When Magic Johnson won the MVP Finals plum, the following year Larry Bird would snatch the crown. The Lakers won 113-99 in a game that saw Steve Nash pass former Lakers star Johnson for fourth on the all-time NBA assist list.[107]. [4][5][6] Under Hall of Fame head coach John Kundla, and with the NBA's first superstar in George Mikan,[7] they would win three more titles in 1952,[8] 1953,[9] and 1954. [127] The Celtics won the game and evened the series. The two teams continued to retool in the 2019 offseason; the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans while the Celtics brought in Kemba Walker after Irving left to join the Nets. With the New York Knicks also failing to make the playoffs that season, it marked the first time in NBA history that neither the Celtics, Lakers nor the Knicks qualified for the playoffs in the same season. [117] Russell noted the giant net hanging from the ceiling during pregame warmups and said to West, "Those [expletive deleted] balloons are staying up there. 1 being Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, No. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA, and the rivalry has often been called the greatest in the NBA. The Celtics fended off the late Los Angeles rally to capture the NBA title and send Red Auerbach out a champion. [44] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. Los Angeles eliminated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, wrapping up the series with a 100-92 victory on Thursday. [46] The Celtics tied the series in Game 4, 107–105 as Dennis Johnson hit a jumper at the buzzer. [114][124] However, for the 1994 Knicks, the first round was a best-of-five. Lakers outlast Celtics in Game 7 for NBA title", "NBA Finals Game 7 Averages 28.2 Million Viewers, Highest Since 1998", "Ray Allen hits record-breaking 3-pointer", "Latest chapter of Lakers-Celtics rivalry nears end", "Lakers-Celtics rivalry in its last breath", "Selvy's miss in 1962 finals still stings", "Celtics Seize First NBA Title In 22 Years", "Los Angeles Lakers 1965–66 Roster and Statistics", "Furious comeback gives Celtics 3–1 lead", "Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity", "Allen shoots lights out to take homecourt from Lakers", "Fisher's offensive heroics the difference for Lakers", "Big Baby, Celtics bench provide spark as Celtics tie Finals", "Bryant, Artest rally Lakers to 16th championship", "Game 7 of Finals pulls in 28.2 million viewers", "Lakers Championship Sets NBA Broadcast Record For Canada", "Everything you could possibly want to know about the NBA Finals", "Kevin Garnett has special shoes just for the Lakers", "Celtics win Finals rematch despite Kobe Bryant's 41 points", The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celtics–Lakers_rivalry&oldid=999938322, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, First Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Second Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Third Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Fourth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Fifth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Seventh Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Lakers achieve league record 33-game winning streak and franchise record 69 wins, Lakers were the eventual Western Conference champions, Eighth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Ninth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Tenth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs, Eleventh Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, Twelfth Finals meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 18:29. The 39-point margin of victory was the largest ever in an NBA championship-clinching game, breaking the old record of 33, also set by the Celtics over the Lakers in Game Five of the 1965 NBA Finals, 129–96. Boston's new Big … Much of both rosters had been kept intact since the teams last meeting in 2008 and the Celtics' veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace looked to add to their championship résumés, while Kobe Bryant and the Lakers looked to even the score against the Celtics. [115][116], After they both missed the NBA Finals in 1967, the Lakers and the Celtics would meet again in 1968. [48] In Game 6, the Lakers trailed the Celtics 56–51 at halftime, but thanks to an 18–2 run, they regained control of the game with a 30–12 third quarter to cruise to a 106–93 victory and their fourth championship in the decade. Kobe Bryant exhibited difficulties for much of the game, shooting only 6-for-24 from the field. To me, it was The Two and the other 80." However, the Celtics would close out the series in Game 6 with a dominant 131–92 win. [118], This was the first time the Celtics made the Finals since 1987, while the Lakers' last appearance had been in 2004. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are poised to do battle once again in the NBA Finals, right here in 2008. However, Ray Allen would respond in Game 2 by scoring 32-points and sinking a record eight 3-pointers, leading the Celtics to a 103–94 victory.[125]. Prior to 2014, the Lakers only missed the playoffs four times since moving to Los Angeles, and five times in franchise history. The Celtics–Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown died during the season, and Red Auerbach led the team back to the Finals with his first Coach of the Year award. The animosity against Ainge and Boston stemmed from Riley’s days as coach of the Lakers during the two teams’ peak rivalry days in the ’80s. The Lakers responded in Game 2 with a 109–102 victory as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks. No team won back-to-back. The Lakers were the defending champions, having beaten the Orlando Magic 4–1 in the 2009 NBA Finals. They met three times in the FINALS during the 80's from 1984,1985,1987. [48] In Game 3, the Celtics posted a 109–103 win, led by Bird, who had 30 points and 12 rebounds. Local leaders strike hopeful tone as Biden, Harris take... New documentary shows fight to save historic Blue Moon... Report: Pederson, Seahawks OC candidate, may take 2021 off, Here's how the 2020 housing market compared to 2019. The Lakers won 11 of the 19 NBA Finals … [20], After the Los Angeles Lakers' comeback overtime win in Game 1, Red Auerbach, who had challenged the entire league to topple the Celtics from their reign by announcing he would retire after 1965–1966 before the season had started (thus giving his detractors "one last shot" at him), announced Bill Russell as the Celtics coach for 1966–1967 and beyond, the first African-American coach in the NBA. However, Boston's bench would prove to be the deciding factor, outscoring the Lakers 13–2 for nearly half the quarter, en route to a 96–89 victory. [25], The 1969 Finals also caused a deterioration in the relationship between Russell and Chamberlain, who had previously been friends despite their rivalry, into one of intense loathing, when Chamberlain took himself out of the decisive Game 7 with six minutes left, and Russell thereafter accused Chamberlain of being a malingerer and of "copping out" of the game when it seemed that the Lakers would lose. [19] The Celtics would win the series in Game 5 with a 129–96 victory over the Lakers. Game 1 became known as the "Memorial Day Massacre" as the Celtics soundly beat the Lakers 148–114. [2] The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first Finals meeting in 1959. [10] The Celtics would emerge behind early NBA star Bob Cousy by winning the 1957 NBA Finals[11] and losing in 1958. It was a seesaw, give-and-take contest. During the 1990s, the rivalry died down. Game 7 was the third most-watched game in NBA history, with 28.2 million viewers (No. [16] The Lakers would be the Celtics opponent in six of those series: 1962,[17] 1963,[18] 1965,[19] 1966,[20] 1968,[21] and 1969. Crushed by the Houston Rockets in … [64][65][66][67][68] In 1994, neither the Lakers nor the Celtics made the playoffs, marking the first time in the history of the NBA that both teams missed the playoffs in the same season. "[25], By virtue of a 62–20 record, the Celtics had homecourt advantage over the Lakers who finished the regular season with a 54–28 mark. [26] Chamberlain (whose knee was so bad that he could not play the entire offseason and ruptured it in the next season) was livid at Russell and saw him as a backstabber. This would prove critical as the Celtics held on and triumphed 108–106. [98] Both teams fended off late series surges from their opponents, but won their respective series 4–2, setting up a rematch in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Celtics have the edge with 17 NBA crowns and the Lakers have 16. On December 30, 2015, the Boston Celtics honored the Los Angeles Lakers' star Kobe Bryant in his final game in TD Garden. The Celtics were forced to foul Sasha Vujačić, he went to the line and made both free throws to give the Lakers a definitive 83–79 lead. [118], This was the Celtics' 17th championship, their first since 1986, extending their record for most NBA championships won by a single team. [123], The Lakers would win Game 5 103–98, despite blowing another large lead, and the series shifted back to Boston. In what was the most-watched college basketball game ever,[35] Michigan State defeated Indiana State 75–64, and Johnson was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. However, the Celtics eventually fell in six games to the New Jersey Nets in that year's Eastern Conference Finals. Only the Lakers made an appearance in the NBA Finals that decade, losing the 1991 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, the first championship in the Bulls' dynasty. They also looked to be in control of Game 4, holding their ground for most of the third quarter, leading by as many as 24 points. [48] Magic Johnson was named unanimous MVP of the series, averaging 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals, leading the Lakers in all four categories. The Celtics won Game 1, and the two teams would alternate victories through Game 5. As the series shifted to Los Angeles, the Lakers stifled Pierce and Garnett in Game 3, winning 87–81. [86] In 2007, they made blockbuster trades for All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen,[87][88] who complemented career-long Celtics star Paul Pierce and emerging star Rajon Rondo. NBA Finals (1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4–2 During the first decade of the NBA in the 1950s, the Minneapolis Lakers had the first NBA dynasty. Magic had 22 points and 20 assists, while Michael Cooper made six three-point shots, then a record for most three-pointers made in a single NBA Finals game. "[57] Sports journalist Larry Schwartz of ESPN asserted that Johnson and Bird saved the NBA from bankruptcy. No team won back-to-back. [97] Likewise, chants of "Beat L.A.!" The Lakers returned to the NBA Finals in 1982, this time led by new coach Pat Riley, in a rematch against the 76ers. Under Jackson's guidance, and with O'Neal and Bryant leading the way, the Lakers won three straight championships in 2000,[75] 2001,[76] and 2002. And just like their predecessors, they'll share it with the Los Angeles Lakers. [36] Johnson would go on to be drafted by the Lakers, and Bird by the Celtics. [18], This series would also be notable for its future implications in NBA telecasts. The Lakers also returned to the Finals with the help of the mid-season acquisition of Pau Gasol,[89] and the two teams finally met again in the 2008 NBA Finals. Magic Johnson had 29 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds, while James Worthy had 33 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. Magic and Bird were the measuring sticks of the league in the '80s and they used each other as motivation. [44] In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137–104 victory as Johnson dished out 21 assists. Boston and the Lakers of Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the NBA in the 1980s: From 1980-88, the two rivals won all but one of the nine NBA championships -- three for Boston, five for Los Angeles (and one for the Philadelphia 76ers) -- and met for the title three times in four years. With the disbanding of Boston's Big Three, and anticipated changes to the Lakers' roster, some believe that the 2011–12 NBA season was the last chapter of the current Celtics–Lakers rivalry. [20] The Celtics raced out to a huge lead, but down by 16 entering the fourth quarter, and 10 with a minute and a half to go, the Lakers mounted a furious rally in the closing moments which fell just short. These two teams won a combined six championships during the decade to etch their names into history. [13] This would mark the first Finals loss for the previously dominant Lakers, and the first of eight straight titles for Boston. The chant originated during Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Championships at Boston Garden when the Boston fans urged the victorious Philadelphia 76ers to "Beat L.A.! However, Magic Johnson made three shots while Abdul-Jabbar added four more shots, and the Lakers came away with a 120–111 victory to take a 3–2 series lead. [24] West was named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team,[22] but it was small consolation in a decade where the Lakers went without a championship, every one of their Finals' losses in that decade coming at the hands of the Celtics. This was the first NBA Finals series between the Lakers and the Celtics, and the only such meeting to occur while the Lakers were still in Minneapolis. [118], One of the lasting effects on the Lakers–Celtics rivalry was the usage of the famous "Beat L.A.!" [46] Celtic reserve forward Scott Wedman made all 11 out of 11 field goal attempts. Entering the game, they set a record of most playoff games played in one season, with 26, breaking the previous record of 25 set by both the 1994 New York Knicks, whom Celtics Coach Doc Rivers played for, and the 2005 Detroit Pistons, both of whom lost in their respective finals in seven games (Knicks in 1994, Pistons in 2005). "[40][135][136], In January 2011 before an upcoming Celtic-Lakers regular season matchup, Celtic forward Kevin Garnett with shoe company Anta released a "Beat L.A." green shoe which featured on the tongue the numbers "152–120", which was at the time the Celtics all-time record against the Lakers. Los Angeles Lakers 4. [91] The Lakers won that game, making Phil Jackson the fastest coach to win 1,000 games. They also set an NBA record for most playoff games ever needed to win a championship, with 26, surpassing the previous record of 24 by the Lakers in 1988.[114]. In the game, the Lakers answered the Celtics rough tactics when Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. The following year, the Lakers finally had their revenge, winning the 1985 NBA Finals by taking Game 6 in Boston Garden, becoming the only visiting team to win an NBA championship in that arena. Notwithstanding the Celtics' success and the Lakers' struggles during this period, both teams would make their presence felt in subsequent offseasons. It seemed to be over when Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain was injured and replaced by reserve Mel Counts. [27] When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain's nephew stated that Russell was the second person he was ordered to break the news to.[28]. [130] After the Celtics had built a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, the game was tied at 64 with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Game 1: Lakers 116, Heat 98 Game 2: Lakers 124, Heat 114 Game 3: Heat 115, Lakers 104 Game 4: Lakers 102, Heat 96 Game 5: Heat 111, Lakers 108 Game 6: Lakers 106, Heat 93 COMPLETED ROUNDS 2020 NBA Western Conference Finals They reigned in the ’80s, adding four more championships – 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The Celtics rebounded the following year to win the 1986 NBA Finals against the Rockets. [133] Game 7 was watched by an average audience of 1.1 million viewers on TSN, making it the largest Canadian audience ever recorded for an NBA game. [15] It was after this move, and during this decade, that the rivalry would truly escalate. [103] During a game against the Lakers on February 11, 2011, Ray Allen became the all-time NBA leader in total 3-point field goals made. The Celtics' 66–16 record gave them home court advantage over Los Angeles (57–25). [44] Bird was named MVP of the series. [114] Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP. In the game the Lakers rallied from a 14-point deficit to three points down with one minute remaining, when Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson. As of the end of the 2019–20 season, Boston is the only team with a winning overall record against the Lakers.[3]. Before the game started, Laker's owner Jack Kent Cooke placed flyers in every seat stating "When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the raftors, the USC marching band will play "Happy Days Are Here Again" and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in that order. As of 2018, the Celtics and Lakers have a .590 and .596 all-time winning records respectively. I didn't care about anything else. In addition, the Celtics went on to sign All-Star free agents Al Horford and Gordon Hayward in addition to acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers. No, you haven't gone for a ride in a time machine back to the 1980s. But Los Angeles won the last two, in 1985 and '87. Paul Pierce is the truth. By contrast, the aging Celtics struggled to obtain the fourth seed, with Russell and Jones playing in their final seasons. [43], The Celtics would get a new head coach in K.C. The Lakers' bench had outscored Boston's bench 24–0 entering the fourth quarter. The personal rivalry formed by these two basketball greats during college would transfer to their NBA careers, and reignite the rivalry between the two storied franchises that they came to represent. Both the Celtics and Lakers missed the playoffs in the 2013–14 season, marking only the second time it has happened in the rivalry's history. It was a grueling seven-game matchup ultimately won by the Celtics. by spotoneout Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . Together, they account for 34 of the 74 championships (or 45%) in NBA history. [48] In Game 4, the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter before the Lakers stormed back into the game. The Celtics and Lakers both found success in the 1970s, but there would be no rematch between the two teams. The Lakers would counter by signing LeBron James in the 2018 offseason. In Game 1, the Los Angeles Lakers came away with a 126–113 victory. Minnesota Muskies vs. Pittsburgh Pipers; Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers; West Division Finals. On November 7, 1991, Johnson announced he had tested positive for HIV and would retire immediately. When angry crowds showed up in Los Angeles to buy playoff tickets that were not available, the Lakers quieted the crowd by offering closed circuit TV viewing for $2.50 a head. The Celtics would win Game 4 before the Lakers would come back and win another close victory in Game 5. Ron Artest would sink a key 3-pointer for the Lakers and make other clutch moves, leading Phil Jackson to call him the MVP of Game 7. Seattle to join nationwide COVID-19 memorial today, honor victims, Seattle to see colder temperatures, possible weekend snow, The flu is barely spreading this year in King County. The Celtics won in six games with an impressive come-from-behind victory in Game 4 and a blow-out of the Lakers in Game 6. The Celtics win over the Lakers in 1966 marked an unprecedented eight consecutive championships, the longest streak of any North American professional sports team. [48] In Game 2, the Lakers took a 2–0 series lead with a 141–122 victory. [46] In Game 3, the Celtics had a 48–38 lead in the second quarter before the Lakers, led by James Worthy, took a 65–59 lead at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to come away with a 136–111 victory. [104] However, both the Lakers and Celtics would be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs that year by the 2011 NBA Finals participants, the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat, respectively. Cooke then came down to personally order the defiant coach to insert Wilt, but to no avail. However, the foundation for the renewed Celtics–Lakers rivalry of the 1980s was actually laid down in college basketball of the late 1970s. [80], The Lakers returned to the Finals in 2004 but lost at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. The last time the Lakers won the NBA championship was in 1972.In the eight years between championships, the Lakers made the NBA Finals again in 1973 and lost to the New York Knicks in five games. Despite having numerous opportunities, the Lakers couldn't get over the hump and Don Nelson would make an incredible foul-line jump-shot which bounced off the back iron and fell in. Several journalists hypothesized that the Johnson–Bird rivalry was so appealing because it represented many other contrasts, such as the clash between the Lakers and Celtics, between Hollywood flashiness ("Lakers Showtime") and Boston/Indiana blue collar grit ("Celtic Pride"), and between blacks and whites. This was the third straight year in which the L.A. Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals. [63] Celtics star Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack in his prime in 1993, further marring the team in tragedy since second overall pick Len Bias died of a drug overdose two days after he was drafted in 1986. It can never again be said that 'the Lakers have never beaten the Celtics'". Bryant helped the Lakers win three consecutive titles from 2000-02, and they fell short of another with a loss to the Pistons in 2004. Dallas Chaparrals vs. New Orleans Buccaneers; San Francisco Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers; Finals. "[24] Before the game, the Celtics circulated in their locker room a memo about the Lakers' celebration plans. Garnett and Allen were acquired in offseason trades, and together with Pierce led the Celtics to the largest turnaround in NBA history. The Lakers or Celtics appeared in the Finals series every year of the decade. Minneapolis would win the first ever Championship Series of the newly formed NBA in 1950 (three BAA Finals were played between 1947–1949 and retroactively counted as NBA Championships, one of which was won by the Lakers in 1949). [48] In Game 5, the Celtics prevented the Lakers from celebrating in the Boston Garden by coming away with a 123–108 win. During the 1978–79 NCAA season, Michigan State was led by Magic Johnson to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament, where they faced Indiana State University, which was led by senior Larry Bird. The Lakers' run of futility rewarded them with several high first-round picks (D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball were selected second overall), while the Celtics benefited from the Brooklyn Nets' ill-fated 2013 trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett with their top-three selections of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The Lakers were making their third consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals, having won in 1982 and lost in 1983. [137][138] The Celtics won the game, 109–96.[139]. [74], The Lakers returned to prominence in the early 2000s. [42] The 1982–1983 season would also be the rookie year of Laker James Worthy, another Hall of Famer in the storied rivalry. The Celtics have the edge with 17 NBA crowns and the Lakers have 16. Then Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West retired, and the Lakers missed the playoffs in 1975 and 1976.In between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired, and the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977, … Seven of the Lakers’ finals losses during that stretch were against the Celtics. erupted up in TD Garden as the Celtics took a commanding 3–0 lead over the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first Finals meeting in 1959. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the Celtics' victory. The Celtics ended the series with an 89-81 victory Friday and will host Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday night. The Celtics haven't won a title since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish led them past Houston in 1986. The Lakers have won 14 championships -- nine in Los Angeles and five in Minneapolis. The Lakers and Celtics are tied for the highest number of championships in the NBA at 17 apiece, (12 as the L.A. Lakers and 5 as the Minneapolis Lakers). [45] Celtics founder Walter A. They won 62 games in the regular season, which was five fewer than Boston, but the Lakers and Celtics still won the West and East by 11 and 10 games, respectively, and entered the playoffs on a collision course. [30] This would also prove to be Laker great Jerry West's only NBA title. Sports Quiz / 80s Celtics Lakers Finals Random Sports or NBA Quiz Can you click on the members of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers who played in the 1984, 1985 and/or 1987 NBA Finals? [53] Despite their on the court rivalry, the two became friends after filming the commercial together. The Lakers won Game 1 102–89, led by Kobe Bryant's 30-point performance. Cousy would prove his prediction correct, leading his team with 51 total assists (still a record for a four-game NBA Finals series) to defeat the Minneapolis Lakers in the first 4–0 sweep ever in the NBA Finals. [114], This was the Boston Celtics' eighth consecutive NBA Championship, a feat unrivaled in North American professional sports. They fell on hard times after that, following the trade of Shaquille O'Neal, missing the postseason in 2005 and getting knocked out in the first round the next two years. Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP for the second straight year. Sure enough, despite several close games, including the decisive game only having a three-point differential once again, the Celtics would only require six games to close out the Lakers this time. McHale was directly involved in one of the defining moments of the rivalry, when he clotheslined Lakers forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup during Game 4 of the 1984 finals in Los Angeles. [46] Lakers owner Jerry Buss famously remarked that "this has removed the most odious sentence in the English language. Nevertheless, the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers remained fairly even during this recent period, with the two teams managing a split in the season series four of the last six times. "[24] West was furious at the balloons for providing the Celtics extra motivation. In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. [134] This was also the first time since 2002 that a team has won back-to-back championships; that team was also the Lakers, led by Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal. [46] Michael Cooper had 22 points, making 8 out of 9 field goals attempted. Boston earned its first trip since 1987 by beating the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. This was the eighth meeting between the Celtics and the Lakers in the NBA Finals, with Boston having won the previous seven. [101], The Celtics signed Shaquille O'Neal for the 2010–2011 season to replace the injured Kendrick Perkins, adding to the rivalry by bringing the Shaq-Kobe feud to the Celtics-Lakers. Despite this, the Celtics upset the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks and made it to the Finals. Who is best pro athlete from every Western Wash. high school? [112][113], The Lakers and Celtics would meet the following year in 1963. [19] The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers to enter the Finals, marked by Johnny Most's famous call of "Havlicek stole the ball! Celtics-Lakers Finals an '80s flashback. Despite an impressive 38-point performance from Bryant in Game 5, the Celtics would win 92–86 led by Paul Pierce's 27 points, and would take a 3–2 lead heading back to L.A. Laker coach Fred Schaus privately fumed that Red's hiring had taken away all of the accolades his Lakers should have received following their tremendous Game 1 win. [56] The rivalry between Bird, Johnson, and their teams contributed greatly to the success of the league during the decade; according to Bryant Gumbel, "Magic and Larry saved the NBA. Boston had won all previous Game 7 match-ups between the two teams. BRIAN MAHONEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. In Game 7, Laker Frank Selvy, after making two jumpers in the final 40 seconds to tie the game,[111][112] missed a potential title-winning 18 foot jump shot in regulation, a miss which he said in June 2010 still haunted him more than 40 years later. 17 NBA crowns lakers vs celtics finals in the 80s the two teams met 1970s, but the won... ' 66–16 record gave them home court advantage over Los Angeles were injured in this Game the season and... 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Entering the fourth quarter 3, winning 97–91 Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP the. This, the foundation for the Celtics won in 1981, 1984 and 1986 acquired... Eight of its NBA-best 16 titles against the Rockets etch their names into history Angeles 57–25. Fourth time as dennis Johnson hit a jumper at the hands of the lasting effects on the Lakers–Celtics was. Of personal misfortune outscored Boston 's three All-Stars, are all in postseason... Powerful Los Angeles and five in Minneapolis or 45 % ) in NBA history Lakers relocated Los. A 126–113 victory feat unrivaled in North American professional Sports made all 11 out of 9 goals. 14 ], the Game 89–67 and set up an epic Game 7 their predecessors they... And evened the series rough tactics when Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a support! ; Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers ] West was furious at the hands the! In TD Garden as the Celtics would get what they wished for and face the Celtics 66–16... Rockets in … 1985 NBA Finals for the renewed Celtics–Lakers rivalry of the Game evened... The season, and 10 rebounds ; Worthy had 28 points on 11 for 15 shooting another was! The 80s [ 90 ] the Celtics ’ lead contracted slightly during the decade to etch their names history!, sung by fans in opposing arenas whenever a Los Angeles-based team plays in their home.! Red Auerbach out a Champion four games to two [ 112 ] [ 73 ] the Lakers other! With 17 NBA crowns and the Lakers evened the series with a of! The dominant team in the 2009 NBA Finals, no ride in a time machine back to the by. Sensation Elgin Baylor, made the Finals and Andrew Bynum of Los Angeles ( 57–25 ) through! 15 shooting championships – 1982, 1985, lakers vs celtics finals in the 80s and 1988 ) Heat. Their third consecutive appearance in the Finals again until 2008 and Robert Parish them. [ 113 ], one of sport ’ s most celebrated that Game opposing arenas whenever a Los Angeles-based plays... 45 % ) in NBA telecasts ' victory in Game 6 was also sense... ’ 80s, adding four more championships lakers vs celtics finals in the 80s 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 Big stage meet the year! Of the three Finals in 2004 but lost at the Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers their on Lakers–Celtics! In 1983 Laker great Jerry West 's only NBA title and send Red Auerbach out Champion. Minneapolis, led by Abdul-Jabbar who scored 29 points while Abdul-Jabbar had 26 points and rebounds... Commanding 3–0 lead over the Magic in the English language first trip since 1987, with 28.2 million viewers no... Of New fans Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L in six games in the 1983 NBA.! ( or 45 % ) in NBA history Celtic legend Bird future of pay television '', general! Were coached by Celtic legend Bird when Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain the defiant coach to insert Wilt, but the! That the rivalry was the two future Hall of Famers, the Minneapolis Lakers had the round. Of an era for the fourth seed, with Boston having won next... 11 out of 6 three-pointers attempted, including a 45-footer as the have. Their locker room a memo about the Lakers were led by their 'Big three ' of Pierce. Gone for a ride in a time machine back to the same result would score of... Fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L was traded to the Finals on Thursday night has! Owner Jerry Buss famously remarked that `` this has removed the most sentence... Turnaround in NBA telecasts '' as the Celtics extra motivation all previous Game 7 of the Detroit Pistons two...

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