bruce@godot.UUCP (06/14/84)
Gosh, this was a good series. I had already decided that I couldn't be
too upset regardless of the outcome of game 7 (we've all seen a good
show), but the Celtics came through in a fitting cap to this memorable
series.
As I am sure you all know (but it's still worth noting), the Celtics
have now won 15 of the 16 Championship Series the have played in (the
St. Louis Hawks beat them in 1958) and 14 in a row. They have won it 15
of the last 28 years. They are 8-0 against the Lakers (one of those
before they moved to LA).
The Boston fans were the most hyped I have seen them (and they are always
hyped); the only event which came close to the buildup of this series since
I have been in town (7 years) was the 1978 one-game playoff between the Red
Sox and the Yankees.
Records that were broken in this series (lifted from the Boston Globe):
Highest team field goal percentage: Lakers, 51.5%.
Most steals by team: Celtics, 65.
Most individual steals: Larry Bird, 15.
Highest individual field goal percentage: James Worthy, 63.8%.
Most assists: Magic Johnson, 95.
Most turnovers: Magic Johnson, 31.
Most defensive rebounds: Larry Bird, 72.
(The last one surprises me the most, considering how much Bill Russell
dominated the boards in his day.)
I am really glad the Celtics won; it felt good all year, unlike last
year, in which there were contract squabbles, problems with the coach
(Bill Fitch), and much inconsistency on the court. The 76ers of this
year reminded me a lot of the Celtics last year. Last year ended with a
sweep by the Bucks; it, too, was a fitting end. But a change of
ownership and coaching staff (and some wild dealing by Red to keep
McHale from going to the Knicks as a free agent) completely turned
things around. The Celtics loved playing for KC and had fun all year,
which made them so enjoyable to watch.
This year, Cedric Maxwell can become a free agent; I hope we can sign
him. He is the longest-term member of the team. M.L. Carr may retire.
I have heard a lot of people talking of trading Ainge; I hope not--I'd
probably start him over Henderson, but I can't question KC now. Red will
officially retire as GM, but everyone expects he will remain close to the
club's decision-making process.
I'm also glad the Celtics won because of the pro-Laker hype by CBS,
mostly Brent Mussberger (sp?). Earlier in the playoffs, he said the
Laker bench was "capable of blowing out any team in the league except
maybe the Celtic starters." In the series, the Celtic bench got more
minutes and points than did the Lakers'. I'll always remember the
"one-game dynasty," when Kevin Loughery called this year's Lakers "maybe
the best team ever to take the court," and Pat Riley suggested James
Worthy for series MVP after game three.
Let's go for two!
--
--Bruce Nemnich, Thinking Machines Corporation, Waltham, MA
{decvax!cca,ihnp4!mit-eddie,allegra!ias}!godot!bruce, BJN@MIT-MC.ARPA