers 118

The road teams win the first 3 games of the series.  Sam Jones leads the way for Boston with 33. Double/double for Havlicek and Russell. Wilt goes 33-22 in the loss. 21-12 for Walker.  

East Finals Game 4 (Boston) Celtics 136 Sixers 111

Boston wins the home blowout and goes up 3-1, they are a game from returning to the NBA Finals.  Wayne Embry leads in scoring with 26 off the bench, 20 for Sam Jones, 20 rebounds for Russell.  22 apiece for Greer and Jones, double/double for Wilt, Jackson, Walker. 

East Finals Game 5 (Philly) Celtics 131 Sixers 122

The Celtics and Sixers have split the last 4 Eastern Finals, this one goes to Boston and they head back to the NBA Championship. 33 pts, 14 rebounds for Havlicek and he's the series MVP. 21-17 for Russell and 20-12 for Bailey Howell. 26 pts, 10 assists for Sam Jones.  Wilt nearly has a quadruple double in the loss.  26 pts, 21 boards, 10 assists - 9 blocks.  

West Finals Game 1 (LA) Warriors 132 Lakers 127

Nate Thurmond is out with a knee injury and will miss the postseason; Rick Barry is gone, but that doesn't stop the Warriors from taking game one on the road. Jeff Mullins scores 31. 29 for Rudy LaRusso, 21-15 for Clyde Lee. 22 for Fred Hetzel.  Elgin Baylor has a monster game, 40 pts, 18 rebounds. 29 for Jerry West, 20 for Archie Clark,

West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 122 Warriors 120

The Warriors scored 11 in the last 30 seconds but the comeback attempt falls short, 36 for West, 23-22 for Baylor. Double/double for Mel Counts. Fred Hetzel scores 34 in the loss. 27 for LaRusso, double/double for Lee.

West Finals Game 3 (San Francisco) Lakers 131 Warriors 116

The Lakers take game 3 and move ahead 2-1 in the series.  35 and 11 for Jerry West. 21-20 for Elgin Baylor. Double/double for Mel Counts.  Jeff Mullins scores 27 in the loss. Bob Warlick gets 22. Double/double for Rudy LaRusso and Bill Turner.  

West Finals Game 4 (San Francisco) Lakers 129 Warriors 127 (OT)

The Lakers have won 3 straight and are a game from once again meeting the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.  Jerry West hit a 30 footer at the buzzer to force OT, with a minute left Al Attles scored a contested scoop shot from the paint and the Warriors trailed by a point. Baylor hit 1 of 2 FT the other way, the Warriors had a chance to force the first double OT game in playoff history, but Jeff Mullins missed from 22.  

West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 145 Warriors 108

The Lakers win the West and roll into the NBA Finals; it will be the 4th Finals matchup between the Lakers and Celtics, the Lakers have won the last 3.  West is the series MVP, 35 pts, 10 rebounds. 30 for Baylor. 27 for Archie Clark. Double/double for Darrell Imhoff. 23-12 for Rudy LaRusso in the loss.

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

If the series goes 6 games, it will end in May, the latest end yet to an NBA season.  The Lakers are 6x Champions, ('49, '50, '54, '55, '62, '66) with 3 of those wins coming against Boston.  The Celtics won their first title ('53) by beating the Lakers, and have added 3 more titles to that win ('57, '58, '61).  Two seasons prior, in 1966, the Lakers beat the Celtics in the greatest series ever played, Elgin Baylor winning it by a point with a game 7 buzzer beater in the final game of Red Auerbach's head coaching career.  Bill Russell is now a player/coach with the Celtics. The Lakers also have a new head coach, Butch van Breda Kolff.

CELTICS

HC Bill Russell 

C Bill Russell (33) 2nd Team All NBA

PF Bailey Howell (31) 

SF John Havlicek (27) 2nd Team All NBA

PG Larry Siegfried (28)

SG Sam Jones (34) All Star

LAKERS

HC Butch van Breda Kolff.

C Darrall Imhoff (29)

PF Tom Hawkins (31)

SF Elgin Baylor (33) 3rd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

PG Archie Clark (26) All Star

SG Jerry West (29) 2nd Team All NBA

NBA Finals Game 1 (Boston) Lakers 138 Celtics 113

The Lakers whip Boston on the road in game 1. Elgin Baylor scores 27 with 16 rebounds, through 2025 Baylor remains the all time leader in field goal attempts per game. Jerry West scores 24. 20 for Archie Clark, 20 pts and 10 rebounds for Darrell Imhoff. Fred Crawford with a double double off the bench.  John Havlicek scores 24 in the loss, 27 for Sam Jones, Double/double for both Bill Russell and Bailey Howell.  

NBA Finals Game 2 (Boston) Lakers 119 Celtics 117

Celtics by 2 as the 4th qtr began, it stayed within 3 for the next 6 minutes.  An Archie Clark pull up from the line gave the Lakers a 1 pt lead with 5 left.  Over the next 3 minutes they'd stretch the lead to 6, Elgin Baylor scoring 5 and the Celtics never led again.  Baylor scored 22, West 25, and Clark 21. This is Clark's second year in the league, he was 3rd in the Rookie of the Year race and then made the All Star team this season.  It's his last year with the Lakers, he and Imhoff are a couple of months away from being sent to the Sixers for Wilt.  

NBA Finals Game 3 (LA) Celtics 129 Lakers 120

They had to have it and they got it - the Celtics win game 3 and cut the Lakers lead to 2-1. 32 points and 10 rebounds for Sam Jones. Jones is 34, in his penultimate NBA season, all with Boston. 23 for John Havlicek scored 23. 23 rebound for Bill Russell.  28 points/15 assists for Jerry West in the loss. 27 pts/10 rebounds for Baylor. 

NBA Finals Game 4 (LA) Lakers 124 Celtics 109

The Lakers go up 3-1 and are poised to beat the Celtics again.  22 points/14 rebounds for Baylor, 21 for Archie Clark. Double/double for Imhoff.  Bailey Howell scores 23 in the loss. Russell and Havlicek double/double.  

NBA Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 116 Lakers 107

The Celtics force a game 6.  Havlicek scores 30. 21 for Jones. 22 boards for Russell. Double/double for Howell. West scores 25. Double/double for Baylor and Mel Counts.  

NBA Finals Game 6 (LA) Lakers 135 Celtics 116

The Lakers with their 7th Championship, 4 of those Finals wins coming against the Boston Celtics.  Elgin Baylor wins his 2nd Finals MVP with a huge closeout game, 42 points, 12 rebounds. West scores 26. Double/double for Counts.  24-13 for Howell in the loss.  

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)

Simulated 1967 NBA Finals

 1966

Actual Result: Wilt wins the title; the Sixers knock off the Celtics in the East Finals, ending their run, and then beat Wilt's old Warrior team in the Finals.  

MVP: Wilt Chamberlain

East Semis: Boston Celtics d. New York Knicks (3-1)

                    Philadelphia 76ers d. Cincinnati Royals (3-1)

West Semis: San Francisco Warriors d. Los Angeles Lakers (3-0)

                     St Louis Hawks d. Chicago Bulls (3-0)

Simulation: Wilt won in both '64 and '65, last year featured the greatest NBA Finals ever with a 7th game buzzer beater to win the Lakers their 6th title.  The Lakers are gone, knocked out in the West Semis by the Warriors, who will face the Hawks.  In the East - of course it's Celtics v Sixers for the third year in a row.

East Semis (April) Philadelphia 76ers (68-13) v. Boston Celtics (60-21)

West Semis (March/April) San Francisco Warriors (44-37) v. St Louis Hawks (39-42)

East Semis Game One (Philly) Sixers 148 Celtics 128

Philly with the easy game one win. 35 pts and 11 rebounds for Hal Greer, 33 points and 28 rebounds for Wilt Chamberlain.  25 for Wali Jones. Sam Jones scored 34 in the loss. 24 for John Havlicek, 19 rebounds for Bill Russell.

East Semis Game Two (Boston) Sixers 137 Celtics 105

The Sixers blow the Celtics out again; A ridiculous triple double for Wilt, 35 pts, 26 rebounds, 10 assists.  21 for Chet Walker, Hal Greer, and Billy Cunningham. No Celtic scored more than 15 pts. Russell double double.  

East Semis Game Three (Philly) Sixers 149 Celtics 133

Philly goes up 3-0 as Wilt drops the hammer on the Celtics.  29 pts, 26 boards for the Dipper.  Wali Jones scored 24. 22 pts and 11 rebounds for Luke Jackson. 20 for Chet Walker. John Havlicek scores 24 with 12 rebounds.  23 for Larry Siegfried. 20 rebound game for Bill Russell.  

East Semis Game Four (Boston) Sixers 140 Celtics 135

Philly sweeps the Celtics and returns to the NBA Finals they won 2 years prior.  37 pts, 21 rebounds for the series MVP, Wilt Chamberlain. 26 pts, 13 rebounds for Luke Jackson. 25 each for Chet Walker and Hal Greer. 33 for Havlicek in the loss.  

West Semis Game One (San Francisco) Warriors 128 Hawks 115

Very different looking Warriors team than the one that won the NBA Title three years prior. 2nd year player Rick Barry scored 29, Nate Thurmond was with that Warriors team, he took over at center when Wilt was dealt away, he gets 22 boards.  Bill Bridges goes 20-15 for the Hawks, 21 for Lou Hudson, 20 for Lenny Wilkens and Joe Caldwell.  

West Semis Game Two (San Francisco) Hawks 142 Warriors 137

The Hawks get game 2 and head to St Louis with the series tied at 1.  32 points, 20 rebounds for Zelmo Beaty. 27 for Richie Guerin. 20 points, 20 rebounds for Bill Bridges.  22 for Joe Caldwell.  20 for Lenny Wilkens.  Rick Barry scores 44. 26-17 for Thurmond. 20-11 for Jeff Mullins. 

West Semis Game Three (St Louis) Warriors 132 Hawks 125

The Warriors take a 2-1 lead.  45 points and 15 rebounds for Barry, just unstoppable.  31 for Jeff Mullins.  Double/double for Nate Thurmond and Jim King.  Lou Hudson scores 24 for the Hawks, 20-12 for Zelmo Beaty, 22 for Richie Guerin, 20-17 for Bill Bridges. 

West Semis Game Four (St Louis) Warriors 121 Hawks 97

The Warriors move a game away from returning to the NBA Finals, and as happened in the real world, squaring off with their former superstar Wilt Chamberlain. Jeff Mullins leads the way here with 31. 20 for Jim King, a double/double for Thurmond in a quiet night for Rick Barry. Lou Hudson had 24 in the loss. Double/double for Zelmo Beaty and Bill Bridges.

West Semis Game Five (San Francisco) Warriors 137 Hawks 114

The simulation matches the real world, it's Warriors/Sixers - the old Philly team v the new Philly team, in the NBA Finals.  43 points for series MVP Rick Barry.  21 and 21 for Thurmond. Lenny Wilkens had 20 in the loss.

NBA FINALS (April) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS v. SAN FRANCISCO WARRIORS

The Philadelphia Warriors were the first BAA Champs, the Syracuse Nationals lost the first NBA Finals.  The Warriors lost the BAA Finals in '48, won the whole thing in '56.  The Nationals lost the Finals in '52 and '54 before winning in '59.  The Warriors moved to San Francisco, taking with them perhaps the greatest talent in the history of the sport, Wilt Chamberlain - and they won the NBA Title in '64.  The Nationals moved to Philadelphia, becoming the 76ers, and engineered a midseason trade in '65 to bring Chamberlain back home - and then they won the NBA Title that season.  They square off here, as happened in the real world, in the 1967 NBA Finals.  

76ERS

HC-Alex Hannum

C Wilt Chamberlain (30) MVP, 1st Team All NBA

PF Luke Jackson (25)

SF Chet Walker (26) All Star

PG Wali Jones (24)

SG Hal Greer (30) 2nd Team All NBA

WARRIORS

HC-Bill Sharman

C Nate Thurmond (25) 2nd MVP

PF Tom Meschery (28) 

SF Rick Barry (22) 5th MVP, 1st Team All NBA

PG Jeff Mullins (24)

SG Jim King (25)

NBA Finals Game 1 (Philly) Warriors 133 Sixers 122

The Warriors take game 1 on the road.  Rick Barry scores 28 - Nate Thurmond, going head to head against his old teammate Wilt, scores 25 with 22 boards. 26 pts for Jeff Mullins.  Wilt and Thurmond were 1-2 in the MVP vote this season, he will spend 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Warriors.  40 and 17 for Wilt. 21 for Chet Walker. 

NBA Finals Game 2 (Philly) Sixers 131 Warriors 125

The series is tied and heading to San Francisco.  Wilt triple doubles, 23 pts, 23 rebounds, a dozen assists.  25 points for Hal Greer, Luke Jackson double/double.  Rick Barry scores 37 in the loss.  Double/double for Thurmond.  

NBA Finals Game 3 (San Francisco) Sixers 129 Warriors 111

Philly takes the 2-1 lead. 29 for Hal Greer, he was a rookie on that Nationals team that won it all in '59, 8 years later he's led the Sixers in scoring two straight games. 26 and 25 for Wilt. 22 and 10 for Chet Walker.  Rick Barry scores 27 in the loss.  Double/double for Thurmond.  

NBA Finals Game 4 (San Francisco) Sixers 137 Warriors 127

The Sixers take both games in the Bay, it's now 3-1 with the series headed to Philly for game 5. 46 points and 29 rebounds for Wilt, he's a game from an unprecedented third Finals MVP. 24 for Greer, 20 for Wali Jones. Rick Barry does all he can in the loss, 37 pts.  Clyde Lee goes 20-14 and Nate Thurmond double/doubles.  

NBA Finals Game 5 (Philly) Warriors 129 Sixers 108

The Warriors had to win game 5 and they do, its now 3-2 Philly. 33 for Barry; after this series, Rick Barry will leave the Warriors for five seasons as he heads to the ABA. 24 and 11 for Jeff Mullins, 20-20 for Thurmond.  Wilt goes 32 and 17 in the loss. Double/double for Chet Walker.

NBA Finals Game 6 (San Francisco) Sixers 134 Warriors 124

The Sixers take all 3 games in San Francisco and win the NBA Championship, their second in 3 years. Wilt Chamberlain is the NBA's first 3 time Finals MVP, he gets his second triple double of the series, 31 pts, 25 rebounds, 13 assists.  26 for Hal Greer, 25 for Wali Jones and a double/double for Luke Jackson.  32 for Barry in the defeat.  

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)

2025-26 College Bowl Predictions

 

Saturday, Dec. 13

Noon, ABC

Celebration Bowl

South Carolina State  vs. Prairie View A&M

(Atlanta)

Pick SC St -1.5

Win/Win   1-0/1-0

 

8 p.m., ABC

LA Bowl 

Boise State vs. Washington 

(Los Angeles)

Pick Boise +8.5, Washington ML

Tuesday, Dec. 16 

9 p.m., ESPN

Veterans Bowl

Troy vs. Jacksonville State

(Montgomery, Alabama)

Pick Jack St +3.5, Troy ML 

Wednesday, Dec. 17

 5 p.m., ESPN

Cure Bowl

Old Dominion vs. South Florida 

(Orlando)

Pick SFlorida -6.5

8:30 p.m., ESPN

Ventures Bowl

Louisiana  vs. Delaware

(Mobile)

Pick Louisiana -2.5

 

Thursday, Dec. 18

9 p.m., ESPN2

Xbox Bowl

Missouri State vs. Arkansas State

(Frisco, Texas)

Pick Mo St +1.5, Mo St ML

 Friday, Dec. 19

11 a.m., ESPN

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Kennesaw State  vs. Western Michigan 

(Conway, South Carolina)

Pick Kenn St +4.5, Kenn St ML 

2:30 p.m., ESPN

Gasparilla Bowl

Memphis vs. NC State

(Tampa)

Pick Memphis +4.5, Mem ML

8 PM ESPN

Playoff: No. 8 Oklahoma  vs. No. 9 Alabama 

(Norman, Oklahoma)

Pick Oklahoma +1.5, OU ML 

Saturday, Dec. 20

Noon ABC

Playoff: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M 

(College Station, Texas)

Pick Miami +3.5, A&M ML 

3:30 p.m., TNT

Playoff: No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss 

(Oxford, Mississippi)

Pick  Ole Miss -16.5

7:30 p.m., TNT

Playoff No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon 

(Eugene, Oregon)

Pick JMU +20.5, Ore ML 

Monday, Dec. 22

2 p.m., ESPN

Potato Bowl

Washington State vs. Utah State

(Boise)

Pick Wash St +2.5, Wash St ML 

Tuesday, Dec. 23

2 p.m., ESPN

Boca Raton Bowl

Toledo vs. Louisville 

(Boca Raton)

Pick Toledo +8.5, Louisville ML 

5:30 p.m., ESPN

New Orleans Bowl

Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss 

(New Orleans)

Pick SMiss +3.5, WKy ML

 

9 p.m., ESPN

Frisco Bowl

UNLV  vs. Ohio

(Frisco, Texas)

Pick UNLV -3.5 

Wednesday, Dec. 24

8 p.m., ESPN

Hawai'i Bowl

California vs. Hawaii 

(Honolulu)

Pick Hawaii +3.5, Hawaii ML 

Friday, Dec. 26

1 p.m., ESPN

Sports Bowl

Central Michigan vs. Northwestern 

(Detroit)

 Pick C Mich +13.5, NW ML

4:30 p.m., ESPN

Rate Bowl

New Mexico vs. Minnesota 

(Phoenix)

Pick NMex +3.5 NMex ML

 

8 p.m., ESPN

First Responder Bowl

Florida International vs. UTSA 

(Dallas)

Pick FIU +9.5 UTSA ML

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

11 a.m., ESPN

Military Bowl

Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina

(Annapolis)

Pick ECU +6.5 Pitt ML

Noon, ABC

Pinstripe Bowl

Penn State vs. Clemson

(The Bronx)

Pick Penn St +1.5 Penn St ML

2:15 p.m., ESPN

Fenway Bowl

UConn vs. Army

(Boston)

Pick UConn +2.5 UConn ML

3:30 p.m., ABC

Pop-Tarts Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. BYU 

(Orlando)

Pick BYU -3.5 

4:30 p.m., CW Network

Arizona Bowl

Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State 

(Tucson)

Pick Miami +3.5 Fresno ML

5:45 p.m., ESPN

New Mexico Bowl

North Texas vs. San Diego State

(Albuquerque)

 Pick N Tex -5.5

7:30 p.m. ABC

Gator Bowl

Virginia vs. Missouri 

(Jacksonville)

Pick UVA +7.5 Missouri ML

 

9:15 p.m., ESPN

Texas Bowl

LSU vs. Houston

(Houston)

Pick LSU +3.5 LSU ML

Monday, Dec. 29

2 p.m., ESPN

Birmingham Bowl

Georgia Southern vs. App State 

(Birmingham)

Pick App St +3.5 App St ML

Tuesday, Dec. 30

2 p.m., ESPN

Independence Bowl

Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech 

(Shreveport)

Pick La Tech -9.5 

5:30 p.m., ESPN

Music City Bowl

Tennessee  vs. Illinois

(Nashville)

 Pick Illinois +6.5 Tenn ML

9 p.m., ESPN

Alamo Bowl

USC vs. TCU

(San Antonio)

Pick USC -6.5

 

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Noon, ESPN

ReliaQuest Bowl

Iowa vs. Vanderbilt 

(Tampa)

Pick Iowa +4.5 Vandy ML

2 p.m., CBS

Sun Bowl

Arizona State vs. Duke 

(El Paso)

 Pick Ariz St +1.5 Ariz St ML

3 p.m., ABC

Citrus Bowl

Michigan vs. Texas 

(Orlando)

Pick Mich +5.5 Tex ML

 

3:30 p.m., ESPN

Las Vegas Bowl

Nebraska vs. Utah  

(Las Vegas)

Pick Neb +14.5 Utah ML

7:30 p.m., ESPN

CFP Quarterfinal - Cotton Bowl

Miami-Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Ohio State 

(Dallas)

Pick Ohio St -.5 

Thursday, Jan. 1 

Noon, ESPN

CFP Quarterfinal - Orange Bowl

James Madison/Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech

(Miami)

Pick TTech -.5 

4 p.m., ESPN

CFP Quarterfinal - Rose Bowl

Alabama/Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Indiana 

(Pasadena)

Pick Indiana -.5 

8 p.m., ESPN

CFP Quarterfinal - Sugar Bowl

Tulane/Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia 

(New Orleans)

Pick UGA -.5

 Friday, Jan. 2

1 p.m., ESPN

Armed Forces Bowl

Rice vs. Texas State 

(Fort Worth)

Pick Tex St -9.5

 

4:30 p.m., ESPN

Liberty Bowl

Navy vs. Cincinnati 

(Memphis)

Pick Cin -1.5 

8 p.m., ESPN

Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State 

 (Charlotte)

Pick Wake +2.5 Miss St ML

 

8 p.m., Fox

Holiday Bowl

Arizona  vs. SMU 

(San Diego)

Pick SMU +1.5 Ariz St ML

 

Thursday, Jan. 8

7:30 p.m., ESPN

CFP Semifinal Fiesta Bowl 

(Phoenix)

Pick Cotton Bowl Winner -.5

 

7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Jan. 9

CFP Semifinal - Peach Bowl 

(Atlanta)

Pick Rose Bowl Winner -.5 

Monday, Jan. 19

7:30 p.m., ESPN

CFP National Championship  

(Miami)

Pick Fiesta Bowl Winner +.5

 

 

Simulated 1966 NBA Finals

 1965

Actual Result: The 7th straight Celtics title.  Once again, they beat the Lakers, this time in 7.

MVP: Wilt Chamberlain

East Semis: Celtics d. Royals (3-2)

West Semis: Hawks d. Bullets (3-0)

Simulation: The 60s have not been dominated by the Celtics, a different team has won the title every year of the decade.  Last year, it was Wilt's Sixers and they had the best record in basketball this year.  Sixers/Celtics will once again square off in the East.  In the West, it's the Lakers again, they'll face the Hawks.

East Finals (April) Philadelphia 76ers (55-25) v. Boston Celtics (54-26)

West Finals (April) Los Angeles Lakers (45-35) d. St Louis Hawks (36-44)

East Finals Game 1 (Philly) Sixers 108 Celtics 106

Willie Naulls hits from the top of the key with 6 minutes left and the Celtics led by 6. 90 seconds later, buckets by Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer, Chet Walker had tied the score.  Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell traded baskets and with 3:30 left, Russell fouled Wilt - it was his 6th foul of the game and he was done.  Wilt made them both - the Sixers had their first lead of the quarter.  John Havlicek responded from the block to tie it up.  Wilt and Mel Counts then traded off baskets three times - still tied up, less than a minute to play.  Sixers ball. Both teams miss shots - with 26 seconds left Wilt got the dunk and the foul, he hit the shot and the Sixers led by 3.  That was enough, Boston never caught up and Philly takes game 1. 44 pts, 31 rebounds for the Dipper. 22 pts and 10 assists for Hal Greer. We saw Don Nelson in the Lakers rotation in last year's NBA Finals, forced into action with the injury to Elgin Baylor; he was released in the offseason and is now in the Boston rotation and led the Celtics in scoring, 18 pts, 10 rebounds. 

East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Sixers 111 Celtics 105

Philly goes to Boston and wins game 2. The Sixers beat the Celtics in last year's East Finals and are up 2-0 here. 39-28 for Wilt.  Double/double for Luke Jackson.  Havlicek leads the Celts with 34. Double/double for Bill Russell. 

East Finals Game 3 (Philly) Celtics 140 Sixers 129

The Celtics had to have it and they do, cutting the Sixers lead to 2-1.  Sam Jones goes off, 39 points. 28 rebounds for Russell.  Wilt goes 29 and 30 in the loss. 28 for Greer, 21 for Walker. 

East Finals Game 4 (Boston) Celtics 123 Sixers 112

Boston evens the series.  Sam Jones goes for 35, John Havlicek for 30.  38 rebounds for Russell.  30 points for Greer in the defeat, Wilt goes 28 and 27.  

East Finals Game 5 (Philly) Celtics 132 Sixers 119

Boston dropped the first 2 games of the series but have roared back to take 3 straight and are now a game away from reaching their first NBA Finals in 4 years.  John Havlicek with the best game of his playoff career, 34 pts, 10 rebounds. 28 for Sam Jones. 26 rebounds for Russell.  28-21 for Wilt in the loss, 24 for Walker.  

East Finals Game 6 (Boston) Celtics 123 Sixers 103

Boston knocks off the defending champs, avenging last year's East Finals loss, and they head back to the NBA Finals. 25 each for Havlicek and Jones, 24 boards for Russell.  Wilt is the series MVP despite the loss, 29 pts, 10 rebounds. 

West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 149 Hawks 147 (OT)

Hawks led by 11 with 10 to play.  West scored the Lakers next 7, but they still trailed by 10 with 7 left. At 5:32 to play, St Louis had a 15 point lead.  West scored 6 over the next minute, Lakers still down 9 with 4:30 left.  2 minutes later, West had 7 more points, that's 20 points for Jerry West in 7 and a half 4th quarter minutes.  Lakers still down 4.  Richie Guerin hits two FT for the Hawks, West matches that. The Hawks miss, Lakers pound it to Leroy Ellis and are down 2 with a minute left.  The Hawks miss - Rudy LaRusso scores from the paint - gets fouled - and after the FT the Lakers lead with 34 seconds left.  Guerin hits a corner J, Hawks up 1 with 20 seconds left. Baylor misses with 8 seconds left - the Hawks get the rebound - Lakers foul Joe Caldwell, he hits 1 - and at the buzzer - Jerry West hits from just inside midcourt to send the game to OT.  In OT, the Hawks led with a minute to play.  LaRusso layup cuts it to 1 with 47 seconds left.  The Hawks miss, West gets fouled and hits both FT, Lakers up 1 with 30 seconds to play.  Hawks miss again, 2 more West Ft, Lakers up 3 with 12 seconds left and thats essentially it.  45 for West to lead the Lakers.  Elgin Baylor has 26 points, 18 rebounds. Double/double for LaRusso and Ellis.  32 points, 17 rebounds for Zelmo Beaty in the defeat. 25 for Richie Guerin, 23 for Lenny Wilkens, 24 and 12 boards for Joe Caldwell.  

West Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 125 Hawks 110

35 more for West, 29 and 18 for Baylor. LeRoy Ellis double/double as the Lakers take the first two at home. 21-16 for Beaty in the loss. 20 for Caldwell.  

West Finals Game 3 (St Louis) Hawks 123 Lakers 109

The Hawks win game 3 at home.  Lenny Wilkens scores 33 with 10 rebounds to lead the way. 20 rebounds for Bill Bridges. Zelmo Beaty double/double. West goes 22 and 10 in the loss. 21 and 14 for Ellis. Double/double for Baylor.

West Finals Game 4 (St Louis) Lakers 125 Hawks 108

LA takes game 4 and will head home with 3-1 lead, one game away from meeting the Celtics in the Finals. 25 for West. 24 for Walt Hazzard.  18 rebounds for Elgin Baylor who is not the same player he was before that knee injury a year prior.  Double/double for Leroy Ellis.  24 and 17 for Beaty in the defeat. 

West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 134 Hawks 122

In 1953, the Celtics beat the Lakers.  In 1955, the Lakers beat the Celtics. In 1962, the Lakers beat the Celtics.  They'll meet again this year as the Los Angeles Lakers win the West.  Elgin Baylor has his best game of the playoffs, 28 points, 12 rebounds. 22 for West, he's the series MVP. Bob Boozer goes 24 and 13.  Lenny Wilkens has 27 pts and a dozen assists in the loss.  

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

In the real world, the Celtics are in the midst of the most dominant stretch in the history of basketball even up to present day - but here, Boston hasnt won the NBA Title in 5 years. The Celtics are 4 time NBA Champs; including the BAA win, the Lakers are 5 Time Champs.  Here comes Celtics/Lakers IV.

CELTICS

HC- Red Auerbach

C Bill Russell (31) 4th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA

PF Satch Sanders (27)

SF John Havlicek (25) 2nd Team All NBA

PG KC Jones (33) 

SG Sam Jones (32) 5th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA

LAKERS

HC-Fred Schaus

C LeRoy Ellis (25)

PF Rudy LaRusso (28) All Star

SF Elgin Baylor (31)

PG Jerry West (27) 2nd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

SG Gail Goodrich (22)

NBA Finals Game One (Boston) Lakers 124 Celtics 117

The Lakers take game one in Boston Garden. Jerry West scores 40.  This was his 6th NBA season and 5th straight top 5 MVP finish.  Double doubles for Elgin Baylor/Leroy Ellis and Gail Goodrich, who has just moved into the starting lineup.  In the loss, Sam Jones scored 27, John Havlicek 20, and Bill Russell had 30 rebounds.  

NBA Finals Game Two (Boston) Celtics 133 Lakers 107

Boston evens the series as we shift to LA for games 3-4.  28 points for John Havlicek. This is the 4th year of what will be a 16 season Hall of Fame career, all with the Celtics. He was named to his first All Star team this year and he will be named to that team every season the rest of his career.  20 pts and 33 rebounds for Russell.  26 and 12 for Elgin Baylor in the loss. Leroy Ellis double/double.

NBA Finals Game Three (LA) Celtics 131 Lakers 126

The Celtics win in LA and take the series lead.  Havlicek again leads the way for Boston, 33 pts and a dozen rebounds.  27 and 10 for Sam Jones. 24 boards for Russell.  Its now over a year since Elgin Baylor's knee injury and he goes off.  36 pts, 23 rebounds. Jerry West has 33. It took Baylor this season to recover, it's the only season of his career until the very end that he averaged less than 20 PPG, its the first year of his career that he wasn't 1st Team All NBA.  

NBA Finals Game Four (LA) Celtics 114 Lakers 112

So tight in the 4th quarter, the Lakers led by 1 to open the final frame, by 3 with 10 minutes left, after a 3 pt play by Gail Goodrich the lead was 6 with 8 to play.  Two minutes later a Havlicek 19 footer had tied the score.  A Don Nelson layup against his former squad gave the Celtics their first lead of the quarter with 4 minutes left.  A minute later, that Celtic lead is one when Baylor and Russell trade baskets.  Bob Boozer ties it with 2:30 left, and at 2 minutes, KC Jones gets a breakaway layup after a midcourt steal and Boston leads by 2.  Boozer and KC exchange buckets - and with under a minute to play, Goodrich hits from the top of the key and the score is tied.  Both sides miss - with 13 seconds left, Russell misses from the paint, but Sam Jones is there with the follow to give the Celts the lead.  Its Goodrich who takes the last shot for the Lakers - an open look from the wing - and he misses.  30 for Sam Jones. 24 and 11 for Havlicek. 27 boards for Russell. A double/double for Satch Sanders.  27 and 10 for West in the loss.  22 for Goodrich. 21 rebounds for Baylor.  Lakers up 3-1 and playing game 5 on their home floor.

NBA Finals Game Five (Boston) Lakers 112 Celtics 110

Back to back games decided by a bucket.  Tied as the 4th qtr started.  Celtics by 1 with 10 to play. 

Celtics by 1 with 8 to play.  2 minutes later, after the Lakers had scored 9 straight, LA led by 6.  The lead was still 5 with 3:30 to play when Sam Jones hit a midrange turnaround to cut it to 3.  After Jones and Goodrich exchanged baskets, Don Nelson scored from the wing and it was a 1 point Laker lead.  LaRusso and Goodrich hit a total of 3 FT, and with less than 90 seconds left it was Lakers by 4.  Top of the key jumper from KC Jones cuts it to 2.  The Lakers miss - and Havlicek hits a 22 footer and the score it tied with 30 seconds to play.  West hits a long jumper and is fouled, hits the FT - LA by 3, Sanders quick layup.  Goodrich hits 1 FT, and with 7 seconds to play Sam Jones hits an 18 footer to tie the score.  The Lakers dont call timeout - Jerry West takes the inbounds, crosses halfcourt, throws up a heave -- and it is good.  Jerry West with a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to win game 5 and the Lakers remain in the series.  37 for West.  21 points and 17 boards for Baylor.  Double/double for Ellis.  29 and 11 for Sam Jones, 23 and 12 for Havlicek. Double/double for Sanders.  24 rebounds for Russell.

NBA Finals Game Six (LA) Lakers 128 Celtics 117

For the third consecutive year, the NBA Finals will go to game 7. In '64, the Warriors beat the Royals, last year, the Sixers beat the Lakers.  The Lakers are back this year, having won games 5 and 6 and we will go back to Boston Garden for Game 7 (as happened in the actual series).  32 points for West, 22 and 18 for Baylor. 21 for Goodrich. Double/Double for LaRusso.  Havlicek scores 30 for the Celts.  20 for Sam Jones. 31 rebounds for Russell.  

Here we go - Game Seven in Boston.

NBA Finals Game Seven (Boston) Lakers 114 Celtics 113

This was a 2 point Celtics win in the real game - here, it becomes a 1 point Lakers win, the first 1 point game 7 NBA Finals in history.  The Los Angeles Lakers are the champions of the world.  Lakers led by 3 as the 4th started. 2 minutes later, that lead was 5.  2 minutes later after a KC Jones layup the score was tied.  2 minutes later after a Sam Jones runner in the lane, the Celtics had their first 4th qtr lead, up 2.  The Lakers big men, Ellis and Imhoff, score and the Lakers are up 2, 4 minutes to play.  That leas is up to 3 with 3 left.  Havlicek and Goodrich trade bank shots, and with 2 to play, KC Jones hits a corner J, he's fouled, he converts, and the score is tied.  Ellis layup gives LA the lead.  90 seconds left.  Baylor hits a FT, Havlicek gets a baseline driving layup, Lakers by 1 with 1 minute left.  The Celtics force a turnover, Don Nelson lays it up and in - Boston lead with 30 seconds left.  Lakers hold for the last shot.  Hold for the last shot.  It's a clearout for Elgin Baylor, he pulls up - at the buzzer - Elgin Baylor drops in an 18 footer - pure and perfect - and the Lakers beat the Celtics.  A year after a devastating knee injury kept hit from playing in the finals, Elgin Baylor hits a game 7 buzzer beater on the road to win the NBA Championship.  Baylor wins the Finals MVP, he had a double/double in this game, but the series winning buzzer beater is why he wins the award and becomes the 4th man to win it twice. Jerry West has a triple double, 20 pts, 10 assists, 10 boards.  Rudy LaRusso, with 21 pts, is the high man for LA.  Sam Jones has 30 in the loss.  

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)

Simulated 1965 NBA Finals

 1964

Actual Result: The 6th straight Celtics NBA Championship, they beat the Lakers in 5.

MVP: Bill Russell

East Semis: Sixers d. Royals (3-1)

West Semis: Bullets d. Hawks (3-1)

Simulation: It's 4 years since Boston's last NBA Title, the defending champion Warriors deal away Wilt at midseason and finish with the worst record in the league.  Wilt's new team, however, is the Sixers, who previously were the Syracuse Nationals - and they reach the East Finals to play Boston.  In the West, it's the Lakers taking on an expansion team, the Baltimore Bullets, who began in Chicago just 3 years prior (there were a previous Baltimore Bullets, they disbanded during the '54-55 season)

East Finals (April) Boston Celtics (62-18) v. Philadelphia 76ers (40-40)

West Finals (April) Los Angeles Lakers (49-31) v. Baltimore Bullets (37-43)

East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Celtics 138 Sixers 119

Boston opens with a game 1 win.  30 for Sam Jones, 23-23 for Bill Russell. 23 for John Havlicek, 22 for Willie Naulls.  32 pts/16 rebounds for Wilt Chamberlain in the loss.  Hal Greer had 25.

East Finals Game 2 (Philadelphia) Sixers 147 Celtics 106

Philly ties it up.  32 pts/20 rebounds for Wilt; Luke Jackson scores 30 himself with 18 boards. 24 for Hal Greer. Chet Walker double/doubled.  27 for Sam Jones in the defeat, 21 for Havlicek, double/double for Russell. 

East Finals Game 3 (Boston) Sixers 133 Celtics 117

Philly takes game 3 in Boston Garden and goes up 2-1. 42 points and 26 rebounds for Wilt. Chet Walker scores 32. 24 rebounds for Luke Jackson.  29 for Sam Jones in the loss, 20 for Havlicek, a double/double for Russell.

East Finals Game 4 (Philly) Celtics 139 Sixers 128

The Celtics even the series with a road win of their own.  Sam Jones continues to lead the way for Boston, 25 pts.  23 for Havlicek and a double/double for Russell.  26 and 15 for Wilt.  Double/doubles for Luke Jackson and Red Kerr. 

East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Celtics 136 Sixers 118

Boston wins the pivotal game 5.  Sam Jones scores 33, he's been the best Celtic in the series.  22 for Havlicek, a 29 rebound game for Russell.  Hal Greer scores 29 for the Sixers. 20 and 10 for Wilt.

East Finals Game 6 (Philly) Sixers 128 Celtics 118

Philly takes game 6 and we will go back to Boston Garden for Game 7.  Wilt comes back big, 45 points, 18 rebounds. 26-15 for Luke Jackson. 24 for Greer. Double/Double for Walker.  39 more for Sam Jones in the loss, 23 for Hondo.  31 boards for Russell.  

Game Seven in Boston - winner to the NBA Finals.  

East Finals Game 7 (Boston) Sixers 136 Celtics 126

Wilt beats Russell.  Wilt won the NBA Championship as a Warrior last year - was dealt to the Sixers at midseason and in his return to Philadelphia he leads his new team to the NBA Finals with a game 7 win in Boston.  36 pts, 21 rebounds for the Dipper. Chet Walker goes 26-16. Dave Gambee with a big double/double.  31 for Sam Jones. 27 for Havlicek.  26 rebounds for Russell.  

West Finals Game 1 (LA) Lakers 127 Bullets 118

Catastrophe for the Lakers, early in the first quarter, Elgin Baylor goes down with knee injury and is out for the remainder of the playoffs.  The Lakers still take game 1, on 37 points from Jerry West.  20 for Dick Barnett.  Bailey Howell scores 23 for the Bullets. Double/double for Walt Bellamy and Gus Johnson. 

West Finals Game 2 (LA) Bullets 120 Lakers 96

The Bullets blow the Lakers out and head home with the series tied at 1.  29 points/21 rebounds for Walt Bellamy. 20 and 15 for Gus Johnson. Jerry West scores 29 in the loss. Double/double for Leroy Ellis. 

West Finals Game 3 (Baltimore) Bullets 124 Lakers 113

The Bullets take game three and lead the series 2-1.  Bailey Howell rolls over LA, 41 pts, 17 rebounds. Don Ohl scores 20. Double/double for Bellamy.  23 for Dick Barnett, 22 for Jerry West.  Double/double for Leroy Ellis.  

West Finals Game 4 (Baltimore) Lakers 134 Bullets 117

The Lakers even the series as we head back to LA for game 5.  30 for West. 26 for Ellis.  27-10 for Bellamy in the defeat, 22-12 for Howell. Double/double for Gus Johnson. 

West Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 112 Bullets 103

Playing without Baylor, the Lakers win 2 straight and are now 1 game away from meeting Wilt and the Sixers in the Finals.  36 for West. Double/double for Ellis and Larusso. Double/double for Howell and Johnson in the defeat.

West Finals Game 6 (Baltimore) Lakers 123 Bullets 104

It's the 9th Finals appearance for the Lakers, third since the move to LA; they beat the Bullets and will face the 76ers in the NBA Finals. 26 points for Jerry West, he's the series MVP. 22 for Barnett and a double/double for Ellis. 23/11 for Gus Johnson in the loss, 20 for Bailey Howell.

NBA FINALS (April) LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Including the BAA, the Lakers reached 6 Finals in Minneapolis, winning 4 titles.  In '62, now playing in Los Angeles, the Lakers won their 5th title and in '63, they reaches their 8th Finals.  The Lakers will be looking for an unprecedented 6th title, but they'll be doing it without first Team All NBA Elgin Baylor.  Also unprecedented would be a Sixers win; the Syracuse Nationals reached the NBA Finals four times, finally overcoming the Lakers in '59 for their only NBA Championship. The MVP of those Finals was Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes- who is now the head coach of the Sixers, the Nationals moving to Philadelphia last season.  They acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the Warriors at midseason - Wilt was the NBA Finals MVP last season and looks to become the only man to win back to back Finals MVPs, much less with two different teams.  

LAKERS

HC-Fred Schaus

C Leroy Ellis (24)

PF Rudy LaRusso (27)

SF Don Nelson (24)

PG Jerry West (26) 3rd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

SG Dick Barnett (28)

76ERS

HC-Dolph Schayes

C Wilt Chamberlain (28) 5th MVP, 2nd Team All NBA

PF Luke Jackson (23) All Star

SF Chet Walker (24)

PG Larry Costello (33) All Star

SG Hall Greer (28) 2nd Team All NBA

NBA Finals Game 1 (LA) Sixers 119 Lakers 116

LA got as close as a point 3 times in the 4th, but could never get over that hump and the Sixers take game one on the road.  24 points apiece for both Hal Greer and Chet Walker. Greer was a rookie on that '59 NBA Champion Syracuse team, he's been second team All NBA the past two seasons and will spend his entire 15 year career with this organization  Like Greer, Walker will one day be in the Hall of Fame, there are levels to these things - so, whereas Greer is a multi time second team All NBA, Walker is a step below that, he'll retire as a multi time All Star, he's in his third season, will spend the rest of the decade as a Sixer before heading to Chicago to spend the back half of his career.  Wilt goes 21-24.  28 for Jerry West in the loss, without Baylor West is really carrying an enormous burden. Double/doubles for both Leroy Ellis and Gene Wiley.

NBA Finals Game 2 (LA) Lakers 105 Sixers 95

The Lakers split the first two games at home; 25 for West, 23 for Dick Barnett; Leroy Ellis scores 21 with 19 boards.  Ellis is in the third season of what will be a 14 year career. Several years from now, he'll finish his career with the Sixers.  Wilt goes 34-18 in the loss. 

NBA Finals Game 3 (Philly) Sixers 138 Lakers 123

Philly wins, goes up 2-1. 31 pt, 19 rebounds for Wilt.  This is Wilts 6th season in the NBA, he has led the league in PPG in all of those seasons (in '62, he averaged over 50 points a game.  Averaged). He will, of course, finish his career with the Lakers.  35 for West in the loss. Leroy Ellis adds 21.

NBA Finals Game 4 (Philly) Sixers 137 Lakers 132

The Sixers led by as many as 18 in the 4th, the Lakers closed hard, but didn't get closer than 3.  29-16 for Wilt, who is a game away from back to back NBA Finals MVPs with different teams. 22-12 for Walker, 22 for both Greer and Luke Jackson.  Jerry West scores 35, the absence of Elgin Baylor just so obvious in this series. 20 for Dick Barnett. Double/double for Gene Wiley.

NBA Finals Game 5 (LA) Lakers 139 Sixers 102

The Lakers stay alive, whipping the Sixers to send the series back to Philly.  37 for Jerry West; This was West's 4th straight 1st Team All NBA season, he'll accomplish that another half dozen times. 22 points and a Finals record 11 blocks for Wilt.  

NBA Finals Game 6 (Philly) Sixers 130 Lakers 115

The Philadelphia 76ers are NBA Champions.  36 pts and 14 rebounds for Wilt, who wins his second straight Finals MVP, the first ever to do that.  24 for Hal Greer, 23 points and 15 rebounds for Chet Walker. 25 for West in the loss.  

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)