1985-86 TheCeltics overcome the Twin Towers (Olajuwon i Sampson) in the fight
for title.
1985-86 TheCeltics overcome the Twin Towers (Olajuwon i Sampson) in the fight
for title.
The last season defeat got stuck in Bird's memory. The same way that
Magic Johnson had been driven by revenge the previous season to, The Boston's
player was doing everything to lead his team back to the top. He finished the
season with as top 10 in five categories: scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (9.8
rpg), steals (2.02), free throw percentage (.896) and three-point field goal
percentage (.423).The Celtics had also made an important change in their team by
adding Bill Walton from the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade for Cedric Maxwell.
Walton, haunted by injuries for years, shocked everyone by playing a career-high
80 games in a single season. The team finished with a history making 67-15
record, including an astounding 40-1 home record. Boston swept Chicago, defeated
Atlanta in five games, and swept Milwaukee to reach the Finals
The Lakers had won 62 games, but were surprised by the Houston Rockets in the
Conference Finals, were defeated by Twin Towers; Ralph Sampson and Hakeem
Olajuwon playing together. When the Lakers took Game 1, everyone was ready for
another Boston-LA event in the Finals, but Huston took the next four straight
games and advanced to the Finals to meet the powerful Celtics. Playing at the
top of his game, Bird (averaged 24.0 ppg, 9.7rpg, 9.5 apg) led his team to its
16th title in six games
The Celtics demolished the Twin Towers for their 16th title.
With Olajuwon and Sampson, the Rockets had brought a new strength to the NBA.
In the days of George Mikan, and later, of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Nate
Thurmond or Wiilis Reed, success in the league had been measured by how good the
best big man was. Houston decided to use that with their big players, but the
Celtics had the answers with Parish, Walton and McHale, as well as from Bird and
Dennis Johnson. Although the Celtics' offense was a dancing thuder, it was their
defense that secured them this title. "I don't remember the last time I was
guarded by a team more than I was today," Sampson said after Game 6. "Every time
I touched the ball, there were two or three guys next to me. And that went for
Hakeem, too."
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