I have been given such a treat.
My first visions of watching basketball came as kid when I was about five years old. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers dynasties were reaching its extinction as the Detroit Pistons and later the Chicago Bulls were emerging as the rulers of the NBA.
I never got the chance to remember in my mind both of these storied franchises meet for the sports biggest prize. From the old Boston Garden to the Forum in Inglewood, it was always the big game when these two teams met. The memories are long and etched into our minds forever.
Wilt Chamberlain against Bill Russell
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor against John Havlicek and Bob Cousy
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Magic Johnson against Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird.
Chick Hearn against Johnny Most
Boston Garden against The Forum.
“Beat LA” against “Boston Sucks.”
West Coast against East Coast.
So many years have passed since those days that a generation of fans cannot remember these battles. The two franchises have combined to win 30 of the league’s 61 championships, have participated in 47 of the 59 NBA Finals, and will be meeting for the 11th time in this championship round. It is dreams come true for me to have this chance to see them play for a title.
(NOTE: Personally, I would rather have the Knicks in there instead of the Celtics. But since the NYK has decided for the last eight years to cease as a franchise, this will have to do.)
Thanks to the magic of the original Classic Sports Network and later, ESPN Classic, I have been able in the last 12 years to relive all the great games that these two teams played so many years ago. It makes me realize how great NBA basketball was in those days compared to what I see today. Seeing two teams, rosters filled with All-Stars and Hall-of-Famer’s, playing end-to-end ball with no dull moments whatsoever.
Earlier today, I happened to be flipping the channels and stumbled on NBATV, and they were showing a recap of the 1984 NBA Finals. This was the first of the three epic Lakers-Celtics series the revolutionized the league in the 80’s. The Lakers were in their third straight Finals, while the Celtics were returning there after a three-year absence.
Look at their starting lineups:
For the Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
For the Boston Celtics: Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Unbelievable. Eight Hall of Fame players of the 10 on the floor. Cooper was one of the most underrated players in the history of basketball. Danny Ainge was a terrific all around role player who had to be accounted for at all times.
You would figure that with all that talent in the starting lineup there would be a severe lack of it coming off the bench. However, these two teams had tremendous reserves to fill in.
Gerald Henderson, Cedric Maxwell and M.L Carr for the Celtics. Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and Jammal Wilkes for the Lakers. Later, Mychal Thompson and Bill Walton would join in the rivalry.
Lakers-Celtics was “Yankees-Red Sox” before “Yankees-Red Sox” became a household term around the world. What many people now may not remember is that prior to their first meeting in 1984, the Celtics had beaten the Lakers in the Finals on eight occasions. Even with all the great players and teams Los Angeles had, they could never beat the team from Boston. No matter how good they were, and despite them winning two championships in the previous four seasons, when the Celtics were their opponent in that championship round, the question would come up again.
Can they beat the Celtics?
The Lakers had won two of the first three games of the ’84 series. In Game 3, they had won by 33 points. In the third quarter of Game 4, the entire series changed. After a Celtics missed shot, Kareem had outlet the ball to Magic, then to Worthy to start another Lakers fast break. Magic found Kurt Rambis who was going to cruise for another basket. Kevin McHale came in trying to foul and instead pulled a WWE clothesline sending him to the ground.
If that same play was to happen in today’s NBA, not only would McHale have given a “Flagrant 2,” and ejected, but also he would be sitting down at least two more games. Rambis would have been ejected for throwing punches after getting up from the clothesline. Every player on both teams would have been suspended for coming off the bench during an altercation. That is how much the game has changed. These great players, who had genuine respect for each other, at the peak of their performance, fighting (literally) for every loose ball, score and sometimes each other.
The series went to a decisive Game 7 on that famous parquet floor where once again the Celtics would take the Lakers down again. Magic Johnson was pressured and harassed by Dennis Johnson (DJ) into mistakes in the final five minutes that cost his team the championship.
Boston had won its 15th World Championship and had again been the hammer to the Lakers nail. Years had past and faces had changed. The result though stayed the same.
It was inevitable that these two teams would meet again in the Finals. The league had now become Boston, Los Angeles and everyone else.
One year later, they would meet again. Boston picked up right it left off. Game 1 was remembered as the “Memorial Day Massacre”. The Lakers were drubbed, giving up 148 points and losing by 34 points. They won the next two games and set up another heart stopping Game 4 in Los Angeles.
Funny moment here: In the CBS intro leading up to the Game 4, the great Brent Musburger had a funny crack about Los Angeles as a city and its wealthy, celebrity fans:
“Nothing defines Southern California quite like the automobile,” Musburger said. “In New York, there’s a subway. In Chicago, there is an Elevated (train) and you can take public transportation to a sporting event. But here in Los Angeles, you grab a limousine. If the limo drivers ever go on strike here in Los Angeles, the first three rows of the Forum would be completely empty.”
With these two teams again trading body shots, the Lakers wanted to deliver a knockout. But once again, Boston would rise and find strength when they needed it the most. Dennis Johnson’s game-winning shot tied the series at two games apiece, but would lose Game 5 and would face elimination at home.
This was the chance for Los Angeles. Not only for the Lakers to win another championship, but this time, to win the title in Boston. No Lakers team had ever done so, and much like how the Red Sox had never defeated the Yankees, no one would believe it until it happened.
On this night, they would do it.
They conquered all their demons of past Lakers teams that could never beat their long time rivals. It was made that much sweeter for them to do on the parquet floor. A building that was famous for not having air conditioning and temperatures soared over 110 on some nights.
I remember seeing the joy on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he hit a skyhook over Robert Parish to clinch the game with over a minute to go. To see the faces on the bench jumping in celebration. Coach Pat Riley, for years as a player and now as a coach carried the burden of never beating the Celtics.
In the locker room after the game when the received the championship trophy, I think back to some words that Riley said:
“All the skeletons are cleared out of our cot.”
This rivalry was now no longer one sided. Each side had won one over the other. Basketball had been given such a treat. It was easy to appreciate and become a fan of either team no matter where you were from.
This has become like two great heavyweights beating each other up for two historic, great fights. But there needed to be one more winner-take-all match. It took a year off (for everyone’s health more than anything), but came back once again in 1987. This time, it was the Lakers and not the Celtics who were favored.
Boston was banged up and had battled through two rough seven game series with both the Milwaukee
Bucks and Detroit Pistons, who were emerging as the Celtics newest rivals. Kevin McHale was playing (as later reported) with broken bones in his foot. The core of Bird, Johnson and Parish along with McHale were now showing signs of aging as the younger Lakers were at the peak of their efficiency.
Los Angeles won the first two games of the series. Boston rallied to win Game 3. It was in Game 4 (there goes that game again) where the Lakers took a firm grip on not only the series, but the rivalry as well. Down by 16 points late in the third quarter, they would rally. They would trail by six points with 90 seconds to go before again battling back.
I have seen this game at least 10 times and it never gets old. It is probably my most favorite NBA game ever. I can still recall the last few possessions of that game as if it was yesterday.
Parish gets ball stripped by Cooper and Abdul-Jabbar.
In transition, Magic finds Cooper who drills a three pointer to cut the lead to three.
Bird throws a bad pass to McHale that goes out of bounds.
James Worthy goes one on one against the slower McHale and hits a 10 foot shot inside to cut the lead to one.
Bird takes a wild off balance shot that Mychal Thompson rebounds.
Magic finds Kareem for an alley-oop to give the Lakers the lead.
Bird hits a three pointer to give the Celtics a two-point lead.
Kareem is fouled inside and goes to the line to give them the lead. He makes the first, but misses the seconds as the ball goes out of bounds of Parish with eight seconds left.
Magic gets the ball on the left wing. McHale, playing on one good leg has to switch and guard him. He takes him off the dribble into the lane and hits a Kareem style baby sky-hook with two seconds left to give the Lakers the lead.
My first visions of watching basketball came as kid when I was about five years old. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers dynasties were reaching its extinction as the Detroit Pistons and later the Chicago Bulls were emerging as the rulers of the NBA.
I never got the chance to remember in my mind both of these storied franchises meet for the sports biggest prize. From the old Boston Garden to the Forum in Inglewood, it was always the big game when these two teams met. The memories are long and etched into our minds forever.
Wilt Chamberlain against Bill Russell
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor against John Havlicek and Bob Cousy
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and Magic Johnson against Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird.
Chick Hearn against Johnny Most
Boston Garden against The Forum.
“Beat LA” against “Boston Sucks.”
West Coast against East Coast.
So many years have passed since those days that a generation of fans cannot remember these battles. The two franchises have combined to win 30 of the league’s 61 championships, have participated in 47 of the 59 NBA Finals, and will be meeting for the 11th time in this championship round. It is dreams come true for me to have this chance to see them play for a title.
(NOTE: Personally, I would rather have the Knicks in there instead of the Celtics. But since the NYK has decided for the last eight years to cease as a franchise, this will have to do.)
Thanks to the magic of the original Classic Sports Network and later, ESPN Classic, I have been able in the last 12 years to relive all the great games that these two teams played so many years ago. It makes me realize how great NBA basketball was in those days compared to what I see today. Seeing two teams, rosters filled with All-Stars and Hall-of-Famer’s, playing end-to-end ball with no dull moments whatsoever.
Earlier today, I happened to be flipping the channels and stumbled on NBATV, and they were showing a recap of the 1984 NBA Finals. This was the first of the three epic Lakers-Celtics series the revolutionized the league in the 80’s. The Lakers were in their third straight Finals, while the Celtics were returning there after a three-year absence.
Look at their starting lineups:
For the Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
For the Boston Celtics: Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Unbelievable. Eight Hall of Fame players of the 10 on the floor. Cooper was one of the most underrated players in the history of basketball. Danny Ainge was a terrific all around role player who had to be accounted for at all times.
You would figure that with all that talent in the starting lineup there would be a severe lack of it coming off the bench. However, these two teams had tremendous reserves to fill in.
Gerald Henderson, Cedric Maxwell and M.L Carr for the Celtics. Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and Jammal Wilkes for the Lakers. Later, Mychal Thompson and Bill Walton would join in the rivalry.
Lakers-Celtics was “Yankees-Red Sox” before “Yankees-Red Sox” became a household term around the world. What many people now may not remember is that prior to their first meeting in 1984, the Celtics had beaten the Lakers in the Finals on eight occasions. Even with all the great players and teams Los Angeles had, they could never beat the team from Boston. No matter how good they were, and despite them winning two championships in the previous four seasons, when the Celtics were their opponent in that championship round, the question would come up again.
Can they beat the Celtics?
The Lakers had won two of the first three games of the ’84 series. In Game 3, they had won by 33 points. In the third quarter of Game 4, the entire series changed. After a Celtics missed shot, Kareem had outlet the ball to Magic, then to Worthy to start another Lakers fast break. Magic found Kurt Rambis who was going to cruise for another basket. Kevin McHale came in trying to foul and instead pulled a WWE clothesline sending him to the ground.
If that same play was to happen in today’s NBA, not only would McHale have given a “Flagrant 2,” and ejected, but also he would be sitting down at least two more games. Rambis would have been ejected for throwing punches after getting up from the clothesline. Every player on both teams would have been suspended for coming off the bench during an altercation. That is how much the game has changed. These great players, who had genuine respect for each other, at the peak of their performance, fighting (literally) for every loose ball, score and sometimes each other.
The series went to a decisive Game 7 on that famous parquet floor where once again the Celtics would take the Lakers down again. Magic Johnson was pressured and harassed by Dennis Johnson (DJ) into mistakes in the final five minutes that cost his team the championship.
Boston had won its 15th World Championship and had again been the hammer to the Lakers nail. Years had past and faces had changed. The result though stayed the same.
It was inevitable that these two teams would meet again in the Finals. The league had now become Boston, Los Angeles and everyone else.
One year later, they would meet again. Boston picked up right it left off. Game 1 was remembered as the “Memorial Day Massacre”. The Lakers were drubbed, giving up 148 points and losing by 34 points. They won the next two games and set up another heart stopping Game 4 in Los Angeles.
Funny moment here: In the CBS intro leading up to the Game 4, the great Brent Musburger had a funny crack about Los Angeles as a city and its wealthy, celebrity fans:
“Nothing defines Southern California quite like the automobile,” Musburger said. “In New York, there’s a subway. In Chicago, there is an Elevated (train) and you can take public transportation to a sporting event. But here in Los Angeles, you grab a limousine. If the limo drivers ever go on strike here in Los Angeles, the first three rows of the Forum would be completely empty.”
With these two teams again trading body shots, the Lakers wanted to deliver a knockout. But once again, Boston would rise and find strength when they needed it the most. Dennis Johnson’s game-winning shot tied the series at two games apiece, but would lose Game 5 and would face elimination at home.
This was the chance for Los Angeles. Not only for the Lakers to win another championship, but this time, to win the title in Boston. No Lakers team had ever done so, and much like how the Red Sox had never defeated the Yankees, no one would believe it until it happened.
On this night, they would do it.
They conquered all their demons of past Lakers teams that could never beat their long time rivals. It was made that much sweeter for them to do on the parquet floor. A building that was famous for not having air conditioning and temperatures soared over 110 on some nights.
I remember seeing the joy on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he hit a skyhook over Robert Parish to clinch the game with over a minute to go. To see the faces on the bench jumping in celebration. Coach Pat Riley, for years as a player and now as a coach carried the burden of never beating the Celtics.
In the locker room after the game when the received the championship trophy, I think back to some words that Riley said:
“All the skeletons are cleared out of our cot.”
This rivalry was now no longer one sided. Each side had won one over the other. Basketball had been given such a treat. It was easy to appreciate and become a fan of either team no matter where you were from.
This has become like two great heavyweights beating each other up for two historic, great fights. But there needed to be one more winner-take-all match. It took a year off (for everyone’s health more than anything), but came back once again in 1987. This time, it was the Lakers and not the Celtics who were favored.
Boston was banged up and had battled through two rough seven game series with both the Milwaukee
Bucks and Detroit Pistons, who were emerging as the Celtics newest rivals. Kevin McHale was playing (as later reported) with broken bones in his foot. The core of Bird, Johnson and Parish along with McHale were now showing signs of aging as the younger Lakers were at the peak of their efficiency.
Los Angeles won the first two games of the series. Boston rallied to win Game 3. It was in Game 4 (there goes that game again) where the Lakers took a firm grip on not only the series, but the rivalry as well. Down by 16 points late in the third quarter, they would rally. They would trail by six points with 90 seconds to go before again battling back.
I have seen this game at least 10 times and it never gets old. It is probably my most favorite NBA game ever. I can still recall the last few possessions of that game as if it was yesterday.
Parish gets ball stripped by Cooper and Abdul-Jabbar.
In transition, Magic finds Cooper who drills a three pointer to cut the lead to three.
Bird throws a bad pass to McHale that goes out of bounds.
James Worthy goes one on one against the slower McHale and hits a 10 foot shot inside to cut the lead to one.
Bird takes a wild off balance shot that Mychal Thompson rebounds.
Magic finds Kareem for an alley-oop to give the Lakers the lead.
Bird hits a three pointer to give the Celtics a two-point lead.
Kareem is fouled inside and goes to the line to give them the lead. He makes the first, but misses the seconds as the ball goes out of bounds of Parish with eight seconds left.
Magic gets the ball on the left wing. McHale, playing on one good leg has to switch and guard him. He takes him off the dribble into the lane and hits a Kareem style baby sky-hook with two seconds left to give the Lakers the lead.
[URL=http://youtube.com/watch?v=sKwOu0LNvTU&feature=related[/URL]
It was a symbolic shot that you see now every time they show the NBA’s greatest moments. Between now and when the Finals begin on Thursday that shot is going to be replayed about one thousand times. The game was a passing of the torch in many ways. The Lakers, now with a 3-1 lead in the series, had a firm grip on the Celtics. No longer dealing with the ghosts of Boston and the old Garden, they were able to show that they, and not the Celtics, were the better team. Kareem was now able to hand the team off to Magic and that shot was emblematic of that passing.
Byron Scott and James Worthy were able to blow past Boston defenders and could not be stopped as old age finally caught up. The Lakers would go on to win the series in six games, capturing their fourth championship in eight years, twice beating the Celtics. The trilogy had concluded.
Neither team has met each other since that time. One team (the Lakers) has gone on to win four more championships in that span while Boston has been in the cellar for most of the last 21 years.
Now, as a treat and a surprise, both of these teams have come from nowhere just 365 days ago, to face each other in the Finals. Seeing those uniforms and being reminded of basketball used to be and how great it was. Many things have changed since then, but the feelings have been rekindled.
It was a symbolic shot that you see now every time they show the NBA’s greatest moments. Between now and when the Finals begin on Thursday that shot is going to be replayed about one thousand times. The game was a passing of the torch in many ways. The Lakers, now with a 3-1 lead in the series, had a firm grip on the Celtics. No longer dealing with the ghosts of Boston and the old Garden, they were able to show that they, and not the Celtics, were the better team. Kareem was now able to hand the team off to Magic and that shot was emblematic of that passing.
Byron Scott and James Worthy were able to blow past Boston defenders and could not be stopped as old age finally caught up. The Lakers would go on to win the series in six games, capturing their fourth championship in eight years, twice beating the Celtics. The trilogy had concluded.
Neither team has met each other since that time. One team (the Lakers) has gone on to win four more championships in that span while Boston has been in the cellar for most of the last 21 years.
Now, as a treat and a surprise, both of these teams have come from nowhere just 365 days ago, to face each other in the Finals. Seeing those uniforms and being reminded of basketball used to be and how great it was. Many things have changed since then, but the feelings have been rekindled. This time, its Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as the faces of the Lakers. For the Celtics, its their new three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Great players on each side. Phil Jackson, in search of his 10th NBA championship in the shadow of Red Auerbach. The Boston Garden and old Inglewood Forum have been replaced by the new TD BankNorth Garden and Staples Center.
Nothing much has changed. You can still take the "T" right into the new Garden, and you still have to drive to get to Staples. Jack Nicholson is still around and he has brought the same celebrity crew with him and a bunch of new friends. The "Beat LA" shirts have been dusted off and are selling again. Happy days are here again. Hopefully for seven games.
Starting Thursday night, a blast from our past comes back to the future.
Starting Thursday night, a blast from our past comes back to the future.
I've been given a sports gift to cherish. I will not pass this one up.
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