30 years ago; 1987 NBA Finals, the Final Battle between Magic Johnson & Larry Bird

[simmytbone]

Hey guys,

Beginning tonight, ESPN will air a 2-part special of 30 for 30 looking back @ the Biggest Rival of the 80's

The Battle between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers

But let's take a look back 30 years ago:

The Lakers & Celtics do battle in the NBA Finals One Last Time

The Lakers & Celtics have been the driving force of the 80's

During that decade, the Lakers lead by the trio of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & James Worthy have won 5 titles during that decade and the Boston Celtics lead by trio Original BIG 3 of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale & Robert Parish have won 3 championships

In 1980 & 1982, the Lakers lead by the showtime trio def. the Philadelphia 76ers lead by the duo of "Dr. J" Julius Erving and Moses Malone

However, in 1983, the Sixers would finally win an NBA Title by SWEEPING the Lakers and it would be the only time that Dr. J & Moses Malone won an NBA Title

The Sixers wouldn't return to the finals until 18 years later against the Lakers

In 2001, the Lakers lead by Shaq & Kobe Bryant def. the Sixers lead by Allen Iverson 4-1 to win their 2nd straight NBA Title (their 13th in franchise history)

The Celtics on the other hand lead by the ageless Men in Green would def. the Houston Rockets in 1981 and again in 1986 when the Rockets were lead by Ralph Sampson and a young Hakeem Olajuwon who would end up winning back to back championships in 1994 & 1995

However, the Lakers & Celtics went head to head in the NBA Finals 3 times during the 80's

In 1984, the Celtics won the 1st battle in a 7 game series with the Celtics having Home Court Advantage and closing out Game 7 in Boston and Larry Bird was named Finals MVP

Longtime Celtic K.C. Jones and longtime Laker Pat Riley were Head Coaches for their respective teams

The following year in 1985, the Lakers would win the 2nd battle in 6 games

Celtics had home court advantage with a record of 63-19 with the Lakers havin' the 2nd best record in the league of 62-20

The Lakers would close out the series in 6 games with a road win in Boston and Longtime Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP

However, it was 2 later that the Lakers & Celtics would meet up one last time in the 80's

This time, the Lakers finally had home court advantage and they won every game @ home and won Game 4 in Boston and they would even close out the series in 6 games with a win @ home in L.A. and Legendary Laker Magic Johnson was named Finals MVP

The Lakers would win the battle in the 80's, but the Lakers would soon go back to the Finals 3 of their last 4 years

In 1988, the Lakers would def. the Detroit Pistons lead by the Bad Boys of Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, John Salley, Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars

The Lakers would def. the Pistons in 7 games with the Lakers havin' home court advantage and closing out the series in L.A. and the Lakers would become the 2nd team in the league's history to win Back to Back and James Worthy would finally become the Finals MVP

However, the following year, the Pistons headed by longtime Pistons Head Coach the late Chuck Daly would get PAYBACK on the Lakers by sweeping them in the finals with the Pistons havin' home court advantage and Joe Dumars would become Finals MVP

The following year in 1990, the Pistons would repeat when they def. Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers in 5 games and Isiah Thomas was named Finals MVP and it would be the final telecast on CBS after 17 years

It was also the 1st time that the NBA Finals didn't feature the Lakers or the Celtics

The following year, in 1991, NBC would have another run of the NBC which was known as the NBA on NBC and during that year, the Bulls would FINALLY def. the Pistons to reach the NBA Finals for the very 1st time by sweeping the Bad Boys and Magic Johnson and the Lakers would return to the finals by UPSETTING the team with the Best Record in the League in the Portland Trail Blazers

It would also mark the end of the Showtime Era as the Bulls def. the Lakers in what was a dream match between 2 good friends in Magic Johnson & Michael Jordan

Magic would then pass the torch to MJ

The Lakers & Celtics wouldn't do battle again in the finals until 21 years later in 2008 and again 2 years later in 2010 when it was a battle between Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett

Doc Rivers was Head Coach of the Celtics and Phil Jackson was Head Coach of the Lakers

Garnett along with Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo & Ray Allen would win the 1st battle in 2008 with the Celtics having home court advantage and closing out Game 6 @ home in Boston to win their 1st NBA Title in 22 years

In 2010, Kobe Bryant along with Derek Fisher, Ron Artest & Pau Gasol would win the 2nd battle with the Lakers having home court advantage and closing out Game 7 @ home in L.A. and winning back to back in 2009 and in 2010

It's been 7 years since these 2 franchises have played in the NBA Finals

The Lakers was on the verge of another 3-peat, but got swept by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in 2011

and that's your look @ the BIGGEST Rival of the 80's

The Lakers & the Celtics the battle between Showtime & the Men in Green

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson


Kobe Bryant & Kevin Garnett