jim jividen

Simulated 1965 NBA Finals

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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 (Celtics)

2nd Team

C Bill Russell (Celtics)

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)

Simulated 1964 NBA Finals

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

1963

Actual Result: 5 straight titles for the Celtics, beating the Wilt's San Francisco Warriors in 5.

MVP: Oscar Robertson

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

West Semis: Hawks d. Lakers (3-2)

Simulation: The East semis are a rematch of last season's East Semis, the World Champion Royals facing the Celtics. In the West, the Warriors now play in San Francisco and they face the Hawks.

East Finals: (March/April) Boston Celtics (59-21) v. Cincinnati Royals (55-25)

West Finals: (April) San Francisco Warriors (48-32) v. St Louis Hawks (46-34)

East Finals Game 1 (Boston) Royals 113 Celtics 102

The defending champs take game 1 on the road. The rookie Jerry Lucas paces the club in this one, 24 points, 17 rebounds. Triple Double for Oscar Robertson, who followed up his NBA Finals MVP with a regular season MVP this year, 21 pts, 15 boards, 11 assists. Tommy Heinsohn scores 22 for Boston, 20 for Sam Jones, a double/double for Bill Russell.

East Finals Game 2 (Boston) Celtics 117 Royals 107

Boston wins game 2, the series is level as they head to Ohio. 28 for Sam Jones, 27 for Tom Heinsohn, 15 points and 39 rebounds for Bill Russell. Another Oscar Triple Double in the loss, 31 pts, 14 assists, 10 rebounds. 21/10 for Wayne Embry.

East Finals Game 3 (Cincinnati) Royals 134 Celtics 101

Cincinnati busts the Celtics in the mouth, taking game 3. All 5 Royals starters go for 20+. Buddy Bockhorn leads with 26, 24 with 27 rebounds for Jerry Lucas, one more Oscar triple double, 24 pts, 12 assists, 11 rebounds. Jack Twyman scores 24 and Wayne Embry adds 21. On the losing end, 22 for Heinsohn, 21 for John Havlicek. Double/double for Russell.

East Finals Game 4 (Cincinnati) Royals 136 Celtics 110

Cincinnati is dominating the Celtics. 46 pts/12 rebounds for Oscar Robertson; Bob Cousy was the best guard in playoff history - but last year he got run off the floor by Oscar and retired, Boston still has no answers for the big O. 28 and 20 for Jerry Lucas. 26/11 for Sam Jones in the loss, 23 for Havlicek. Double/Double for Russell.

East Finals Game 5 (Boston) Royals 114 Celtics 113

Very controversial ending to the series, Bill Russell called for a foul on a Jack Twyman shot with less than 10 seconds to play - he hits both FT, Sam Jones misses on the other end and for the second straight year, the Royals knock out the Celtics and head to the NBA Finals. It's Twyman who led the way with 26, 21 pts, 10 rebounds for Oscar, he wins series MVP, double/double for Lucas. Willie Naulls scores 21 off the bench for Boston, that leads for the Celts.

West Finals Game 1 (San Francisco) Hawks 101 Warriors 98

Up 1 with 14 seconds left, Cliff Hagan hits from 17 and St Louis takes game 1 on the road. Bob Pettit is a 2 time Finals MVP, he scores 37 with 19 rebounds. 26 for Hagan. Double/double for Zelmo Beaty. Wilt goes 34-12 in the loss. Double/double for Wayne Hightower and Tom Meschery.

West Finals Game 2 (San Francisco) Hawks 116 Warriors 109

The Hawks take both games in San Francisco and head home, 2 games away from heading to their 6th NBA Finals. Pettit goes 24-13. 24 for Lenny Wilkens. Double/double for Hagan and Beaty. Wilt is 36 and 18 in the loss. Meschery is 21-10.

West Finals Game 3 (St Louis) Warriors 107 Hawks 98

It's Wilt's first win in a divisional final, he was 0-10 divisional final games. He goes 27-14. Al Attles scores 20, double/double for Nate Thurmond. Beaty/Pettit/Bridges all double/double.

West Finals Game 4 (St Louis) Warriors 119 Hawks 107

The road team has won all 4 games in the series, Wilt leads the way, 36 pts, 29 boards, 9 blocks. Tom Meschery scores 29 with 10 rebounds. 23 pts for Attles. 19 and 19 for Pettit as the series heads back to San Francisco.

West Finals Game 5 (San Francisco) Warriors 114 Hawks 103

San Francisco takes game 5 and moves within 1 win of the city's first NBA Finals appearance. 25 and 18 for Wilt, 24 and 13 for Meschery. Pettit goes 22 and 11. Hagan scores 23. Double/double for Beaty.

West Finals Game 6 (St Louis) Warriors 128 Hawks 110

Wilt and the Warriors win 4 straight after dropping the first two games at home and they win the West and move to the NBA Championship to take on the defending champion Royals. 37 pts, 26 rebounds for the series MVP Chamberlain. Attles scores 20. Meschery double/double.

NBA FINALS (April) CINCINNATI ROYALS v. SAN FRANCISCO WARRIORS

The Royals are defending champs looking to win their 4th NBA Title in franchise history; the Warriors were the first ever BAA champs, back in '47, they won again in '56, that was their last appearance in the Finals. 8 years later they now play in San Francisco.

ROYALS

HC-Jack McMahon

C Wayne Embry (26) All Star

F Jerry Lucas (23) 2nd Team All NBA, Rookie of the Year

F Jack Twyman (29)

G Oscar Robertson (25) MVP, 1st Team All NBA

G Bucky Bockhorn (30)

WARRIORS

HC-Alex Hannum

C Wilt Chamberlain (27) 2nd MVP, 1st Team All NBA

F Nate Thurmond (22)

F Tom Meschery (25)

G Guy Rodgers (28) All Star

G Al Attles (27)

The two top players in the league square off in the 1964 NBA Finals. The Warriors coach is Alex Hannum who won an NBA Championship with the Royals in '52.

NBA Finals Game 1 (Cincinnati) Royals 123 Warriors 97

The champs open up the defense of their titles with a resounding game 1 win. Triple double for Oscar, 32 pts, 14 assists, 12 rebounds. Wayne Embry has 24 pts and 11 rebounds. 35 and 17 for Wilt, double/double for Nate Thurmond.

NBA Finals Game 2 (Cincinnati) Royals 132 Warriors 123

Cincinnati takes the first two on their home floor. Another Oscar triple double, 26-10-10. Embry goes 28 and 14. 22 for Jack Twyman. Double Doubles for both Jerry Lucas and Tom Hawkins. Wilt goes 36-17 with 9 blocks. Gary Phillips gets a start and gets 20.

NBA Finals Game 3 (San Francisco) Royals 119 Warriors 113

Cincinnati takes the commanding lead, they are a game away from being back to back NBA Champions. 38 pts and 14 assists for Oscar, no one has ever had back to back Finals MVPs; Double/double for Lucas and Embry. 33-20 for Wilt in the loss. Nate Thurmond double/double.

NBA Finals Game 4 (San Francisco) Warriors 126 Royals 113

The Royals do not clinch tonight; 48 points, 21 rebounds for Wilt; double/double for Thurmond. 24 pts, 9 rebounds for Oscar. 21 for Twyman, double/double for Lucas. We head back to Cincinnati for game 5, Royals with the chance to win it at home.

NBA Finals Game 5 (Cincinnati) Warriors 121 Royals 107

Hold on - the Warriors win game 5 and now go back home with a chance to even the series. 48 pts, 25 rebounds for Wilt. Double/double for Thurmond. Wilt has taken over in the past two games, willing the Warriors to victory. 20 pts, 12 boards for Oscar. Double/double for Lucas.

NBA Finals Game 6 (San Francisco) Warriors 107 Royals 91

The series is tied. The last time the NBA Finals went 7 games was 9 years ago when the Lakers stormed back from a giant deficit to beat the Celtics. Here, the Warriors win 3 straight to send the series back to Ohio for Game 7. 40 pts, 19 rebounds for Wilt. 17 pts, 24 rebounds for Nate Thurmond, the Warriors size really taking over the series. 28 pts, 13 boards for Oscar in the loss.

Here we go - it's two inner circle Hall of Famers battling it out - Oscar trying to go back to back, Wilt looking to win his first. The two greatest words in sport. Game Seven.

NBA Finals Game 7 (Cincinnati) Warriors 105 Royals 96

The San Francisco Warriors are NBA Champions, coming back from a 3-0 deficit. Wilt goes 22 of 45 from the floor, 47 pts and 25 rebounds, he's the Finals MVP in arguably the greatest series performance in history. Double/double for both Nate Thurmond and Guy Rodgers. Oscar has the worst playoff game of his career, 10 turnovers, only 14 points. Jerry Lucas has 21 pts, 20 rebounds. It's Wilt's last full season as a Warrior, probably a less likely outcome given that he wins the NBA Championship.