This will be an ongoing Dynasty following my dude wherever the game takes him. Starting with Philadelphia in 1980. Hope people enjoy it! Finished up Year 1 so far.
1980----- YEAR 1
October 4th, 1980. A diner in downtown Philadelphia, the song "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" blaring loudly on a flashy jukebox in the corner. Fitz Dixon Jr., an older man who'd inherited millions, one with a friendly disposition but a nasty temper, sat with a large grin facing a young blonde haired kid, no older than twenty five. "General Manager. You sure you can handle that?" He had a cigarette in his hand, and the raspy tone in his voice showed signs of years of smoking.
Waving a hand through the air to clear the smoke, Adam Lehner smiled and nodded. "I was born for this job, sir. I won't let you down." Young but with ambitions well beyond his age, the kid from Minnesota was ready to take the world by the reigns and ride his way to a NBA championship. And the stakes were certainly high.
"A championship within 5 years. That's a lot to promise, kid." Dixon took another drag from his smoke as Adam took a sip from his water, never one for coffee himself.
"With all due respect, sir, I think I said 4."
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
OCTOBER 19TH, 1980 - New Management Brings Young Edge
In a move being looked at as high risk with little reward, Adam Lehner, a young man of 25, is being raised up to the position of General Manager from the front office of the 76ers. While this has sent ripples of surprise throughout the league, Billy Cunningham was quoted earlier this morning, stating "Lehner has a lot of ideas, and a lot of potential. I speak for the rest of the team when I say we welcome him with wide arms."
Lehner had his first press conference earlier this week, stating his main goal was to get the team a championship in four years or less. Star player Julius Erving had this to say.
"It's hard to take orders from a guy younger than you, especially someone with no experience. I like the attitude, and I hope it works out."
It'll take more than flare to win over this city, Lehner. This is Alexander Rosewood, expect more updates as the season progresses.
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Starting Roster going into the season:
Maurice Cheeks- PG
Andrew Toney - SG
Julius Erving - SF
Bobby Jones - PF
Darryl Dawkins - C
Caldwell Jones - 6th Man (C)
Steve Mix - 7th (SF)
Lionel Hollins - 8th (PG)
Doug Collins - 9th (SG)
Clint Richardson - 10th (SG)
Earl Cureton - 11th (C)
Monti Davis - 12th (PF)
Ollie Johnson - 13th (SF)
Coach: Billy Cunningham
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The team starts off 3-2, with two big wins over Washington and one over Milwaukee, and a loss to both New York and New Jersey (62-84 against the Nets, 87-95 against the Knicks). Not great, perhaps, but Lehner's first big move took many by surprise none-the-less. Steve Mix and Bobby Jones, alongside two second round picks, for Portland's Kermit Washington and Bob Gross. Bobby Jones was at this point a big fan favorite, and Steve Mix had spent 8 seasons as a reliable player for the team, having spent the last three seasons as a reliable staple for the bench.
Lehner wanted results. He saw Kermit Washington as a franchise player, someone who could bully the post and create reliable shots for Erving, while dominating himself in the post.
He was right.
In his first game with the team, starting right off the bat, Kermit had 30 points with 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block in 39 minutes in a crushing 111 to 97 point overtime victory over Detroit. Ending the 4th quarter 93-93, Kermit himself had 12 points in the ending period. In the next game, a 115-95 point win over Atlanta, he pushed that number to 31, bringing in 7 assists and 8 rebounds as well.
The move was soon heralded by the entire city as an incredible one, as Philadelphia went on an eleven game winning streak before losing to Indiana in the beginning of December. Suddenly, Lehner seemed like he knew what he was doing.
Suddenly, a championship didn't seem too farfetched.
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The season rolled on. The Knicks traded their 1981 first round pick for Cleveland's Roger Phegley. Julius Erving tore it up. San Diego's Swen Nater started off the season on track for getting All Star acclaim, but a torn ACL found him out for at least a year in early December. "Players like Moses Malone are dirty, and they're bad for the game" owner Donald Sterling was quoted as saying. "When you post a guy up like that, and he comes down hurt- we need repercussions. That's just nasty."
Philadelphia met Houston later that week. Moses Malone had 19 rebounds and 31 points. Julius Erving went 5 for 21 with 14 points, and Kermit Washington was held to just 3 rebounds. Moses Malone, Lehner decided, was a must get in the near future. In the meantime, he decided to push Caldwell Jones up to the starting role, given Dawkins disposition for injury, and worked with Billy Cunningham to develop a more defensive oriented play-book. Getting destroyed that heavily on rebounds was insane.
By the beginning of the new year, Philadelphia was a close second in the eastern conference behind the New Jersey Nets (25-6), with a 25-7 record. In the west, the Lakers reigned at the top with a 25-7 record as well, while Houston followed closely at 21-8. Life was looking good.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
JANUARY 23RD, 1981 - Despite Regular Success, Western Rivals Prove To Be A Daunting Threat
On the second night of a long road trip, the 76ers looked absolutely exhausted. Leading for the first two minutes, Magic Johnson sent a long pass across the court to Jamal Wilkes for an uncontested slam dunk to put the Lakers up 10-9. For the next 46 minutes, that lead only grew.
"When we're playing in games like this on the road, these things, y'know, they just don't matter as much" Maurice Cheeks was quoted as saying after the game. "When L.A. came to Philly in December we won by what, 20? How many points did Kareem have, 10? That's what I thought." Team mate Erving seemed a bit more concerned. "Magic Johnson is something else, that's for sure. Pat Riley is a great coach, and Kareem is one of the best players in this league. What more do you want me to say? This game was huge, I'm upset we lost. We'll go on."
Tonight's loss ends another 11 game streak, something fans are becoming accustomed to seeing from this lively team. While the team won't see the Lakers for the rest of the season (unless they meet in the finals), they'll play Houston five days from now. If I was Billy Cunningham, I'd look at that game as a must win, especially given that it's at home.
This is Alexander Rosewood, stay tuned for more.
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Philadelphia lost 88-107. Moses Malone dominated yet again, with 30 points and 13 rebounds. This time, Julius Erving tried his best to fight back, putting up a formidable 23 points in 34 minutes, while team mate Maurice Cheeks had 14 with 8 assists. Bob Gross was impressive off the bench, with 18 points during a 7-10 shooting performance, but the rest of the team forgot to show up. That loss aside, Philly came into All Star Weekend at the top of the standings across the league with an impressive 42-11 record. The first day was a delightful display of fun expertise; Maurice Cheeks won the Slam Dunk contest, while Alvin Scott from Phoenix won the 3 point contest (no 76ers made the cut for the contest). The Rookie Class beat the Sophomore 129-117, with Wes Matthews taking home the Player of the Game honors (27 points 12-19 shooting in 29 minutes). Bill Laimbeer was the Rookie's starting center, while Mychal Thompson was the Sophomore's starting center and Magic Johnson the PG.
Philly dominated the highlight event. Julius Erving started at small forward for the east, Kermit Washington at power forward, and Maurice Cheeks at point guard. Robert Parish was the center, and Johnny Davis the shooting guard, with notable bench players Dan Roundfield, Michael Ray Richardson, Mike Mitchell, and Ricky Sobers. For the west, Adrian Dantley started at SF, Truck Robinson at PF, Moses Malone at center, World B. Free at shooting guard, and Dennis Johnson at PG. George Gervin, Kareem, Alex English, and Jack Sikma were notable bench players, as was Brad Davis (who tore his ACL during the game). Julius Erving went off for 43 points and Kermit dropped 20, but the Western team won riding World B. Free's 34 points (on 10-15 shooting) to a 150-157 point win.
The trade deadline was exciting. The Nets traded Mike O'Koren for Washington's Kevin Porter and a 1981 2nd round pick, while New York traded Sly Williams for the Kings's Scott Wedman and a 2nd round pick, as well as a heavy trade when they gave away Roger Phegley (he only lasted what, two and a half months?), Mike Thomas, and Kevin Locklier for the Pacer's George McGinnis and a 2nd round pick. The Rocket's traded Allen Leavell for Atlanta's Steve Hawes, while Los Angeles may have found a steal, giving up Norm Nixon for Atlanta's John Drew. Houston picked up Chris Ford and a 2nd round pick from Boston for Bill Willoughby, and the Delaware Colonels looked set to win the D-League, putting up an impressive 45-17 record. The season was drawing to a close.
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It's April 20th, 1981. "Kiss on My List" by Hall & Oates plays over the radio, as Adam Lehner, Billy Cunningham, and Fitz Dixon Jr. raise their champagne glasses for a toast. The following day marked the start of the NBA Playoffs, and the 76ers stood posed to win big. Finishing second in the league at 59-23 behind the Lakers 61-21 record, the only real threats in the east appeared to be the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, and the Chicago Bulls, with the other 4 teams struggling to even hit .500 (the bottom 3 did not).
"You guys did it" Nixon remarked, taking a long sip. "I can't say I'm not impressed." Cunningham chuckled, as Lehner squirmed in the back of the limousine, shrugging meekly. "It's not done yet."
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
APRIL 25TH, 1981 - In Expected Victory, Philadelphia Makes It Look Easy
Up against a much weaker injured riddled team, Philadelphia finished the sweep tonight in Atlanta, winning 108-79. The team, riding Julius Erving's recent scoring title (an impressive 30.7 ppg for the season), seems unbeatable right now. While Los Angeles also finished a sweep today, Houston is currently struggling, down 3-1 after the 7th seed Utah pulled another victory today. Can this team ride the momentum forward to an easy victory? This is Alexander Rosewood- stay tuned to find out.
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Surprisingly, Houston did come back, winning 102-84 at home in a breathtaking game 7. Chicago beat Detroit in Game 7 as well, while Denver took down Phoenix in the West. Surprisingly, in the next round, both Philadelphia and Los Angeles got pushed to Game 7's by Chicago and San Diego respectively, while Houston lost 4-2 to Denver. They both won, however things began to grow shaky when Philadelphia found itself down 2-1 against New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Finals going into Game 4. New Jersey won the next game as well, despite an impressive 49 points from Erving, before Philadelphia stole the next one back at home with a close 104-96 victory behind Erving's 37/7/11 game.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be. New Jersey won the next game 108-96, despite another 42 points from Erving, while Los Angeles beat Denver 4=1. The Finals had been decided, and Philadelphia wouldn't be there. Los Angeles went on to win 4-1, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar taking home the Finals MVP trophy.
As fans flooded the court following Kareem's game winning skyhook (despite being in New Jersey), Adam Lehner sat in an executive box from above, smiling softly. The NBA Finals. He'd be there soon enough, that much was sure.
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Dallas took the #1 pick in the lottery, while Portland went 2, Seattle 3, Cleveland 4, Boston 5, Kansas City 6, and Indiana 7. Philadelphia's very own Julius Erving took home the MVP honors, with an impressive 30.7 points per game, 5.0 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.9 blocks. Moses Malone took home DPOY, Walter Davis from Phoenix took home 6th man of the year, Wes Matthews took home rookie of the year, and the Laker's Pat Riley took home Coach of the Year. Magic Johnson (LAL), World B. Free (GSW), Julius Erving (PHI), Alvan Adams (PHO), and Moses Malone (HOU) made up the 1st All NBA team, Dennis Johnson (PHO), George Gervin (SAN), Adrian Dantley (UTA), Dan Roundfield (ATL), and Kareem Abdul Jabbar (LAL) made up the 2nd, and Phil Ford (KAN), Walter Davis (PHO), Alex English (DEN), Truck Robinson (PHO), and Jack Sikma (SEA) made up the 3rd. Michael Ray Richardson (NYK), George Gervin (SAN), Julius Erving (PHI), Dan Roundfield (ATL), and Moses (HOU) were 1st All Team Defense, while Ray Williams (NYK), Darrel Griffith (UTA), Terry Tyler (DET), David Greenwood (CHI), and Tree Rollins (ATL) were 2nd. Wes Matthews (WAS), Darrel Griffith (UTA), Michael Brooks (SAN D.), Larry Smith (GSW), and Joe Barry Carroll (GSW) were 1st All Rookie, and Kelvin Ransey (POR), Andrew Toney (PHI), Kiki Vandeweghe (DEN), Kevin McHale (BOS), and Bill Laimbeer (CLE) were 2nd. Jerry West took home Executive of the Year honors for Los Angeles.
A Kid from Minnesota
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A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Sat May 27, 2017 11:51 pm
Last edited by rawr123456787654 on Mon May 29, 2017 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- rawr123456787654
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Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Mon May 29, 2017 7:50 pm
1981---- YEAR 2
Lehner's main off-season goal was procuring a reliable center, at any cost. New Jersey had beat them in the post, and while Kermit could be good, he wasn't consistent and relied on his raw shooting ability versus physical brutality. Sure, he was an enforcer- but Lehner wanted size. Peter Gudmundsson, Marcus Blackman, Alton Lister, Connor Jahn, Danny Schayes, Rolando Blackman, Herb williams, Frank Brickowski, Gene Banks, Buck Williams, Demarcus Phelan, Mark Aguirre, Samuel Williams, and Kelly Tripucka were targeted for work outs.
Dallas took Larry Nance at 1, while Portland snagged Tom Chambers up at 2- at 3, Detroit traded their 13th pick, 36th pick, and a 1983 first round pick alongside point-guard Larry Drew for the 3rd overall pick, which they used to take Isiah Thomas. Cleveland grabbed Kelly Tripucka at 4, Boston took Danny Ainge at 5, Kansas City took Buck Williams at 6, Indiana took Herb Williams at 7, and Golden State took Orlando Woolridge at 8. Mark Aguirre went 9 to Atlanta, Rolando Blackman went to Washington 10, Eddie Johnson went to Milwaukee 11, Jay Vincent went to Utah at 12, Lewis Lloyd to Seattle at 13, and then at 14 Philadelphia traded Darryl Dawkins and the 22nd pick for Phoenix's first round, which they used to take Frank Brickowski. Lehner hadn't found the gem he'd wanted, but maybe with some polish...
July 3rd, 1981. The first day of Summer League. Billy Cunningham was taking a much needed vacation, so Lehner had volunteered to coach the team- both for the experience, and as a means of trying to make amends with the team. He'd recently made the choice to renounce the rights on Maurice Cheeks in hopes of luring in a big name on the free market. Julius Erving was the leader of this team anyways, and Lionel Hollins was good enough to start. Still, the move hadn't been met with much love. And so Lehner found himself at courtside facing a thin crowd in a poorly lit room, almost like a high school gymnasium. Clint Richardson was starting at point, Andrew Toney at SG, Nic Soward at SF, Frank Brickowski at PF, and Demarcus Phelan (someone Lehner had looked at for a second-round draft before trading the pick away, and someone he was considering trying to pick up). Utah was geared up, but Lehner didn't recognize the assistant coach.
Towards the end of the 1st quarter, Philadelphia found itself up 13-12. Andrew Toney shoved Terrence Johnson after he missed a lay-up, and the referee called a technical. Terrence missed the 49ers, and Lehner called a time-out. After a stern talking to and a well set isolation, Philadelphia went on to dominate, finishing up the half 50-37, with Toney putting up 13 and Brickowski and Phelan putting up 8 a piece. Phelan had 10 rebounds in the first half alone. Lehner definitely took note of that. He ended up with 14 rebounds total and 14 points, while Toney racked up 19 total. Brickowski meanwhile dominated in the second half, finishing up with 31 points and ten rebounds alongside 3 blocks in a 110-108 point win. He had 28 in the team's 115-106 point win over Boston and 18 in the team's 107-100 point loss to Kansas City. The team went undefeated for the rest of the summer, as Lehner shifted his attention to the most important task of the next few weeks: free agency.
The team had ten guaranteed players coming back, and 15 million on cap. The five best players on the market were Robert Parish, Swen Nater, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob McAdoo, and Artis Gilmore, all the kinds of guys Lehner needed. They were also probably going to get max contracts wherever they went, so unfortunately, they were out of reach. The three most attainable superstars seemed to be probable future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (at -36 years old-, however), Maurice Lucas (at 39), and Mitch Kupchak. Demarcus Phelan had impressed enough people in the summer league that he was asking for around 3 million as well, so bidding had to be strategic to make the most of the 15 million dollar cap. There was also the question of Lionel Hollins... Andrew Toney had certainly shown he could handle pressure during summer league, but could he actually handle leading the team? He was certainly more of a shooting guard than a reliable passer.
The first big move is Phil Ford's switch to Indiana. For a guy who'd never made an all star game, a 20 million dollar a year contract is definitely appealing. San Diego quickly resigned Swen Nater, and New Jersey resigned Maurice Lucas, limiting Lehner's options immediately. On July 23rd, Lehner made the first big splash, signing Elvin Hayes for a 2 year contract worth 21,918,616$. On that same day, Kareem resigned with the Lakers, and Robert Parish resigned with the Celtics. The Spurs made another big splash, signing Mitch Kupchak to a 4 year 80 million dollar contract, while the Nuggets signed Maurice Cheeks to a 4 year contract worth 60 million. Lehner's next move was signing Jo Jo White, a veteran on his last legs, to a 2 year contract worth 3,718,500$. A good back-up PG if need be. Next, he re-signed Lionel Hollins to a 3-year contract worth 14,810,739$, befpre signing Demarcus Phelan to a 4-year contract worth 5,825,680$. This left the team for nearly 5 million in cap space, perfect for any mid-season trades. The first free agency was over; a new shot at the finals sat on the horizon. Shortly before the season, Lehner made the decision to send the young Panamanian to the D-League; at 7-4, he was certainly fit for a center position, but at only 18 he could use time to grow.
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1981-1982 Starting Line-up:
Coach Billy Cunningham
PG- Lionel Hollins
SG- Andrew Toney
SF- Julius Erving
PF- Kermit Washington
C- Frank Brickowski
6th- Bob Gross (SF)
7th- Elvin Hayes (PF)
8th- Caldwell Jones (C)
9th- Jo Jo White (PG)
10th- Doug Collins (SG)
11th- Clint Richardson (SG)
12th- Earl Cureton (C)
13th- Monti Davis (PF)
14th- Demarcus Phelan (C)
Hayes, Gross, and White hovered around 20 minutes a piece; serious bench players. Cunningham and Lehner agreed on a deep bench rotation. Toney played around 25 minutes, Hollins around 30, Erving upwards towards 40, Washington around 30, and Brickowski mid thirties. Caldwell Jones was also a notable contributor, chipping in around ten minutes, as was Doug Collins.
They started off strong, with a 116-98 win over Cleveland at home, before following up with a 91-79 point win over New Jersey at home. Erving dropped 44 and then 32 respectfully, while the bench combined for 36 and 28 in back-to-back games. Playing in Boston, Philadelphia found itself up 41-40 after a perfectly timed 3 from Andrew Toney with 2 seconds left. Larry Bird had been held to just 2 points as Julius Erving drew foul after foul, however a young Kevin McHale was stepping up in his absence, having posted 16 points with 7 rebounds in the first half alone. Kermit was facing foul trouble as well, having gotten 4, being held to just 2 points as well. Boston dominated in the second halh, however, winning 92-75. Bird had 18 points in 18 minutes, and 6 members of the team hit double digits. Erving meanwhile had 27, but went 8/28 shooting- Lionel Hollins had 4 with 2/10, Brickowski had 9 with 3/10, and Hayes had 10 with 4/10 (Kermit went 2/7, 5 points, as well). The team simply didn't hit baskets.
This triggered a rough patch. The Washington Bullets (then 5-5) went on to beat Philadelphia at home following a 26 point 5 assist 5 rebound outing from young rookie Rolando Blackman, and in the next game, despite beating Atlanta with a narrow 107-106 point buzzer beater win, no player failed to put higher than 17 points on the board (Mark Agguire had 34). With a 4-3 record to start the year, Philadelphia went into a home game November 20th against the 4-4 Indiana Pacers with a thirst for blood.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
November 21st, 1981- Julius Erving Drops Season High on 23/25 Shooting
In a home win in which Indiana never seemed to have a chance, Julius Erving tore away with an explosive 58 point shooting display, making twenty three of twenty five shots in a showing coach Billy Cunningham called "legendary."
"You see this once, maybe twice a year- a game where one guy is just completely tuned it. Tonight, that was Dr. J. Let's hope this keeps up all season, the guys 31 and he's playing with more vigor than ninety nine percent of the league."
Rookie Frank Brickowski, who had a landmark as well posting a career high 34 points with 13 rebounds, shared the coach's sentiment. "To play with a guy like this, in the middle of his prime- I'm just so grateful to be here in Philadelphia with these guys right now. I'm so grateful for this city."
Indiana point guard Phil Ford, 1978's Rookie of the Year, led the Pacers with 17 points and 9 assists. When asked for his thoughts on Erving, he was happy to throw praise on the man. "This is a guy who's unguardable. You can't beat him on D because he understands it so well- he had what, three steals tonight? Next time, we'll play him better, but really there's nothing much we can change. He shoots, he scores."
Indiana Head Coach George Karl, in his first year in the league, had perhaps the best remark. "Dr. J came with the medicine. I can't even say it made me sick."
This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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The team rolled on. They were 10-5 a week into December (with a loss against New Jersey and one against Cleveland- in which Bill Laimbeer posted 18 rebounds and 12 points. Definitely a future target, Lehner noted, depending on how Brickowski shaped out. He'd been inconsistent as of yet, not uncommon for a rookie.) and were third in the East, behind a fiercesome Larry Bird led Boston squad and the formidable New Jersey Nets. In the West, the Nuggets led at the top (with Maurice Cheeks, Kiki Vandeweghe, Alex English, and Dan Issel providing one of the most star-studded starting line-ups in the NBA) while the Lakers hovered at second and San Antonio followed at third.
Trades had been flying around like crazy. The Trailblazers shiped Jim Paxson for David Greenwood and a 2nd round pick early on, while Boston traded Rick Robety and a 1st round pick for Atlanta's Art Collins and their 1984 first round pick. The Warriors, meanwhile, gave up perhaps one of the dumbest trades, shipping star player World B. Free to Los Angeles for two first round picks and former player Jamaal Wilkes. The season roared on.
Lehner was looking for trades himself. Earl Cureton, Caldwell Jones, and Bob Gross were all young-ish players (25, 31, 28) with decent trade value, and Lehner could see already the team needed something else to push them up over the edge. Maurice Cheeks, despite freeing up the cap space to sign Phelan (who was currently -rocking- the D-League, putting up 19 points a game with 14.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks), Hayes, and Lionel Hollins, had been a huge loss, and Hollins wasn't nearly as good as creating open looks as his predecessor had been. Immediately, the team found a solution, shipping Bob Gross (moment of silence for a great bench player who'd managed to average 10.1 points per game on .551 shooting in his 101 game tenure) and Earl Cureton for Seattle's Larry Drew, who Seattle had had playing in the D-League after trading for him and a handful of picks during the draft. This brought the total players down to 13, so Lehner signed former NBA center Kim Hughes and former New Orleans point guard Jim McElroy (who, just three years ago, had averaged 16.9 points a game starting for the team).
In his first game with the team (against the team quickly shaping out to be one of their fiercest rivals alongside Houston; New Jersey) Larry Drew dropped 12 points in 21 minutes coming off the bench, alongside five assists and a couple of drawn fouls. The kid had potential.
By the end of January, Philadelphia found itself worse for wear versus their position the year before, but with a brighter future in blossoming young assets Frank Brickowski, Andrew Toney, and Larry Drew. Demarcus Phelan was more than ready to be brought up from the D-League, however he seemed to be growing playing regular minutes there, and back-up center or powerforward wasn't something particularly needed quite yet. They were 26-17, tied for 3rd with the New York Knicks behind New Jersey's 32-16 record and Boston's 33-13. In the west, Denver continued to dominate at 34-12, while San Antonio followed 33-14, and Los Angeles trailed 32-14. Portland was 4th at 28-19. By the time All Star weekend rolled around (hosted in Ohio) Philadelphia remained tied in a deadlock, both teams now at 31-21. The weekend was important; Larry Bird led the lead in scoring with 36.4 points a game, while Erving trailed behind at 34.7. Erving was scorned, especially given that Bird was starting over him, pushing him back to a reserve role. Whoever proved more dominant could brag for the rest of the year the true title of scoring champion - this was essential.
The Slam Dunk contest was first, with Washington's Wes Matthews taking home the title, while Golden State's Sonny Parker won the 3-point contest. Bill Laimbeer ran the game in the Rising All Stars game, scoring 32 points with 18 rebounds as the Sophomores beat the Rookies 135-124, though rookie Isiah Thomas scored an impressive 30 with 8 assists. The All-Star game was being played under wary circumstances, as many players were nervous about injury; many star players were out with injury, such as Atlanta's Mark Aguirre (broken wrist), Chicago's Artis Gilmore (a torn ACL), Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka (a torn MCL), Dallas's Brad Davis (a broken leg), Detroit's Phil Hubbard (a torn knee tendon), Los Angeles's Magic Johnson (also a broken wrist), New York's Bill Cartwright (another torn ACL), and Utah's Darrel Griffth (-another- torn ACL).
It was an exciting game, none-the-less. Starting for the West was Maurice Cheeks at PG, George Gervin at SG, Moses Malone at C, Alvan Adams at PF, and Adrian Dantley at SF; for the East, it was Larry Bird at SF, Dan Roundfield at PF, Bill Laimbeer at C, Reggie Theus at SG, and Isiah Thomas at G (his rookie year!) Notable bench players for the east included Kevin McHale, Julius Erving, Michael Ray Richardson, Phil Ford, Rolando Blackman, Bob McAdoo, and Herb Williams- for the West, Swen Nater (coming off a year long rehab period for his last injury), Jack Sikma, Bernard King, Kareem, Dennis Johnson, World B. Free, and Tom Chambers. Coming off his 43 point outing the year before, Erving dropped 41 points to Bird's 22, going 16/22 vs his 7/21 in ten minutes less time on the court, winning him All Star MVP honors. Cheeks had 24 with 12 assists, and tried to guard Erving several times on the court. Lehner tried to approach him after the game, but he seemed to avoid it.
Parting way often caused scorn. Lehner hoped Bob Gross didn't feel the same way. The team was what was most important.
On the subject of trades, a few went down right before the deadline. Kenny Higgs left Denver, going to Houston for PF Steve Hawkes and a 2nd round pick. The Nuggets also shipped Cedrick Hordges for Cleveland's Richard Washington, while Boston made headlines when they shipped starting point-guard Nate Archibald and back-up point-guard Gerald Henderson for the Piston's PF Mike Bantom. They also shipped Cedric Maxwell for Atlanta's Eddie Johnson. Indiana sent Johnny Davis and Dudley Bradley for Portland's David Greenwood and a second round pick, while Phoenix sent Jeff Cook to New Jersey for Kevin Porter. Bob Gross was also shipped from Seattle to New Jersey, lasting just 2 months on the West Coast.
On March 3rd, 1982 the Lakers destroyed the Phoenix Suns in one of the most embarassing blow outs in history, beating them by -70- points in a 119-49 point display of domination. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the league's second highest record for shooting, dropping 66 points with 13 assists, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He had 37 a week later in a Lakers victory over Philadelphia, 106-91 at the Staples Center. Magic Johnson had 28 points in his return from injury, while World b. Free had 19. The Lakers had a dominant trio on their hands, holding every player on Philadelphia to single digits- except Irving, who dropped 39.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
March 13th, 1982 - Free Agency Rumors Swirl Around Star Julius Erving
Rumors abound, as reports indicate Magic Johnson was seen at dinner with rival Julius Erving in downtown Los Angeles shortly after their Sunday afternoon game two weeks ago. When approached with the question of leaving, Erving was quick to brush aside concern; "I have no plans on leaving this city, and especially no plans of doing it with the Lakers. While the idea of winning a ring is certainly alluring, there's no reason we can't do it here in the vibin' city of Philadelphia."
We hope you're here for good, Dr. J. This is Alexander Rosewood.
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It was Lakers mania in the NBA. After a rocky start, the Lakers went on a 10 game winning streak before overtaking the Nuggets in a ridiculous 76 point game victory from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take the 1st spot in the conference at 46-19. The Celtics hovered close by at 45-20 in the East, and a Magic-Bird match-up seemed all but inevitable. The Lakers would finish that streak with 19 wins, a streak that set the league record for consecutive wins.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, was struggling to stay relevant. At the end of March, they found themselves 4th in the comparatively weaker East at 42-30, closely following the tails of the 3rd placed 44-29 New York Knicks, the 49-24 New Jersey Nets, and the 51-21 Boston Celtics. They were 15th in the league in points per game (out of 23), and at the very bottom in field goal percentage and 20th in 3-point percentage.
On April 3rd, they showed up to play. 1982's big hit, Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That" played loudly in the stadium as the second seeded New Jersey was introduced, a subtle jab towards last year's loss in the playoffs. Down 3-2 in the season series, this game was imperative for setting a precedent. Erving showed up to bat, dropping 43 as every starter notched up 11 or more. On April 12th, they set the bar even higher- Kool & The Gang's "Get Down On It" bumped heavy in the stadium as Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, and Eddie Johnson took the court. Erving had 48, with 8 rebounds; Bird had 25 (also with 8 rebounds). Former Boston point-guard Jo Jo White led the bench in scoring with 14, while Kermit Washington had a quiet double-double going 17 with 12 rebounds. Despite being 47-33, Philadelphia looked serious; like a real contender. Erving had 59 in his last game of the season, a 125-107 point win at home against the 7th seeded Washington Bullets. Philadelphia finished 49-33, 4th in the league behind Boston, New Jersey, and New York, and tied with Indiana. Atlanta and Detroit made up 6 and 8 respectfully; in the West, Los Angeles hovered high at 62-20, while Denver was second, San Antonio 3rd, San Diego 4th, Portland 5th, Utah 6th, Houston 7th, and Golden State 8th. Kansas was at the bottom of the league at 19-63, while Chicago was at the bottom of the East at 25-57.
Playoffs baby.
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It's a Friday night, and Adam Lehner has a cup of coffee on his desk and a joint in his hand. He'd said he'd never drink coffee, and he definitely said he'd never smoke dope at work, but things changed, and work was hard. Taking a long drag, he stared pensively at a scattered mess of papers in front of him as "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls played in the background. "And I run, I run so far away; I just run, I run all night and day". Fitting words- Lehner felt exhausted.
Philadelphia was up 3-0 against a team they'd come into the playoffs tied with in terms of an overall record. He should be thrilled. Instead, he found himself scrambling to find answers- Larry Drew had torn a tendon in his knee a minute into coming onto the court in the last game, giving Indiana the chance to go up 5 points towards the end of the second quarter. Elvin Hayes showed up, dropping a season high 28 points off the bench, and Philadelphia ended up pulling away for good towards the end of the 4th, but now Lehner found himself without his second best player off the bench. Phelan had shown himself to be -amazing-, putting up 14 points a game with -17.2 rebounds- (albeit in the D-League) but league rules prevented Lehner from pulling him up in the middle of playoffs. To compensate for the loss, he pushed up Jo Jo White and Caldwell Jone's minutes up and moved Jim McElroy into the bench rotation (who in 45 minutes played so far had dropped 19 points and 13 assists).
They completed the sweep. Indiana did fairly well, with David Greenwood, Herb Williams, Louis Orr, Billy Knight, and Phil Ford putting together a formidable squad (alongside Roger Phegley and Tom Abernethy off the bench) but they just couldn't steal a win. Kermit went out with a technical and Caldwell Jones ended up with 8 points and 11 rebounds playing over 30 minutes for the first time in months. Boston swept as well, as did New Jersey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. New York won in 6, San Antonio in 5, and Denver in 7.
The second-round found Philadelphia pitted up against the conference titan, Boston. They lost the first game, despite leading by 5 going into the half, as Larry Bird dropped 36. After Erving sprained his wrist in the second game (despite dropping -48-!) leading to another loss, Cunningham called an emergency team meeting upon their arrival back to Philadelphia.
"Do you want this? Another defeated season, another year watching the finals courtside? Another year of coming -so- god damn close... and another year of losing it, losing it because "Philadelphia can't close when it matters" or because "Philadelphia just can't compete." Do you?!" Cunningham's voice was angry, and the room was silent. Rookie Frank Brickowski was the first to speak up.
"No sir. I want to win." A murmur of agreements filled the room, Andrew Toney shaking his head up and down vehemently as he clapped his hands together, while veteran players Jo Jo White and Elvin Hayes merely nodded in agreement, leaned back towards the corner of the room.
"Then let's **** win. Let's show Boston who we are. Let's do this for -Philadelphia-. How about it?"
It worked. Frank Brickowski had 29 points with 9 rebounds in the 120-102 Game 3 win over Boston, while former Celtics point-guard Jo Jo White dropped a season high 26 with 10 assists in 29 minutes. Impressed with his play, Lehner and Cunningham agreed to move him up to a starting role in Game 4; they dominated for much of the game, with White dropping 16 with 8 assists, while Kermit Washington had 23 and 12 rebounds. Erving, meanwhile, was facing extreme difficulty up against Larry Bird; in Game 3, he had 8, while in Game 4 he had a career playoffs low score of -3- points, going 1-12 in field goals and 1-2 from the free throw line. Game 5 found all eight playoff teams tied at 2-2; Boston dominated Philadfelphia 103-75 (despite 13 points from White and 17 from Washington; Erving was again held to just 8). Bob Gross- having been traded from Seattle to New Jersey- dropped 29 to steal a win over New York, while World B. Free's 33 took Los Angeles back over San Diego. George Gervin's 31 sent the third seeded San Antonio team up over the heavily favored Denver squad, and suddenly things looked interesting.
A buzzer beater lay-up from Frank Brickowski saw Philadelphia take Game 6, though in a shake-up of things Larry Bird was named player of the game behind his 52 point 7 assist 13 rebound 5 steal 5 block outing. Larry Kenon had 34 for New York, sending them to Game 7 as well, while San Diego's Swen Nater dropped 12 points and 11 rebounds against Kareem's 34 and 14 rebound outing, as San Diego won 120-116. San Antonio, however, in a surprise victory won the series behind Mitch Kupchak's 22. Denver, despite rallying together a star studded cast, was out of contention.
Boston won Game 7. A glorious end to a glorious season, Larry Bird had 32 and Kevin McHale had 7 offensive rebounds as a late shot with 11 seconds left all but sealed the fate of the game. Erving missed a buzzer beater win, and Boston Arena went insane. New Jersey knocked out New York behind another 26 point display of dominance from Bob Gross, and Magic Johnson went 30-9-11 for a Lakers win over San Diego.
On a radio talkshow later that weekend, a panel of Erving, Washington, Hollins, and Toney were asked their thoughts on who would win this year's finals. "Los Angeles, no doubt. They're on another level, man." Toney was confident, young, and smiley, despite the team's loss just a few days prior. Kermit shook his head. "I think San Antonio could pull an upset. They've been an underrated team all season- those guys are disciplined. Gregg Popovich, he's what, 32? The guy is already on his way to becoming one of the best coaches in this league. Don't sleep on that team." Hollins nodded. "San Antonio might take them to 6, maybe even 7. I'd still say the Lakers are bound to win."
Erving rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "All of y'all are fools. Boston is taking that trophy, no doubt. I'd bet a million dollars on it."
Dr J's prediction was spot on; Boston won in 6, Los Angeles in 7. Boston took Game 1, Los Angeles 2, Boston Game 3, 4, then 5. And in a playoffs where both previous rounds had seen the majority of games go to 7, Boston won in 5. Larry Bird was crowned unanimous Finals MVP, and Boston took home another championship, easily the most decorated team in a league where parity seemed to be a major concern.
Not for Philadelphia, though. They'd brought the winning team to 7 games, and they'd seen that glimpse of hope. A championship was possible- no, a championship was inevitable. It was all about proper planning.
Kansas City took the #1 pick in the draft, with Seattle 2, Chicago 3, Phoenix 4, Cleveland 5, Milwaukee 6, and Dallas 7. Larry Bird was named MVP, Kareem was named DPOY, Kevin Grevey from Washington as 6th Man, Tom Chambers won ROY, and Pat Riley again won COTY. Magic Johnson, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Dan Roundfield, and Kareem made up the First All NBA Team, while Maurice Cheeks, Reggie Theus, Julius Erving, Tom Chambers, and Moses Malone made the second, leaving Phil Ford, World B. Free, Adrian Dantley, Alvan Adams, and Jack Sikma for the 3rd. Michael Ray Richardson, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Larry Nance, and Kareem made up first All Defense, while Ray Williams, Danny Ainge, Julius Erving, Dan Roundfield, and Moses Malone made up second. Isiah Thomas, Rolando Blackman, Eddie Johnson, Tom Chambers, and Herb Williams were First Rookie, and Frank Johnson, Danny Ainge, Gene Banks, Larry Nance, and Frank Brickowksi (woo) were second.
The season was over. But a championship was still on the horizon.
Lehner's main off-season goal was procuring a reliable center, at any cost. New Jersey had beat them in the post, and while Kermit could be good, he wasn't consistent and relied on his raw shooting ability versus physical brutality. Sure, he was an enforcer- but Lehner wanted size. Peter Gudmundsson, Marcus Blackman, Alton Lister, Connor Jahn, Danny Schayes, Rolando Blackman, Herb williams, Frank Brickowski, Gene Banks, Buck Williams, Demarcus Phelan, Mark Aguirre, Samuel Williams, and Kelly Tripucka were targeted for work outs.
Dallas took Larry Nance at 1, while Portland snagged Tom Chambers up at 2- at 3, Detroit traded their 13th pick, 36th pick, and a 1983 first round pick alongside point-guard Larry Drew for the 3rd overall pick, which they used to take Isiah Thomas. Cleveland grabbed Kelly Tripucka at 4, Boston took Danny Ainge at 5, Kansas City took Buck Williams at 6, Indiana took Herb Williams at 7, and Golden State took Orlando Woolridge at 8. Mark Aguirre went 9 to Atlanta, Rolando Blackman went to Washington 10, Eddie Johnson went to Milwaukee 11, Jay Vincent went to Utah at 12, Lewis Lloyd to Seattle at 13, and then at 14 Philadelphia traded Darryl Dawkins and the 22nd pick for Phoenix's first round, which they used to take Frank Brickowski. Lehner hadn't found the gem he'd wanted, but maybe with some polish...
July 3rd, 1981. The first day of Summer League. Billy Cunningham was taking a much needed vacation, so Lehner had volunteered to coach the team- both for the experience, and as a means of trying to make amends with the team. He'd recently made the choice to renounce the rights on Maurice Cheeks in hopes of luring in a big name on the free market. Julius Erving was the leader of this team anyways, and Lionel Hollins was good enough to start. Still, the move hadn't been met with much love. And so Lehner found himself at courtside facing a thin crowd in a poorly lit room, almost like a high school gymnasium. Clint Richardson was starting at point, Andrew Toney at SG, Nic Soward at SF, Frank Brickowski at PF, and Demarcus Phelan (someone Lehner had looked at for a second-round draft before trading the pick away, and someone he was considering trying to pick up). Utah was geared up, but Lehner didn't recognize the assistant coach.
Towards the end of the 1st quarter, Philadelphia found itself up 13-12. Andrew Toney shoved Terrence Johnson after he missed a lay-up, and the referee called a technical. Terrence missed the 49ers, and Lehner called a time-out. After a stern talking to and a well set isolation, Philadelphia went on to dominate, finishing up the half 50-37, with Toney putting up 13 and Brickowski and Phelan putting up 8 a piece. Phelan had 10 rebounds in the first half alone. Lehner definitely took note of that. He ended up with 14 rebounds total and 14 points, while Toney racked up 19 total. Brickowski meanwhile dominated in the second half, finishing up with 31 points and ten rebounds alongside 3 blocks in a 110-108 point win. He had 28 in the team's 115-106 point win over Boston and 18 in the team's 107-100 point loss to Kansas City. The team went undefeated for the rest of the summer, as Lehner shifted his attention to the most important task of the next few weeks: free agency.
The team had ten guaranteed players coming back, and 15 million on cap. The five best players on the market were Robert Parish, Swen Nater, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob McAdoo, and Artis Gilmore, all the kinds of guys Lehner needed. They were also probably going to get max contracts wherever they went, so unfortunately, they were out of reach. The three most attainable superstars seemed to be probable future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (at -36 years old-, however), Maurice Lucas (at 39), and Mitch Kupchak. Demarcus Phelan had impressed enough people in the summer league that he was asking for around 3 million as well, so bidding had to be strategic to make the most of the 15 million dollar cap. There was also the question of Lionel Hollins... Andrew Toney had certainly shown he could handle pressure during summer league, but could he actually handle leading the team? He was certainly more of a shooting guard than a reliable passer.
The first big move is Phil Ford's switch to Indiana. For a guy who'd never made an all star game, a 20 million dollar a year contract is definitely appealing. San Diego quickly resigned Swen Nater, and New Jersey resigned Maurice Lucas, limiting Lehner's options immediately. On July 23rd, Lehner made the first big splash, signing Elvin Hayes for a 2 year contract worth 21,918,616$. On that same day, Kareem resigned with the Lakers, and Robert Parish resigned with the Celtics. The Spurs made another big splash, signing Mitch Kupchak to a 4 year 80 million dollar contract, while the Nuggets signed Maurice Cheeks to a 4 year contract worth 60 million. Lehner's next move was signing Jo Jo White, a veteran on his last legs, to a 2 year contract worth 3,718,500$. A good back-up PG if need be. Next, he re-signed Lionel Hollins to a 3-year contract worth 14,810,739$, befpre signing Demarcus Phelan to a 4-year contract worth 5,825,680$. This left the team for nearly 5 million in cap space, perfect for any mid-season trades. The first free agency was over; a new shot at the finals sat on the horizon. Shortly before the season, Lehner made the decision to send the young Panamanian to the D-League; at 7-4, he was certainly fit for a center position, but at only 18 he could use time to grow.
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1981-1982 Starting Line-up:
Coach Billy Cunningham
PG- Lionel Hollins
SG- Andrew Toney
SF- Julius Erving
PF- Kermit Washington
C- Frank Brickowski
6th- Bob Gross (SF)
7th- Elvin Hayes (PF)
8th- Caldwell Jones (C)
9th- Jo Jo White (PG)
10th- Doug Collins (SG)
11th- Clint Richardson (SG)
12th- Earl Cureton (C)
13th- Monti Davis (PF)
14th- Demarcus Phelan (C)
Hayes, Gross, and White hovered around 20 minutes a piece; serious bench players. Cunningham and Lehner agreed on a deep bench rotation. Toney played around 25 minutes, Hollins around 30, Erving upwards towards 40, Washington around 30, and Brickowski mid thirties. Caldwell Jones was also a notable contributor, chipping in around ten minutes, as was Doug Collins.
They started off strong, with a 116-98 win over Cleveland at home, before following up with a 91-79 point win over New Jersey at home. Erving dropped 44 and then 32 respectfully, while the bench combined for 36 and 28 in back-to-back games. Playing in Boston, Philadelphia found itself up 41-40 after a perfectly timed 3 from Andrew Toney with 2 seconds left. Larry Bird had been held to just 2 points as Julius Erving drew foul after foul, however a young Kevin McHale was stepping up in his absence, having posted 16 points with 7 rebounds in the first half alone. Kermit was facing foul trouble as well, having gotten 4, being held to just 2 points as well. Boston dominated in the second halh, however, winning 92-75. Bird had 18 points in 18 minutes, and 6 members of the team hit double digits. Erving meanwhile had 27, but went 8/28 shooting- Lionel Hollins had 4 with 2/10, Brickowski had 9 with 3/10, and Hayes had 10 with 4/10 (Kermit went 2/7, 5 points, as well). The team simply didn't hit baskets.
This triggered a rough patch. The Washington Bullets (then 5-5) went on to beat Philadelphia at home following a 26 point 5 assist 5 rebound outing from young rookie Rolando Blackman, and in the next game, despite beating Atlanta with a narrow 107-106 point buzzer beater win, no player failed to put higher than 17 points on the board (Mark Agguire had 34). With a 4-3 record to start the year, Philadelphia went into a home game November 20th against the 4-4 Indiana Pacers with a thirst for blood.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
November 21st, 1981- Julius Erving Drops Season High on 23/25 Shooting
In a home win in which Indiana never seemed to have a chance, Julius Erving tore away with an explosive 58 point shooting display, making twenty three of twenty five shots in a showing coach Billy Cunningham called "legendary."
"You see this once, maybe twice a year- a game where one guy is just completely tuned it. Tonight, that was Dr. J. Let's hope this keeps up all season, the guys 31 and he's playing with more vigor than ninety nine percent of the league."
Rookie Frank Brickowski, who had a landmark as well posting a career high 34 points with 13 rebounds, shared the coach's sentiment. "To play with a guy like this, in the middle of his prime- I'm just so grateful to be here in Philadelphia with these guys right now. I'm so grateful for this city."
Indiana point guard Phil Ford, 1978's Rookie of the Year, led the Pacers with 17 points and 9 assists. When asked for his thoughts on Erving, he was happy to throw praise on the man. "This is a guy who's unguardable. You can't beat him on D because he understands it so well- he had what, three steals tonight? Next time, we'll play him better, but really there's nothing much we can change. He shoots, he scores."
Indiana Head Coach George Karl, in his first year in the league, had perhaps the best remark. "Dr. J came with the medicine. I can't even say it made me sick."
This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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The team rolled on. They were 10-5 a week into December (with a loss against New Jersey and one against Cleveland- in which Bill Laimbeer posted 18 rebounds and 12 points. Definitely a future target, Lehner noted, depending on how Brickowski shaped out. He'd been inconsistent as of yet, not uncommon for a rookie.) and were third in the East, behind a fiercesome Larry Bird led Boston squad and the formidable New Jersey Nets. In the West, the Nuggets led at the top (with Maurice Cheeks, Kiki Vandeweghe, Alex English, and Dan Issel providing one of the most star-studded starting line-ups in the NBA) while the Lakers hovered at second and San Antonio followed at third.
Trades had been flying around like crazy. The Trailblazers shiped Jim Paxson for David Greenwood and a 2nd round pick early on, while Boston traded Rick Robety and a 1st round pick for Atlanta's Art Collins and their 1984 first round pick. The Warriors, meanwhile, gave up perhaps one of the dumbest trades, shipping star player World B. Free to Los Angeles for two first round picks and former player Jamaal Wilkes. The season roared on.
Lehner was looking for trades himself. Earl Cureton, Caldwell Jones, and Bob Gross were all young-ish players (25, 31, 28) with decent trade value, and Lehner could see already the team needed something else to push them up over the edge. Maurice Cheeks, despite freeing up the cap space to sign Phelan (who was currently -rocking- the D-League, putting up 19 points a game with 14.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks), Hayes, and Lionel Hollins, had been a huge loss, and Hollins wasn't nearly as good as creating open looks as his predecessor had been. Immediately, the team found a solution, shipping Bob Gross (moment of silence for a great bench player who'd managed to average 10.1 points per game on .551 shooting in his 101 game tenure) and Earl Cureton for Seattle's Larry Drew, who Seattle had had playing in the D-League after trading for him and a handful of picks during the draft. This brought the total players down to 13, so Lehner signed former NBA center Kim Hughes and former New Orleans point guard Jim McElroy (who, just three years ago, had averaged 16.9 points a game starting for the team).
In his first game with the team (against the team quickly shaping out to be one of their fiercest rivals alongside Houston; New Jersey) Larry Drew dropped 12 points in 21 minutes coming off the bench, alongside five assists and a couple of drawn fouls. The kid had potential.
By the end of January, Philadelphia found itself worse for wear versus their position the year before, but with a brighter future in blossoming young assets Frank Brickowski, Andrew Toney, and Larry Drew. Demarcus Phelan was more than ready to be brought up from the D-League, however he seemed to be growing playing regular minutes there, and back-up center or powerforward wasn't something particularly needed quite yet. They were 26-17, tied for 3rd with the New York Knicks behind New Jersey's 32-16 record and Boston's 33-13. In the west, Denver continued to dominate at 34-12, while San Antonio followed 33-14, and Los Angeles trailed 32-14. Portland was 4th at 28-19. By the time All Star weekend rolled around (hosted in Ohio) Philadelphia remained tied in a deadlock, both teams now at 31-21. The weekend was important; Larry Bird led the lead in scoring with 36.4 points a game, while Erving trailed behind at 34.7. Erving was scorned, especially given that Bird was starting over him, pushing him back to a reserve role. Whoever proved more dominant could brag for the rest of the year the true title of scoring champion - this was essential.
The Slam Dunk contest was first, with Washington's Wes Matthews taking home the title, while Golden State's Sonny Parker won the 3-point contest. Bill Laimbeer ran the game in the Rising All Stars game, scoring 32 points with 18 rebounds as the Sophomores beat the Rookies 135-124, though rookie Isiah Thomas scored an impressive 30 with 8 assists. The All-Star game was being played under wary circumstances, as many players were nervous about injury; many star players were out with injury, such as Atlanta's Mark Aguirre (broken wrist), Chicago's Artis Gilmore (a torn ACL), Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka (a torn MCL), Dallas's Brad Davis (a broken leg), Detroit's Phil Hubbard (a torn knee tendon), Los Angeles's Magic Johnson (also a broken wrist), New York's Bill Cartwright (another torn ACL), and Utah's Darrel Griffth (-another- torn ACL).
It was an exciting game, none-the-less. Starting for the West was Maurice Cheeks at PG, George Gervin at SG, Moses Malone at C, Alvan Adams at PF, and Adrian Dantley at SF; for the East, it was Larry Bird at SF, Dan Roundfield at PF, Bill Laimbeer at C, Reggie Theus at SG, and Isiah Thomas at G (his rookie year!) Notable bench players for the east included Kevin McHale, Julius Erving, Michael Ray Richardson, Phil Ford, Rolando Blackman, Bob McAdoo, and Herb Williams- for the West, Swen Nater (coming off a year long rehab period for his last injury), Jack Sikma, Bernard King, Kareem, Dennis Johnson, World B. Free, and Tom Chambers. Coming off his 43 point outing the year before, Erving dropped 41 points to Bird's 22, going 16/22 vs his 7/21 in ten minutes less time on the court, winning him All Star MVP honors. Cheeks had 24 with 12 assists, and tried to guard Erving several times on the court. Lehner tried to approach him after the game, but he seemed to avoid it.
Parting way often caused scorn. Lehner hoped Bob Gross didn't feel the same way. The team was what was most important.
On the subject of trades, a few went down right before the deadline. Kenny Higgs left Denver, going to Houston for PF Steve Hawkes and a 2nd round pick. The Nuggets also shipped Cedrick Hordges for Cleveland's Richard Washington, while Boston made headlines when they shipped starting point-guard Nate Archibald and back-up point-guard Gerald Henderson for the Piston's PF Mike Bantom. They also shipped Cedric Maxwell for Atlanta's Eddie Johnson. Indiana sent Johnny Davis and Dudley Bradley for Portland's David Greenwood and a second round pick, while Phoenix sent Jeff Cook to New Jersey for Kevin Porter. Bob Gross was also shipped from Seattle to New Jersey, lasting just 2 months on the West Coast.
On March 3rd, 1982 the Lakers destroyed the Phoenix Suns in one of the most embarassing blow outs in history, beating them by -70- points in a 119-49 point display of domination. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the league's second highest record for shooting, dropping 66 points with 13 assists, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He had 37 a week later in a Lakers victory over Philadelphia, 106-91 at the Staples Center. Magic Johnson had 28 points in his return from injury, while World b. Free had 19. The Lakers had a dominant trio on their hands, holding every player on Philadelphia to single digits- except Irving, who dropped 39.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
March 13th, 1982 - Free Agency Rumors Swirl Around Star Julius Erving
Rumors abound, as reports indicate Magic Johnson was seen at dinner with rival Julius Erving in downtown Los Angeles shortly after their Sunday afternoon game two weeks ago. When approached with the question of leaving, Erving was quick to brush aside concern; "I have no plans on leaving this city, and especially no plans of doing it with the Lakers. While the idea of winning a ring is certainly alluring, there's no reason we can't do it here in the vibin' city of Philadelphia."
We hope you're here for good, Dr. J. This is Alexander Rosewood.
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It was Lakers mania in the NBA. After a rocky start, the Lakers went on a 10 game winning streak before overtaking the Nuggets in a ridiculous 76 point game victory from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take the 1st spot in the conference at 46-19. The Celtics hovered close by at 45-20 in the East, and a Magic-Bird match-up seemed all but inevitable. The Lakers would finish that streak with 19 wins, a streak that set the league record for consecutive wins.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, was struggling to stay relevant. At the end of March, they found themselves 4th in the comparatively weaker East at 42-30, closely following the tails of the 3rd placed 44-29 New York Knicks, the 49-24 New Jersey Nets, and the 51-21 Boston Celtics. They were 15th in the league in points per game (out of 23), and at the very bottom in field goal percentage and 20th in 3-point percentage.
On April 3rd, they showed up to play. 1982's big hit, Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That" played loudly in the stadium as the second seeded New Jersey was introduced, a subtle jab towards last year's loss in the playoffs. Down 3-2 in the season series, this game was imperative for setting a precedent. Erving showed up to bat, dropping 43 as every starter notched up 11 or more. On April 12th, they set the bar even higher- Kool & The Gang's "Get Down On It" bumped heavy in the stadium as Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, and Eddie Johnson took the court. Erving had 48, with 8 rebounds; Bird had 25 (also with 8 rebounds). Former Boston point-guard Jo Jo White led the bench in scoring with 14, while Kermit Washington had a quiet double-double going 17 with 12 rebounds. Despite being 47-33, Philadelphia looked serious; like a real contender. Erving had 59 in his last game of the season, a 125-107 point win at home against the 7th seeded Washington Bullets. Philadelphia finished 49-33, 4th in the league behind Boston, New Jersey, and New York, and tied with Indiana. Atlanta and Detroit made up 6 and 8 respectfully; in the West, Los Angeles hovered high at 62-20, while Denver was second, San Antonio 3rd, San Diego 4th, Portland 5th, Utah 6th, Houston 7th, and Golden State 8th. Kansas was at the bottom of the league at 19-63, while Chicago was at the bottom of the East at 25-57.
Playoffs baby.
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It's a Friday night, and Adam Lehner has a cup of coffee on his desk and a joint in his hand. He'd said he'd never drink coffee, and he definitely said he'd never smoke dope at work, but things changed, and work was hard. Taking a long drag, he stared pensively at a scattered mess of papers in front of him as "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls played in the background. "And I run, I run so far away; I just run, I run all night and day". Fitting words- Lehner felt exhausted.
Philadelphia was up 3-0 against a team they'd come into the playoffs tied with in terms of an overall record. He should be thrilled. Instead, he found himself scrambling to find answers- Larry Drew had torn a tendon in his knee a minute into coming onto the court in the last game, giving Indiana the chance to go up 5 points towards the end of the second quarter. Elvin Hayes showed up, dropping a season high 28 points off the bench, and Philadelphia ended up pulling away for good towards the end of the 4th, but now Lehner found himself without his second best player off the bench. Phelan had shown himself to be -amazing-, putting up 14 points a game with -17.2 rebounds- (albeit in the D-League) but league rules prevented Lehner from pulling him up in the middle of playoffs. To compensate for the loss, he pushed up Jo Jo White and Caldwell Jone's minutes up and moved Jim McElroy into the bench rotation (who in 45 minutes played so far had dropped 19 points and 13 assists).
They completed the sweep. Indiana did fairly well, with David Greenwood, Herb Williams, Louis Orr, Billy Knight, and Phil Ford putting together a formidable squad (alongside Roger Phegley and Tom Abernethy off the bench) but they just couldn't steal a win. Kermit went out with a technical and Caldwell Jones ended up with 8 points and 11 rebounds playing over 30 minutes for the first time in months. Boston swept as well, as did New Jersey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. New York won in 6, San Antonio in 5, and Denver in 7.
The second-round found Philadelphia pitted up against the conference titan, Boston. They lost the first game, despite leading by 5 going into the half, as Larry Bird dropped 36. After Erving sprained his wrist in the second game (despite dropping -48-!) leading to another loss, Cunningham called an emergency team meeting upon their arrival back to Philadelphia.
"Do you want this? Another defeated season, another year watching the finals courtside? Another year of coming -so- god damn close... and another year of losing it, losing it because "Philadelphia can't close when it matters" or because "Philadelphia just can't compete." Do you?!" Cunningham's voice was angry, and the room was silent. Rookie Frank Brickowski was the first to speak up.
"No sir. I want to win." A murmur of agreements filled the room, Andrew Toney shaking his head up and down vehemently as he clapped his hands together, while veteran players Jo Jo White and Elvin Hayes merely nodded in agreement, leaned back towards the corner of the room.
"Then let's **** win. Let's show Boston who we are. Let's do this for -Philadelphia-. How about it?"
It worked. Frank Brickowski had 29 points with 9 rebounds in the 120-102 Game 3 win over Boston, while former Celtics point-guard Jo Jo White dropped a season high 26 with 10 assists in 29 minutes. Impressed with his play, Lehner and Cunningham agreed to move him up to a starting role in Game 4; they dominated for much of the game, with White dropping 16 with 8 assists, while Kermit Washington had 23 and 12 rebounds. Erving, meanwhile, was facing extreme difficulty up against Larry Bird; in Game 3, he had 8, while in Game 4 he had a career playoffs low score of -3- points, going 1-12 in field goals and 1-2 from the free throw line. Game 5 found all eight playoff teams tied at 2-2; Boston dominated Philadfelphia 103-75 (despite 13 points from White and 17 from Washington; Erving was again held to just 8). Bob Gross- having been traded from Seattle to New Jersey- dropped 29 to steal a win over New York, while World B. Free's 33 took Los Angeles back over San Diego. George Gervin's 31 sent the third seeded San Antonio team up over the heavily favored Denver squad, and suddenly things looked interesting.
A buzzer beater lay-up from Frank Brickowski saw Philadelphia take Game 6, though in a shake-up of things Larry Bird was named player of the game behind his 52 point 7 assist 13 rebound 5 steal 5 block outing. Larry Kenon had 34 for New York, sending them to Game 7 as well, while San Diego's Swen Nater dropped 12 points and 11 rebounds against Kareem's 34 and 14 rebound outing, as San Diego won 120-116. San Antonio, however, in a surprise victory won the series behind Mitch Kupchak's 22. Denver, despite rallying together a star studded cast, was out of contention.
Boston won Game 7. A glorious end to a glorious season, Larry Bird had 32 and Kevin McHale had 7 offensive rebounds as a late shot with 11 seconds left all but sealed the fate of the game. Erving missed a buzzer beater win, and Boston Arena went insane. New Jersey knocked out New York behind another 26 point display of dominance from Bob Gross, and Magic Johnson went 30-9-11 for a Lakers win over San Diego.
On a radio talkshow later that weekend, a panel of Erving, Washington, Hollins, and Toney were asked their thoughts on who would win this year's finals. "Los Angeles, no doubt. They're on another level, man." Toney was confident, young, and smiley, despite the team's loss just a few days prior. Kermit shook his head. "I think San Antonio could pull an upset. They've been an underrated team all season- those guys are disciplined. Gregg Popovich, he's what, 32? The guy is already on his way to becoming one of the best coaches in this league. Don't sleep on that team." Hollins nodded. "San Antonio might take them to 6, maybe even 7. I'd still say the Lakers are bound to win."
Erving rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "All of y'all are fools. Boston is taking that trophy, no doubt. I'd bet a million dollars on it."
Dr J's prediction was spot on; Boston won in 6, Los Angeles in 7. Boston took Game 1, Los Angeles 2, Boston Game 3, 4, then 5. And in a playoffs where both previous rounds had seen the majority of games go to 7, Boston won in 5. Larry Bird was crowned unanimous Finals MVP, and Boston took home another championship, easily the most decorated team in a league where parity seemed to be a major concern.
Not for Philadelphia, though. They'd brought the winning team to 7 games, and they'd seen that glimpse of hope. A championship was possible- no, a championship was inevitable. It was all about proper planning.
Kansas City took the #1 pick in the draft, with Seattle 2, Chicago 3, Phoenix 4, Cleveland 5, Milwaukee 6, and Dallas 7. Larry Bird was named MVP, Kareem was named DPOY, Kevin Grevey from Washington as 6th Man, Tom Chambers won ROY, and Pat Riley again won COTY. Magic Johnson, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Dan Roundfield, and Kareem made up the First All NBA Team, while Maurice Cheeks, Reggie Theus, Julius Erving, Tom Chambers, and Moses Malone made the second, leaving Phil Ford, World B. Free, Adrian Dantley, Alvan Adams, and Jack Sikma for the 3rd. Michael Ray Richardson, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Larry Nance, and Kareem made up first All Defense, while Ray Williams, Danny Ainge, Julius Erving, Dan Roundfield, and Moses Malone made up second. Isiah Thomas, Rolando Blackman, Eddie Johnson, Tom Chambers, and Herb Williams were First Rookie, and Frank Johnson, Danny Ainge, Gene Banks, Larry Nance, and Frank Brickowksi (woo) were second.
The season was over. But a championship was still on the horizon.
- rawr123456787654
- Junior Member
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Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Tue May 30, 2017 10:55 pm
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1982 ---- YEAR 3
The call was short, courteous, and polite, but Lehner felt like throwing up for hours afterwards. Cunningham had been surprised, but understanding; Dixon needed someone to blame for the post-season loss. Lehner was a potential target, but Cunningham was a much easier one. "I loved this team. I **** loved them, Lehner." His voice is clammy, and all Adam wants to do is take it back. "I'm sorry, Billy." There's a short silence. "That's how it goes. Do me this favor though- don't hire some idiot to replace me. Hire someone professional. Someone with class."
Chucky Daly fidgeted in his seat. At 51, Daly was 12 years older than Cunnigham, but definitely not more experienced. He'd been an assistant coach in Philadelphia before (under Cunningham in '78 funnily enough), and had put together a seasoned NCAA resume to back it up. In two seasons in Cleveland, he'd put together a lousy 57-107 record, and the only reason Lehner had even considered interviewing him was his previous role with the team. But he'd started his pitch off well, and Lehner was intrigued.
"We can't get Malone. Houston's one of our biggest rivals, he's spent the last two years trying to destroy us." Daly shook his head, his lips curling into a smile as his hands stretched out wide. "But I can. I can get you Moses Malone. I can do it, and we can build a real championship calibur team."
Lehner wasn't sold. "Okay. If you're so magic, why Malone? Why not Bird, why not Johnson?" Daly shook his head again. "Kid. They're riding their teams high. They're already champions. Now, what do Moses Malone and Erving have in common?" Lehner blinked, shrugging his shoulders meekly.
"They both aren't. Picture this; a line-up with former All Star Jo Jo White pushing his last bit of energy into some of the best passing of his career. Julius Erving drops down to shooting guard, and we draft a guy like Dominique Wilkins- okay... okay, obviously not Wilkins. We draft a guy like Clark Kellog, like Derek Smith, like James Worthy- someone who can score- and we put them at small forward. Kermit comes back for a smaller contract, and Moses Malone anchors the team at center."
"It sounds great. Easy to come up with scenarios, harder to implement them." Lehner had to admit, he was intrigued.
"I'm your guy. They had faith in you, right? Just some kid, no experience. Well you have faith in me, okay?" His eyes were full of hope- and maybe Chuck Daly wasn't the best, or the most seasoned. But Lehner liked him.
He hired him on the spot.
The off-season had been a bit hectic; Sam Schulman sold the supersonics to Seattle business tycoon and Cray CEO Seymour Cray. Spalding replaced Wilson as the official manafacturer of game balls. The season would stop broadcasting on USA network the following year, and Donald Sterling set up the Clippers to move north to Los Angeles. Cleveland hired Billy Cunningham, and while he said there was no bad blood, Cleveland All Star Mike Mitchell said "Philadelphia might have Julius Erving, but Cleveland has Mike Mitchell. Cunningham was the brains, and I'm a better gun."
Cray was quick to get into the spotlight as well. "Seattle won a championship less than four years ago. Last season, we didn't make the play-offs. Guys like Jack Sikma, they're great, but when they start to let their ego dictate the actions of the game - when they start talking down to a coach like Lenny Wilkens - they need to realize they're replacable." The damage was irreversible; bad blood was in the air.
The Boston-Lakers rivalry fueled on as well. Star player Magic Johnson called it luck; "We've been to the finals three years in a row now. Three years. Where's Boston been at? Larry Bird's a great player, but Boston's a lucky team. Luck doesn't last forever." Kevin McHale was quick to respond. "Magic Johnson can talk all he wants, but there's a reason we won in 5 games last year. That's not luck, that's domination." Pat Riley, the Lakers coach, tried to quell the flames in a press conference, but when asked whether he'd take Bird over Johnson, he had to get a little bit personal. "Bird's a great player, a great shooter, and he deserved the MVP award, undoubtedly. But he's not magic like Magic. Magic's worth is unmatched in this league. Guys like Larry, we see them- we've had Pete Maravich's, there have been Julius Erving's. But no one's as good of an all around player as Magic. You can quote me on that."
Boston GM John Havlicek had no comment. Lakers GM Jerry West, however, stated he agreed with Pat Riley's sentiments. In a league being dominated by the Boston-Lakers hype, Philadelphia had to find a way to keep their name in the game.
Going into the draft, Lehner worked out five canditates. The 16th pick was high up, but this was a great draft class. James Worthy- his prime hope, though it'd be lucky if he didn't go top ten- as well as LaSalle Thompson, Derek Smith, Lester Conner, and Cliff Levingston.
Eddie Jordan went to Kansas City from Los Angeles for John Lambert before the draft officially began; weird, because despite Wilkins being predicted to go at 1, they took Lafeyette "Fat" Lever with the first pick. Seattle swooped up Wilkins at 3 out of Georgia, Clark Kellog from Ohio State went 3, 7-4 center Mark Eaton from UCLA went to Phoenix at 4, Sleepy Flloyd from Georgetown went to Cleveland at 5, and then Terry Cummings went to Milwaukee at 6; but not before Indiana traded Tom Abernethy and a future first round pick for New Jersey's Darwin Cook. At 7, Dallas took Paul Pressey from Tulsa (who averaged 24-10.8-9.6 in college; a total steal) and then in a surprise twist, Cleveland shipped Bill Laimbeer to Detroit for their 8th pick, 31st, 1984 1st pick, and Ed Lawrence alongside Wayne Robinson. Cleveland took Derek Smith - one of the top shooters in the draft class - at eight, and Golden State grabbed Ricky Pierce at 9, before Kansas City again made another trade, shipping Otis Birdsong for Tree Rollins. James Worthy went to Houston at 10, a forward out of North Carolina who Lehner had hoped to steal at 1, much to his dismay. LaSalle Thompson then went to Washington at 11, then Terry Teagle went to Atlanta at 12, before Billy Knight was traded from Indiana to San Diego for Billy McKinney. At 13, Utah grabbed Lester Conner, and at 14 Portland took Quintin Dailey, and San Diego grabbed Rod Higgins at 14, leaving Lehner with one of his original five choices. Immediately, he tried to set up a trade for Worthy; it worked. This years first round pick plus a second, as well as next years first round pick and Caldwell Jones.
Briefly, he considered pulling away; Caldwell Jones had been on the team for 6 years, drafted out of Albany State, and was a great presence in the locker room and on the court. Still- maybe he could be better utilized somewhere else, Lehner rationalized. The trade went through, and Lehner cleared up another 6 million in cap-space in the process.
Houston took John Bagley at 16, and Cliff Levingston went to New Jersey- Philadelphia's biggest rival- at 17. A shame. He would've been a good 76er. The rest of the draft wasn't too exciting. Truck Robinson went from Phoenix to Washington for Mark Olberding, and Rory Sparrow went from New Jersey to Chicago for Frank Johnson. Mike Woodson, Reggie Carter, and DeWayne Scales went from New York to Atlanta for Don Collins, and James Ray left Denver to go to Washington for Keith McCord. Lehner thought about Daly's words, and decided to capitalize; Hayes season had been good, he'd been nothing but incredible, but Lehner found himself trading him alongside two second round picks for Washington's Rick Mahorn none-the-less. That was 9 million cleared in cap room. Moses Malone was the goal. Nothing else mattered.
Contracts were iffy. Immediately, he renounced the rights on Clint Richardson (3.6 million for a guy who never even touched the court) and Doug Collins (8.5 million for a guy who played maybe 4 minutes a game!), leaving three more to act on. He had 25 million in cap space now, and Kermit's bird rights were worth another 15 million. How much was Malone going to cost realistically?
Daly handled Summer League. Andrew Toney, Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, and Demarcus Phelan made up the cast of notable players; Larry Drew would be out another 187 days because of his knee. Their first game was a loss to Phoenix- rookie Mark Eaton had 17 points and 21 rebounds with 5 blocks- but they did good none-the-less. James Worthy had 13 and 6 rebounds, Rick Mahorn went 19 and 10, DeMarcus Phelan went 14 and 11, and Andrew Toney dropped 23. Mahorn had 19 and Worthy dropped 25 in the next win over the Lakers before beating the Warriors with another impressive 18 from Worthy. They lost the last game to San Diego, but Worthy still put up 16 points with 10 assists and 3 rebounds.
The first couple of days didn't spark any major headlines. Magic re-signed a massive 5-year 131 million dollar contract with the Lakers, McGinnis resigned for 3 years with the Knicks, as did Kenon (3 years) and Scott Wedman (4). David Thompson signed a 5 year 100 million dollar deal with Denver, resigning with a pretty competitive team, and the spotlight shifted towards Moses Malone. Him, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson were the three big-named stars; the only difference was, they were both on two of the best teams in the league. He was not. Other notable free-agents included Kermit- who Lehner had decided to keep the bird rights to- as well as Dan Roundfield, Cliff Robinson, Jack Sikma, Bill Cartwright, Dennis Johnson, David Greenwood, Justin Johnson, Mickey Johnson, Cedric Maxwell, Phil Hubbard, Sidney Moncrief, Jamaal Wilkes, Mychal Thompson, Kent Benson, Roger Phegley, Bobby Jones, Sly Williams, Darryl Dawkins, Jerry Sichting, Paul Westphal, James Bailey, and Reggie King.
San Diego took Bobby Jones next up, with a 3 year contract worth 37 million. James Edwards resigned for 4 years with the Pacers for nearly 70 million (way over price), Larry Bird and Eddie Johnson re-signed with Boston, Paul Westphal resigned with Seattle, and then Seattle also signed free agent Mike Dunleavy to a 1 year contract worth 8 million. Sidney Moncrief went to Portland, Dennis Johnson to Milwaukee. Bobby Jones went to Denver, Kevin Porter to Boston, Sly Williams to Phoenix, Doug Collins to Golden State, Richard Washington to Kansas City. Justin Johnson signed a big contract with Kansas City, John Lucas with Phoenix. Pat Cummings went to Washington, Bob Dandridge to Portland. It was July 30th- two weeks into free agency- and still no word from Moses. The next morning, Lehner felt what was inevitably coming as the calls came in- Mychal Thompson signed a monster contract to stay with Portland, and they used their remaining cap-space to pull in Jack Sikma, creating one of the nastiest post duos in the league. Houston signed Darryl Dawkins (putting him and Caldwell Jones together once again) and Lehner could almost taste it. As Portland and Houston had been the only other teams Moses was looking at, Lehner capitalized; the allure of a championship was too much. On July 24th, 1982, it happened.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
July 30th, 1982- Moses Parts Ways With Houston; Sees Opportunity in Philadelphia
In a move fans are calling Lehner's best yet, he's managed to steal the spotlight, pulling NBA perennial All Star Moses Malone to the city of brotherly love. Malone took a 4-year 97 million dollar contract, much less than he might've seen elsewhere, in order to join together with Kermit Washington and Julius Erving in order to form what he sees as a rival "nasty three" to combat the Showtime Laker's "flashy three" (Magic Johnson, World B. Free, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Joining a team that's entering it's first year under a new head coach, Malone sees himself as a helpful catalyst in pulling together the team. "I rebound, Erving shoots, Kermit blocks, we repeat the cycle."
Sophomore Frank Brickowski- picked 14th last year- put up an impressive 13.5 points with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks his rookie year, but will undoubtedly find himself riding the bench as Kermit Washington has agreed to sign on for a 55 million dollar 3 year deal in wake of Malone's signing. Still, having lost Elvin Hayes, Brickowski will likely flourish off the bench alongside other young players like Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, and Demarcus Phelan. A starting line-up of Lionel Hollins, Andrew Toney, Julius Erving, Kermit Washington, and Moses Malone should be out of this world. For the first time in years, this reporter is feeling confident.
I predict we finish at the top of the East. A championship is on the horizon. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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In the last few days of free agency, Lehner filled out the squad, signing Jim McElroy back on for another year, alongside Gerald Henderson and Joey Hassett. The team was ready. The season was about to begin.
STARTING LINE-UP - 1982
PG: Jo Jo White
SG: Andrew Toney
SF: Julius Erving
PF: Kermit Washington
C: Moses Malone
6th Man: Frank Brickowski (C)
7th: Lionel Hollins (PG)
8th: Demarcus Phelan (C)
9th: James Worthy (SF)
10th: Rick Mahorn (PF)
The team started off unbelievably good, going 5-0 despite Kermit Washington going out for three weeks (Brickowski and Phelan stepped up). Malone was a rebounding monster, Erving was scoring better than ever, and Mahorn, Phelan, Brickowski, and Worthy were quickly becoming one of the best bench units in the NBA. 13 games in, Philadelphia found itself 11-2; things looked good.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 5th, 1982- Malone Shines Bright
Last night in a thrilling 124-109 point home victory over Milwaukee, Moses Malone went nuts, posting a career high 50 points alongside 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. Interviewed after the game, he seemed exhausted, but thrilled. "I'm just happy to be here, to be winning man. This team, we're gonna do some crazy things man, you hold me to that."
Erving held his own, putting in 18 points, while Brickowski and Jo Jo White each had ten. James Worthy had 11 off the bench, and Rick Mahorn had 8. Milwaukee coach Don Nelson was eager to throw praise on Malone. "He's amazing. Like a young Kareem, but almost a more dominant scorer." Philadelphia coach Chuck Daly was pleased as well, calling Malone an amazing addition to an amazing team.
Fans are going wild. This team is off to a 16-3 start to the season, and we're hoping it keeps up. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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The season raged on. Clark Kellog tore his MCL, and the Bulls found themselves at the bottom of the league at 2-20. World B. Free broke his arm, and Michael Cooper failed to step up in his absence. Adrian Dantley broke his wrist. The Bulls gave away Jim Paxson for a future first round pick to the Nets, the Celtics traded Jerry Sichting for a future 1st round pick and New Jersey's Foot Walker, the Jazz threw away a handful of trades alongside Jeff Wilkins for Dallas's Larry Nance, San Diego traded Alton Lister, Dave Robisch, Wally Rank, Tony Price, and a second round pick for Roger Phegley, the Lakers traded Tony Jackson, Alan Hardy, and Myles Patrick for Indiana's Billy McKinney and a second round pick. Bill Walton was named GM of the Trailblazers after a rocky start to their season. Seattle began building a new arena, and found themselves at the bottom of the West (despite rookie Dominique Wilkin's incredible start).
On January 7th, Billy Cunningham came back to Philadelphia for the first time since his termination. The 76ers beat Cleveland an embarassing 94-141 behind 38 from Erving, but Cunningham was met with a standing ovation. They were at the head of the league, 28-6, with Boston hovering close-by at 27-8 and Los Angeles at 27-6.
Moses Malone was simply an excellent fit. Erving led the team with 29.7 points a game, but he trailed shortly behind with 28.4. Jo Jo White provided 8.8 points a game with 6.3 assists, while Kermit Washington had 103 points and 8.9 rebounds, and Brickowski had 9.5 points with 7.4 rebounds. Larry Drew came back from his injury, quick to steal the back-up point guard role as he dropped a steady 5.4 assists per game with 7.6 points. As All Star weekend rolled around, the competition was fiercer than ever; Philadelphia led in the east, at 41-12, with Boston trailing shortly behind at 38-14, while Indiana hovered behind at 37-14. Detroit followed them at 31-20, while Cleveland ranked 5th at 30-21. New York was next, 30-23, followed by New Jersey, who was tied with Washington at 22-30. In the West, the Lakers reigned dominant at 43-10, followed by the Spurs at 37-15, the Jazz at 34-16, Kansas City at 32-21, Denver at 27-24, San Diego at 23-6, Seattle at 22-32, and Golden State at 20-31. Houston sat at the bottom of the West at 11-41, while the Bulls sat at the bottom of the East at 6-46.
Maurice Cheeks came back to win the slam dunk contest, besting Art Collins in the finals, while former team mates Cedric Maxwell and Danny Ainge met in the 3-point contest finals, only for Alex English to steal the victory. Dominique Wilkins dominated the Rookie Sophomore game, dropping 46 in a 136-124 point win over the Sophomores. Sleepy Floyd had 21 points and 11 assists; Rolando Blackman had 30 points and 7 rebounds for the sophomores, and Isiah Thomas had 24 points with 9 assists. The Rookie's coach, a young Mike Krzyzewski, 33 and with a 17-12 record to start off his career, called Wilkins a future MVP and also took time to throw praise on the young Cliff Levingston, New Jersey's only player in the match-up, who dropped 8 minutes with 8 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.
The All-Star game featured the most star-stacked cast as of yet. Indiana Coach George Karl headed the Eastern team, featuring a starting line-up of Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, Moses Malone, Rolando Blackman, and Isiah Thomas with Reggie Theus, Larry Bird, Truck Robinson, Bill Laimbeer, an aging Bob McAdoo, Herb Williams, and a young Sleepy Floyd off the bench. For the West, Pat Riley opted out of coaching for the third consecutive year, so Utah head coach Elgin Baylor took the honors. There starting line-up was legendary, featuring Dominique Wilkins, Tom Chambers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, and Magic Johnson, with Swen Nater, Darrell Griffith, Maurice Cheeks, Adrian Dantley, Larry Nance, Alvan Adams, and Alex English coming off the bench. Isiah Thomas had an All-Star game record high 16 assists alongside 14 points, but Magic Johnson and George Gervin dominated with 35 and 33 a piece (Johnson also had 7 rebounds and 14 assists, which would've been a record if not for Thomas's 16) and stole the win, 167-150. Magic was named the All Star MVP and the West stole back All Star honors for the year.
Last minute trades included the Pacers shipping George Johnson for Seattle's Lonnie Shelton and a 2nd round pick, as well as the Pistons sending Joe Meriweather and Joe Cook for Washington's Greg Ballard. The Lakers gave up on back-up guard Michael Cooper, sending him to Chicago for Junior Bridgeman and a 2nd round pick, while San Antonio sent a 1st round pick to Washington for Pat Cummings. Detroit made a package deal, giving up Nate Archibald, Paul Griffin, and Tony Fuller for New Jersey's Mike Newlin and a 2nd round pick, while Cleveland sent former Lakers forward Don Ford and point-guard Robert Smith for Houston's Caldwell Jones - who was averaging a decent 7 rebounds a game with 7 points and 2 blocks - and a 2nd round pick. Denver gave up a first round pick for New Jersey's Jerry Sichting, Milwaukee sent Paul Mokeski and Rory White to Washington for Billy Robinzine and a 2nd round pick, and made big moves when they traded former all-star Bob Lanier, Chris Ford, and a 1st round pick for Indiana's Phil Ford. Chicago sent their first round-pick for the following year to Boston for Art Collins, and Boston hired Phil Jackson as their head coach, firing K.C. Jones after some internal disputes in the front office.
Lehner was the talk of the town. The Malone signing had pushed Philadelphia into contention for the best team in the league, and Adam was happy to take credit. Going into March, Larry Drew (having put up 8.5 points per game with 4.8 assists coming off the bench thus far) took over the starting role over Jo Jo White, and the team looked unstoppable. On a March 3rd win over the 7-53 league worst Chicago Bulls, Moses Malone dropped 22 points, 23 rebounds, and 6 blocks, while Larry Drew had 14 points with 7 assists in his first actual start. The future looked bright behind a star-studded cast of Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and a young squad of Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, Larry Drew, Demarcus Phelan, and Frank Brickowski.
On March 11th, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 115-117 (despite an impressive 11-0 run in the final quarter, led by an impressive 9-12 shooting display from World B. Free) behind Malone's 42 and 14 rebound display. Coach Pat Riley, when asked about his feelings on Philadelphia overtaking Los Angeles as the #1 team in the league, didn't hold his feelings back. "They're a great team, sure, but what do you expect? Malone joined forces with a team that was already good. Philadelphia was in the finals a few years ago; they couldn't build a team, so they bought one."
Lehner was quick to respond. "Coach Riley can express his feelings, he's free to do that, but it seems pretty ridiculous coming from a team that's currently 25 million dollars over the cap. You've got 5 players making over 15 million a year; we've got 3. Pick your battles wisely, coach."
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The dining room is lit with candles, while a fire resonates a dim but romantic glow into the otherwise dark room. Dancing in front of the fire was an especially drunk Adam Lehner, his newly engaged fiancee leaning back against the broad oak table towards the back of the year. Frankie Valli's 1967 hit single, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" blasted loudly through out the room - Lehner belted along accordingly. "I LOVE YOU BABY, AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIGHT, I NEED YOU BABY, TO WARM A LONELY NIGHT, I LOVE YOU BAAAAY-BAAAAY, TRUST IN ME WHEN I SAAAAAAY~"
He was celebrating what had turned into a career season for the 76ers as they led the NBA in standings, with a team record of 68-14 (second highest in Philadelphia franchise history; 3rd highest in NBA history). They also set the league's highest consecutive win streak, with an incredible 26-game run, beating Los Angeles's 18. Los Angeles finished second in the league at 55-27, while Indiana finished third at 59-23, San Antonio fourth at 55-27, and Boston at a surprisingly low 5th (3rd in the east) at 53-29, largely due to Robert Parish's broken elbow, and Larry Bird's series of sprains through-out the season. Bill Cartwright had also broken his leg, while the Jazz were facing major issues as Darrell Griffith was out with a broken hand, Dwight Jones with a broken leg, Walter Davis with a broken arm, and Larry Nance with a broken elbow.
Playoffs would have Philadelphia facing their old rival, the New Jersey Nets, in the first round. Then they'd either face New York or Detroit, and likely Indiana or Boston in the conference finals (though 7th seed Washington had been playing great as of recently, and Coach Billy cunningham of the 6th seeded Cavaliers was still one of the best in the league). Los Angeles was expected to dominate in the West once more, though second seed San Antonio had been doing great behind a trio of George Gervin, Johnny Moore, and an aging Mitch Kupchak.
His fiancee laughed, shaking her head with a smirk on her face. "You're drunk, Adam. Maybe it's time to go to bed."
Adam turned to her, with fire in his eyes, as he smiled widely, locks of hair coming down to cover his face- he'd started wearing it down long as of late. The eighties were all about being trendy. "I don't think I can sleep. Baby, this time of year.. ugh! It gets me going! I LOVEEE YOU BAAAAABYYYYYYY AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIIIIGHT~"
He kept singing as she shook her head again laughing. The guy was drunk on life, drunk on ambition. This could be the year Philadelphia could win. This could be the year he really made a name for himself.
In Game 1, Erving showed up to play. He had 37 points with 7 rebounds, alongside a playoff record high 10 steals, while Malone had 30 points and 16 rebounds. They won 139-117, pulling away in the second half. Game 2, 3, and 4 were similar stories, with Erving posting an incredible (but not unexpected at this point) 43 points to send Philadelphia into the next round during Game 4, as they thrashed the home team 123-109. Los Angeles swept Portland, and Kansas City swept Seattle. New York beat Detroit in 5, while Cleveland forced Boston to 6. Indiana won in 5, as did San Antonio, while Denver pulled the only upset of the round, knocking out Utah 4 to 2 (though given their injury riddled line-up, it was almost expected).
In the first game against New York, Philadelphia pulled a narrow win, coming up 109-106 thanks to some clutch 4th quarter passing from Larry Drew who finished up with 18 points and 8 assists. Game 2 was more of a blow-out, thanks in large to Moses Malone's 40 point 15 rebound outing. Games 3 and 4 followed suit, as both Philadelphia and San Antonio swept their opponents, while Los Angeles beat Denver in 5 and Boston beat Indiana in 5.
Philadelphia won Game 1, in large due to a 15 rebound 25 point display from Kermit Washington, and Erving dropped 36 in a Game 2 win again. Boston won Game 3, as Larry Bird dropped 24 with 10 assists and 11 rebounds, and then took Game 4 as well behind a 42 point 17 rebound game from Bird (despite Larry Drew's playoff career high 28 point display). Philadelphia won Game 5, but Boston won Game 6; it was a repeat once again. But this time, Game 7 was in Philadelphia.
This called for the secret weapon. They'd been saving it for the Finals, but this was important enough to warrant it. Chuck Daly called it his small-scoring offense line-up. Larry Drew, Julius Erving at shooting guard, James Worthy at small forward, Frank Brickowski at power forward, and Moses Malone at center. Kermit Washington plays the 6, with help from Jo Jo White and Andrew Toney, and Demarcus Phelan if need be. It was May 25th, 1983- Los Angeles had beaten San Antonio in 5. And Philadelphia wanted a **** championship.
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"Smell like I sound, I'm Lost in a crowd, and I'm hungry like the wolf- Straddle the line in discord and rhyme, I'm on the hunt I'm after you, mouth is alive, with juices like wine, and I'm hungry like the wooooooooolf~". Sal Salerno, Lehner's assistant GM, sings along to the song playing loudly in the executive box as the minutes leading down to tip off dwindled down. Lehner puffed away relentlessly at a cigarette- the harder the stress got, the more bad habits seemed to stack up- as he stared down coldly at the Boston line-up as they practiced shots.
Foots Walker- he was seasoned, smart, and an amazing driving passer. Larry Drew could match-up to him well enough early on, but there'd be a big difference down the line. Danny Ainge, young and brash at shooting guard. He'd have Worthy play down to him; the height difference should be enough to hold him down, especially given Worthy's speed. Erving would play up from shooting guard to cover Bird- that match up would decide everything. Brickowski versus McHale was another weak match-up, so he'd put Malone on McHale and push Brickowski up to Parish, who hadn't been too hot lately, especially given his recent span of injuries.
Tip-off was coming. The game was -vital-.
Daly called the first time-out 6 and a half minutes into the first quarter. The teams were tied 12-12, and Larry Drew had just drawn his second foul. Kevin McHale had 6 on 3/4 shooting already, and things were getting intense. Jo Jo White went in at PG, Toney at SG, Erving moved up to SF, and Washington came in at PF. Coming into the second, Philadelphia was up 25-19 thanks in large to an awesome 8 point 6 rebound quarter from Erving. Daly put Brickowski and Worthy in going into the second quarter, and the game got physical. Going into the second half, Philadelphia led 51-39, having dominated in the second quarter; Bird had been held to just 7 points, while Erving had 14, Brickowski 9, Malone 8, and Washington 9. Foots Walker led the Celtics offensive with 11 points while Danny Ainge had 9 and 5 rebounds.
Going into the 4th, Philadelphia increased that lead to 81-56. The Spectrum (Philadelphia's arena) was going -insane-. "MVP" shouts filled the stands, as Erving came into the last quarter with 23 (while Washington, Malone, Brickowski, and Drew had 15, 14, 13, and 8 respectively). Bird showed up in the quarter, dropping 11 points, but still the Celtics found themselves at a disadvantage. With ten minutes left in the 4th, Washington fouled out, and James Worthy showed up to play, posting 6 points and 7 rebounds. Erving finished the game- an amazing 101-87 blow-out- with 35 points, 3 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Malone had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Brickowski finished with an incredible 17 point 17 rebound outing, and Larry Drew picked up a double-double going 10 and 10.
Philadelphia was going to the finals.
For perhaps the first time in his career, Adam Lehner felt relief.
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Sports Illustrated
May 26th, 1983- An Interview with Philadelphia GM Adam Lehner
As the NBA Finals draw closer, many are surprised to see an unlikely team emerge as a potential contender from the East. Amidst a season dominated by headlines circulating around the Boston-Los Angeles rivalry, Philadelphia has forced its way into contention through will and resilience, seizing the spotlight in large due to an incredible twenty six game winning streak. Despite their fair share of playoff success the few years, it wasn't until last summer's signing of free agent Moses Malone that people began looking at Philadelphia as a serious contender. Looking at the line-up today versus 1979's previous Los Angeles - Philadelphia match-up, we see an almost completely new team entirely.
This isn't by chance. The shape and direction of this team has been dictated in large by general manager Adam Lehner. A young but tenacious kid from the rural back drop of Minnesota, he's done a remarkable job of designing a potential champion team in just three years in the league. Just two days before the beginning of this year's final, we've gotten Lehner to sit down for an exclusive interview.
It's seven-thirty, a bit late perhaps, but Lehner looks wide awake, a smile on his face. His long shaggy blonde hair rests last his shoulders now, but his facial hair is well trimmed, and he's wearing a nice charcoal blazer over a neat button down shirt.
JM: That was quite an unexpected finish to an otherwise pretty close series, wouldn't you say Adam?
AL: *Chuckle* I can't say it was expected Jason- oh, and first and foremost, thank you so much for having me here.
JM: The pleasure's mine, happy to have you.
AL: Yes, thank you. As I was saying, Boston is an incredible team with amazing talent. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish - those guys are going to be serious contenders the rest of their careers. Perennial players, the three of them. But Erving did an excellent job of defending Bird when it mattered, and Brickowski exploded exactly like we expected him to.
JM: Yes, that was quite the line-up change bringing Kermit off the bench. Did anything prompt that change, or..?
AL: I don't want to give away Coach Daly's secrets *chuckle* but no, sometimes line-up changes just help shake things up. Who knows? Maybe you'll see it again.
JM: I look forward to it. So, let's look forward: the Finals. This team's first time under your tenure.
AL: I can't even express how amazing this is. I'm so proud of what this team has done this season, its just incredible.
JM: You said you'd bring a championship in four years. Can you do it in three?
AL: *Chuckle^ I mean, you tell me. Does it look like I can?
JM: Actions speak louder than words, and yours have been absolutely explosive. This line-up is almost an entirely new set of players you went out of your way to get. Larry Drew, who you traded for early on, finally proving the trade was more than worth it. Kermit Washington, another trade agent you managed to convince to sign on for a huge cut in order to get- the player who I'd say is going to go down as your best move yet- Moses Malone. Let's not forget Brickowski, Worthy, and White.
AL: What can I say? It's these guys that are amazing, not me. I can recognize the talent, but I can't create it.
JM: Say you win this year. You've got a lot of talent, a lot of young talent, that can't be expected to ride the bench forever. Who goes first?
AL: Aw, cmon man, you know I can't answer that.
JM: Andrew Toney? Rick Mahorn? Demarcus Phelan?
AL: Pass.
JM: Are Brickowski and Worthy considered untouchable? How do either of them fit into a line-up with Erving and Malone?
AL: Well it's working so far, isn't it? Jesus christ..
JM: Sorry, we'll change the subject. Best players in the league, you can't use anyone from your team. Each position, and a 6th man off the bench. Let's hear it.
AL: No one from Philadelphia? Well it's gonna suck anyways *chuckle* just kidding, alright, let's see.. point guard, I'm going to have to go with Magic obviously. Give it a couple of years though and I think you might hear me saying Thomas or Walker. Shooting guard is hard, there's a lot of incredible talent right now, especially in the west.. but I'll probably go with George Gervin. World B. Free is definitely a close second. Small forward obviously goes to Larry Bird if I can't take Erving. Adrian Dantley is great too, as are young talents Dominique Wilkins and Gene Banks, but Bird is probably the only real guy that can compete with Erving right now at small forward. Power forward is another hard toss up- I like Roundfield, but I think Kevin McHale might end up better. Truck Robinson has always been a favorite of mine, but at the end of the day I still think I'm gonna have to go with Elvin Hayes. Let me rewind the clock five years and I think he's blocking and scoring on anyone in the league.
JM: Okay, five years, I'll give you that *laughs*.
AL: Now, center, I think, is obviously. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The best player to ever touch the court in my opinion, and I think he will be for years. Chamberlain was explosive, but look at Kareem right now. How timeless is this guy? He's still leading the NBA in blocks, and he's still exploding on offense whenever the team needs him.
JM: Yeah, you're definitely right. What about 6th?
AL: Hm... okay, I'm gonna cheat a little bit and go with Bob Gross. I still regret having to give him up, and I think he's another player who's absolutely timeless.
JM: Bob Gross? Was he even an All Star this year?
AL: What, you want me to say Bill Laimbeer? You think he's gonna come off the bench? *chuckle*
JM: Okay, one more. Coach. Don't say Bllly Cunningham.
AL: Hah! You knew I would. Well I'm not going to say Pat Riley, definitely not him. I'd probably go with Elgin Baylor out of Utah, maybe. He was a great player, he's a great coach.
JM: He definitely is, a shame injuries derailed Utah's shot in the playoffs. Speaking of Pat Riley- is it safe to assume you're a little resentful from his comments earlier this season? I recall quite the sassy reply from you.
AL: Honestly Jason? Screw Pat Riley. He's entitled, his team has an inflated sense of an entitlement, and we're gonna knock down their egos a bit.
JM: Egos? Entitlement? The Lakers? No way, never *laughs*.
AL: Seriously man. Magic called it luck that Boston beat them 4-1 last year? That's not luck, that's domination.
JM: And you just beat Boston.
AL: Yes, sure, but I'm not even saying it's like that. All I know is Pat Riley had the nerve to take cheap shots at us, and we're gonna show him not to mess with us.
JM: Riley was
JM: Alright, thank you so much Adam, this has been great. I'm sure you've got a lot to do to get ready for the finals.
AL: Thank you again for having me Jason. I'm always happy to do a follow-up when we win.
JM: *laughs* I think you mean if you win Adam.
AL: No. I mean when.
This is Jason Mussman, with Sports Illustrated. Stay tuned for more NBA Finals coverage.
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The NBA Finals.
The day before Game 1 (in Philly, thanks to their impressive season record) Julius Erving hosted a team meeting at the practice arena. He declared winning was more important than any individual team effort, and that getting this title was an absolute must. They practiced all day, up until their scheduled practice time that night, and then practiced again then too.
The next evening, the game was set to begin.
Game 1 was a rough loss. Kareem had 33 points and 19 rebounds with 4 blocks, while Malone was held to just 22 and Erving 17. Julius Erving got a technical foul arguing his 5th foul call late in the 3rd and was out for the rest of the game. The Lakers put 34 up to Philadelphia's 22 in the 4th quarter. Game 2, however, Erving showed up ready to make up for the loss. Putting up 40 points alongside 5 assists and 9 rebounds, he looked like an absolute all star. World B. Free had 28 points in Game 3 (on 10/12 shooting) leading up to a 91-108 home victory, while Malone's 42 point 20 rebound game gave Philadelphia the edge in Game 4 (alongside Erving's 28). The Lakers took Game 5, following an impressive 20 point 16 rebound game from power forward Cliff Robinson, but Philadelphia quickly came back to steal a win for the tie, behind Erving's 39 point 6 steal 6 assist game. Game 7 would be in Philadelphia; history could be made.
On June 6th, 1983, Philadelphia pulled it off. Behind an incredible 50 point 15 rebound display from Moses Malone and another 30 points from Erving, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 124-109. The Spectrum was absolute insanity, and Julius Erving found himself lifted by the entire team as cheers rained down upon him. Team owner Fitz Dixon was happy to lift up the trophy high into the air as the crowd screamed praise at him. The Finals MVP award was given to Julius Erving, as Malone wrapped one of his burly arms around him and another around point-guard Larry Drew, pulling them in towards him as he howled in trumphance up towards the roof of the arena. Kareem took a couple of minutes to congratulate both Erving and Malone, while Magic stormed off immediately into the locker. Coach Pat Riley stood their and disbelief, shaking Chuck Daly's hand weakly before retreating back towards the locker room as well.
In the press conference following the game, Lehner was asked about his feelings on fufilling his promise to the city of Philadelphia. "Did you ever doubt it? How can a team with a guy like Julius Erving not win?"
The draft lottery was sort of surprising. Thanks to giving up Art Collins, Boston managed to come in and take the #1 pick. The Suns got the 2nd pick, Atlanta the 3rd, Houston the 4th, Dallas the 5th, Golden State the 6th, and Indiana the 7th. Dallas finished the league second to worst in the West at 19-63 (ahead of Houston's 18-64). In the East, Chicago finished 13-69, a league low. Moses Malone took home MVP awards, while Erving in a surprise twist won Defensive Player of the Year. Frank Brickowski won 6th man of the year, while Dominique Wilkins won Rookie of the Year. Despite Daly looking like the favorite, Indiana's George Karl won Coach of the Year, but to no surprise, Adam Lehner was awarded the Executive of the Year award. Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, Larry Bird, Tom Chambers, and Moses Malone made up the 1st All NBA team, the 2nd team consisted of Isiah Thomas, Reggie Theus, Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The third All NBA team was Maurice Cheeks, George Gervin, Louis Orr, Alvan Adams, and Bill Laimbeer. Michael Ray Richardson, Quinn Buckner, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, and Tree Rollins made up All Defense team one, while Ray Williams, Darrel Griffth, Larry Bird, Elvin Hayes, and Kareem made up the second. Sleepy Floyd, Ricky Pierce, Dominique Wilkins, Cliff Levingston, and Mark Eaton were rookie team one, and Fat Lever, Paul Pressey, Rod Higgins, Terry Cummings, and LaSalle Thompson were team two.
Philadelphia had won. The sun was setting on a beautiful night in the city, but celebrations were abound. For Adam Lehner, life was good.
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In a league dominated by headlines surrounding Finals bound teams, its frequent we overlook some of the more interesting stories going on through-out the season. Starting this summer, CBS will be showing the story of one team through out its seasons, analyzing the trials, tribulations, and victories the team accumulated over time.
For our first episode in the series, we'll take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that finished 6th in the East and brought the heavily-favored Boston Celtics to six games in the series.
This is Slick Watts, and you're watching CBS's "Inside a Team"- Cleveland edition.
~~~~~
It's June 1st, and the NBA Finals rage on. Billy Cunningham sits on a luscious velvet couch facing a massive television set, yet still the look on his face is pure agony. "That could've been me out there coaching" he remarks, a bit sullenly. "That should've been me." Billy Cunningham coached the 76ers for five seasons before his dismissal last summer. He saw the rise of Julius Erving, the development of the team around big men Kermit Washington and Maurice Cheeks, and the slow but inevitably encompassing restructurization of what was this season's best NBA team. Did he have a part in it?
"Of course I did" Cunningham remarks bluntly. "I taught those guys they could win. And honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I wish them nothing but the best of luck."
In his first season with the team, Cunningham managed to post a winning season record despite inheriting a mess of a team. A team that threw away its best player in the off season, Cleveland was expected to hover at the bottom of the East in the wake of Laimbeer's move to Detroit. Instead, it fought its way to 6th amidst several impressive upsets throughout the season. Some of that, in part, was pure luck.
"I remember Ted Stepien (Cleveland's owner) saying to me, "Okay, see if anyone wants to trade something for the pick." I was shocked. "There's still talent. Let's take Floyd." Stepien didn't get it. "A 6'3 point-guard? We need big guys right now. Laimbeer's gone, we have Darnell Valentine." I was insistent though, and he decided to listen to me. I'm glad he did."
Cleveland general manager Nate Thurmond sits across from me, a glass of whiskey in a glass in front of him.
That pick at #5 turned into Sleepy Floyd, who would finish second in rookie of the year voting, and was selected to be apart of the All Rookie 1st team with a season average of 17.4 points per game with 8.8 assists his first year. He'd quickly develop into a team-captain his first year on the team, shaping the offense with his natural drive. Kelly Tripucka, one of the most underrated picks of his class, was the go-to scoring option for the team, scoring 20.9 points per game his sophomore year on 46 percent shooting. Mike Mitchell and Kenny Carr were as close to veterans as the team had, playing shooting guard and power forward respectively, up until Caldwell Jones arrived at center. He became a focal focus of their defense, as Derek Smith, Darnell Valentine, and Billy Knight came off the bench.
"You mentioned Laimbeer. You guys made the decision to trade him for a couple of average-skilled players and a first round pick. What gives?" Slick Watts is leaning forward now, as Thurmond shrugs.
"Honestly? I'll admit, it was stupid. I think Wayne Robinson has some talent - I still think he does - but I'll admit, it wasn't the best decision in the world. Laimbeer was just cocky. He was demeaning. And he was really pissed off about Daly getting fired. I had to show him who was boss."
A few weeks later, at which point people have already began talking about next season, the excitement over Philadelphia's win over Los Angeles quickly fading into something of the past, and suddenly I'm hanging out at a diner in downtown detroit. Across from me, lumbering at 6'11, is Bill Laimbeer, wearing a thin white sweater and long black sleeves. "Yeah. Nate hated me. I don't really know why, but I was happy to leave." He's eating breakfast- an omelette, with a side of toast and hashbrowns- and for a second we blend in with the rest of the diner crowd, before a small kid, maybe ten years old, rushes up to him eagerly.
"Mr. Laimbeer! Mr. Laimbeer! Can I uh.. can I have your autograph?" Laimbeer laughs, signing a napkin for him, as I stop to drink my coffee and reflect on the scene.
For Laimbeer, the trade had certainly worked out. He joined front man Isiah Thomas to create one of the league's most striking duos. Still, a part of him missed Cleveland. "I spent two years there. I played with great guys. I'm sorry to have to have left."
Two guys often overlooked in the discussion, however, are Ed Lawrence and Wayne Robinson. I catch up with Wayne in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. He's relaxing at home before training camp, though you can tell he's not exactly excited for the following season. Averaging 2.8 points in 10 minutes a game, in a season that started with hopes he could start, Robinson has instead been cast aside to rot.
"I'm gonna step up my game this off-season. You watch, man. I'mma' step it up." The neighborhood he lives in is quiet, nice.
"You averaged nearly 6 points a game your rookie season for Detroit, in 13 minutes a game. I think you've got potential." Watts is kind, assuring to the frustrated 24 year old.
"I know I do, man. I've got tons of ****ing potential man. Oops, sorry. I mean. Well. Shoot." He's gritting his teeth, blushing lightly as Watts shakes his head. "It's fine, continue."
"I just want to prove to my friends I can do it. I want to drop twenty in a game and hear people chant my name. I just want to be the guy they pass the ball to. I wanna be like Erving, man."
Robinson's views are especially sad given the teams lack of many other options. This is a team who ran its offense almost exclusively through the trio of Sleepy Flloyd, Mike Mitchell, and Kelly Tripucka. The beginning of the season was rough, with Cleveland finding itself down 4-11 at one point. New coach Billy Cunningham, while certainly talented, struggled to find depth in the squad, and fan support dwindled.
Mid-way through the season, Cleveland managed to snag a somewhat reliable replacement for Laimbeer with the addition of veteran Caldwell Jones. A team projected to finish 10th managed to push itself into the 6th seed position. This was a team with flare.
On November 6th, 1982, Rookie Sleepy Floyd posted a then career-high 28 points alongside 7 assists to go with Kelly Tripucka's 26 in a 111-104 point home win over the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. On January 30th, 1983, at a sold out game at Market Square Arena in Indiana, Cleveland broke away on a 33-27 point 4th quarter to steal a win over Indiana as Mike Mitchell dropped a career high 39 points with 9 rebounds. This shattered Indiana's than 7 game winning streak, a heavy blow to the second seeded team in the East. That win would be #2 in what would turn into a 10 game winning streak for Cleveland, until Golden State beat them at Oracle Arena 115-109, despite Derek Smith's 26 point showing. Starting March 2nd, however, luck began to change, as they went on a 6 game losing streak to teams including Houston- the then worst team in the West. They eventually bounced back, beating Boston again on March 30th, this time at TDE Garden in a 113-105 point wopping. In fact, the team ended up winning the season series against Boston 4-2; an interesting fact, given what would happen in the playoffs.
At the end of the season, the team was pumped. They could handle Boston. In an interview a few days before Game 1, Kenny Carr said he could match Larry Bird on defense, that he knew the trick. In Game 1, Larry Bird dropped 54 points with 11 rebounds and 5 assists as Boston beat Cleveland 94-119. Cunningham was stumped.
He'd lost to Boston before. They were perhaps one of his biggest rivals, and he knew how lethal they could be. The addition of Foots Walker this year had opened up Bird's ability to catch and shoot, as Walker had 11 assists in the opening game to a wide open Bird (who dropped 6 3 pointers in 12 attempts). Walker, who had started his career in Cleveland, playing 6 years there, was after a ring, plain and simple. At 31, he was as deadly as ever, and Sleepy Floyd needed to be at his best to be any match.
Game 2 wasn't much better. Bird went off yet again, dropping 44 and 15 rebounds despite Tripucka's best efforts to contain him, as Boston tore away to an 120-86 point blow out. Game 3, however, took Boston back to Cleveland. On April 24th, 1983, Tripucka managed to match Bird's output, as the two both dropped 28. Mike Mitchell's 23 came in handy, as did Derek Smith's 18 off the bench, and Cleveland managed to win 109-93 in large due to Floyd's 14 assist effort. They brought that momentum into Game 4 as well; Floyd had 13 points with 13 assists, Tripucka had 24, Smith had 22 off the bench, and they held Bird to just 17 points in a 113 - 102 point win over Boston.
Going into Game 5, the team was excited. Tied 2-2 with last year's champion, a team projected to be -10-th in the East (out of 11 teams!) had broken even against one of the league's top 3 offensive forces. Walking with Mike Mitchell down through one of Cleveland's city parks, he simply sighed when I brought it up.
"We were close, man. So damn close. Next year, though, next year man. Next year we got this." Mitchell, who put up 22.2 points per game his sophomore year, had seemed to be on the decline, putting up less and less numbers each year. Still, he remained confident in his team. "Cunningham is a great coach, man. That night after Game 4... man, he told us all. He said- you are the underdogs. You are the ones in the shadow. You're the ones they said didn't have a chance, and you're the ones that are gonna prove them wrong." He sighs, looking down at the ground sullenly. "But we didn't."
In Game 5, they followed the same strategy. Bird was held to just 19, and Tripucka had 25 points once again. Floyd had 11 assists and 16 points, while Mitchell dropped 22 to put the Cavaliers up to 112- but Kevin McHale was just unstoppable. With 44 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks, his defensive presence was unmatchable, and Boston won 114-112. Cleveland hoped to ride their momentum back home for Game 6, but Bird was back for a vengeance; Mitchell had 28, but Bird had 31, with 14 rebounds and 3 steals. Boston won 106-93, in a game where Cleveland never stood a chance.
But was Mitchell right? Did Cleveland do all that for nothing?
"We showed the league we're comin' for 'em!" The young rookie Sleepy Floyd is on the phone with me. He's at home- also in North Carolina, in Gastonia- but I'm busy finishing up the piece, so we're doing the interview by phone. "We showed them- hey, we're one of the youngest line-ups in the league, and guess what? We're here to ball."
"Do you think you've got an actual shot at contention?" I know it's a loaded question, but still.
Floyd doesn't bite. "Maybe not next year. But hey, Cunningham knows Philadelphia pretty damn well, right? We keep up this strategy of doing really good against the teams that matter, maybe we just steal a win after all *laugh*."
While not immediate contenders, I'd keep an eye on this Cleveland team. This is Slick Watts, thanks for tuning into "Inside a Team". See you next year."
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1982 ---- YEAR 3
The call was short, courteous, and polite, but Lehner felt like throwing up for hours afterwards. Cunningham had been surprised, but understanding; Dixon needed someone to blame for the post-season loss. Lehner was a potential target, but Cunningham was a much easier one. "I loved this team. I **** loved them, Lehner." His voice is clammy, and all Adam wants to do is take it back. "I'm sorry, Billy." There's a short silence. "That's how it goes. Do me this favor though- don't hire some idiot to replace me. Hire someone professional. Someone with class."
Chucky Daly fidgeted in his seat. At 51, Daly was 12 years older than Cunnigham, but definitely not more experienced. He'd been an assistant coach in Philadelphia before (under Cunningham in '78 funnily enough), and had put together a seasoned NCAA resume to back it up. In two seasons in Cleveland, he'd put together a lousy 57-107 record, and the only reason Lehner had even considered interviewing him was his previous role with the team. But he'd started his pitch off well, and Lehner was intrigued.
"We can't get Malone. Houston's one of our biggest rivals, he's spent the last two years trying to destroy us." Daly shook his head, his lips curling into a smile as his hands stretched out wide. "But I can. I can get you Moses Malone. I can do it, and we can build a real championship calibur team."
Lehner wasn't sold. "Okay. If you're so magic, why Malone? Why not Bird, why not Johnson?" Daly shook his head again. "Kid. They're riding their teams high. They're already champions. Now, what do Moses Malone and Erving have in common?" Lehner blinked, shrugging his shoulders meekly.
"They both aren't. Picture this; a line-up with former All Star Jo Jo White pushing his last bit of energy into some of the best passing of his career. Julius Erving drops down to shooting guard, and we draft a guy like Dominique Wilkins- okay... okay, obviously not Wilkins. We draft a guy like Clark Kellog, like Derek Smith, like James Worthy- someone who can score- and we put them at small forward. Kermit comes back for a smaller contract, and Moses Malone anchors the team at center."
"It sounds great. Easy to come up with scenarios, harder to implement them." Lehner had to admit, he was intrigued.
"I'm your guy. They had faith in you, right? Just some kid, no experience. Well you have faith in me, okay?" His eyes were full of hope- and maybe Chuck Daly wasn't the best, or the most seasoned. But Lehner liked him.
He hired him on the spot.
The off-season had been a bit hectic; Sam Schulman sold the supersonics to Seattle business tycoon and Cray CEO Seymour Cray. Spalding replaced Wilson as the official manafacturer of game balls. The season would stop broadcasting on USA network the following year, and Donald Sterling set up the Clippers to move north to Los Angeles. Cleveland hired Billy Cunningham, and while he said there was no bad blood, Cleveland All Star Mike Mitchell said "Philadelphia might have Julius Erving, but Cleveland has Mike Mitchell. Cunningham was the brains, and I'm a better gun."
Cray was quick to get into the spotlight as well. "Seattle won a championship less than four years ago. Last season, we didn't make the play-offs. Guys like Jack Sikma, they're great, but when they start to let their ego dictate the actions of the game - when they start talking down to a coach like Lenny Wilkens - they need to realize they're replacable." The damage was irreversible; bad blood was in the air.
The Boston-Lakers rivalry fueled on as well. Star player Magic Johnson called it luck; "We've been to the finals three years in a row now. Three years. Where's Boston been at? Larry Bird's a great player, but Boston's a lucky team. Luck doesn't last forever." Kevin McHale was quick to respond. "Magic Johnson can talk all he wants, but there's a reason we won in 5 games last year. That's not luck, that's domination." Pat Riley, the Lakers coach, tried to quell the flames in a press conference, but when asked whether he'd take Bird over Johnson, he had to get a little bit personal. "Bird's a great player, a great shooter, and he deserved the MVP award, undoubtedly. But he's not magic like Magic. Magic's worth is unmatched in this league. Guys like Larry, we see them- we've had Pete Maravich's, there have been Julius Erving's. But no one's as good of an all around player as Magic. You can quote me on that."
Boston GM John Havlicek had no comment. Lakers GM Jerry West, however, stated he agreed with Pat Riley's sentiments. In a league being dominated by the Boston-Lakers hype, Philadelphia had to find a way to keep their name in the game.
Going into the draft, Lehner worked out five canditates. The 16th pick was high up, but this was a great draft class. James Worthy- his prime hope, though it'd be lucky if he didn't go top ten- as well as LaSalle Thompson, Derek Smith, Lester Conner, and Cliff Levingston.
Eddie Jordan went to Kansas City from Los Angeles for John Lambert before the draft officially began; weird, because despite Wilkins being predicted to go at 1, they took Lafeyette "Fat" Lever with the first pick. Seattle swooped up Wilkins at 3 out of Georgia, Clark Kellog from Ohio State went 3, 7-4 center Mark Eaton from UCLA went to Phoenix at 4, Sleepy Flloyd from Georgetown went to Cleveland at 5, and then Terry Cummings went to Milwaukee at 6; but not before Indiana traded Tom Abernethy and a future first round pick for New Jersey's Darwin Cook. At 7, Dallas took Paul Pressey from Tulsa (who averaged 24-10.8-9.6 in college; a total steal) and then in a surprise twist, Cleveland shipped Bill Laimbeer to Detroit for their 8th pick, 31st, 1984 1st pick, and Ed Lawrence alongside Wayne Robinson. Cleveland took Derek Smith - one of the top shooters in the draft class - at eight, and Golden State grabbed Ricky Pierce at 9, before Kansas City again made another trade, shipping Otis Birdsong for Tree Rollins. James Worthy went to Houston at 10, a forward out of North Carolina who Lehner had hoped to steal at 1, much to his dismay. LaSalle Thompson then went to Washington at 11, then Terry Teagle went to Atlanta at 12, before Billy Knight was traded from Indiana to San Diego for Billy McKinney. At 13, Utah grabbed Lester Conner, and at 14 Portland took Quintin Dailey, and San Diego grabbed Rod Higgins at 14, leaving Lehner with one of his original five choices. Immediately, he tried to set up a trade for Worthy; it worked. This years first round pick plus a second, as well as next years first round pick and Caldwell Jones.
Briefly, he considered pulling away; Caldwell Jones had been on the team for 6 years, drafted out of Albany State, and was a great presence in the locker room and on the court. Still- maybe he could be better utilized somewhere else, Lehner rationalized. The trade went through, and Lehner cleared up another 6 million in cap-space in the process.
Houston took John Bagley at 16, and Cliff Levingston went to New Jersey- Philadelphia's biggest rival- at 17. A shame. He would've been a good 76er. The rest of the draft wasn't too exciting. Truck Robinson went from Phoenix to Washington for Mark Olberding, and Rory Sparrow went from New Jersey to Chicago for Frank Johnson. Mike Woodson, Reggie Carter, and DeWayne Scales went from New York to Atlanta for Don Collins, and James Ray left Denver to go to Washington for Keith McCord. Lehner thought about Daly's words, and decided to capitalize; Hayes season had been good, he'd been nothing but incredible, but Lehner found himself trading him alongside two second round picks for Washington's Rick Mahorn none-the-less. That was 9 million cleared in cap room. Moses Malone was the goal. Nothing else mattered.
Contracts were iffy. Immediately, he renounced the rights on Clint Richardson (3.6 million for a guy who never even touched the court) and Doug Collins (8.5 million for a guy who played maybe 4 minutes a game!), leaving three more to act on. He had 25 million in cap space now, and Kermit's bird rights were worth another 15 million. How much was Malone going to cost realistically?
Daly handled Summer League. Andrew Toney, Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, and Demarcus Phelan made up the cast of notable players; Larry Drew would be out another 187 days because of his knee. Their first game was a loss to Phoenix- rookie Mark Eaton had 17 points and 21 rebounds with 5 blocks- but they did good none-the-less. James Worthy had 13 and 6 rebounds, Rick Mahorn went 19 and 10, DeMarcus Phelan went 14 and 11, and Andrew Toney dropped 23. Mahorn had 19 and Worthy dropped 25 in the next win over the Lakers before beating the Warriors with another impressive 18 from Worthy. They lost the last game to San Diego, but Worthy still put up 16 points with 10 assists and 3 rebounds.
The first couple of days didn't spark any major headlines. Magic re-signed a massive 5-year 131 million dollar contract with the Lakers, McGinnis resigned for 3 years with the Knicks, as did Kenon (3 years) and Scott Wedman (4). David Thompson signed a 5 year 100 million dollar deal with Denver, resigning with a pretty competitive team, and the spotlight shifted towards Moses Malone. Him, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson were the three big-named stars; the only difference was, they were both on two of the best teams in the league. He was not. Other notable free-agents included Kermit- who Lehner had decided to keep the bird rights to- as well as Dan Roundfield, Cliff Robinson, Jack Sikma, Bill Cartwright, Dennis Johnson, David Greenwood, Justin Johnson, Mickey Johnson, Cedric Maxwell, Phil Hubbard, Sidney Moncrief, Jamaal Wilkes, Mychal Thompson, Kent Benson, Roger Phegley, Bobby Jones, Sly Williams, Darryl Dawkins, Jerry Sichting, Paul Westphal, James Bailey, and Reggie King.
San Diego took Bobby Jones next up, with a 3 year contract worth 37 million. James Edwards resigned for 4 years with the Pacers for nearly 70 million (way over price), Larry Bird and Eddie Johnson re-signed with Boston, Paul Westphal resigned with Seattle, and then Seattle also signed free agent Mike Dunleavy to a 1 year contract worth 8 million. Sidney Moncrief went to Portland, Dennis Johnson to Milwaukee. Bobby Jones went to Denver, Kevin Porter to Boston, Sly Williams to Phoenix, Doug Collins to Golden State, Richard Washington to Kansas City. Justin Johnson signed a big contract with Kansas City, John Lucas with Phoenix. Pat Cummings went to Washington, Bob Dandridge to Portland. It was July 30th- two weeks into free agency- and still no word from Moses. The next morning, Lehner felt what was inevitably coming as the calls came in- Mychal Thompson signed a monster contract to stay with Portland, and they used their remaining cap-space to pull in Jack Sikma, creating one of the nastiest post duos in the league. Houston signed Darryl Dawkins (putting him and Caldwell Jones together once again) and Lehner could almost taste it. As Portland and Houston had been the only other teams Moses was looking at, Lehner capitalized; the allure of a championship was too much. On July 24th, 1982, it happened.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
July 30th, 1982- Moses Parts Ways With Houston; Sees Opportunity in Philadelphia
In a move fans are calling Lehner's best yet, he's managed to steal the spotlight, pulling NBA perennial All Star Moses Malone to the city of brotherly love. Malone took a 4-year 97 million dollar contract, much less than he might've seen elsewhere, in order to join together with Kermit Washington and Julius Erving in order to form what he sees as a rival "nasty three" to combat the Showtime Laker's "flashy three" (Magic Johnson, World B. Free, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Joining a team that's entering it's first year under a new head coach, Malone sees himself as a helpful catalyst in pulling together the team. "I rebound, Erving shoots, Kermit blocks, we repeat the cycle."
Sophomore Frank Brickowski- picked 14th last year- put up an impressive 13.5 points with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks his rookie year, but will undoubtedly find himself riding the bench as Kermit Washington has agreed to sign on for a 55 million dollar 3 year deal in wake of Malone's signing. Still, having lost Elvin Hayes, Brickowski will likely flourish off the bench alongside other young players like Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, and Demarcus Phelan. A starting line-up of Lionel Hollins, Andrew Toney, Julius Erving, Kermit Washington, and Moses Malone should be out of this world. For the first time in years, this reporter is feeling confident.
I predict we finish at the top of the East. A championship is on the horizon. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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In the last few days of free agency, Lehner filled out the squad, signing Jim McElroy back on for another year, alongside Gerald Henderson and Joey Hassett. The team was ready. The season was about to begin.
STARTING LINE-UP - 1982
PG: Jo Jo White
SG: Andrew Toney
SF: Julius Erving
PF: Kermit Washington
C: Moses Malone
6th Man: Frank Brickowski (C)
7th: Lionel Hollins (PG)
8th: Demarcus Phelan (C)
9th: James Worthy (SF)
10th: Rick Mahorn (PF)
The team started off unbelievably good, going 5-0 despite Kermit Washington going out for three weeks (Brickowski and Phelan stepped up). Malone was a rebounding monster, Erving was scoring better than ever, and Mahorn, Phelan, Brickowski, and Worthy were quickly becoming one of the best bench units in the NBA. 13 games in, Philadelphia found itself 11-2; things looked good.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 5th, 1982- Malone Shines Bright
Last night in a thrilling 124-109 point home victory over Milwaukee, Moses Malone went nuts, posting a career high 50 points alongside 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. Interviewed after the game, he seemed exhausted, but thrilled. "I'm just happy to be here, to be winning man. This team, we're gonna do some crazy things man, you hold me to that."
Erving held his own, putting in 18 points, while Brickowski and Jo Jo White each had ten. James Worthy had 11 off the bench, and Rick Mahorn had 8. Milwaukee coach Don Nelson was eager to throw praise on Malone. "He's amazing. Like a young Kareem, but almost a more dominant scorer." Philadelphia coach Chuck Daly was pleased as well, calling Malone an amazing addition to an amazing team.
Fans are going wild. This team is off to a 16-3 start to the season, and we're hoping it keeps up. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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The season raged on. Clark Kellog tore his MCL, and the Bulls found themselves at the bottom of the league at 2-20. World B. Free broke his arm, and Michael Cooper failed to step up in his absence. Adrian Dantley broke his wrist. The Bulls gave away Jim Paxson for a future first round pick to the Nets, the Celtics traded Jerry Sichting for a future 1st round pick and New Jersey's Foot Walker, the Jazz threw away a handful of trades alongside Jeff Wilkins for Dallas's Larry Nance, San Diego traded Alton Lister, Dave Robisch, Wally Rank, Tony Price, and a second round pick for Roger Phegley, the Lakers traded Tony Jackson, Alan Hardy, and Myles Patrick for Indiana's Billy McKinney and a second round pick. Bill Walton was named GM of the Trailblazers after a rocky start to their season. Seattle began building a new arena, and found themselves at the bottom of the West (despite rookie Dominique Wilkin's incredible start).
On January 7th, Billy Cunningham came back to Philadelphia for the first time since his termination. The 76ers beat Cleveland an embarassing 94-141 behind 38 from Erving, but Cunningham was met with a standing ovation. They were at the head of the league, 28-6, with Boston hovering close-by at 27-8 and Los Angeles at 27-6.
Moses Malone was simply an excellent fit. Erving led the team with 29.7 points a game, but he trailed shortly behind with 28.4. Jo Jo White provided 8.8 points a game with 6.3 assists, while Kermit Washington had 103 points and 8.9 rebounds, and Brickowski had 9.5 points with 7.4 rebounds. Larry Drew came back from his injury, quick to steal the back-up point guard role as he dropped a steady 5.4 assists per game with 7.6 points. As All Star weekend rolled around, the competition was fiercer than ever; Philadelphia led in the east, at 41-12, with Boston trailing shortly behind at 38-14, while Indiana hovered behind at 37-14. Detroit followed them at 31-20, while Cleveland ranked 5th at 30-21. New York was next, 30-23, followed by New Jersey, who was tied with Washington at 22-30. In the West, the Lakers reigned dominant at 43-10, followed by the Spurs at 37-15, the Jazz at 34-16, Kansas City at 32-21, Denver at 27-24, San Diego at 23-6, Seattle at 22-32, and Golden State at 20-31. Houston sat at the bottom of the West at 11-41, while the Bulls sat at the bottom of the East at 6-46.
Maurice Cheeks came back to win the slam dunk contest, besting Art Collins in the finals, while former team mates Cedric Maxwell and Danny Ainge met in the 3-point contest finals, only for Alex English to steal the victory. Dominique Wilkins dominated the Rookie Sophomore game, dropping 46 in a 136-124 point win over the Sophomores. Sleepy Floyd had 21 points and 11 assists; Rolando Blackman had 30 points and 7 rebounds for the sophomores, and Isiah Thomas had 24 points with 9 assists. The Rookie's coach, a young Mike Krzyzewski, 33 and with a 17-12 record to start off his career, called Wilkins a future MVP and also took time to throw praise on the young Cliff Levingston, New Jersey's only player in the match-up, who dropped 8 minutes with 8 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.
The All-Star game featured the most star-stacked cast as of yet. Indiana Coach George Karl headed the Eastern team, featuring a starting line-up of Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, Moses Malone, Rolando Blackman, and Isiah Thomas with Reggie Theus, Larry Bird, Truck Robinson, Bill Laimbeer, an aging Bob McAdoo, Herb Williams, and a young Sleepy Floyd off the bench. For the West, Pat Riley opted out of coaching for the third consecutive year, so Utah head coach Elgin Baylor took the honors. There starting line-up was legendary, featuring Dominique Wilkins, Tom Chambers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, and Magic Johnson, with Swen Nater, Darrell Griffith, Maurice Cheeks, Adrian Dantley, Larry Nance, Alvan Adams, and Alex English coming off the bench. Isiah Thomas had an All-Star game record high 16 assists alongside 14 points, but Magic Johnson and George Gervin dominated with 35 and 33 a piece (Johnson also had 7 rebounds and 14 assists, which would've been a record if not for Thomas's 16) and stole the win, 167-150. Magic was named the All Star MVP and the West stole back All Star honors for the year.
Last minute trades included the Pacers shipping George Johnson for Seattle's Lonnie Shelton and a 2nd round pick, as well as the Pistons sending Joe Meriweather and Joe Cook for Washington's Greg Ballard. The Lakers gave up on back-up guard Michael Cooper, sending him to Chicago for Junior Bridgeman and a 2nd round pick, while San Antonio sent a 1st round pick to Washington for Pat Cummings. Detroit made a package deal, giving up Nate Archibald, Paul Griffin, and Tony Fuller for New Jersey's Mike Newlin and a 2nd round pick, while Cleveland sent former Lakers forward Don Ford and point-guard Robert Smith for Houston's Caldwell Jones - who was averaging a decent 7 rebounds a game with 7 points and 2 blocks - and a 2nd round pick. Denver gave up a first round pick for New Jersey's Jerry Sichting, Milwaukee sent Paul Mokeski and Rory White to Washington for Billy Robinzine and a 2nd round pick, and made big moves when they traded former all-star Bob Lanier, Chris Ford, and a 1st round pick for Indiana's Phil Ford. Chicago sent their first round-pick for the following year to Boston for Art Collins, and Boston hired Phil Jackson as their head coach, firing K.C. Jones after some internal disputes in the front office.
Lehner was the talk of the town. The Malone signing had pushed Philadelphia into contention for the best team in the league, and Adam was happy to take credit. Going into March, Larry Drew (having put up 8.5 points per game with 4.8 assists coming off the bench thus far) took over the starting role over Jo Jo White, and the team looked unstoppable. On a March 3rd win over the 7-53 league worst Chicago Bulls, Moses Malone dropped 22 points, 23 rebounds, and 6 blocks, while Larry Drew had 14 points with 7 assists in his first actual start. The future looked bright behind a star-studded cast of Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and a young squad of Rick Mahorn, James Worthy, Larry Drew, Demarcus Phelan, and Frank Brickowski.
On March 11th, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 115-117 (despite an impressive 11-0 run in the final quarter, led by an impressive 9-12 shooting display from World B. Free) behind Malone's 42 and 14 rebound display. Coach Pat Riley, when asked about his feelings on Philadelphia overtaking Los Angeles as the #1 team in the league, didn't hold his feelings back. "They're a great team, sure, but what do you expect? Malone joined forces with a team that was already good. Philadelphia was in the finals a few years ago; they couldn't build a team, so they bought one."
Lehner was quick to respond. "Coach Riley can express his feelings, he's free to do that, but it seems pretty ridiculous coming from a team that's currently 25 million dollars over the cap. You've got 5 players making over 15 million a year; we've got 3. Pick your battles wisely, coach."
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The dining room is lit with candles, while a fire resonates a dim but romantic glow into the otherwise dark room. Dancing in front of the fire was an especially drunk Adam Lehner, his newly engaged fiancee leaning back against the broad oak table towards the back of the year. Frankie Valli's 1967 hit single, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" blasted loudly through out the room - Lehner belted along accordingly. "I LOVE YOU BABY, AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIGHT, I NEED YOU BABY, TO WARM A LONELY NIGHT, I LOVE YOU BAAAAY-BAAAAY, TRUST IN ME WHEN I SAAAAAAY~"
He was celebrating what had turned into a career season for the 76ers as they led the NBA in standings, with a team record of 68-14 (second highest in Philadelphia franchise history; 3rd highest in NBA history). They also set the league's highest consecutive win streak, with an incredible 26-game run, beating Los Angeles's 18. Los Angeles finished second in the league at 55-27, while Indiana finished third at 59-23, San Antonio fourth at 55-27, and Boston at a surprisingly low 5th (3rd in the east) at 53-29, largely due to Robert Parish's broken elbow, and Larry Bird's series of sprains through-out the season. Bill Cartwright had also broken his leg, while the Jazz were facing major issues as Darrell Griffith was out with a broken hand, Dwight Jones with a broken leg, Walter Davis with a broken arm, and Larry Nance with a broken elbow.
Playoffs would have Philadelphia facing their old rival, the New Jersey Nets, in the first round. Then they'd either face New York or Detroit, and likely Indiana or Boston in the conference finals (though 7th seed Washington had been playing great as of recently, and Coach Billy cunningham of the 6th seeded Cavaliers was still one of the best in the league). Los Angeles was expected to dominate in the West once more, though second seed San Antonio had been doing great behind a trio of George Gervin, Johnny Moore, and an aging Mitch Kupchak.
His fiancee laughed, shaking her head with a smirk on her face. "You're drunk, Adam. Maybe it's time to go to bed."
Adam turned to her, with fire in his eyes, as he smiled widely, locks of hair coming down to cover his face- he'd started wearing it down long as of late. The eighties were all about being trendy. "I don't think I can sleep. Baby, this time of year.. ugh! It gets me going! I LOVEEE YOU BAAAAABYYYYYYY AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIIIIGHT~"
He kept singing as she shook her head again laughing. The guy was drunk on life, drunk on ambition. This could be the year Philadelphia could win. This could be the year he really made a name for himself.
In Game 1, Erving showed up to play. He had 37 points with 7 rebounds, alongside a playoff record high 10 steals, while Malone had 30 points and 16 rebounds. They won 139-117, pulling away in the second half. Game 2, 3, and 4 were similar stories, with Erving posting an incredible (but not unexpected at this point) 43 points to send Philadelphia into the next round during Game 4, as they thrashed the home team 123-109. Los Angeles swept Portland, and Kansas City swept Seattle. New York beat Detroit in 5, while Cleveland forced Boston to 6. Indiana won in 5, as did San Antonio, while Denver pulled the only upset of the round, knocking out Utah 4 to 2 (though given their injury riddled line-up, it was almost expected).
In the first game against New York, Philadelphia pulled a narrow win, coming up 109-106 thanks to some clutch 4th quarter passing from Larry Drew who finished up with 18 points and 8 assists. Game 2 was more of a blow-out, thanks in large to Moses Malone's 40 point 15 rebound outing. Games 3 and 4 followed suit, as both Philadelphia and San Antonio swept their opponents, while Los Angeles beat Denver in 5 and Boston beat Indiana in 5.
Philadelphia won Game 1, in large due to a 15 rebound 25 point display from Kermit Washington, and Erving dropped 36 in a Game 2 win again. Boston won Game 3, as Larry Bird dropped 24 with 10 assists and 11 rebounds, and then took Game 4 as well behind a 42 point 17 rebound game from Bird (despite Larry Drew's playoff career high 28 point display). Philadelphia won Game 5, but Boston won Game 6; it was a repeat once again. But this time, Game 7 was in Philadelphia.
This called for the secret weapon. They'd been saving it for the Finals, but this was important enough to warrant it. Chuck Daly called it his small-scoring offense line-up. Larry Drew, Julius Erving at shooting guard, James Worthy at small forward, Frank Brickowski at power forward, and Moses Malone at center. Kermit Washington plays the 6, with help from Jo Jo White and Andrew Toney, and Demarcus Phelan if need be. It was May 25th, 1983- Los Angeles had beaten San Antonio in 5. And Philadelphia wanted a **** championship.
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"Smell like I sound, I'm Lost in a crowd, and I'm hungry like the wolf- Straddle the line in discord and rhyme, I'm on the hunt I'm after you, mouth is alive, with juices like wine, and I'm hungry like the wooooooooolf~". Sal Salerno, Lehner's assistant GM, sings along to the song playing loudly in the executive box as the minutes leading down to tip off dwindled down. Lehner puffed away relentlessly at a cigarette- the harder the stress got, the more bad habits seemed to stack up- as he stared down coldly at the Boston line-up as they practiced shots.
Foots Walker- he was seasoned, smart, and an amazing driving passer. Larry Drew could match-up to him well enough early on, but there'd be a big difference down the line. Danny Ainge, young and brash at shooting guard. He'd have Worthy play down to him; the height difference should be enough to hold him down, especially given Worthy's speed. Erving would play up from shooting guard to cover Bird- that match up would decide everything. Brickowski versus McHale was another weak match-up, so he'd put Malone on McHale and push Brickowski up to Parish, who hadn't been too hot lately, especially given his recent span of injuries.
Tip-off was coming. The game was -vital-.
Daly called the first time-out 6 and a half minutes into the first quarter. The teams were tied 12-12, and Larry Drew had just drawn his second foul. Kevin McHale had 6 on 3/4 shooting already, and things were getting intense. Jo Jo White went in at PG, Toney at SG, Erving moved up to SF, and Washington came in at PF. Coming into the second, Philadelphia was up 25-19 thanks in large to an awesome 8 point 6 rebound quarter from Erving. Daly put Brickowski and Worthy in going into the second quarter, and the game got physical. Going into the second half, Philadelphia led 51-39, having dominated in the second quarter; Bird had been held to just 7 points, while Erving had 14, Brickowski 9, Malone 8, and Washington 9. Foots Walker led the Celtics offensive with 11 points while Danny Ainge had 9 and 5 rebounds.
Going into the 4th, Philadelphia increased that lead to 81-56. The Spectrum (Philadelphia's arena) was going -insane-. "MVP" shouts filled the stands, as Erving came into the last quarter with 23 (while Washington, Malone, Brickowski, and Drew had 15, 14, 13, and 8 respectively). Bird showed up in the quarter, dropping 11 points, but still the Celtics found themselves at a disadvantage. With ten minutes left in the 4th, Washington fouled out, and James Worthy showed up to play, posting 6 points and 7 rebounds. Erving finished the game- an amazing 101-87 blow-out- with 35 points, 3 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Malone had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Brickowski finished with an incredible 17 point 17 rebound outing, and Larry Drew picked up a double-double going 10 and 10.
Philadelphia was going to the finals.
For perhaps the first time in his career, Adam Lehner felt relief.
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Sports Illustrated
May 26th, 1983- An Interview with Philadelphia GM Adam Lehner
As the NBA Finals draw closer, many are surprised to see an unlikely team emerge as a potential contender from the East. Amidst a season dominated by headlines circulating around the Boston-Los Angeles rivalry, Philadelphia has forced its way into contention through will and resilience, seizing the spotlight in large due to an incredible twenty six game winning streak. Despite their fair share of playoff success the few years, it wasn't until last summer's signing of free agent Moses Malone that people began looking at Philadelphia as a serious contender. Looking at the line-up today versus 1979's previous Los Angeles - Philadelphia match-up, we see an almost completely new team entirely.
This isn't by chance. The shape and direction of this team has been dictated in large by general manager Adam Lehner. A young but tenacious kid from the rural back drop of Minnesota, he's done a remarkable job of designing a potential champion team in just three years in the league. Just two days before the beginning of this year's final, we've gotten Lehner to sit down for an exclusive interview.
It's seven-thirty, a bit late perhaps, but Lehner looks wide awake, a smile on his face. His long shaggy blonde hair rests last his shoulders now, but his facial hair is well trimmed, and he's wearing a nice charcoal blazer over a neat button down shirt.
JM: That was quite an unexpected finish to an otherwise pretty close series, wouldn't you say Adam?
AL: *Chuckle* I can't say it was expected Jason- oh, and first and foremost, thank you so much for having me here.
JM: The pleasure's mine, happy to have you.
AL: Yes, thank you. As I was saying, Boston is an incredible team with amazing talent. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish - those guys are going to be serious contenders the rest of their careers. Perennial players, the three of them. But Erving did an excellent job of defending Bird when it mattered, and Brickowski exploded exactly like we expected him to.
JM: Yes, that was quite the line-up change bringing Kermit off the bench. Did anything prompt that change, or..?
AL: I don't want to give away Coach Daly's secrets *chuckle* but no, sometimes line-up changes just help shake things up. Who knows? Maybe you'll see it again.
JM: I look forward to it. So, let's look forward: the Finals. This team's first time under your tenure.
AL: I can't even express how amazing this is. I'm so proud of what this team has done this season, its just incredible.
JM: You said you'd bring a championship in four years. Can you do it in three?
AL: *Chuckle^ I mean, you tell me. Does it look like I can?
JM: Actions speak louder than words, and yours have been absolutely explosive. This line-up is almost an entirely new set of players you went out of your way to get. Larry Drew, who you traded for early on, finally proving the trade was more than worth it. Kermit Washington, another trade agent you managed to convince to sign on for a huge cut in order to get- the player who I'd say is going to go down as your best move yet- Moses Malone. Let's not forget Brickowski, Worthy, and White.
AL: What can I say? It's these guys that are amazing, not me. I can recognize the talent, but I can't create it.
JM: Say you win this year. You've got a lot of talent, a lot of young talent, that can't be expected to ride the bench forever. Who goes first?
AL: Aw, cmon man, you know I can't answer that.
JM: Andrew Toney? Rick Mahorn? Demarcus Phelan?
AL: Pass.
JM: Are Brickowski and Worthy considered untouchable? How do either of them fit into a line-up with Erving and Malone?
AL: Well it's working so far, isn't it? Jesus christ..
JM: Sorry, we'll change the subject. Best players in the league, you can't use anyone from your team. Each position, and a 6th man off the bench. Let's hear it.
AL: No one from Philadelphia? Well it's gonna suck anyways *chuckle* just kidding, alright, let's see.. point guard, I'm going to have to go with Magic obviously. Give it a couple of years though and I think you might hear me saying Thomas or Walker. Shooting guard is hard, there's a lot of incredible talent right now, especially in the west.. but I'll probably go with George Gervin. World B. Free is definitely a close second. Small forward obviously goes to Larry Bird if I can't take Erving. Adrian Dantley is great too, as are young talents Dominique Wilkins and Gene Banks, but Bird is probably the only real guy that can compete with Erving right now at small forward. Power forward is another hard toss up- I like Roundfield, but I think Kevin McHale might end up better. Truck Robinson has always been a favorite of mine, but at the end of the day I still think I'm gonna have to go with Elvin Hayes. Let me rewind the clock five years and I think he's blocking and scoring on anyone in the league.
JM: Okay, five years, I'll give you that *laughs*.
AL: Now, center, I think, is obviously. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The best player to ever touch the court in my opinion, and I think he will be for years. Chamberlain was explosive, but look at Kareem right now. How timeless is this guy? He's still leading the NBA in blocks, and he's still exploding on offense whenever the team needs him.
JM: Yeah, you're definitely right. What about 6th?
AL: Hm... okay, I'm gonna cheat a little bit and go with Bob Gross. I still regret having to give him up, and I think he's another player who's absolutely timeless.
JM: Bob Gross? Was he even an All Star this year?
AL: What, you want me to say Bill Laimbeer? You think he's gonna come off the bench? *chuckle*
JM: Okay, one more. Coach. Don't say Bllly Cunningham.
AL: Hah! You knew I would. Well I'm not going to say Pat Riley, definitely not him. I'd probably go with Elgin Baylor out of Utah, maybe. He was a great player, he's a great coach.
JM: He definitely is, a shame injuries derailed Utah's shot in the playoffs. Speaking of Pat Riley- is it safe to assume you're a little resentful from his comments earlier this season? I recall quite the sassy reply from you.
AL: Honestly Jason? Screw Pat Riley. He's entitled, his team has an inflated sense of an entitlement, and we're gonna knock down their egos a bit.
JM: Egos? Entitlement? The Lakers? No way, never *laughs*.
AL: Seriously man. Magic called it luck that Boston beat them 4-1 last year? That's not luck, that's domination.
JM: And you just beat Boston.
AL: Yes, sure, but I'm not even saying it's like that. All I know is Pat Riley had the nerve to take cheap shots at us, and we're gonna show him not to mess with us.
JM: Riley was
JM: Alright, thank you so much Adam, this has been great. I'm sure you've got a lot to do to get ready for the finals.
AL: Thank you again for having me Jason. I'm always happy to do a follow-up when we win.
JM: *laughs* I think you mean if you win Adam.
AL: No. I mean when.
This is Jason Mussman, with Sports Illustrated. Stay tuned for more NBA Finals coverage.
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The NBA Finals.
The day before Game 1 (in Philly, thanks to their impressive season record) Julius Erving hosted a team meeting at the practice arena. He declared winning was more important than any individual team effort, and that getting this title was an absolute must. They practiced all day, up until their scheduled practice time that night, and then practiced again then too.
The next evening, the game was set to begin.
Game 1 was a rough loss. Kareem had 33 points and 19 rebounds with 4 blocks, while Malone was held to just 22 and Erving 17. Julius Erving got a technical foul arguing his 5th foul call late in the 3rd and was out for the rest of the game. The Lakers put 34 up to Philadelphia's 22 in the 4th quarter. Game 2, however, Erving showed up ready to make up for the loss. Putting up 40 points alongside 5 assists and 9 rebounds, he looked like an absolute all star. World B. Free had 28 points in Game 3 (on 10/12 shooting) leading up to a 91-108 home victory, while Malone's 42 point 20 rebound game gave Philadelphia the edge in Game 4 (alongside Erving's 28). The Lakers took Game 5, following an impressive 20 point 16 rebound game from power forward Cliff Robinson, but Philadelphia quickly came back to steal a win for the tie, behind Erving's 39 point 6 steal 6 assist game. Game 7 would be in Philadelphia; history could be made.
On June 6th, 1983, Philadelphia pulled it off. Behind an incredible 50 point 15 rebound display from Moses Malone and another 30 points from Erving, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles 124-109. The Spectrum was absolute insanity, and Julius Erving found himself lifted by the entire team as cheers rained down upon him. Team owner Fitz Dixon was happy to lift up the trophy high into the air as the crowd screamed praise at him. The Finals MVP award was given to Julius Erving, as Malone wrapped one of his burly arms around him and another around point-guard Larry Drew, pulling them in towards him as he howled in trumphance up towards the roof of the arena. Kareem took a couple of minutes to congratulate both Erving and Malone, while Magic stormed off immediately into the locker. Coach Pat Riley stood their and disbelief, shaking Chuck Daly's hand weakly before retreating back towards the locker room as well.
In the press conference following the game, Lehner was asked about his feelings on fufilling his promise to the city of Philadelphia. "Did you ever doubt it? How can a team with a guy like Julius Erving not win?"
The draft lottery was sort of surprising. Thanks to giving up Art Collins, Boston managed to come in and take the #1 pick. The Suns got the 2nd pick, Atlanta the 3rd, Houston the 4th, Dallas the 5th, Golden State the 6th, and Indiana the 7th. Dallas finished the league second to worst in the West at 19-63 (ahead of Houston's 18-64). In the East, Chicago finished 13-69, a league low. Moses Malone took home MVP awards, while Erving in a surprise twist won Defensive Player of the Year. Frank Brickowski won 6th man of the year, while Dominique Wilkins won Rookie of the Year. Despite Daly looking like the favorite, Indiana's George Karl won Coach of the Year, but to no surprise, Adam Lehner was awarded the Executive of the Year award. Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, Larry Bird, Tom Chambers, and Moses Malone made up the 1st All NBA team, the 2nd team consisted of Isiah Thomas, Reggie Theus, Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The third All NBA team was Maurice Cheeks, George Gervin, Louis Orr, Alvan Adams, and Bill Laimbeer. Michael Ray Richardson, Quinn Buckner, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, and Tree Rollins made up All Defense team one, while Ray Williams, Darrel Griffth, Larry Bird, Elvin Hayes, and Kareem made up the second. Sleepy Floyd, Ricky Pierce, Dominique Wilkins, Cliff Levingston, and Mark Eaton were rookie team one, and Fat Lever, Paul Pressey, Rod Higgins, Terry Cummings, and LaSalle Thompson were team two.
Philadelphia had won. The sun was setting on a beautiful night in the city, but celebrations were abound. For Adam Lehner, life was good.
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In a league dominated by headlines surrounding Finals bound teams, its frequent we overlook some of the more interesting stories going on through-out the season. Starting this summer, CBS will be showing the story of one team through out its seasons, analyzing the trials, tribulations, and victories the team accumulated over time.
For our first episode in the series, we'll take a look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that finished 6th in the East and brought the heavily-favored Boston Celtics to six games in the series.
This is Slick Watts, and you're watching CBS's "Inside a Team"- Cleveland edition.
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It's June 1st, and the NBA Finals rage on. Billy Cunningham sits on a luscious velvet couch facing a massive television set, yet still the look on his face is pure agony. "That could've been me out there coaching" he remarks, a bit sullenly. "That should've been me." Billy Cunningham coached the 76ers for five seasons before his dismissal last summer. He saw the rise of Julius Erving, the development of the team around big men Kermit Washington and Maurice Cheeks, and the slow but inevitably encompassing restructurization of what was this season's best NBA team. Did he have a part in it?
"Of course I did" Cunningham remarks bluntly. "I taught those guys they could win. And honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I wish them nothing but the best of luck."
In his first season with the team, Cunningham managed to post a winning season record despite inheriting a mess of a team. A team that threw away its best player in the off season, Cleveland was expected to hover at the bottom of the East in the wake of Laimbeer's move to Detroit. Instead, it fought its way to 6th amidst several impressive upsets throughout the season. Some of that, in part, was pure luck.
"I remember Ted Stepien (Cleveland's owner) saying to me, "Okay, see if anyone wants to trade something for the pick." I was shocked. "There's still talent. Let's take Floyd." Stepien didn't get it. "A 6'3 point-guard? We need big guys right now. Laimbeer's gone, we have Darnell Valentine." I was insistent though, and he decided to listen to me. I'm glad he did."
Cleveland general manager Nate Thurmond sits across from me, a glass of whiskey in a glass in front of him.
That pick at #5 turned into Sleepy Floyd, who would finish second in rookie of the year voting, and was selected to be apart of the All Rookie 1st team with a season average of 17.4 points per game with 8.8 assists his first year. He'd quickly develop into a team-captain his first year on the team, shaping the offense with his natural drive. Kelly Tripucka, one of the most underrated picks of his class, was the go-to scoring option for the team, scoring 20.9 points per game his sophomore year on 46 percent shooting. Mike Mitchell and Kenny Carr were as close to veterans as the team had, playing shooting guard and power forward respectively, up until Caldwell Jones arrived at center. He became a focal focus of their defense, as Derek Smith, Darnell Valentine, and Billy Knight came off the bench.
"You mentioned Laimbeer. You guys made the decision to trade him for a couple of average-skilled players and a first round pick. What gives?" Slick Watts is leaning forward now, as Thurmond shrugs.
"Honestly? I'll admit, it was stupid. I think Wayne Robinson has some talent - I still think he does - but I'll admit, it wasn't the best decision in the world. Laimbeer was just cocky. He was demeaning. And he was really pissed off about Daly getting fired. I had to show him who was boss."
A few weeks later, at which point people have already began talking about next season, the excitement over Philadelphia's win over Los Angeles quickly fading into something of the past, and suddenly I'm hanging out at a diner in downtown detroit. Across from me, lumbering at 6'11, is Bill Laimbeer, wearing a thin white sweater and long black sleeves. "Yeah. Nate hated me. I don't really know why, but I was happy to leave." He's eating breakfast- an omelette, with a side of toast and hashbrowns- and for a second we blend in with the rest of the diner crowd, before a small kid, maybe ten years old, rushes up to him eagerly.
"Mr. Laimbeer! Mr. Laimbeer! Can I uh.. can I have your autograph?" Laimbeer laughs, signing a napkin for him, as I stop to drink my coffee and reflect on the scene.
For Laimbeer, the trade had certainly worked out. He joined front man Isiah Thomas to create one of the league's most striking duos. Still, a part of him missed Cleveland. "I spent two years there. I played with great guys. I'm sorry to have to have left."
Two guys often overlooked in the discussion, however, are Ed Lawrence and Wayne Robinson. I catch up with Wayne in his hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. He's relaxing at home before training camp, though you can tell he's not exactly excited for the following season. Averaging 2.8 points in 10 minutes a game, in a season that started with hopes he could start, Robinson has instead been cast aside to rot.
"I'm gonna step up my game this off-season. You watch, man. I'mma' step it up." The neighborhood he lives in is quiet, nice.
"You averaged nearly 6 points a game your rookie season for Detroit, in 13 minutes a game. I think you've got potential." Watts is kind, assuring to the frustrated 24 year old.
"I know I do, man. I've got tons of ****ing potential man. Oops, sorry. I mean. Well. Shoot." He's gritting his teeth, blushing lightly as Watts shakes his head. "It's fine, continue."
"I just want to prove to my friends I can do it. I want to drop twenty in a game and hear people chant my name. I just want to be the guy they pass the ball to. I wanna be like Erving, man."
Robinson's views are especially sad given the teams lack of many other options. This is a team who ran its offense almost exclusively through the trio of Sleepy Flloyd, Mike Mitchell, and Kelly Tripucka. The beginning of the season was rough, with Cleveland finding itself down 4-11 at one point. New coach Billy Cunningham, while certainly talented, struggled to find depth in the squad, and fan support dwindled.
Mid-way through the season, Cleveland managed to snag a somewhat reliable replacement for Laimbeer with the addition of veteran Caldwell Jones. A team projected to finish 10th managed to push itself into the 6th seed position. This was a team with flare.
On November 6th, 1982, Rookie Sleepy Floyd posted a then career-high 28 points alongside 7 assists to go with Kelly Tripucka's 26 in a 111-104 point home win over the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. On January 30th, 1983, at a sold out game at Market Square Arena in Indiana, Cleveland broke away on a 33-27 point 4th quarter to steal a win over Indiana as Mike Mitchell dropped a career high 39 points with 9 rebounds. This shattered Indiana's than 7 game winning streak, a heavy blow to the second seeded team in the East. That win would be #2 in what would turn into a 10 game winning streak for Cleveland, until Golden State beat them at Oracle Arena 115-109, despite Derek Smith's 26 point showing. Starting March 2nd, however, luck began to change, as they went on a 6 game losing streak to teams including Houston- the then worst team in the West. They eventually bounced back, beating Boston again on March 30th, this time at TDE Garden in a 113-105 point wopping. In fact, the team ended up winning the season series against Boston 4-2; an interesting fact, given what would happen in the playoffs.
At the end of the season, the team was pumped. They could handle Boston. In an interview a few days before Game 1, Kenny Carr said he could match Larry Bird on defense, that he knew the trick. In Game 1, Larry Bird dropped 54 points with 11 rebounds and 5 assists as Boston beat Cleveland 94-119. Cunningham was stumped.
He'd lost to Boston before. They were perhaps one of his biggest rivals, and he knew how lethal they could be. The addition of Foots Walker this year had opened up Bird's ability to catch and shoot, as Walker had 11 assists in the opening game to a wide open Bird (who dropped 6 3 pointers in 12 attempts). Walker, who had started his career in Cleveland, playing 6 years there, was after a ring, plain and simple. At 31, he was as deadly as ever, and Sleepy Floyd needed to be at his best to be any match.
Game 2 wasn't much better. Bird went off yet again, dropping 44 and 15 rebounds despite Tripucka's best efforts to contain him, as Boston tore away to an 120-86 point blow out. Game 3, however, took Boston back to Cleveland. On April 24th, 1983, Tripucka managed to match Bird's output, as the two both dropped 28. Mike Mitchell's 23 came in handy, as did Derek Smith's 18 off the bench, and Cleveland managed to win 109-93 in large due to Floyd's 14 assist effort. They brought that momentum into Game 4 as well; Floyd had 13 points with 13 assists, Tripucka had 24, Smith had 22 off the bench, and they held Bird to just 17 points in a 113 - 102 point win over Boston.
Going into Game 5, the team was excited. Tied 2-2 with last year's champion, a team projected to be -10-th in the East (out of 11 teams!) had broken even against one of the league's top 3 offensive forces. Walking with Mike Mitchell down through one of Cleveland's city parks, he simply sighed when I brought it up.
"We were close, man. So damn close. Next year, though, next year man. Next year we got this." Mitchell, who put up 22.2 points per game his sophomore year, had seemed to be on the decline, putting up less and less numbers each year. Still, he remained confident in his team. "Cunningham is a great coach, man. That night after Game 4... man, he told us all. He said- you are the underdogs. You are the ones in the shadow. You're the ones they said didn't have a chance, and you're the ones that are gonna prove them wrong." He sighs, looking down at the ground sullenly. "But we didn't."
In Game 5, they followed the same strategy. Bird was held to just 19, and Tripucka had 25 points once again. Floyd had 11 assists and 16 points, while Mitchell dropped 22 to put the Cavaliers up to 112- but Kevin McHale was just unstoppable. With 44 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks, his defensive presence was unmatchable, and Boston won 114-112. Cleveland hoped to ride their momentum back home for Game 6, but Bird was back for a vengeance; Mitchell had 28, but Bird had 31, with 14 rebounds and 3 steals. Boston won 106-93, in a game where Cleveland never stood a chance.
But was Mitchell right? Did Cleveland do all that for nothing?
"We showed the league we're comin' for 'em!" The young rookie Sleepy Floyd is on the phone with me. He's at home- also in North Carolina, in Gastonia- but I'm busy finishing up the piece, so we're doing the interview by phone. "We showed them- hey, we're one of the youngest line-ups in the league, and guess what? We're here to ball."
"Do you think you've got an actual shot at contention?" I know it's a loaded question, but still.
Floyd doesn't bite. "Maybe not next year. But hey, Cunningham knows Philadelphia pretty damn well, right? We keep up this strategy of doing really good against the teams that matter, maybe we just steal a win after all *laugh*."
While not immediate contenders, I'd keep an eye on this Cleveland team. This is Slick Watts, thanks for tuning into "Inside a Team". See you next year."
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- rawr123456787654
- Junior Member
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Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Thu Jun 01, 2017 9:43 am
1983------------YEAR 4
The off-season was supposed to be relaxing, but already Lehner felt the work piling up. Wes Unseld was the only retiring player entering the Hall of Fame (joining Bill Walton from the year before) but Lehner attended the ceremony out of respect. Elvin Hayes, Phil Chenier, Hall of Famer Dave Bing, and Bob Dandridge each took the stage to tell some of their favorite stories about playing with the guy. Elvin Hayes got a little bit emotional towards the end of his speech- "I'm just... honored, man. To have been here for your first season, and to have come back for your last. To have won a -championship- together. You're one of my brothers for life, never forget that." Young talents Wes Matthews and Rolando Blackman both referred to Unseld as a great role model. Coach Kevin Loughery hinted Unseld might return as an assistant coach, an idea general manager Lucius Allen seemed to agree with.
Coaching free agency opened with a bang. The Warriors let go of Al Attles, opting to sign former Celtics star player Bill Russell instead, who Phoenix had fired to sign former Houston superstar Rudy Tomjanovich, while Dallas hired former Celtics coach K.C. Jones to a lucrative 5 year contract worth close to eight million per year after firing Dick Motta, while Milwaukee signed him on after getting rid of Don Nelson. The Rockets signed former Nets head coach Larry Brown to help with their woes, letting go of Bill Fitch, who Chicago signed on after firing Jerry Sloan. Washington took on Unseld as an assistant coach, Al Attles, Don Nelson, and Jerry Sloan found themselves without jobs.
The NBA draft began. The class of 1983 was fierce, but already focus had shifted towards the next year; names like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley filled the scouting market. Still, with the #1 pick in a solid draft class, Boston had a lot of room to make moves. Lehner, having traded Philadelphia's pick away, hoped to use one of his underutilized young players to snag a top ten pick, likely Demarcus Phelan. Boston took Ralph Sampson at #1, a tough center with a ton of potential. Phoenix grabbed Antoine Carr at 2, and without hesitation Lehner sent out the call. Atlanta bit; shipping Phelan for Atlanta's first round pick, he used the third pick in the draft to pick up a young Clyde Drexler out of Houston. A natural shooter, he could immediately take over at the shooting guard and provide major results. Derek Harper went to Houston at 4, Darrell Walker to Dallas at 5, Doc Rivers to Golden State at 6, Sedale Threatt to Indiana at 7, Dale Ellis to Portland at 8, Roy Hinson to Chicago at 9, Rodney McCray to Washington at 10, Steve Stipanovich to San Diego at 11, Jeff Malone to Seattle at 12, Mark West to Cleveland at 13, Byron Scott to New Jersey at 14, Thurl Bailey to Dallas at 15, Sidney Green to Seattle at 16, Craig Ehio at 17, Mitchell Wiggins at 18, Randy Breuer at 19, Ennis Whatley at 20, John Paxson at 21, Randy Wittman 22, Fred Roberts 23. Coming out of the draft, Lehner had a guaranteed squad of Hollins, McElroy, Henderson, Hassett, Drexler, Worthy, Washington, Brickowski, and Malone, with Erving, Drew, Toney, Mahorn, White, and Monti Davis all with bird rights.
Drexler and Worthy shined in the summer league, the only members of the real roster participating. They had double digits in every game, with Drexler posting 34 at one point. They went 2-2, losing at one point to a Washington Summer squad featuring Andrew Toney and Rick Mahorn, who were playing on another team dipping their foot into the idea of free agency.
Philadelphia immediately re-signed Erving on the first day. Larry Drew and Rick Mahorn re-signed a few days later, Free agency was boring; Peter Gudmundsson and a handful of other lower name free agents signed to new teams, but most players resigned with their own teams. Elvin Hayes went to San Antonio and Andrew Toney went to Detroit; Jo Jo White went to Utah, and Nate Archibald to Kansas City.
Training camp was harder than ever. Philadelphia legend Hal Greer came in to work with Clyde Drexler and Larry Drew independently, while Malone, Washington, and Brickowski worked together to run passing plays amongst themselves, working on their fluidity. The new season was on the horizon. Before the season begins, Lehner makes his first move of the season, shipping Lionel Hollins and the 1986 first round pick for Paul Thompson and Portland's 1986 first round pick. He had been a great asset to the team, and would be remembered fondly, but realistically wasn't contributing nearly as well anymore. Plus, y'know- Larry Drew mania y'all.
The starting line-up for the season:
PG- Larry Drew
- 6-1, 25, 3 yrs exp, 17th pick in the 1980 draft
- Career best 32 points, 13 assists, 10 rebs., 2 blocks, 5 steals.
- 5 double doubles, 7 p.o.t.gs.
- Last seasons stats: 56 games played (33 started), 28.3 mpg, 8.9 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.2 rpg (2.0 d, 0.3 o), 0.8 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 tpg.
- Drew isn't necesarilly an All Star level point-guard, but on this kind of team, he doesn't have to be. An extremely underrated three-point shooter, Drew's excellent vision and passing skills helps the game come easily to him. Reliable, good floor leader.
SG- Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 22, R, 3rd pick in the 1983 draft
- N/A
- N/A
- Drexler is a talented young star, likely to flourish in the NBA. A natural scorer, he can shoot from the three very well, while also hitting the mid-range jumper or a lay-up. He comes into the NBA with a solid assist to turnover ratio, capable of passing extremely well to beat the double-team and find the open man. Excellent foot sppeed, overall quickness and effort makes him a tough defensive player who can rack up steals with his good anticipation abilities. Unlike many players with his athleticism, he instead relies on his intelligence and skills to open up the court for himself.
SF- Julius Erving
- 6-7, 33, 7 yrs experience (in the NBA), 12th pick in the 1976 draft.
- Career best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebs., 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 85 double doubles, 157 p.o.t.gs, 25 player of the weeks, 6 player of the months, 3 all star game appearances (2 starter, 1 reserve) (post 1980), 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 77 games played (77 started), 34.0 mpg, 29.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.9 rpg (4.8 d, 1.0 o), 3.6 spg, 2.2 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- Julius Erving; former MVP, both on the regular season and the finals. The man was a monster, explosive with his shot and more than capable of having monster games. The heart and soul of Philadelphia, and the undisputed team captain.
PF- Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 26, 2 yrs experience, 14th pick in the 1981 draft.
- Career best 34 points, 7 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals, 51 doubles, 3 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (24 started), 20.9 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 1.9 apg, 6.6 rpg (5.0 defensive, 1.0 offensive), 1.1 spg, 1.6 bpg, 1.7 topg.
- Brickowski happily took a role on the bench last season for the good of the team, despite flourishing in his rookie season. That hard work paid off, with Brickowski leading in points per game for centers coming off the bench as well as rebounding, his hard work eventually winning him 6th man of the year honors. His great lateral speed on defense and good reflexes as well as leaping ability make him an excellent shot blockers, while his ball handling is perfect for the post. With Kermit washington now 32 and slowly coming out of his prime, Brickowski's work as a starter during the finals has shown he's more than capable of handling a more consistent role again in the Philadelphia team structure.
C- Moses Malone
- 6'10. 28, 8 yrs experience, undrafted.
- Career best 50 points, 8 assists, 23 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals, 208 double doubles, 106 p.o.t.gs, 13 player of the weeks, 5 player of the months, 3 all star games (post 1980).
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 36.0 mpg, 23.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 12.0 rpg (7.8 dpg, 3.9 opg), 1.2 spg, 2.4 bpg, 2.8 topg.
- The reigining MVP, Malone comes into this season with a ring on his finger. It's rare to find a player with his type of size, speed, and strength; a strong defender, he shows solid ball handling ability, capable of spectacular dunks in traffic, a terrific finisher. Finally able to stand with the likes of Bird and Magic, he joins captain Erving as one of the two all star's on the one of the league's best teams. Can he do it again? That's all that matters to him right now; another year, another ring.
6th Man- Kermit Washington
- 6'8, 32, 11 yrs experience, 5th pick in the 1972 draft.
- Career best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals, 90 double doubles, 16 p.o.t.gs, 1 all star game, 1 triple double.
- Last Season's stats: 52 games played (52 started), 28.0 mpg, 10.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 8.1 rpg (5.7 dpg, 2.4 opg), 0.9 spg, 1.8 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Kermit finds himself riding the bench for the first time in years. Luckily, he's agreed to it, having seen the success in the finals first hand. Good shot blocker for a wing, he's got very good shooting mechanics, with the uncanny ability to see passing lanes before they open up, thus enabling him to nearly always make the right decision with the ball. A former all star, if Philadelphia employs a similar strategy, he's likely to be a serious contender for 6th man of the year honors, and will be a staple anchor to this Philadelphia bench.
7th Man- James Worthy
- 6'9, 23, 1 yr experience, 10th pick in the 1982 draft.
- Career best 23 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 4 steals.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (1 started), 18.3 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.7 rpg (2.1 dpg, 0.7 opg), 0.7 spg, 0.5 bpg, 1.1 topg.
- With an effortless release on his shot and great length for a wing player, Worthy is a natural scorer. While stile young, he's developing quickly, a young player with the potential to shine bright on a thriving team. He has the unique ability to make teammates better with his vision and the ability to create open shots, with above average ball skills for his height. Definitely a great option off the bench.
8th Man- Rick Mahorn
- 25, 3 yrs experience, undrafted.
- Career best 20 points, 3 assists, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals, 5 double doubles.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (o started), 9.4 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 0.2 apg, 2.1 rpg (1.7 dpg, 0.5 opg), 0.4 spg, 0.5 bpg, 0.3 topg.
- There are times when the scoreboard won't keep up with him he scores so fast, other times however, it's easy to forget he's on the court. An indecisive passer at times, but with proper technique, he's a reliable defender, and another great option off the bench with lots of potential.
Other bench players: Jim McElroy, Paul Thompson, Gerald Henderson, Joey Hassett, Reggie Carter, Chuck Nevitt.
-------------------------
Philadelphia set off to an 8-2 start off the bat. Kermit was great off the bench, posting 22 points in the eighth game of the season (a 121-106 win over Washington at home). Unfortunately in Game 11 Larry Drew broke his hand in the 1st quarter, and Cleveland stole a win in a closely contested 120-119 game. Sleepy Floyd had 26 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds; Drew's replacement, Jim McElroy, had just 4 points and 4 assists in 28 minutes of play. Lehner grew concerned. Moses Malone suffered a bruised sternum in the same game, sending him out for two months. Daly's response was an absolutely bizarre line-up; 6'9 James Worthy at PG, Drexler at SG, Erving at SF, Mahorn at PF, Brickowski at center.
In a 117-116 point win over Atlanta at the Omni Arena November 22nd, James Worthy dropped a career high 31 to go along with 8 assists and 5 rebounds. He was definitely fitting in with the team. Rick Mahorn projected effective off the bench, scoring a season high 20 points in one game to go alongside 14 rebounds in his first monster game. Kermit Washington was absolutely perfect, providing 6.5 rebounds a game to go with 13.6 points in his role as bench captain. Jim McElroy wasn't great, but he wasn't terrible, and third string point-guard Gerald Henderson proved he could make a decent pass when the team really needed it. Through-out the first couple of months, the team persisted.
That said, they still struggled to make-up for Larry Drew's absence; Worthy wasn't a point-guard, despite his best efforts, and the team found itself second in the East coming into January at 22-9. Boston led at 25-6, while Washington hovered at 19-11, with Indiana a close 4th at 18-12. In the West, the Lakers continued to dominate at 24-7, while San Antonio ranked second at 19-13, Denver 3rd at 18-13, and Utah 4th at 15-14.
Larry Drew's injury was definitely a major factor in the decline versus the year before. The absence of major role players Andrew Toney (averaging a career high 13.2 ppg for Detroit this season) and Jo Jo White (who fought his way back into starting contention at 36 for an injury riddled Utah squad with 11.3 ppg and 6.1 assists, still fighting as contenders) were a problem too. But one problem reigned chief amongst all; age. Erving, McElroy, and Washington were all 30 or older (Erving now -33-) and were amongst the team's most reliable players. Malone and Brickowksi- 28 and 26 respectively- were in the midst of their prime, but young players James Worthy and Clyde Drexler would need time to develop. Larry Drew, while showing signs of greatness, was now suffering his second major time consuming injury in just two and a half seasons. The future of Philadelphia's point-guard position, however, could lie in the heavily stocked draft class of 1984. Guys like John Stockton- projected to go 8- Vern Fleming, or Jay Humphries- projected to go 13 and 14 respectively- could help redefine the future of the team.
January 7th, Warriors small forward Bernard King made headlines when he called Lakers point-guard Magic Johnson "overrated" saying his high stat lines were a result of an offense that circulated solely around him and gave him all the right looks in a Golden State 104-96 point win over Los Angeles. These comments didn't sit well with Johnson; he blew -up-, going on an insane performance run.
On January 19th, at the Palace in Detroit, Andrew Toney dropped 26 and Isiah Thomas dropped 25 (alongside 12 assists) in a 111-100 Detroit win over Philadelphia. While shaking hands with each other after the game, Toney told Erving that while he missed the guys in Philly, he'd found a "better team". Bill Laimbeer, a particularly physical and sometimes nasty player, had a couple of rough fouls on Malone, and one that sent Erving toppling over at a lay-up. He called Philadelphia "overrated". Detroit definitely was good, though certainly not good enough to warrant calling better than Philadelphia, not yet- at 23-16, they were 5th in the Eastern standings behind Washington, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Boston.
On January 27th, 1984, Adam shipped Rick Mahorn, Paul Thompson, and the team's 1984 1st round pick to 10th-seeded Milwaukee for their 1984 first round pick and an aging overpaid Mickey Johnson. Team owner Dixon called Adam to tell him the move was dumb. Adam replied, saying it could was absolutely integral. Watch next year when that pick paid off. Johnson, surprisingly, seemed to step up his game as well, posting 20 points on 9-11 shooting in his first game off Philadelphia's bench.
On February 3rd, 1984, the team got Larry Drew back. He had 19 points to go alongside 7 assists in a great performance coming back, helping Erving notch 36 in a win over New York. All Star weekend came with a bang.
Houston's Clint Richardson won against Art Collins, while Jo Jo White came out of no where to win the three point contest. The Rookie-Sophomore class saw two incredible draft classes match-up, as Clyde Drexler dropped 34 alongside Antoine Carr's 25 and Ralph Sampson's 16-11 rebound outing (off the bench) in order to send the rookies over the sophomores. Rookie point guard Darrell Walker did his fair share of leading through his crisp passing display of 7 assists, while Derek Harper had 6 assists off the bench. Wilkins tried to match his shooting explosion from the year before but fell short with 28. Sleepy Floyd had another 28, while Terry Cummings dropped 21 as well.
The All Star game featured a similarly talented cast compared to the year before; Magic Johnson and Utah's Darrell Griffith made up the Western guards, with Kareem as center, Utah's Larry Nance at power forward, and Seattle's Dominique Wilkins. George Gervin, Swen Nater, Adrian Dantley, Johnny Moore, Alex English, David Thompson, and Alvan Adams made up the bench. For the East, Larry Bird played SF alongside Kevin McHale, while Malone anchored the team at center. Rolando Blackman and Isiah Thomas made up the guards, while Reggie Theus, Bill Laimbeer, Mark Aguirre, Bob McAdoo, Kelly Tripucka, Sleepy Floyd, and surprisingly, a young Wayne Robinson (featured prominently in Inside a Team- the Cleveland edition) who was finding a spotlight amidst the NBA's current worst roster, the Chicago Bulls. The West won for the second year in a row- behind Magic's All Star game second high 42 point display- but the game was close up until the 4th quarter, with the West pulling away at the end, 154-143.
Coming out of the weekend, Lehner felt confident in the team. Chuck Daly was whipping them back into shape, and they stood ready to conquer with a healthy squad putting up solid numbers (Philadelphia ranking second in points per game behind Boston at 112.8 and ranking first in field goal percentage at .472) with a solid cast. They were second in the East at 39-14, behind Boston's 42-10, and ahead of Washington's 31-20. Indiana was 4th, at 32-21, while Detroit was 5th at 29-23. Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia of course played in the much more competitive Atlantic division (being called the NBA's most exciting corner, featuring 6th seeded New York and former contender New Jersey as well) but Detroit and Indiana were beginning to look formidable. In the West, Los Angeles reigned high for the 4th consecutive season at 41-12, while San Antonio hovered a close second at 30-22, each the head of their respective Pacific and Midwest divisions. Golden State and Chicago hovered at the bottom of their respective conferences at 19-32 and 14-38 respectively; Golden State's Ricky Pierce had suffered a broken hand, while fledgling point-guard Doc Rivers was suffering from severe back pain. Chicago's Rory Sparrow had torn his ACL, and the team itself was just a mess, with new coach Bill Fitch doing no better than his predecessor. Milwaukee went on a record 23 game losing streak in the wake of injuries to Eddie Johnson, Dan Roundfield, Dave Corzine, and Marques Johnson within the span of just a couple of weeks. They eventually rallied to beat New York March 2nd, 1984 at Madison Square Garden, where former All Star and 1978's Rookie of the Year Phil Ford led the team with 23 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds alongside Mahorn's 22 point 8 rebound outing. Ford had 38 and 9 assists alongside Mahorn's 27 point 9 rebound game the next time out in a 110-108 win over 9th seed New Jersey (whos team relied on the aging forces of Bob Gross, Bob McAdoo, and Maurice Lucas- all over 30- to carry their weight). Mahorn Mania had finally begun in Milwaukee.
About a week later, the two teams met in Philadelphia. Rick Mahorn had 14 and 8 rebounds in Milwaukee's 95-107 point loss to the team (Malone led Philadelphia with 31). When asked if he had any hard feelings, he handled it maturely. "Of course it's a bit weird, going from a championship team with the #1 record to a team where we're struggling to avoid being the worst. But I like Milwaukee, and I like this team. I think we'll be able to put together a good squad next year when we're not so boggled down by injuries. I wish Philadelphia the best of luck." When asked his opinion on his former team-mates game that night, James Worthy showered him with praise. "I grew up a lot with Mahorn last year my rookie season. We rode the bench together, we practiced together, we got better together. I'm glad to see he's finally getting some of the recoginition he deserves."
The season went on. Injuries were definitely common; Chicago's Michael Cooper broke his hand, joining team mate Rory Sparrow on the bench. Dallas Jim Sparnarkel, amidst a come-back season, broke his arm, while Indiana's Darwin Cook broke his wrist, as did Houston's Darryl Dawkins. Phoenix's Vinnie Johnson tore his ACL, as did the Spurs Brandon Tillman, while star player and veteran Mitch Kupchak had a potential career ending injury when he tore his achilles. Just 29, a come-back was definitely possible, but it was unlikely he'd ever be the same level. Swen Nater continued to suffer ankle issues, the torn ACL he'd suffered a few years prior still flaring up to give him sprain issues.
Trades had been just as chaotic as usual- the Bucks had given up a 1986 first round pick for Boston's 86 first round pick, and a second round pick, and Mike Bantom. Phoenix traded a first round for Boston's first in 85 and a second round. Chicago traded Clark Kellog for some of those same picks back. The Nuggets gave up superstar Maurice Cheeks for George Johnson from Seattle, while the Nets shipped Byron Scott for Taliek Witt and Cleveland's 85' first round pick. The Pacers sent their first round 84' pick for Atlanta's Terry Teagle, while the Suns gave up John Lucas and Dan Rock for Dallas's injury-riddled potential All Star, Brad Davis. Detroit sent Kent Benson for Jim Paxson and a 2nd round pick, while the Suns moved James Hardy, Kim Hughes, and a first round pick for Seattle's Vinnie Johnson. Atlanta moved Allen Leavell to Cleveland for Caldwell Jones- another move in one of Philadelphia's fondly remembered older players- and a second round pick, and right before the deadline, Washington moved Joe Meriweather, Paul Mokeski, and Jeff Cook for Atlanta's Dennis Johnson and a second round pick. San Antonio sent Craig Hodges and Ernie Grunfeld to Milwaukee for Billy Robinzine and a second round pick, while Indiana moved John Paxson, Samuel Williams, Allan Bristow, and George Johnson to Dallas for Tom Larde and a second round pick.
On March 11th, Philadelphia signed free agent Scott May- who had been released by Milwaukee following weak play effort and in an effort to trade for more players- who they moved to the reserve bench, just in case they needed him. Philadelphia had gained a reputation as some of the hippest most cool and focused players in the league, jokingly nicknamed the "Fly Guys". Their old rivals, Boston, New Jersey, Houston- tensions had seemingly died. But one team had come to haunt them- Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia had taken the series 3-2, but for a team that was second in the league, that was a close series to scrape by. Toney had it out for his old team, Laimbeer was just a scrappy underhanded player, and Isiah Thomas- easily top three point guards in the NBA- always seemed to drop -numbers- against Philadelphia. The Pistons were making a name for themselves, coming out of a 16-66 season in the 1979-1980 season, and people were listening.
On April 8th, 1984, Bill Cartwright's 31 point 14 rebound display helped New York beat Detroit 110-103 in a battle that could define whether New York or Detroit took the 5th, 6th, or 7th seed. Andrew Toney punched Knicks point-guard Michael Ray Richardson right in the jaw with 36 seconds left and a New York possession, and both benches went insane, with Bill Laimbeer and Larry Kenon both having to be pulled off each other. Detroit was nasty, they were physical, they were -bad-.
They finished up the season a strong 61-21, second in the East behind Boston's 64-18 and third in the NBA behind Los Angeles's 63=19. They were set to play Detroit in round one, a young team who through the combined efforts of Bill Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas, and Andrew Toney (who had averaged a career high 14.2 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists) had carved a name for themselves in the league.
Game 1 at the Spectrum was a blow-out. Coming into the second-half, Detroit didn't have a chance; Erving dropped 30, Malone 28, and Worthy 18 off the bench in a 112-98 decimation. Also interesting was that Cleveland managed to beat the league's best team, Boston, in the first game at TDE Garden. Kelly Tripucka had 26-9-9 and Sleepy Floyd notched up 13 assists in an impressive display of underdog prowess. Tripucka notched up 36 in the next game, as Cleveland won again. Philadelphia beat Detroit 108-91 as Malone dropped 34 and 7 rebounds. Detroit managed to steal Game 3 at the Palace while Philadelphia was on the road, with an 109-102 point victory led by Isiah Thomas's 37 point 6 assist 5 rebound 4 steal game. Bill Laimbeer had a hard foul on Malone that gave him a bloody nose, a vicious elbow across the face, that sent rookie Clyde Drexler right into his face screaming. They were both ejected- Malone ended up coming back to play later that quarter- but the damage was done. That same day, something remarkable happened; Cleveland won Game 3. Larry Bird had 49 points, McHale and Parish dropped 15 a piece, the bench just sucked. And Cleveland dominated; Tripucka had 28 with 9 rebounds, Carr had 24, new center Mark West had 11 rebounds with 18 points while new starting shooting guard Derek Smith dropped 18 points 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sleepy Floyd had 9 assists with 17 points, and Mike Mitchell and Byron Scott had 8 and 10 a piece coming off the bench in a 117-111 Cleveland win at home. Mike Mitchell summarized the team's views succinctly; "We're playing with our hearts right now, man. These guys, they come in here and act entitled- like they deserve it. Well, we're proving you can work for it. Hard work pays off, and we've worked our ***es off. Now we're gonna get that win" And in Game 4, they did it, winning 122-119, and for the first time in years an eight seed beat a one seed, no less in a -sweep-. Floyd had 16 assists and 23 points, Mitchell had 22 off the bench. Bird, who had 46 in the loss, called Cleveland an underrated team full of some of the hardest working scrappiest guys in the league and wished them the best of luck. Coach Billy Cunningham called the team his favorite squad to date.
Detroit beat Philadelphia in Game 4. Thomas had 39 points and 9 assists, while Laimbeer had 14 rebounds and 12 points. Coming into Game 5, Philadelphia found itself tied 2-2, as did 3rd seed Washington and 6th seed Atlanta, as well as 4th seed Indiana and 5th seed New York. Los Angeles had swept San Diego in the West, but 4th and 5th seeds Seattle and Kansas City were both tied at 2-2, as were second seed San Antonio and 7th seed Phoenix, while 3rd seed Utah led Denver 3-1. Philadelphia won a closely-contested Game 5 111-107 at home, and sealed the deal in Game 6 winning 111-101. Atlanta pulled out another upset, winning the series 119-116 in Game 6, while New York beat Indiana as well. Utah won in 5, while San Antonio and Seattle beat Phoenix and Kansas City in 7.
Philadelphia swept Atlanta in the second round- a young squad centered around Mark Aguirre, Cedric Maxwell, and Norm Nixon, with veteran player Otis Birdsong at shooting guard and familar faces Demarcus Phelan and Caldwell Jones playing center and 6th man respectively. The Jazz beat San Antonio in 5, while Los Angeles beat Seattle in 5 as well, and surprisingly, 8th seed Cleveland beat 5th seed New York in 6.
Game 1 against Cleveland was easy as pie. Malone dropped 46 with 20 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Larry Drew dropped 19 points and 7 assists for a 113-93 point win. Game 2 was another win - 100-80 behind a 29 point 13 rebound display from Malone. But disaster struck; late into the 3rd quarter, Malone hit the ground with a hard foul from Cleveland back-up center Jawann Oldham. Malone went down, and when he tried to stand up, team-mate Frank Brickowski described the sound as "literal bones crunching." His leg was broken, and with it, likely was Philadelphia's hope for a finals as well.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
May 17th, 1984- With Malone Out, Are Philadelphia's Hopes for a Championship Out The Door As Well?
Last night, the entire Spectrum went silent. As Moses Malone screamed on the floor, Julius Erving looked down to the floor, perhaps praying, while Larry Drew spiked a basketball, cursing loudly. The referee next to him didn't even call him out for it, his eyes widening as he watched one of the NBA's finest centers squirm in anguish amidst a cluttered court. Philadelphia rallied - Erving dropped 26 points in a playoff series thats seen him unusually quiet - and stole the win, but I think the entire city's heart sunk heavily that night all the same.
Moses Malone, last year's MVP, is out for the rest of the playoffs. Frank Brickowski, a fan favorite and solid replacement, will undoubtedly replace him, and Kermit Washington will likely come off the bench to replace him at power forward. When asked about the injury after the game, young rookie Clyde Drexler seemed angry.
"What do you think I think about it? It sucks. It mother****ing sucks. Alright. You happy?"
We hope this team pulls a rabbit out of the hat for a playoffs miracle. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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Cleveland rallied to come back at home in Game 3. James Worthy started at power forward as Brickowski moved up to center, and both played well, but Cleveland was just relentless. Coach Billy Cunningham called Malone's injury a tragedy, and certainly derailing, but argued "with the kind of heart my guys are playing with right now, we would've won this game regardless." Kelly Tripucka, in another highlight game with 25 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, called the team revolutionary, redefining parity in the league with each win. Star point guard Sleepy Floyd said "Philadelphia is the kinda team you can't prepare for. They've got a totally switch-up cast-any one of those guys can explode. We're just doing a good job of containing that fire and matchin' it with some of our own."
Utah also took Game 3 after Los Angeles won the first two behind Adrian Dantley's impressive 44 point outing, beating Los Angeles 117-104 despite Magic's 22 point 13 assist 9 rebound game. Los Angeles came back to win Game 4- Magic again leading the team with 25 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds- while Cleveland took another home win, this time behind Sleepy Floyd's 26 point 12 assist game. Philadelphia won Game 5- fueled largely by Kermit Washington's 22 point 7 assist 10 rebound game off the bench- while Utah won as well, even while playing on the road at Staples Center. Larry Nance had 19 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks and 5 steals. Coach Elgin Baylor called the team a force to be reckoned with. Pundits argued the Lakers were weakened significantly by the absence of star player World B. Free- who tore his achilles just a week before playoffs- but Utah was impressing many none the less.
Philadelphia finished it up in Game 6. Frank Brickowski had 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while James Worthy dropped 17 points and 9 rebounds. Utah stole another win at home, this time behind Larry Nance's 24 point 8 assist 8 rebound 6 block 3 steal game, but Los Angeles ended the series in Game 7 behind Johnson's 28.
The NBA Finals was a rematch of the year before; albeit, both teams missing one of their superstars. Game 1 saw Cliff Robinson's 23 point 19 rebound game send Los Angeles up 1-0 following a 103-94 game blow-out, while Game 2 followed suit, Los Angeles winning 116-103 behind Magic's 30 point 14 assist game. Going into Game 1, Julius Erving got a bit emotional, his words starting to stutter as he addressed the media. "People count us out. They say we're hyped up, that we didn't work for this. Man, I've worked the past 8 god damn seasons. I've worked my whole life. We're the defending champions, man, people acting like we're just a bunch of chickens without heads. **** that, man."
Goint into Game 3 back at the Spectrum, the mood was somber to put it lightly. Brickowski on Kareem- obviously a hard match-up. Worthy on Robinson - not too easy either. Erving on John Drew - easy theoretically, but Erving couldn't help but shake off the playoffs cold streak he'd been suffering. He needed to explode. Drexler on McKinney the biggest discrepancy. Larry Drew on Magic - the arguable biggest discrepancy on the other side. And so the game began.
Drew hit a deep three in Magic's face to start the game off with 11 minutes and 10 seconds left in the first half. Philadelphia found itself in foul trouble early on; Erving had 1 and Brickowski 2 just two minutes into the game. When he picked up his third just two minutes later, Daly was forced to sub in Kermit early on. This proved effective; he ended with 9 points in the quarter as Philadelphia took a 27-20 point lead. Julius Erving, who finished the first half with 7 points, seemed empassioned going into the second half. Philadelphia was up 6, Kareem had 18 already, Brickowski had been held to just 2 points alongside 4 rebounds- and then it happened. Erving blew up. He went 12/15 to finish the third with a playoff high 29 points, including 5 three pointers, and finished the game with 40 points, leading to a 127-91 point Philadelphia win. Los Angeles would take the next game in Philadelphia- an 116-108 point win behind Magic Johnson's 30-12-10 triple double- despite Erving's 38 point outpour, but going into Game 5, Erving looked deadly. He dropped 52 points on 19/32 shooting in an absolute monster performance, leading to a 105-83 point win over Los Angeles.
All for not; he sprained his wrist in the first quarter of the next game (still dropping 27!) and Los Angeles took home their 3rd NBA title in 5 years (with 5 consecutive finals appearances). Magic was held to 9 points, with 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the final game, but won finals MVP honors none-the-less. Larry Bird took home the scoring title, while Magic got MVP. In a move that surprised many, young player Larry Nance was named Defensive Player of the Year, while San Diego's Steve Stipanovich would win 6th man honors. Darrell Walker from Dallas would take home Rookie of the Year, while Pat Riley would once again win Coach of the Year honors. Magic, Rolando Blackman, Julius Erving, Alvan Adams, and Kareem made up the first All NBA Team, while Isiah Thomas, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Moses Malone made up Team two. Johnny Moore, Reggie Theus, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Nance, and Bill Laimbeer made up Team 3. All Defense 1st team was Michael Ray Richardson, the young rookie Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, and Tree Rollins; second team was Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, Louis Orr, Cliff Robinson, and Kareem. First Rookie was Darrell Walker, Clyde Drexler, Dale Ellis, Antoine Carr, and Steve Stipanovich. Second rookie team was Derek Harper, Jeff Malone, Rodney McCray, Thurl Bailey, and Ralph Sampson. For his role in helping rebuild Phoenix into a playoffs team after a complete falling apart, Jerry Colangelo won Executive of the Year. The draft lottery, which could shape the future of several franchises, was about as high tension as it gets. Lehner's trade to Milwaukee put him into the lottery, with a 11% chance at the #1. Chicago got #7 with their New Jersey pick, Portland took 6, Dallas took 5, Philadelphia ended up at 4- high enough, Lehner hoped, to grab Stockton!- while Golden State went 3, Chicago went 2, and Houston went 1.
In the press conference following Game 6, Erving had summarized Philadelphia's feelings succintly; "I'm getting too damn old for this man. We play so hard, and something always happens right at the end. We should've won this series man. This isn't... we just... we played our hearts out, man. We did our best."
And so the season ended.
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It's been another exciting year, with plenty to talk about- you're tuned in to "Inside a Team". I'm Slick Watts, and this year we'll be looking at a team that pushed itself to the brink of championship contention, a small team once overlooked as weak and incapable of competing- the Utah Jazz. Amidst an injury riddled season, this team put together a fierce squad that nearly took down the reigining Los Angeles champions.
Stay tuned.
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It's October 25th, a few days before the start of the 1983-1984 NBA season. Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, relatively young at 40, is walking me through the Jazz's relatively new arena, the Salt Palace, built in 1979. "I'd always dreamed of bringing a team to Utah" Miller is saying. "Salt Lake City, it's one of the most underrated cities in the United States. We've got entertainment. We've got fans."
Miller brought the team to Utah in 1979, purchasing the team from former owner Sam Battistone. With dreams of a championship, he immediately set about acquiring an All Star player, settling on young hot-shot Adrian Dantley.
Dantley, sitting in a dimly lit room in downtown Utah, is all smiles. At 27, in his 9th season in the NBA, the 6-5 small forward has high hopes for the upcoming '83 season. It's October 28th, a few days before the season begins, and Dantley is all about the future. Coming off a 30.6 point-per-game season and on a freshly signed 5 year 152 million dollar contract, he hopes to prove he's worth the max contract he just signed. Third year player Larry Nance proved he's capable of leading the defense, and new additions Jo Jo White and Campy Russell could help create one of the deepest line-ups in the NBA.
"I'm happy to be here, man. Los Angeles was great, Indiana was okay, Buffalo was something else. Utah, though, man. Who would've thought, right?" In his first year with the team, Dantley had a career high 28 points a game. In the 1981-1982 season, he pushed that bar even higher, posting an incredible 31.5 points per game.
"It's my team mates, man. We're great when it comes to passing, and it shows on the court." Dantley, a consistent All Star, considers this the year Utah defines itself. "We've struggled in the past, but Elgin Baylor, he can run this team. He's something else."
Elgin Baylor. The 6-5 Hall of Fame formers Lakers super-star meets with me at a resturant in his former city of Los Angeles. It's December 7th, and Utah is now 9-8 after a close 103-102 point win behind Darrell Griffith's 32 points. Dantley broke his hand in the first game - the first in a string of injuries that would see
Griffith, Walter Davis, and Lester Conner all go out for extended periods of time - but thanks to Baylor's smart coaching, the team held it together. "This is a team built on small, hustle game-play." Small is true; the team features no real gargantuans, it's tallest players being Larry Nance, Wayne Cooper, and Joe Cooper at 6-10. "We go out and we play scrappy D. That translates to wins, doesn't matter who's on the floor. Defense wins games." Baylor, an 11 time All Star who solidified a career as one of the greatest cornermen to ever play the game, focuses on a smart, patient offense to win games. "Why rush it? As long as you score, who cares how quick it is?"
A couple of weeks later on December 24th at Reunion Arena in Dallas, I catch up with Baylor quickly as he's leaving, following a 104-112 loss to 11th seed Dallas. Purvis Short dropped 24, exploding for 16 in the 4th on 8/19 shooting. What was that you said about a slow offense? "Sometimes guys just need to stop being afraid to shoot. When a guy like Adrian Dantley comes back and goes 7 for 13, it's like - why didn't you shoot more? Why is Larry Nance taking 23 shots when you could have taken half of those?"
The team is now 13-13, in a highly competitive Western conference. Chasing the tails of the dominant Los Angeles Lakers, coach Baylor remains confident. "If Dantley plays like Dantley, we win."
With the chaos of injuries plaguing the team, journey man Jo Jo White has now taken the responsibilities of point guard. At 36 years old, White is posting 13.3 points per game with 7.1 assists in 28.4 minutes a game, something commendable for his age as he ranks 7th in the league behind the likes of the Laker's Magic Johnson, Detroit's Isiah Thomas, Cleveland's Sleepy Floyd, Milwaukee's Phil Ford, San Antonio's Johnny Moore, and New Jersey's Frank Johnson. The guard - coming off a championship with Philadelphia, the third of his career (the other two coming from his 10 year span with Boston). "What do I think this team needs? Some confidence, man. These kids, they're young, but they're great. I grew up in Missouri, with seven siblings. I had to learn at an early age how to stand out, how to be confident in myself- I was the youngest. Nance needs to be more aggressive. Dantley needs to remember he can shoot. Campy Russell needs to step up and get aggressive- he's 31, not 36." White chuckles, and I catch myself smirking. The man reeks of charisma, and he's doing an excellent job to help keep the struggling team relevant.
General manager Pete Maravich thinks the guard is just great. "He's playing better than 16 other guards out there. He's 36. Whaddya need me to say?" Maravich- who finished his career in Utah- sits in his office, hands behind his back as he leans back in his chair. Playing just 11 years in the league, the 37 year old Hall of Famer has a smile on his face, despite his team's troubles. "I'm not in a rush. This is a young cast, even Dantley. Kareem isn't gonna last forever. Utah's gonna get there."
Going into a January 29th game at Portland, Utah remained in the playoff picture at 21-20. However, following Joe Cooper getting a nasty ankle sprain, the team would go on a 6 game losing streak including a 104-108 loss to then league worst Chicago. Going into All Star weekend, they were 23-27, struggling to stay relevant amidst discussions surrounding San Antonio, Los Angeles, Boston, and Philadelphia. The team got some well-deserved recognition when Jo Jo White took home the three point shooting award honors, while starters Larry Nance, Adrian Dantley, and Darrell Griffith showcased their talents in the All Star game with 21, 15, and 11 respectively. They were in a decent position, despite the injuries that haunted them.
Darrell Griffith has a smile on his face. "What? Who doesn't like time off?" Despite playing in the All Star game the day before, the young 25 year old 6-4 shooting guard is enjoying his day off as we sit in his home in downtown Utah. Indiana is set to come to play the 20th - a game in which Griffith will drop 29 on 13/26 shooting, alongside Dantley's 31 - and Griffith is enjoying the new pool table he's recently purchased, messing around taking trick shots off the corner. "I think people need to stop stressin'. We're a good team in a competitive league. We'll get ours."
Get theirs indeed. On March 13th, the team would start a 5 game winning streak, bringing their record back up to 34-33 as Griffith, White, and Dantley continued to impress on offense, while Nance had a career year rebounding and blocking as an incredible defender.
The playoffs came, and Utah was third in the West at 45-37. They were faced up against a solid Denver squad in the first round, consisting of Alex English, Dan Issel, Danny Schayes, Kiki Vandeweghe, and David Thompson (with Bobby Jones coming off the bench). Dantley's 28 and 10 assist game helped push them through Game 1, while he dropped another 29 to win Game 2, 128-103. He had 38 in a Game 3 119-118 loss to Denver at the McNichols Sports Arena (as David Thompson dropped 34 with 9 assists and 3 rebounds) before coming back to win Game 4 with 29, the same day Cleveland completely a successful sweep of Boston. They went on to win back at the Salt Palace, with Larry Nance dropping 24 points and 11 rebounds as Dantley had 30. San Antonio beat a 7th seed Phoenix squad circulating around Sly Williams, Antoine Carr, Mark Olberding, Roger Phegley, Mike Bratz, Brad Davis, Mark Eaton, and Doug Collins, after being forced to 7 games. Despite their troubles, they came into the series the heavy favorite.
In a press conference before the start of the series, Larry Nance called the match-up ridicolous. "Me against Elvin Hayes? Gene Banks on Adrian Dantley? Even Darrell Griffith is going to destroy Gervin's rusty *ss."
In Game 1, they did just that. Dantley had 39, Nance had 20, and Griffith had 18 in a 111-81 point win that saw no San Antonio player post higher than 11 points. Mitch Kupchak and Brandon Tillman were both out- Utah should be able to pull this off. They kept up pace in Game 2, winning another game at Hemsfair Arena, before San Antonio snuck back to win in Utah, riding Gene Banks and George Gervin's 23 a piece. Utah managed to win Game 4- Dantley dropped 25 and 10 rebounds - before winning in Game 5, as Dantley sealed the deal with 36 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds. That same day, Los Angeles beat Seattle.
The Western Conference finals were set. Elgin Baylor, when asked about whether or not he felt nervous facing his old team, was eager to create tension. "This isn't the team I played for. This is a stacked team, filled with ring-chasers and coat tail riders. When Adrian Dantley drops 50 tomorrow, you'll see we came to play."
Utah lost Game 1. Magic had 31 points, 8 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Kareem had 27 with 13 rebounds. Dantley was held to just 17, while Griffith led the charge with 24. Joe Cooper was ejected early on with 0 points and just 3 fouls after a rough foul on Cliff Robinson (who dropped 15 points with 15 rebounds) led to a loud argument with a referee. After the game, Cooper called the officiating "bogus". Robinson called Cooper an average-skilled brute who "doesn't deserve to be on a team in the conference finals."
Utah lost in Game 2 as well- but Cooper was angry. He had 14 points and 9 rebounds in the 83-100 loss, sending a heavy cloths hanger into Cliff Robinson late into the 4th quarter that was called as a foul. Robinson was outraged, shoving him back across the court, and the two nearly came to blows before Lakers point guard Magic Johnson got between the two, and Dantley pulled Cooper away. Utah was a scorned team, and Dantley decided to do something about it. I tried to call him for a quick interview the day before Game 3 - he was courteous, but obviously in no mood to talk. "I'm going to shut them out. I'm just gonna keep shooting."
That's what he did, and it worked. Utah won Game 3 at home 117-104, behind Dantley's 13-25 44 point 3 assist 6 rebound 5 steal game of utter domination. Magic had 22 points, 9 assists, and 13 rebounds; Joe Cooper had another hard foul on him at the end of the second half, and when it took him the better part of a minute to get up, Cliff Robinson nearly went after Cooper once again. This time, it was the Lakers who felt the scorn.
It definitely worked. Magic had 25 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds in a 111-99 point whomping of the home team Jazz. Dantley had 23, with 5 assists and 10 rebounds, but couldn't best Magic twice in a row. The team was down 3-1 going back to the Staples Center for Game 5. They needed an extra edge.
Larry Nance showed up. Posting 19 points with 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 steals, he was a defensive nightmare for the Lakers offense, holding Cliff Robinson to just 5 points. Cooper found himself ejected again, as another nasty elbow took out Robinson for the rest of the game in the 4th quarter. He was quickly solidifying his role in the NBA as one of the dirtiest players out there, aside the likes of Bill Laimbeer. Utah won 100-91 despite Magic's 21 point 11 rebound 16 assist triple double, and the arena went back to Utah.
Game 6, Nance says, was perhaps the biggest game of his life. "All of those fans, man." It's the end of the season now- Los Angeles just beat Philadelphia, and Dantley has since forgotten the pains of the playoffs as he starts to think about getting ready for the oncoming season. "I couldn't let them down, not at home. If we were gonna lose, it couldn't be at home- I just kept telling myself that, over and over." The mantra worked; Nance had 24 points with 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals, and the third seeded Utah successfully pushed Los Angeles to a Game 7 at the Staples Center.
But on May 25th, 1984, that Los Angeles led squad crushed Utah's hopes and dreams for the rest of the season in a 99-92 point victory that saw Dantley post just 14 points. "We choked when it mattered most" Cooper says, sighing as he takes a sip of coffee at a table in front of me. The 27 year old is obviously bummed, but there's a hint of a smile in his face as he looks up at me, eyes perking up. "There's always next year, right?"
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The off-season was supposed to be relaxing, but already Lehner felt the work piling up. Wes Unseld was the only retiring player entering the Hall of Fame (joining Bill Walton from the year before) but Lehner attended the ceremony out of respect. Elvin Hayes, Phil Chenier, Hall of Famer Dave Bing, and Bob Dandridge each took the stage to tell some of their favorite stories about playing with the guy. Elvin Hayes got a little bit emotional towards the end of his speech- "I'm just... honored, man. To have been here for your first season, and to have come back for your last. To have won a -championship- together. You're one of my brothers for life, never forget that." Young talents Wes Matthews and Rolando Blackman both referred to Unseld as a great role model. Coach Kevin Loughery hinted Unseld might return as an assistant coach, an idea general manager Lucius Allen seemed to agree with.
Coaching free agency opened with a bang. The Warriors let go of Al Attles, opting to sign former Celtics star player Bill Russell instead, who Phoenix had fired to sign former Houston superstar Rudy Tomjanovich, while Dallas hired former Celtics coach K.C. Jones to a lucrative 5 year contract worth close to eight million per year after firing Dick Motta, while Milwaukee signed him on after getting rid of Don Nelson. The Rockets signed former Nets head coach Larry Brown to help with their woes, letting go of Bill Fitch, who Chicago signed on after firing Jerry Sloan. Washington took on Unseld as an assistant coach, Al Attles, Don Nelson, and Jerry Sloan found themselves without jobs.
The NBA draft began. The class of 1983 was fierce, but already focus had shifted towards the next year; names like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley filled the scouting market. Still, with the #1 pick in a solid draft class, Boston had a lot of room to make moves. Lehner, having traded Philadelphia's pick away, hoped to use one of his underutilized young players to snag a top ten pick, likely Demarcus Phelan. Boston took Ralph Sampson at #1, a tough center with a ton of potential. Phoenix grabbed Antoine Carr at 2, and without hesitation Lehner sent out the call. Atlanta bit; shipping Phelan for Atlanta's first round pick, he used the third pick in the draft to pick up a young Clyde Drexler out of Houston. A natural shooter, he could immediately take over at the shooting guard and provide major results. Derek Harper went to Houston at 4, Darrell Walker to Dallas at 5, Doc Rivers to Golden State at 6, Sedale Threatt to Indiana at 7, Dale Ellis to Portland at 8, Roy Hinson to Chicago at 9, Rodney McCray to Washington at 10, Steve Stipanovich to San Diego at 11, Jeff Malone to Seattle at 12, Mark West to Cleveland at 13, Byron Scott to New Jersey at 14, Thurl Bailey to Dallas at 15, Sidney Green to Seattle at 16, Craig Ehio at 17, Mitchell Wiggins at 18, Randy Breuer at 19, Ennis Whatley at 20, John Paxson at 21, Randy Wittman 22, Fred Roberts 23. Coming out of the draft, Lehner had a guaranteed squad of Hollins, McElroy, Henderson, Hassett, Drexler, Worthy, Washington, Brickowski, and Malone, with Erving, Drew, Toney, Mahorn, White, and Monti Davis all with bird rights.
Drexler and Worthy shined in the summer league, the only members of the real roster participating. They had double digits in every game, with Drexler posting 34 at one point. They went 2-2, losing at one point to a Washington Summer squad featuring Andrew Toney and Rick Mahorn, who were playing on another team dipping their foot into the idea of free agency.
Philadelphia immediately re-signed Erving on the first day. Larry Drew and Rick Mahorn re-signed a few days later, Free agency was boring; Peter Gudmundsson and a handful of other lower name free agents signed to new teams, but most players resigned with their own teams. Elvin Hayes went to San Antonio and Andrew Toney went to Detroit; Jo Jo White went to Utah, and Nate Archibald to Kansas City.
Training camp was harder than ever. Philadelphia legend Hal Greer came in to work with Clyde Drexler and Larry Drew independently, while Malone, Washington, and Brickowski worked together to run passing plays amongst themselves, working on their fluidity. The new season was on the horizon. Before the season begins, Lehner makes his first move of the season, shipping Lionel Hollins and the 1986 first round pick for Paul Thompson and Portland's 1986 first round pick. He had been a great asset to the team, and would be remembered fondly, but realistically wasn't contributing nearly as well anymore. Plus, y'know- Larry Drew mania y'all.
The starting line-up for the season:
PG- Larry Drew
- 6-1, 25, 3 yrs exp, 17th pick in the 1980 draft
- Career best 32 points, 13 assists, 10 rebs., 2 blocks, 5 steals.
- 5 double doubles, 7 p.o.t.gs.
- Last seasons stats: 56 games played (33 started), 28.3 mpg, 8.9 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.2 rpg (2.0 d, 0.3 o), 0.8 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 tpg.
- Drew isn't necesarilly an All Star level point-guard, but on this kind of team, he doesn't have to be. An extremely underrated three-point shooter, Drew's excellent vision and passing skills helps the game come easily to him. Reliable, good floor leader.
SG- Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 22, R, 3rd pick in the 1983 draft
- N/A
- N/A
- Drexler is a talented young star, likely to flourish in the NBA. A natural scorer, he can shoot from the three very well, while also hitting the mid-range jumper or a lay-up. He comes into the NBA with a solid assist to turnover ratio, capable of passing extremely well to beat the double-team and find the open man. Excellent foot sppeed, overall quickness and effort makes him a tough defensive player who can rack up steals with his good anticipation abilities. Unlike many players with his athleticism, he instead relies on his intelligence and skills to open up the court for himself.
SF- Julius Erving
- 6-7, 33, 7 yrs experience (in the NBA), 12th pick in the 1976 draft.
- Career best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebs., 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 85 double doubles, 157 p.o.t.gs, 25 player of the weeks, 6 player of the months, 3 all star game appearances (2 starter, 1 reserve) (post 1980), 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 77 games played (77 started), 34.0 mpg, 29.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.9 rpg (4.8 d, 1.0 o), 3.6 spg, 2.2 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- Julius Erving; former MVP, both on the regular season and the finals. The man was a monster, explosive with his shot and more than capable of having monster games. The heart and soul of Philadelphia, and the undisputed team captain.
PF- Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 26, 2 yrs experience, 14th pick in the 1981 draft.
- Career best 34 points, 7 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals, 51 doubles, 3 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (24 started), 20.9 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 1.9 apg, 6.6 rpg (5.0 defensive, 1.0 offensive), 1.1 spg, 1.6 bpg, 1.7 topg.
- Brickowski happily took a role on the bench last season for the good of the team, despite flourishing in his rookie season. That hard work paid off, with Brickowski leading in points per game for centers coming off the bench as well as rebounding, his hard work eventually winning him 6th man of the year honors. His great lateral speed on defense and good reflexes as well as leaping ability make him an excellent shot blockers, while his ball handling is perfect for the post. With Kermit washington now 32 and slowly coming out of his prime, Brickowski's work as a starter during the finals has shown he's more than capable of handling a more consistent role again in the Philadelphia team structure.
C- Moses Malone
- 6'10. 28, 8 yrs experience, undrafted.
- Career best 50 points, 8 assists, 23 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals, 208 double doubles, 106 p.o.t.gs, 13 player of the weeks, 5 player of the months, 3 all star games (post 1980).
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 36.0 mpg, 23.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 12.0 rpg (7.8 dpg, 3.9 opg), 1.2 spg, 2.4 bpg, 2.8 topg.
- The reigining MVP, Malone comes into this season with a ring on his finger. It's rare to find a player with his type of size, speed, and strength; a strong defender, he shows solid ball handling ability, capable of spectacular dunks in traffic, a terrific finisher. Finally able to stand with the likes of Bird and Magic, he joins captain Erving as one of the two all star's on the one of the league's best teams. Can he do it again? That's all that matters to him right now; another year, another ring.
6th Man- Kermit Washington
- 6'8, 32, 11 yrs experience, 5th pick in the 1972 draft.
- Career best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals, 90 double doubles, 16 p.o.t.gs, 1 all star game, 1 triple double.
- Last Season's stats: 52 games played (52 started), 28.0 mpg, 10.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 8.1 rpg (5.7 dpg, 2.4 opg), 0.9 spg, 1.8 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Kermit finds himself riding the bench for the first time in years. Luckily, he's agreed to it, having seen the success in the finals first hand. Good shot blocker for a wing, he's got very good shooting mechanics, with the uncanny ability to see passing lanes before they open up, thus enabling him to nearly always make the right decision with the ball. A former all star, if Philadelphia employs a similar strategy, he's likely to be a serious contender for 6th man of the year honors, and will be a staple anchor to this Philadelphia bench.
7th Man- James Worthy
- 6'9, 23, 1 yr experience, 10th pick in the 1982 draft.
- Career best 23 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 4 steals.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (1 started), 18.3 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.7 rpg (2.1 dpg, 0.7 opg), 0.7 spg, 0.5 bpg, 1.1 topg.
- With an effortless release on his shot and great length for a wing player, Worthy is a natural scorer. While stile young, he's developing quickly, a young player with the potential to shine bright on a thriving team. He has the unique ability to make teammates better with his vision and the ability to create open shots, with above average ball skills for his height. Definitely a great option off the bench.
8th Man- Rick Mahorn
- 25, 3 yrs experience, undrafted.
- Career best 20 points, 3 assists, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals, 5 double doubles.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (o started), 9.4 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 0.2 apg, 2.1 rpg (1.7 dpg, 0.5 opg), 0.4 spg, 0.5 bpg, 0.3 topg.
- There are times when the scoreboard won't keep up with him he scores so fast, other times however, it's easy to forget he's on the court. An indecisive passer at times, but with proper technique, he's a reliable defender, and another great option off the bench with lots of potential.
Other bench players: Jim McElroy, Paul Thompson, Gerald Henderson, Joey Hassett, Reggie Carter, Chuck Nevitt.
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Philadelphia set off to an 8-2 start off the bat. Kermit was great off the bench, posting 22 points in the eighth game of the season (a 121-106 win over Washington at home). Unfortunately in Game 11 Larry Drew broke his hand in the 1st quarter, and Cleveland stole a win in a closely contested 120-119 game. Sleepy Floyd had 26 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds; Drew's replacement, Jim McElroy, had just 4 points and 4 assists in 28 minutes of play. Lehner grew concerned. Moses Malone suffered a bruised sternum in the same game, sending him out for two months. Daly's response was an absolutely bizarre line-up; 6'9 James Worthy at PG, Drexler at SG, Erving at SF, Mahorn at PF, Brickowski at center.
In a 117-116 point win over Atlanta at the Omni Arena November 22nd, James Worthy dropped a career high 31 to go along with 8 assists and 5 rebounds. He was definitely fitting in with the team. Rick Mahorn projected effective off the bench, scoring a season high 20 points in one game to go alongside 14 rebounds in his first monster game. Kermit Washington was absolutely perfect, providing 6.5 rebounds a game to go with 13.6 points in his role as bench captain. Jim McElroy wasn't great, but he wasn't terrible, and third string point-guard Gerald Henderson proved he could make a decent pass when the team really needed it. Through-out the first couple of months, the team persisted.
That said, they still struggled to make-up for Larry Drew's absence; Worthy wasn't a point-guard, despite his best efforts, and the team found itself second in the East coming into January at 22-9. Boston led at 25-6, while Washington hovered at 19-11, with Indiana a close 4th at 18-12. In the West, the Lakers continued to dominate at 24-7, while San Antonio ranked second at 19-13, Denver 3rd at 18-13, and Utah 4th at 15-14.
Larry Drew's injury was definitely a major factor in the decline versus the year before. The absence of major role players Andrew Toney (averaging a career high 13.2 ppg for Detroit this season) and Jo Jo White (who fought his way back into starting contention at 36 for an injury riddled Utah squad with 11.3 ppg and 6.1 assists, still fighting as contenders) were a problem too. But one problem reigned chief amongst all; age. Erving, McElroy, and Washington were all 30 or older (Erving now -33-) and were amongst the team's most reliable players. Malone and Brickowksi- 28 and 26 respectively- were in the midst of their prime, but young players James Worthy and Clyde Drexler would need time to develop. Larry Drew, while showing signs of greatness, was now suffering his second major time consuming injury in just two and a half seasons. The future of Philadelphia's point-guard position, however, could lie in the heavily stocked draft class of 1984. Guys like John Stockton- projected to go 8- Vern Fleming, or Jay Humphries- projected to go 13 and 14 respectively- could help redefine the future of the team.
January 7th, Warriors small forward Bernard King made headlines when he called Lakers point-guard Magic Johnson "overrated" saying his high stat lines were a result of an offense that circulated solely around him and gave him all the right looks in a Golden State 104-96 point win over Los Angeles. These comments didn't sit well with Johnson; he blew -up-, going on an insane performance run.
On January 19th, at the Palace in Detroit, Andrew Toney dropped 26 and Isiah Thomas dropped 25 (alongside 12 assists) in a 111-100 Detroit win over Philadelphia. While shaking hands with each other after the game, Toney told Erving that while he missed the guys in Philly, he'd found a "better team". Bill Laimbeer, a particularly physical and sometimes nasty player, had a couple of rough fouls on Malone, and one that sent Erving toppling over at a lay-up. He called Philadelphia "overrated". Detroit definitely was good, though certainly not good enough to warrant calling better than Philadelphia, not yet- at 23-16, they were 5th in the Eastern standings behind Washington, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Boston.
On January 27th, 1984, Adam shipped Rick Mahorn, Paul Thompson, and the team's 1984 1st round pick to 10th-seeded Milwaukee for their 1984 first round pick and an aging overpaid Mickey Johnson. Team owner Dixon called Adam to tell him the move was dumb. Adam replied, saying it could was absolutely integral. Watch next year when that pick paid off. Johnson, surprisingly, seemed to step up his game as well, posting 20 points on 9-11 shooting in his first game off Philadelphia's bench.
On February 3rd, 1984, the team got Larry Drew back. He had 19 points to go alongside 7 assists in a great performance coming back, helping Erving notch 36 in a win over New York. All Star weekend came with a bang.
Houston's Clint Richardson won against Art Collins, while Jo Jo White came out of no where to win the three point contest. The Rookie-Sophomore class saw two incredible draft classes match-up, as Clyde Drexler dropped 34 alongside Antoine Carr's 25 and Ralph Sampson's 16-11 rebound outing (off the bench) in order to send the rookies over the sophomores. Rookie point guard Darrell Walker did his fair share of leading through his crisp passing display of 7 assists, while Derek Harper had 6 assists off the bench. Wilkins tried to match his shooting explosion from the year before but fell short with 28. Sleepy Floyd had another 28, while Terry Cummings dropped 21 as well.
The All Star game featured a similarly talented cast compared to the year before; Magic Johnson and Utah's Darrell Griffith made up the Western guards, with Kareem as center, Utah's Larry Nance at power forward, and Seattle's Dominique Wilkins. George Gervin, Swen Nater, Adrian Dantley, Johnny Moore, Alex English, David Thompson, and Alvan Adams made up the bench. For the East, Larry Bird played SF alongside Kevin McHale, while Malone anchored the team at center. Rolando Blackman and Isiah Thomas made up the guards, while Reggie Theus, Bill Laimbeer, Mark Aguirre, Bob McAdoo, Kelly Tripucka, Sleepy Floyd, and surprisingly, a young Wayne Robinson (featured prominently in Inside a Team- the Cleveland edition) who was finding a spotlight amidst the NBA's current worst roster, the Chicago Bulls. The West won for the second year in a row- behind Magic's All Star game second high 42 point display- but the game was close up until the 4th quarter, with the West pulling away at the end, 154-143.
Coming out of the weekend, Lehner felt confident in the team. Chuck Daly was whipping them back into shape, and they stood ready to conquer with a healthy squad putting up solid numbers (Philadelphia ranking second in points per game behind Boston at 112.8 and ranking first in field goal percentage at .472) with a solid cast. They were second in the East at 39-14, behind Boston's 42-10, and ahead of Washington's 31-20. Indiana was 4th, at 32-21, while Detroit was 5th at 29-23. Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia of course played in the much more competitive Atlantic division (being called the NBA's most exciting corner, featuring 6th seeded New York and former contender New Jersey as well) but Detroit and Indiana were beginning to look formidable. In the West, Los Angeles reigned high for the 4th consecutive season at 41-12, while San Antonio hovered a close second at 30-22, each the head of their respective Pacific and Midwest divisions. Golden State and Chicago hovered at the bottom of their respective conferences at 19-32 and 14-38 respectively; Golden State's Ricky Pierce had suffered a broken hand, while fledgling point-guard Doc Rivers was suffering from severe back pain. Chicago's Rory Sparrow had torn his ACL, and the team itself was just a mess, with new coach Bill Fitch doing no better than his predecessor. Milwaukee went on a record 23 game losing streak in the wake of injuries to Eddie Johnson, Dan Roundfield, Dave Corzine, and Marques Johnson within the span of just a couple of weeks. They eventually rallied to beat New York March 2nd, 1984 at Madison Square Garden, where former All Star and 1978's Rookie of the Year Phil Ford led the team with 23 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds alongside Mahorn's 22 point 8 rebound outing. Ford had 38 and 9 assists alongside Mahorn's 27 point 9 rebound game the next time out in a 110-108 win over 9th seed New Jersey (whos team relied on the aging forces of Bob Gross, Bob McAdoo, and Maurice Lucas- all over 30- to carry their weight). Mahorn Mania had finally begun in Milwaukee.
About a week later, the two teams met in Philadelphia. Rick Mahorn had 14 and 8 rebounds in Milwaukee's 95-107 point loss to the team (Malone led Philadelphia with 31). When asked if he had any hard feelings, he handled it maturely. "Of course it's a bit weird, going from a championship team with the #1 record to a team where we're struggling to avoid being the worst. But I like Milwaukee, and I like this team. I think we'll be able to put together a good squad next year when we're not so boggled down by injuries. I wish Philadelphia the best of luck." When asked his opinion on his former team-mates game that night, James Worthy showered him with praise. "I grew up a lot with Mahorn last year my rookie season. We rode the bench together, we practiced together, we got better together. I'm glad to see he's finally getting some of the recoginition he deserves."
The season went on. Injuries were definitely common; Chicago's Michael Cooper broke his hand, joining team mate Rory Sparrow on the bench. Dallas Jim Sparnarkel, amidst a come-back season, broke his arm, while Indiana's Darwin Cook broke his wrist, as did Houston's Darryl Dawkins. Phoenix's Vinnie Johnson tore his ACL, as did the Spurs Brandon Tillman, while star player and veteran Mitch Kupchak had a potential career ending injury when he tore his achilles. Just 29, a come-back was definitely possible, but it was unlikely he'd ever be the same level. Swen Nater continued to suffer ankle issues, the torn ACL he'd suffered a few years prior still flaring up to give him sprain issues.
Trades had been just as chaotic as usual- the Bucks had given up a 1986 first round pick for Boston's 86 first round pick, and a second round pick, and Mike Bantom. Phoenix traded a first round for Boston's first in 85 and a second round. Chicago traded Clark Kellog for some of those same picks back. The Nuggets gave up superstar Maurice Cheeks for George Johnson from Seattle, while the Nets shipped Byron Scott for Taliek Witt and Cleveland's 85' first round pick. The Pacers sent their first round 84' pick for Atlanta's Terry Teagle, while the Suns gave up John Lucas and Dan Rock for Dallas's injury-riddled potential All Star, Brad Davis. Detroit sent Kent Benson for Jim Paxson and a 2nd round pick, while the Suns moved James Hardy, Kim Hughes, and a first round pick for Seattle's Vinnie Johnson. Atlanta moved Allen Leavell to Cleveland for Caldwell Jones- another move in one of Philadelphia's fondly remembered older players- and a second round pick, and right before the deadline, Washington moved Joe Meriweather, Paul Mokeski, and Jeff Cook for Atlanta's Dennis Johnson and a second round pick. San Antonio sent Craig Hodges and Ernie Grunfeld to Milwaukee for Billy Robinzine and a second round pick, while Indiana moved John Paxson, Samuel Williams, Allan Bristow, and George Johnson to Dallas for Tom Larde and a second round pick.
On March 11th, Philadelphia signed free agent Scott May- who had been released by Milwaukee following weak play effort and in an effort to trade for more players- who they moved to the reserve bench, just in case they needed him. Philadelphia had gained a reputation as some of the hippest most cool and focused players in the league, jokingly nicknamed the "Fly Guys". Their old rivals, Boston, New Jersey, Houston- tensions had seemingly died. But one team had come to haunt them- Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia had taken the series 3-2, but for a team that was second in the league, that was a close series to scrape by. Toney had it out for his old team, Laimbeer was just a scrappy underhanded player, and Isiah Thomas- easily top three point guards in the NBA- always seemed to drop -numbers- against Philadelphia. The Pistons were making a name for themselves, coming out of a 16-66 season in the 1979-1980 season, and people were listening.
On April 8th, 1984, Bill Cartwright's 31 point 14 rebound display helped New York beat Detroit 110-103 in a battle that could define whether New York or Detroit took the 5th, 6th, or 7th seed. Andrew Toney punched Knicks point-guard Michael Ray Richardson right in the jaw with 36 seconds left and a New York possession, and both benches went insane, with Bill Laimbeer and Larry Kenon both having to be pulled off each other. Detroit was nasty, they were physical, they were -bad-.
They finished up the season a strong 61-21, second in the East behind Boston's 64-18 and third in the NBA behind Los Angeles's 63=19. They were set to play Detroit in round one, a young team who through the combined efforts of Bill Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas, and Andrew Toney (who had averaged a career high 14.2 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists) had carved a name for themselves in the league.
Game 1 at the Spectrum was a blow-out. Coming into the second-half, Detroit didn't have a chance; Erving dropped 30, Malone 28, and Worthy 18 off the bench in a 112-98 decimation. Also interesting was that Cleveland managed to beat the league's best team, Boston, in the first game at TDE Garden. Kelly Tripucka had 26-9-9 and Sleepy Floyd notched up 13 assists in an impressive display of underdog prowess. Tripucka notched up 36 in the next game, as Cleveland won again. Philadelphia beat Detroit 108-91 as Malone dropped 34 and 7 rebounds. Detroit managed to steal Game 3 at the Palace while Philadelphia was on the road, with an 109-102 point victory led by Isiah Thomas's 37 point 6 assist 5 rebound 4 steal game. Bill Laimbeer had a hard foul on Malone that gave him a bloody nose, a vicious elbow across the face, that sent rookie Clyde Drexler right into his face screaming. They were both ejected- Malone ended up coming back to play later that quarter- but the damage was done. That same day, something remarkable happened; Cleveland won Game 3. Larry Bird had 49 points, McHale and Parish dropped 15 a piece, the bench just sucked. And Cleveland dominated; Tripucka had 28 with 9 rebounds, Carr had 24, new center Mark West had 11 rebounds with 18 points while new starting shooting guard Derek Smith dropped 18 points 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sleepy Floyd had 9 assists with 17 points, and Mike Mitchell and Byron Scott had 8 and 10 a piece coming off the bench in a 117-111 Cleveland win at home. Mike Mitchell summarized the team's views succinctly; "We're playing with our hearts right now, man. These guys, they come in here and act entitled- like they deserve it. Well, we're proving you can work for it. Hard work pays off, and we've worked our ***es off. Now we're gonna get that win" And in Game 4, they did it, winning 122-119, and for the first time in years an eight seed beat a one seed, no less in a -sweep-. Floyd had 16 assists and 23 points, Mitchell had 22 off the bench. Bird, who had 46 in the loss, called Cleveland an underrated team full of some of the hardest working scrappiest guys in the league and wished them the best of luck. Coach Billy Cunningham called the team his favorite squad to date.
Detroit beat Philadelphia in Game 4. Thomas had 39 points and 9 assists, while Laimbeer had 14 rebounds and 12 points. Coming into Game 5, Philadelphia found itself tied 2-2, as did 3rd seed Washington and 6th seed Atlanta, as well as 4th seed Indiana and 5th seed New York. Los Angeles had swept San Diego in the West, but 4th and 5th seeds Seattle and Kansas City were both tied at 2-2, as were second seed San Antonio and 7th seed Phoenix, while 3rd seed Utah led Denver 3-1. Philadelphia won a closely-contested Game 5 111-107 at home, and sealed the deal in Game 6 winning 111-101. Atlanta pulled out another upset, winning the series 119-116 in Game 6, while New York beat Indiana as well. Utah won in 5, while San Antonio and Seattle beat Phoenix and Kansas City in 7.
Philadelphia swept Atlanta in the second round- a young squad centered around Mark Aguirre, Cedric Maxwell, and Norm Nixon, with veteran player Otis Birdsong at shooting guard and familar faces Demarcus Phelan and Caldwell Jones playing center and 6th man respectively. The Jazz beat San Antonio in 5, while Los Angeles beat Seattle in 5 as well, and surprisingly, 8th seed Cleveland beat 5th seed New York in 6.
Game 1 against Cleveland was easy as pie. Malone dropped 46 with 20 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Larry Drew dropped 19 points and 7 assists for a 113-93 point win. Game 2 was another win - 100-80 behind a 29 point 13 rebound display from Malone. But disaster struck; late into the 3rd quarter, Malone hit the ground with a hard foul from Cleveland back-up center Jawann Oldham. Malone went down, and when he tried to stand up, team-mate Frank Brickowski described the sound as "literal bones crunching." His leg was broken, and with it, likely was Philadelphia's hope for a finals as well.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
May 17th, 1984- With Malone Out, Are Philadelphia's Hopes for a Championship Out The Door As Well?
Last night, the entire Spectrum went silent. As Moses Malone screamed on the floor, Julius Erving looked down to the floor, perhaps praying, while Larry Drew spiked a basketball, cursing loudly. The referee next to him didn't even call him out for it, his eyes widening as he watched one of the NBA's finest centers squirm in anguish amidst a cluttered court. Philadelphia rallied - Erving dropped 26 points in a playoff series thats seen him unusually quiet - and stole the win, but I think the entire city's heart sunk heavily that night all the same.
Moses Malone, last year's MVP, is out for the rest of the playoffs. Frank Brickowski, a fan favorite and solid replacement, will undoubtedly replace him, and Kermit Washington will likely come off the bench to replace him at power forward. When asked about the injury after the game, young rookie Clyde Drexler seemed angry.
"What do you think I think about it? It sucks. It mother****ing sucks. Alright. You happy?"
We hope this team pulls a rabbit out of the hat for a playoffs miracle. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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Cleveland rallied to come back at home in Game 3. James Worthy started at power forward as Brickowski moved up to center, and both played well, but Cleveland was just relentless. Coach Billy Cunningham called Malone's injury a tragedy, and certainly derailing, but argued "with the kind of heart my guys are playing with right now, we would've won this game regardless." Kelly Tripucka, in another highlight game with 25 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, called the team revolutionary, redefining parity in the league with each win. Star point guard Sleepy Floyd said "Philadelphia is the kinda team you can't prepare for. They've got a totally switch-up cast-any one of those guys can explode. We're just doing a good job of containing that fire and matchin' it with some of our own."
Utah also took Game 3 after Los Angeles won the first two behind Adrian Dantley's impressive 44 point outing, beating Los Angeles 117-104 despite Magic's 22 point 13 assist 9 rebound game. Los Angeles came back to win Game 4- Magic again leading the team with 25 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds- while Cleveland took another home win, this time behind Sleepy Floyd's 26 point 12 assist game. Philadelphia won Game 5- fueled largely by Kermit Washington's 22 point 7 assist 10 rebound game off the bench- while Utah won as well, even while playing on the road at Staples Center. Larry Nance had 19 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks and 5 steals. Coach Elgin Baylor called the team a force to be reckoned with. Pundits argued the Lakers were weakened significantly by the absence of star player World B. Free- who tore his achilles just a week before playoffs- but Utah was impressing many none the less.
Philadelphia finished it up in Game 6. Frank Brickowski had 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while James Worthy dropped 17 points and 9 rebounds. Utah stole another win at home, this time behind Larry Nance's 24 point 8 assist 8 rebound 6 block 3 steal game, but Los Angeles ended the series in Game 7 behind Johnson's 28.
The NBA Finals was a rematch of the year before; albeit, both teams missing one of their superstars. Game 1 saw Cliff Robinson's 23 point 19 rebound game send Los Angeles up 1-0 following a 103-94 game blow-out, while Game 2 followed suit, Los Angeles winning 116-103 behind Magic's 30 point 14 assist game. Going into Game 1, Julius Erving got a bit emotional, his words starting to stutter as he addressed the media. "People count us out. They say we're hyped up, that we didn't work for this. Man, I've worked the past 8 god damn seasons. I've worked my whole life. We're the defending champions, man, people acting like we're just a bunch of chickens without heads. **** that, man."
Goint into Game 3 back at the Spectrum, the mood was somber to put it lightly. Brickowski on Kareem- obviously a hard match-up. Worthy on Robinson - not too easy either. Erving on John Drew - easy theoretically, but Erving couldn't help but shake off the playoffs cold streak he'd been suffering. He needed to explode. Drexler on McKinney the biggest discrepancy. Larry Drew on Magic - the arguable biggest discrepancy on the other side. And so the game began.
Drew hit a deep three in Magic's face to start the game off with 11 minutes and 10 seconds left in the first half. Philadelphia found itself in foul trouble early on; Erving had 1 and Brickowski 2 just two minutes into the game. When he picked up his third just two minutes later, Daly was forced to sub in Kermit early on. This proved effective; he ended with 9 points in the quarter as Philadelphia took a 27-20 point lead. Julius Erving, who finished the first half with 7 points, seemed empassioned going into the second half. Philadelphia was up 6, Kareem had 18 already, Brickowski had been held to just 2 points alongside 4 rebounds- and then it happened. Erving blew up. He went 12/15 to finish the third with a playoff high 29 points, including 5 three pointers, and finished the game with 40 points, leading to a 127-91 point Philadelphia win. Los Angeles would take the next game in Philadelphia- an 116-108 point win behind Magic Johnson's 30-12-10 triple double- despite Erving's 38 point outpour, but going into Game 5, Erving looked deadly. He dropped 52 points on 19/32 shooting in an absolute monster performance, leading to a 105-83 point win over Los Angeles.
All for not; he sprained his wrist in the first quarter of the next game (still dropping 27!) and Los Angeles took home their 3rd NBA title in 5 years (with 5 consecutive finals appearances). Magic was held to 9 points, with 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the final game, but won finals MVP honors none-the-less. Larry Bird took home the scoring title, while Magic got MVP. In a move that surprised many, young player Larry Nance was named Defensive Player of the Year, while San Diego's Steve Stipanovich would win 6th man honors. Darrell Walker from Dallas would take home Rookie of the Year, while Pat Riley would once again win Coach of the Year honors. Magic, Rolando Blackman, Julius Erving, Alvan Adams, and Kareem made up the first All NBA Team, while Isiah Thomas, George Gervin, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Moses Malone made up Team two. Johnny Moore, Reggie Theus, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Nance, and Bill Laimbeer made up Team 3. All Defense 1st team was Michael Ray Richardson, the young rookie Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, and Tree Rollins; second team was Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, Louis Orr, Cliff Robinson, and Kareem. First Rookie was Darrell Walker, Clyde Drexler, Dale Ellis, Antoine Carr, and Steve Stipanovich. Second rookie team was Derek Harper, Jeff Malone, Rodney McCray, Thurl Bailey, and Ralph Sampson. For his role in helping rebuild Phoenix into a playoffs team after a complete falling apart, Jerry Colangelo won Executive of the Year. The draft lottery, which could shape the future of several franchises, was about as high tension as it gets. Lehner's trade to Milwaukee put him into the lottery, with a 11% chance at the #1. Chicago got #7 with their New Jersey pick, Portland took 6, Dallas took 5, Philadelphia ended up at 4- high enough, Lehner hoped, to grab Stockton!- while Golden State went 3, Chicago went 2, and Houston went 1.
In the press conference following Game 6, Erving had summarized Philadelphia's feelings succintly; "I'm getting too damn old for this man. We play so hard, and something always happens right at the end. We should've won this series man. This isn't... we just... we played our hearts out, man. We did our best."
And so the season ended.
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It's been another exciting year, with plenty to talk about- you're tuned in to "Inside a Team". I'm Slick Watts, and this year we'll be looking at a team that pushed itself to the brink of championship contention, a small team once overlooked as weak and incapable of competing- the Utah Jazz. Amidst an injury riddled season, this team put together a fierce squad that nearly took down the reigining Los Angeles champions.
Stay tuned.
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It's October 25th, a few days before the start of the 1983-1984 NBA season. Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, relatively young at 40, is walking me through the Jazz's relatively new arena, the Salt Palace, built in 1979. "I'd always dreamed of bringing a team to Utah" Miller is saying. "Salt Lake City, it's one of the most underrated cities in the United States. We've got entertainment. We've got fans."
Miller brought the team to Utah in 1979, purchasing the team from former owner Sam Battistone. With dreams of a championship, he immediately set about acquiring an All Star player, settling on young hot-shot Adrian Dantley.
Dantley, sitting in a dimly lit room in downtown Utah, is all smiles. At 27, in his 9th season in the NBA, the 6-5 small forward has high hopes for the upcoming '83 season. It's October 28th, a few days before the season begins, and Dantley is all about the future. Coming off a 30.6 point-per-game season and on a freshly signed 5 year 152 million dollar contract, he hopes to prove he's worth the max contract he just signed. Third year player Larry Nance proved he's capable of leading the defense, and new additions Jo Jo White and Campy Russell could help create one of the deepest line-ups in the NBA.
"I'm happy to be here, man. Los Angeles was great, Indiana was okay, Buffalo was something else. Utah, though, man. Who would've thought, right?" In his first year with the team, Dantley had a career high 28 points a game. In the 1981-1982 season, he pushed that bar even higher, posting an incredible 31.5 points per game.
"It's my team mates, man. We're great when it comes to passing, and it shows on the court." Dantley, a consistent All Star, considers this the year Utah defines itself. "We've struggled in the past, but Elgin Baylor, he can run this team. He's something else."
Elgin Baylor. The 6-5 Hall of Fame formers Lakers super-star meets with me at a resturant in his former city of Los Angeles. It's December 7th, and Utah is now 9-8 after a close 103-102 point win behind Darrell Griffith's 32 points. Dantley broke his hand in the first game - the first in a string of injuries that would see
Griffith, Walter Davis, and Lester Conner all go out for extended periods of time - but thanks to Baylor's smart coaching, the team held it together. "This is a team built on small, hustle game-play." Small is true; the team features no real gargantuans, it's tallest players being Larry Nance, Wayne Cooper, and Joe Cooper at 6-10. "We go out and we play scrappy D. That translates to wins, doesn't matter who's on the floor. Defense wins games." Baylor, an 11 time All Star who solidified a career as one of the greatest cornermen to ever play the game, focuses on a smart, patient offense to win games. "Why rush it? As long as you score, who cares how quick it is?"
A couple of weeks later on December 24th at Reunion Arena in Dallas, I catch up with Baylor quickly as he's leaving, following a 104-112 loss to 11th seed Dallas. Purvis Short dropped 24, exploding for 16 in the 4th on 8/19 shooting. What was that you said about a slow offense? "Sometimes guys just need to stop being afraid to shoot. When a guy like Adrian Dantley comes back and goes 7 for 13, it's like - why didn't you shoot more? Why is Larry Nance taking 23 shots when you could have taken half of those?"
The team is now 13-13, in a highly competitive Western conference. Chasing the tails of the dominant Los Angeles Lakers, coach Baylor remains confident. "If Dantley plays like Dantley, we win."
With the chaos of injuries plaguing the team, journey man Jo Jo White has now taken the responsibilities of point guard. At 36 years old, White is posting 13.3 points per game with 7.1 assists in 28.4 minutes a game, something commendable for his age as he ranks 7th in the league behind the likes of the Laker's Magic Johnson, Detroit's Isiah Thomas, Cleveland's Sleepy Floyd, Milwaukee's Phil Ford, San Antonio's Johnny Moore, and New Jersey's Frank Johnson. The guard - coming off a championship with Philadelphia, the third of his career (the other two coming from his 10 year span with Boston). "What do I think this team needs? Some confidence, man. These kids, they're young, but they're great. I grew up in Missouri, with seven siblings. I had to learn at an early age how to stand out, how to be confident in myself- I was the youngest. Nance needs to be more aggressive. Dantley needs to remember he can shoot. Campy Russell needs to step up and get aggressive- he's 31, not 36." White chuckles, and I catch myself smirking. The man reeks of charisma, and he's doing an excellent job to help keep the struggling team relevant.
General manager Pete Maravich thinks the guard is just great. "He's playing better than 16 other guards out there. He's 36. Whaddya need me to say?" Maravich- who finished his career in Utah- sits in his office, hands behind his back as he leans back in his chair. Playing just 11 years in the league, the 37 year old Hall of Famer has a smile on his face, despite his team's troubles. "I'm not in a rush. This is a young cast, even Dantley. Kareem isn't gonna last forever. Utah's gonna get there."
Going into a January 29th game at Portland, Utah remained in the playoff picture at 21-20. However, following Joe Cooper getting a nasty ankle sprain, the team would go on a 6 game losing streak including a 104-108 loss to then league worst Chicago. Going into All Star weekend, they were 23-27, struggling to stay relevant amidst discussions surrounding San Antonio, Los Angeles, Boston, and Philadelphia. The team got some well-deserved recognition when Jo Jo White took home the three point shooting award honors, while starters Larry Nance, Adrian Dantley, and Darrell Griffith showcased their talents in the All Star game with 21, 15, and 11 respectively. They were in a decent position, despite the injuries that haunted them.
Darrell Griffith has a smile on his face. "What? Who doesn't like time off?" Despite playing in the All Star game the day before, the young 25 year old 6-4 shooting guard is enjoying his day off as we sit in his home in downtown Utah. Indiana is set to come to play the 20th - a game in which Griffith will drop 29 on 13/26 shooting, alongside Dantley's 31 - and Griffith is enjoying the new pool table he's recently purchased, messing around taking trick shots off the corner. "I think people need to stop stressin'. We're a good team in a competitive league. We'll get ours."
Get theirs indeed. On March 13th, the team would start a 5 game winning streak, bringing their record back up to 34-33 as Griffith, White, and Dantley continued to impress on offense, while Nance had a career year rebounding and blocking as an incredible defender.
The playoffs came, and Utah was third in the West at 45-37. They were faced up against a solid Denver squad in the first round, consisting of Alex English, Dan Issel, Danny Schayes, Kiki Vandeweghe, and David Thompson (with Bobby Jones coming off the bench). Dantley's 28 and 10 assist game helped push them through Game 1, while he dropped another 29 to win Game 2, 128-103. He had 38 in a Game 3 119-118 loss to Denver at the McNichols Sports Arena (as David Thompson dropped 34 with 9 assists and 3 rebounds) before coming back to win Game 4 with 29, the same day Cleveland completely a successful sweep of Boston. They went on to win back at the Salt Palace, with Larry Nance dropping 24 points and 11 rebounds as Dantley had 30. San Antonio beat a 7th seed Phoenix squad circulating around Sly Williams, Antoine Carr, Mark Olberding, Roger Phegley, Mike Bratz, Brad Davis, Mark Eaton, and Doug Collins, after being forced to 7 games. Despite their troubles, they came into the series the heavy favorite.
In a press conference before the start of the series, Larry Nance called the match-up ridicolous. "Me against Elvin Hayes? Gene Banks on Adrian Dantley? Even Darrell Griffith is going to destroy Gervin's rusty *ss."
In Game 1, they did just that. Dantley had 39, Nance had 20, and Griffith had 18 in a 111-81 point win that saw no San Antonio player post higher than 11 points. Mitch Kupchak and Brandon Tillman were both out- Utah should be able to pull this off. They kept up pace in Game 2, winning another game at Hemsfair Arena, before San Antonio snuck back to win in Utah, riding Gene Banks and George Gervin's 23 a piece. Utah managed to win Game 4- Dantley dropped 25 and 10 rebounds - before winning in Game 5, as Dantley sealed the deal with 36 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds. That same day, Los Angeles beat Seattle.
The Western Conference finals were set. Elgin Baylor, when asked about whether or not he felt nervous facing his old team, was eager to create tension. "This isn't the team I played for. This is a stacked team, filled with ring-chasers and coat tail riders. When Adrian Dantley drops 50 tomorrow, you'll see we came to play."
Utah lost Game 1. Magic had 31 points, 8 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Kareem had 27 with 13 rebounds. Dantley was held to just 17, while Griffith led the charge with 24. Joe Cooper was ejected early on with 0 points and just 3 fouls after a rough foul on Cliff Robinson (who dropped 15 points with 15 rebounds) led to a loud argument with a referee. After the game, Cooper called the officiating "bogus". Robinson called Cooper an average-skilled brute who "doesn't deserve to be on a team in the conference finals."
Utah lost in Game 2 as well- but Cooper was angry. He had 14 points and 9 rebounds in the 83-100 loss, sending a heavy cloths hanger into Cliff Robinson late into the 4th quarter that was called as a foul. Robinson was outraged, shoving him back across the court, and the two nearly came to blows before Lakers point guard Magic Johnson got between the two, and Dantley pulled Cooper away. Utah was a scorned team, and Dantley decided to do something about it. I tried to call him for a quick interview the day before Game 3 - he was courteous, but obviously in no mood to talk. "I'm going to shut them out. I'm just gonna keep shooting."
That's what he did, and it worked. Utah won Game 3 at home 117-104, behind Dantley's 13-25 44 point 3 assist 6 rebound 5 steal game of utter domination. Magic had 22 points, 9 assists, and 13 rebounds; Joe Cooper had another hard foul on him at the end of the second half, and when it took him the better part of a minute to get up, Cliff Robinson nearly went after Cooper once again. This time, it was the Lakers who felt the scorn.
It definitely worked. Magic had 25 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds in a 111-99 point whomping of the home team Jazz. Dantley had 23, with 5 assists and 10 rebounds, but couldn't best Magic twice in a row. The team was down 3-1 going back to the Staples Center for Game 5. They needed an extra edge.
Larry Nance showed up. Posting 19 points with 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 steals, he was a defensive nightmare for the Lakers offense, holding Cliff Robinson to just 5 points. Cooper found himself ejected again, as another nasty elbow took out Robinson for the rest of the game in the 4th quarter. He was quickly solidifying his role in the NBA as one of the dirtiest players out there, aside the likes of Bill Laimbeer. Utah won 100-91 despite Magic's 21 point 11 rebound 16 assist triple double, and the arena went back to Utah.
Game 6, Nance says, was perhaps the biggest game of his life. "All of those fans, man." It's the end of the season now- Los Angeles just beat Philadelphia, and Dantley has since forgotten the pains of the playoffs as he starts to think about getting ready for the oncoming season. "I couldn't let them down, not at home. If we were gonna lose, it couldn't be at home- I just kept telling myself that, over and over." The mantra worked; Nance had 24 points with 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals, and the third seeded Utah successfully pushed Los Angeles to a Game 7 at the Staples Center.
But on May 25th, 1984, that Los Angeles led squad crushed Utah's hopes and dreams for the rest of the season in a 99-92 point victory that saw Dantley post just 14 points. "We choked when it mattered most" Cooper says, sighing as he takes a sip of coffee at a table in front of me. The 27 year old is obviously bummed, but there's a hint of a smile in his face as he looks up at me, eyes perking up. "There's always next year, right?"
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- rawr123456787654
- Junior Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:34 am
Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Sat Jun 17, 2017 3:16 am
1984 - YEAR 5
The Hall of Fame ceremony for Bob Lanier was sweet and warming. Dave Bing - riding a several year broadcasting contract - came to speak at his former team mate's ceremony, sharing a ton of memories dating back to 1970. Lanier - who came back the previous season to finish his career in Detroit - did a physical "passing of the torch" ceremony as young star Bill Laimbeer happily shook his hand on stage.
Cleveland fired their entire coaching staff. Billy Cunningham, despite an incredible playoffs performance, found himself on the hunt for a job once again. Golden State followed suit, as Bill Russell found himself without a job after just one year with the team. New Jersey also fired young coach Mike Krzyzewski, while Portland took perhaps the most drastic measure, firing their entire staff, including GM Bill Walton as well as Don Nelson. Seattle finished construction on their new arena, Cray Arena, and San Diego officially moved to Los Angeles, playing in the Staples Center alongside the Lakers. Sidney Wicks would take over as Portland's GM, while in a move that devastated Philadelphia fans, Billy Cunningham signed on as the New Jersey head coach. Golden State picked up Jack Ramsay, and Cleveland signed Mike Krzyzewski. Don Nelson signed on with New Jersey as an assistant coach, while Al Attles signed with Golden State and Bill Russell signed with Cleveland (as assistant coaches), while Portland signed former player Rick Adelman as head coach.
Lehner worked out a handful of rookies, including Stockton, Jay Humphries, Vern Fleming, Alvin Robertson, Michael Jordan, Michael Holton, Charles Barkley, Leon Wood, Othell Wilson, Danny Young, Steve Colter, and Ralph Jackson. The media was centered -all around- the young trio of Jordan, Barkley, and Olajuwon. Magic called Jordan a "future all star in this league, no doubt." When asked about Hakeem, Moses showered him with praise. "He's a great rebounder, a great post player. I don't see why he wouldn't go #1." Drexler had played with Hakeem in Houston, while Worthy had played with Jordan in North Carolina, so both were quick to testify to the talent of those players. And boy did Houston love Hakeem, coming off his ridiculous Phi Slamma Jamma season. His predictions ran true; Houston took Hakeem Olajuwon at 1, and Chicago picked Michael Jordan at 2. Golden State grabbed Charles Barkley at 3, and so Lehner found himself with a wide variety of options at 4. He went with his gut; John Stockton, the 6-1 point guard out of Gonzaga. Dallas selected Lancaster Gordon out of Louisville, a move draft commentators called absolutely bizarre, while Rick Carlisle went to Portland at 6. Chicago shipped their 7th pick and Michael Cooper for Indiana's Louis Orr, Lonnie Shelton, and a 1986 first round pick, which Indiana used to pick up Kevin Willis. Cleveland picked up a Turkish center, Ya'kub Ihsanoglu, a 23 year old 7'1 player, while Stuart Gray went to San Diego at 9. New York shipped George McGinnis and a 1st round pick for New Jersey's Bob Gross, and Detroit took Otis Thorpe at 10- a player projected to go much higher, though incidents with police officers soured him on others. Alvin Robertson went to Seattle at 11, and Vern Fleming went to Denver at 12. Chicago shipped Lonnie Shelton right away - alongside Billy Knight and Ken Richardson, for Detroit's Geoff Huston and a second round pick, and then drafted Jerome Kersey. New Jersey took Michael Cage, Los Angeles shipped Randy Wittman and Dirk Minniefeld for Alton Lister, and Kansas City took Sam Bowie at 15. Sam Perkins went to Seattle at 16, while Tony Campbell went to Atlanta at 17 and Jay Humphries went to Utah at 18. Ben Coleman went to Atlanta again, at 19, and Tim McCormick went to Washington at 20. Mel Turpin went to Milwaukee at 21, Michael Holton to Golden State at 22, and Ron Anderson to Boston at 23. The rest of the draft was relatively unexciting- Kansas City traded Craig Ehlo for Indiana's Terry Teagle, Los Angeles gave up Darren Daye for Cleveland's Bob Hansen- but this class would be remembered as one of the most loaded for ages to come.
Lehner had found a new starting point guard. Larry Drew, while a consistent and great asset to the team, had served his purpose. The summer team, led by Stockton and Worthy, had decent success, going 2-2. Stockton had 14 points with 15 assists in his first game, 13 points and 9 assists in his second, 13 points and 13 assists in his third, and 13 points and 13 assists in his 4th. He was perfect. Free agency was a bore; Dallas signed Darryl Dawkins, Monti Davis, and Gerald Henderson, perhaps eager to learn Philadelphia's secrets, while Houston signed Joe Meriweather, Washington signed Wayne Robinson. Philadelphia re-signed bench riders Reggie Carter, Scott May, and Joey Hassett, Indiana signed Campy Russell, and Boston signed an aging Nate Archibald to a one year contract (perhaps looking to follow in Jo Jo White's lead). The Jazz signed Mark Eaton, in potentially the biggest move of the free agency, to a 3 year contract, while the Lakers picked up Jawann Oldham for a year contract.
Going into training camp, Larry Drew fought hard to prove he deserved to be a starter. Adam actually felt bad. But Stockton was just -such- a naturally talented passer. Philadelphia grabbed free agent Paul Westphal (having aged through his prime, now 34 years old) and moved into the season with high aspirations. Before the season started, with sad reluctance- but wishing to give him the best chance to flourish in his career- Lehner sent Larry Drew and a second round pick to Houston for Keith Herron and Houston's 1985 plus 1987 first round pick. After three years with the team, he was gone.
It was a new era for the NBA. David Stern had taken over as commissioner, succeeding Larry O'Brien. The Lakers were expected to win again, with the addition of former Kansas City power forward Buck Williams, while Boston looked to dominate the East, having added Eddie A. Johnson from Milwaukee to their roster. In Chicago, an exciting saga was set to begin behind the efforts of young rookie Michael Jordan, while in Houston, a scorned Larry Drew began practicing with rookie Hakeem Olajuwon as they began preparing for the new year as Houston came off a 32-50 season. Golden State looked good, despite finishing near the bottom of the league the year before at 25-57; the combined squad of Bernard King, Doc Rivers, Joe Barry Carroll, Ricky Pierce, and Charles Barkley seemed absolutely dominant.
Starting line-up:
Coach Chuck Daly
- 206-152* (.575; 4th highested among coaches), 1 championship, 2 playoffs.
- A fly guy with a flash for style, and a tendency towards riding his players hard, Daly relies on a deep bench, running 9-10 players typically, while working a strong guard to center based offense. He's all about rebounds, and focuses less on zone defense and more on isolating the other team's best players, and holding them out. A big fan of Malone, he's liked by the whole team and revered in the league as "Daddy Rich", thanks to his fashion and swagger.
*- (win-loss records for coaches post 1980)
PG: John Stockton
- 6-1, 22, R, 4th pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, from Gonzaga University.
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- Stockton is an archetypal pass-first point guard. With great vision, incredible quickness, and tons of potential for his ball handling ability, he's capable of handling 1-on-1's with defenders effortlessly. Looking to cement his role in the franchise his rookie season, Stockton joins a seasoned cast; hopefully he grows quick enough to keep up. His passing and stealing, by far his strongest skills, will be vital on a team that needs to learn how to run the offense at a more planned out rate.
SG: Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 23, 1 year experience, 3rd pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, from Houston University.
- Career-best 32 points, 10 assists, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 8 steals.
- 9 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games (82 started), 33.0 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 5.0 rpg (3.5 d, 1.4 o), 2.0 spg, 0.7 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- Coming into this season, Drexler's All Defense 1st team selection (in his rookie year!) helps solidify him as one of the premiere defensive guards in the league right now. When he sets his mind to shutting down an opponent, he's capable of limiting even the most explosive players in the league to low scoring numbers. An underrated three point shooter, he's also a reliable scorer, and a great third option on offense.
SF: Julius Erving
- 6-7, 34, 8 years experience in the NBA, 12th pick in the 1976 draft, from the University of Massachussetts-Amherst.
- Career-best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 93 double-doubles, 197 p.o.t.gs, 31 player of the weeks, 8 player of the months, 3 All-Star games, 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 33.4 mpg, 24.9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 5.1 rpg (4.2 d, 0.9 o), 2.5 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.8 topg (a career low!)
- Erving is aging. It's finally happened, and the decline has started, albeit at a relatively slow rate. The captain of a powerful squad, Erving still is more than capable of leading the team both with his play and his strategic mindset. An explosive scorer, he's a serious threat at any point in the game, and undoubtedly Philadelphia's most coveted player.
PF: Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 27, 3 years experience in the NBA, 14th pick in the 1981 NBA draft, from Penn State.
- Career-best 34 points, 8 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 steals.
- 96 double-doubles, 7 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 30.2 mpg, 12.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 9.2 rpg (a career high- 7.2 d, 2.1 o), 1.4 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.3 topg.
- With a competitive spirit and a knack for making his team better, Brickowski is for sure of the most underrated steals from 1981's draft (with guys like Lewis Lloyd and Jay Vincent, being drafted ahead of him). A consistent rebounder with a flare for scoring, his height allows him to play power forward with ease, where at times, he drifts around the court with the handling skill of a guard. Coming into his prime, Brickowski is another excellent member of the team, and one who Lehner hopes to keep for the duration of his career.
C: Moses Malone-
- 6-10, 29, 8 years experience in the NBA, undrafted, from the ABA.
- Career-best 50 points, 8 assists, 23 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals.
- 274 double-doubles, 149 p.o.t.gs, 16 player of the weeks, 7 player of the months, 4 All-Star Games.
- Last season's stats: 75 games played (75 started), 33.5 mpg, 24.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 9.8 rpg (6.3 d, 3.9 o), 1.3 spg, 2.1 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- An incredible athlete with a knack for bad decision making, Malone has shown himself to be at a MVP level, though struggled the season before with a series of minor injuries that brought down his statistical output significantly. Coming into this season, Malone hopes to capitalize on his size and increase his rebounding output back into double-digits, while remaining a consistent scoring option. Just because he was a little rusty the season before doesn't make him arguably the best center in the league still; he was voted to the All-League 2nd team the year before none-the-less, and was an All Star Game starter. The second go-to on the offense, and the heart of the defense.
6th Man: Kermit Washington
- 6-8, 33, 12 years experience in the NBA, 5th pick in the 1972 NBA draft, from American University.
- Career-best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 106 double doubles, 18 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star appearance, 1 triple double.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (0 started), 22.9 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 6.1 rpg (4.3 d, 1.8 o), 0.6 spg, 1.9 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- The aging Washington remains an excellent go-to option off the bench. A player good enough to start on several teams, he's the perfect charge to help accelerate the bench, and a reliable rebounder for an otherwise sparse defensive second option bench.
7th: James Worthy
- 6-9, 24, 2 years experience in the NBA, 10th pick in the 1982 NBA draft, from University of North Carolina.
- Career-best 31 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 steals.
- 1 p.o.t.g.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (35 started), 23.5 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.2 rpg (2.5 d, 0.7 o), 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.2 topg.
- The largest issue with James Worthy is that he's going to get good; a rhythmic shooter (not the best spot-up, making most of his shots moving towards the basket) who can get to the line well. He's got the versatility to guard on the perimeter and the post, and knows how to read a defense well, knowing when to pull up, when to drive, and when to pass. As he grows in skill, the issue of either putting him into a starting role (over Drexler, Erving, or Brickowski though? not likely) or trading him to another team grows more and more of a concern. Lehner loves the guy, but he definitely doesn't want to impede his growth- and he'd definitely be a valuable trade piece.
8th: Mickey Johnson
- 6-10, 32, 10 years experience in the NBA, 31st pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Aurora University.
- Career-best 32 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 steals.
- 32 double doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 81 games played (0 started), 12.9 mpg, 6.0 ppg, 0.6 apg, 2.8 rpg (1.8 d, 1.0 o), 0.5 spg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 topg.
- A good bench player acquired from Milwaukee, Johnson can provide solid minutes of relief while playing consistent defense and holding down the court. Very good at scoring in the low block, with a great touch, he's a good on the ball defender and even better at anticipating passing lanes thanks to good fundamentals and a great understanding of the game. A seasoned veteran, reliable option.
9th: Jim McElroy
- 6-3, 31, 10 years experience in the NBA, 37th pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Central Michigan University.
- Career-best 25 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (1 started), 12.9 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 rpg (0.8 d, 0.1 o), 0.2 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.9 topg.
- The biggest risk on the court, but unfortunately, the team's only other option, McElroy will have to play decent this season in order to help the young rookie Stockton grow and flourish. A mediocre back-up, McElroy is a hard team player none-the-less and a great locker-room presence, having been on 5 different teams in his career and having played with some of the best players in the league. Never appears tired, with great conditioner and work ethic for his age, but could use some work in terms of his handling abilities.
Other bench players: Scott May, Paul Westphal, Keith Herron, Joey Hassett, Reggie Carter.
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Game 1 went exactly as planned. Daly called it "the perfect start to what's going to be a perfect season". Malone had 22 points with 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 steals. Erving dropped 21 and 8, Brickowski dropped 12 and 13, Drexler had 11, 6, and 4, and Stockton had 11 points with 13 assists in 35 minutes during his first game in the NBA. That same day, rookie Charles Barkley dropped 6 points with 15 rebounds in a Golden State 102-94 win over Portland, while the Lakers lost their first game of the season in a Western conference finals rematch against Utah; Griffith had 23, Dantley had 20, and Nancy dropped 17. "World B. Free will be out for another three and a half months" Coach Riley was quoted as saying after the game. "We're working with a new cast [in reference to new starting forward Buck Williams- John Drew had taken over the shooting guard position, and Cliff Robinson had dropped down to small forward] and we're figuring things out." Coach Baylor, meanwhile, was ecstatic. "This is our year- just you wait. This is our year!" Boston won it's first game of the season, Bird dropping 26 points with 10 rebounds in a 118-107 win over Detroit, as Toney hit 28 while Thomas went 15 and 11. New addition Eddie A. Johnson had 25 points in his first start with the game. The next day, rookies Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan each hit jaw-dropping milestones of their own, as Olajuwon dropped 18 points, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and -21 rebounds- (the most ever recorded by a rookie in his starting game) in a 110-90 win over cross-town rival San Antonio, while Jordan dropped 35 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds in his own first appearance in a 124-94 win over Atlanta at home in Chicago.
In a November 10th match-up against his former team, Mark Eaton had 12 points and -24 rebounds- in a 101 - 80 Utah win over Phoenix at the Salt Palace. NBA viewership was at an all time high. The rest of the month was equally exciting; narratives developed around the fledgling Chicago Bulls, led by team veteran Reggie Theus, young rookie Michael Jordan, reliable wing man Louis Orr, veteran center Artis Gilmore, and rookie Kevin Willis, as well as many other teams, including the Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Andrew Toney, rookie Otis Thorpe, and Phil Hubbard making it rain in the East-, the Golden State Warriors (who's squad of Barkley, Carroll, Pierce, King, and Rivers was doing an equally good job in the East), the Los Angeles Clippers - a team new to the L.A. scene, but who behind team captain Swen Nater was making themselves competitve again in the West -, the Utah Jazz (featured prominently in Inside a Team the year before, who were flourishing with new center Mark Eaton), and the Houston Rockets, who behind a combined front-court of Hakeem Olajuwon and Alvan Adams alongside newly added point guard Larry Drew were doing their best to make basketball competitive in Houston again. And of course, the continued domination of Boston and Los Angeles continued, while Philadelphia fought to stay competive. The stage was set for the season; glory awaited.
Philadelphia held it's own. As Magic and the Lakers thrived in the West (alongside the notable Utah Jazz following closely behind, as well as the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers), Boston thrived in the East- Detroit, a new team to the show, fought hard for second, and Philadelphia floated around third. Boston was actively trying to ship young thriving rookie Ralph Sampson; they offered him to Lehner for Clyde Drexler (a move he shot down). The Kings sent Trent Tucker, Bernard Thompson, Danny Vranes, and Jeff Cook for Seattle small forward Abdul Jelani, alongside a second round pick. The season rolled on. On December 22nd, 1984, in a 93-116 point loss to Los Angeles at the Staples Center (behind Magic's 19-12-11 triple double), Erving shot 7-27 for 26 points. Yes, he could score, but he was getting older; the team needed to expand. Drexler needed to shoot more, and Stockton needed to control the tempo better. He said as much to Dixon, who briefly floated the idea of firing Daly- "We -need- to make the most of this talented squad"- though Lehner shot that idea down. The next day, Stockton dropped 28 points, with 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and a steal on 12-13 shooting. The kid wasn't even that good of a shooter- it was just a sign from fate. The torch was passing on to the next generation. Drexler had 20, on 9 for 14 shooting, while Erving had 22- on 10 for 24. Lehner contemplated something crazy, something that could destroy the chemistry of the team- benching Erving for Worthy? It seemed too radical for now, but definitely something to consider.
By the beginning of the new year, the league was beginning to look entirely new. Gone were names like the New Jersey Nets, the Denver Nuggets, or the San Diego Clippers; Boston sat at the top of the East at 25-4, with Detroit second at 22-10, and Philadelphia third at 20-10. Indiana was 4th, at 19-12, while Cleveland was 5th at 17-13. Chicago, behind the forces of Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Artis Gilmore, and a young rookie Michael Jordan, had fought their way back into the playoff picture in 6th place at 13-18, while the Knicks were next up at 12-17. Atlanta was 8th, at 12-18, while Washington, Milwaukee, and New Jersey hovered in the bottom (Washington with an 8-23 record). In the West, the Lakers continued to reign king at 26-4, while the Jazz fought for contention with a close 23-6 for second. Golden State, 3rd at 21-10, had found success with Barkley, Pierce, Rivers, Carroll, and King, while Hakeem Olajuwon and Alvan Adams (who signed with Houston in the off-season) were tearing it up alongside Larry Drew to put Houston in at 4th. Seattle followed at 5th, with a 15-15 record, while the newly moved Los Angeles Clippers sat at 15-16. San Antonio, down from the usual second, was in at 14-16, while Portland hovered in eigth at 12-17. Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, and Phoenix all sat in the bottom (Dallas with a 7-24 record, Phoenix a 6-24).
The league was on fire, and that fire burned for Magic Johnson. His face was everywhere, as the 25 year old reigning MVP came into January averaging 25.4 points per game, alongside a league-high 12.3 assists, and a career high 10.1 rebounds per game - yes, averaging a -triple double-. He had 18 in the season thus far, with 52 games to go. Larry Bird led in scoring, with 30.3 points per game, while Utah's Mark Eaton dominated the rebounds and blocks category, with 15.0 and 4.3 respectively. Erving - 10th in scoring behind names like Milwaukee's Phil Ford, Indiana's Herb Williams, Golden State's Ricky Pierce, Utah's Adrian Dantley, Detroit's Isiah Thomas, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins, and Los Angeles's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - might not even make the All Star game at this rate.
Age, man. What a trip.
On January 10th, 1985, at the Staples Center, Milwaukee power forward Rick Mahorn got into a punching match with Los Angeles center Swen Nater during a 98-90 win over the home Los Angeles Clippers team. Both were ejected from the game. Two days later during a Utah-Houston game, Utah back-up center Joe Cooper had to be physically pulled off Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon after a nasty foul saw the two beginning to brawl on the floor. David Stern was angry about the violence in the league. The fans loved it.
On , Chicago came to the Spectrum for an on the road game. While Philadelphia dominated them in the first half, an explosion by a young Michael Jordan late in the second saw Chicago leading 50-49 going into the half. Daly was empassioned once they reached the locker room. "Are you going to let these guys take this from us? A bunch of misfits led by an overhyped rookie? Are we really going to play like this? Why has Reggie Theus been to the line 6 times already? Why aren't you containing Jordan, Drexler? Don't answer me- just go out there and play. For real this time." Unfortunately, with 7:44 left in the 4th down 75-71, Stockton fouled out. In went Worthy. Philadelphia took a lead following a 8 point explosion from him, up 83-81 with 0:44 left. Kevin Willis had fouled out, and victory was all but assured- until Jordan (who had 5 steals in the game) stole a pass, and sent the ball up to Reggie Theus who took a hard foul. After sinking both free throws, Worthy tried to run down the clock again, but with 14 seconds left Jordan got another steal, running the ball up the court before a pass to Mike Harper and a last second three all but sealed the deal. Erving tried to run the ball up the court, but couldn't get a shot off as the buzzer sounded off, signalling the end of the 86-83 defeat. The locker room was silent, until suddenly, Erving just screamed, storming off. He'd had 28 on 10/20 shooting, a fairly good game, but had been one of the worst defensively, posting a +/- of -9.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
January 24th, 1984 - Titans Meet; Kareem Shines
In a match-up of the two respective East and West conferences, Boston and Los Angeles met at the Staples Center today for one of the most exciting games of the year. While Boston led going into the 4th, a dominant performance by Abdul-Jabbar saw the Lakers tear away in the 4th, winning 115-101. Kareem, who posted an impressive 20 point, 8 assist, 16 rebound, 2 steal, and -10 block- triple double, is currently 37 years old, the second oldest player in the league behind Elvin Hayes, yet he's still playing at an All Star level. Simply incredible.
Magic Johnson, who nearly recorded a triple double of his own with 27 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds, called the performance "legendary". Boston's coach, Phil Jackson, agreed that the performance was one of the greatest he'd seen all year.
Philadelphia will need to find a secret weapon to take on this squad. With World B. Free finally starting to play some minutes again following the long recovery from his torn achilles, this is a team that may go 70-12, with the combined star power of Kareem, Magic, World B. Free, John Drew, Cliff Robinson, Buck Williams, and role players such as Alton Lister, Jawann Oldham, Junior Bridgeman, and Billy McKinney making for an incredible team. Coach Pat Riley really has perfected one of the most incredible basketball squads of all time.
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All Star Weekend was held in Indiana. Coming in at second in the East (with Indiana, Chicago, and Detroit following closely behind) behind Boston, the team used the weekend to try and rest up for a rigorous remaining season. Wes Matthews won the dunk contest for the second time, while former 76er Monti Davis took home the 3 point honors. Clyde Drexler became the first two-time MVP award winner in the Rookie-Sophomore game, dropping 47 points as the Sophomore class took home the victory in an exciting 129-127 point win (John Stockton also dropped an impressive Rookie-Sophomore game high 20 assists to go along with 27 points). The All Star game came amidst a young generation laced with potential; this could be the last game for many playing in the East, and so they played with their entire hearts. Erving had 17 points in his start, while Malone had 14. Rookie starter Michael Jordan had 10, while Phil Ford had 22. Kevin McHale led the starters with the first ever All Star game triple double, posting an insane 39 points, with 2 assists, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocks. Bill Laimbeer had 10 off the bench, Atlanta's Otis Birdsong 7, Atlanta's Mark Aguirre had 3, Washington's Rolando Blackman had 13, Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka had 3, while Sleepy Floyd and Cliff Levingston failed to score (though neither took a shot). The East won 138-122, never giving up the lead after a dominating 45-31 second quarter. Magic led the West in scoring, with 24 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Ricky Pierce, Kareem, Alvan Adams, and Dominique Wilkins made up the other starters. George Gervin came off the bench, as did Adrian Dantley, rookie Hakeem Olajuwon, Swen Nater, Tom Chambers, Fat Lever, and Justin Johnson.
There had been quite a few trades, as per usual; the Nuggets had sent Steve Hawes and a 1st round pick for Seattle's James Bailey. The Clippers gave up a first round pick for Boston's Randy Breuer. The Suns sent former All Star Brad Davis to Indiana for Kevin Grevey, while the Kings sent a 1st round pick and Reggie King for New York's Bob Gross (still being traded around, poor Bob). Portland sent Calvin Natt and a 1st round pick for New Jersey's 1st round pick in 85 and Maurice Lucas, while Phoenix made another move, sending Mike Bratz and a 1st round pick for Dallas's Darrell Walker and Lancaster Gordon. Utah sent Jay Vincent and Wayne Cooper for Los Angeles's 1st round pick (courtesy of Kansas City) and their own 1st round pick in 86 as well as Terry Teagle, while the Bulls shipped Mike Harper for Milwaukee's Mike Bantom and a 2nd round pick. Detroit sent Phil Hubbard to Atlanta for Caldwell Jones and a 2nd round pick, while Indiana sent David Greenwood to New York for Scott Wedman and a 2nd round pick. Finally, the Bulls sent Rory Sparrow and a 2nd round pick for New York's Peter Gudmundsson.
Boston's Clark Kellog was set to return from a broken hand relatively soon, by the end of February, as was Detroit's Andrew Toney (from a broken arm). Alvan Adams was out with severe back pains, while Hakeem had suffered a pretty nasty concussion. Kansas City's Justin Johnson had a broken leg, while recently acquired Bob Gross had come with a broken wrist, set to return at the end of March. New Jersey's Bob McAdoo had a broken wrist, while sophomore Cliff Levingston had a broken leg (having actually been selected for the All Star game originally). San Antonio's Gene Banks had a torn achilles, and Seattle's Jeff Malone had a broken arm.
On February 23rd, 1985, Philadelphia played the Los Angeles Clippers. Erving had 40 points, while Malone had 24; towards the end of the game, amidst a 40-20 point 4th quarter (in a 108-140 point win over Los Angeles) Swen Nater had a hard foul on Malone (who had done something similar to him in 1980, causing him to go out for nearly a year with a torn ACL) sending him sliding across the floor with a look of pain. Both benches erupted, and Kermit Washington punched Tom Abernathy so hard he hit the court unconscious. He was suspended for eight games.
They won the next game regardless - a surprisingly close 133-123 point win over the home-town New Jersey Nets, the Eastern Conference's worst team (thanks in large to a 4th quarter comeback fueled by Erving's 42). The rivalry had died down in recent years, though Bob McAdoo was as fierce as ever, putting up 29 points with 9 rebounds. Mickey Johnson, Scott May, and Jim McElroy - 3 major parts of the bench now - combined for 4 points and 4 assists in 46 combined minutes. Worthy, luckily, led the bench with 16 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes of gameplay, while Malone had 34 points with 10 rebounds. They won their next game too - another against the Nets, this game in Philadelphia - and Worthy dropped 20 off the bench (alongside Malone's 21 point 17 rebound 5 block display of excellence).
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
March 11th, 1985 - Philadelphia Emerges Champion in High-Profile Battle Against Lakers
In a game where Erving looked as fresh as ever, dropping 35 points on 15/25 shooting alongside 6 steals and 5 rebounds, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles here at home in a 106-100 point victory. Down 3 going into the half, Drexler had 9 of his 14 points in the third quarter, and Philadelphia ended up taking a late lead. When Los Angeles took a 4th quarter lead - with Magic Johnson, locked into his triple double of the season (with a 25 point, 12 rebound, 16 assist performance) rallying strongly - it was up to James Worthy to take the team home, as Erving fouled out. He ended up coming through, finishing the game with 16 points (Malone had 22, Drexler 14, and Stockton 9) to send Los Angeles down to a 53-11 record - still the leagues best.
When interviewed after the game, Erving called it "an incredible team performance. The bench was working hard, I was getting good looks thanks to excellent ball movement, and Malone played perfect D. These kinda games, man. This is why I play."
Lakers Coach Pat Riley called Erving one of his favorite players in the league, citing his explosiveness for scoring, and his tenacity on defense.
Philadelphia is now 47-17, second in the East behind Boston's 52-12. Detroit follows behind at 40-24, while Indiana's 5th at 39-25. The rest of the season should be exciting - stay tuned for more. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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Seated in a cluttered office in downtown Philadelphia, Adam found himself working harder than ever. The league was more competitive than ever, and Adam was quickly realizing the half-life of his once thriving team was quickly dwindling. Despite an incredible victory over Los Angeles a couple of days before hand, the team was still seen as secondary in the battle that was Los Angeles vs Boston. As the radio droned on - "I'll beeeee goneeee - with or without youuuuuuuuuu! (Take On Me, one of 1985's biggest hits) - Adam bit down on his lip, staring pensively at the sheets in front of him. The free agency class coming into this summer wasn't the strongest, and most higher names (Isiah Thomas, Herb Williams, Rolando Blackman, Kelly Tripucka, Tom Chambers to name a few) were restricted agents. Mark Aguirre from Atlanta, maybe. Or Mitch Kupchak from San Antonio. He needed -something-.
The season finished up in an exciting fashion. In the East, Boston finished up with their 3rd highest record of all time, at an impressive 63-19. Philadelphia was second, at 61-21, while Detroit was third at 52-30. Indiana ranked 4th, at 49-33, while Chicago had fought it's way into playoff contention at 45-37. The Knicks were 6th at 40-42, Washington 7th at 34-48, and Milwaukee, tied with the same record (but they lost the season series). Atlanta was close at 9th, with a 32-50 record, while Cleveland was 10th at 31-51. The Nets were going to miss the playoffs for the second year in the row, with a 20-62 record. In the West, Los Angeles had set history in two major ways- 1st, Magic Johnson became the second player in history to average a triple double, with a 23.6 ppg, 11.4 apg, 10.0 rpg statline to finish the season (with 35 triple doubles in the season), 2nd, they finished with the best record in history at 71-11. Utah won the Midwest division, coming in at second in the conference with a 57-25 record, while Houston had come in 3rd at 52-30, thanks to the new additions of Alvan Adams, Larry Drew, and rookie Hakeem Olajuwon. Golden State was 4th at 50-32 (Barkley, Carroll, Rivers, King, and Pierce being one of the most effective offenses in the league), while San Antonio was 5th at 45-37, Seattle 6th at 43-39, Los Angeles (Clippers) 7th at 35-47, and the Denver Nuggets 8th at 34-48.
The first match-up put Philadelphia up against Washington. They won the first two games at home, behind some excellent play from Moses Malone, and the next on the road following a scoring explosion from Clyde Drexler that saw him post 21 points in the second half for a total of 29, however Washington managed to steal Game 4 at home, following a 32 point 6 rebound game from Washington point guard Dennis Johnson, but Philadelphia won back at home in a Game 5 98-84 victory behind another great game from Clyde Drexler, with 22 points, 4 assists, and 9 rebounds. Boston managed to sweep Milwaukee (despite Ford putting up an impressive 22.8 ppg with 11.3 assists) while Los Angeles swept Denver. Chicago managed to steal Game 1 against Indiana, but Indiana ended up winning in 6 (though Jordan managed to fight his heart out, with a 41 point 7 rebound 6 assist 3 block game in the 93-102 point loss in Game 6). Detroit won a hard fought 7 game series against New York, thanks in large part to a monster Game 7 performance from Bill Laimbeer, posting 44 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks with just 1 turnover in 43 minutes played. San Antonio beat Golden State in 6 - thanks in large part to Ricky Pierce going out with a broken hand in Game 2 - while Seattle beat Houston in 7 (with Seattle's Dominique Wilkins going for 52 in Game 2) and Utah beat the Clippers in 5.
The second round saw Philadelphia up against the hot shot Detroit squad.
Boston the third time in 4 years.
With Detroit leading going into half during Game 1, Kermit Washington came off the bench for 13, while Erving dropped 27, and Philadelphia took the victory winning 111-97. They controlled Game 2, leading the entire game behind another impressive 25 point outing from Erving as they won 93-86. Detroit came back in Game 3, as Laimbeer dropped 27 points, 2 blocks, and 18 rebounds along side Andrew Toney's 28 and Isiah Thomas's 22 (with 9 assists and 3 steals). Interviewewed after the game, Thomas was excited; "I think we could beat these guys. They're a great team, but I think we've got the match-ups down perfectly." Detroit won again in Game 4, this time behind Isiah's 35 point 10 assist 5 rebound 7 steal monster performance, winning 114-100 despite Philadelphia leading 28-14 coming out of the 1st quarter. Coming into Game 5, three different games were tied 2-2; Boston-Indiana, Philadelphia-Detroit, and Seattle-Utah (Los Angeles had swept San Antonio 4-0). Philadelphia rallied back to win Game 5, Drexler leading the charge again with 26 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, but Detroit rallied right back in Game 6, with Laimbeer going for 20 points (alongside 18 rebounds and 3 blocks) as Thomas dropped 23 points with 9 assists. Game 7 was in Philadelphia. Everything was going perfect; Philadelphia led 76-73 going into the 4th, Erving was 6-17 with 18 points, Worthy had dropped 10 off the bench. But Andrew Toney was having one of those magic nights- and boy did it get magical. Philadelphia was outscored 23-36 in the 4th quarter, and Toney finished with a personal playoff high 39 points on 8-15 shooting with 21-26 free throws made as Detroit won 109-99. Philadelphia would be out of the conference finals for the first time in three years.
Seattle pulled a major upset, breaking the pockets of tons of Vegas bettors behind some incredible play from core cast Dominique Wilkins, Maurice Cheeks, and center Mike Gminski, and won against second-seed Utah in 6, becoming the second-highest seed in history (6) to reach the conference finals, and the highest in the West. Wilkins, in just his third year, was averaging a playoffs high 32.2 ppg (both in terms of personal best and across all players for the '85 playoffs) alongside 5.3 assists and 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks. The Celtics successfully dispatched the Pacers in 6 as well, and the respective conference finals were set.
Boston took Game 1 in the East, and the Lakers Game 1 in the West (despite Dominique Wilkins 43 point explosion), however both Seattle and Detroit managed to strike back to win Game 2 (with Toney dropping 34 points and 8 rebounds in Detroit's 104=96 win over Boston). Both Los Angeles and Boston came back and won Game 3, with Larry Bird dropping 50 points alongside 7 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal (with just 1 turnover in 45 minutes) for a 121-102 point win over Detroit. Laimbeer, in that same game, had 44 points, 22 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while Thomas had 24 points with 15 assists. It was Terry Tyler, the teams starting center, who was their biggest gap, scoring 0 points in his 34 minutes on the court. Detroit and Seattle both came back to win Game 4- Wilkins scoring 33, Thomas scoring 35 - and each series was tied 2-2. For the two monsters of each conferences, expected to coast their way to the finals (except pundits who thought Boston might've struggled against Philadelphia, who they were tied 3-3 with for the season series) to be in this position was remarkable, especially Los Angeles against a -6 seed-.
Los Angeles and Boston each came back to win Game 5, despite Dominique Wilkin's 32 and Andrew Toney's 38, but Detroit came back to steal Game 6 at home, winning 106-104 despite Larry Bird going for 47. Los Angeles won Game 6 at Cray Arena with a dominating 27 point 21 assist 12 rebound triple double (fitting for the season) display by Magic Johnson, despite Wilkin's 37 point 6 rebound 6 assist game.
Game 7 was at TD Garden. The Boston squad- arguably the best in years- composed of Eddie A. Johnson at the point, Danny Ainge at shooting guard, a flourishing Robert Parish at center, an even more talented Kevin McHale at power forward, and a league-best contender Larry Bird at small forward, with Foots Walker, Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellogg, and Nate Archibald coming off the bench (amongst others). Detroit- featuring a quickly developing Isiah Thomas, a prime Bill Laimbeer, a talented Andrew Toney at shooting guard, rookie Otis Thorpe at power forward and 7th year team veteran Terry Tyler at small forward plus bench players Billy Knight, Caldwell Jones, and Lonnie Shelton coming off the bench. It was one of the best eastern conference game 7s of the decade. Boston ended up winning, with a giant 38-28 4th point quarter helping them win 124-115 behind Bird's 37 points and Parish's 24 point 13 rebound game. Thomas had 23, Toney had 35 (up against Boston's arguable worst starting player, Danny Ainge), and Laimbeer had 10 points alongside 7 rebounds in the unfortunate loss.
The finals was set; Boston vs Los Angeles for the first time in three years. Boston was 8-0 against the Lakers in the Finals, though the heavily decorated Los Angeles team were the clear favorites going into the series. But surprisingly, Boston came in fierce, taking the lead in the third quarter of Game 1 following a 52-44 Lakers first half behind Kevin McHale's 45 points and 11 rebounds and Larry Bird's 36 points 9 rebounds 5 assists 5 steals. Magic had 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in the 103-115 point loss to Boston, while World B. Free was second on the team with 22. Magic came back with a triple double in Game 2, dropping 29 points, 10 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, and 12 rebounds in a 118-107 point win over Boston, while McHale had 31. Game 3 was back in Boston; Bird had 29, Eddie A. Johnson had 22, and Parish had 16 rebounds in a 96-91 point win over Los Angeles in which World B. Free dropped 31 behind 11-17 shooting. That shooting remained consistent, with Free going 10-15 in a 34 point performance during Game 4 where Kareem had 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 blocks, while Magic had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 117-112 point win over Boston at TD Garden. Boston won a tight game 5, with Bird putting up 26 points and 10 rebounds (despite Free's second-in-a-row 34 point game) in a 107-106 win at home, before Los Angeles won Game 6 behind Magic's 31 point 15 assist 10 rebound triple double.
Game 7 was at the Staples Center. Los Angeles was the obvious favorite, with their impressive season record and the home court advantage, but Bird had other plans. Boston took a commanding 53-38 lead going into the half, and kept up their game-play throughout the game, with Bird posting 40 points (on 14/28 shooting), 4 assists, and 14 rebounds, while Parish had 15 points (on 7/8) and 15 rebounds, and McHale had 17 (on 8/10) and 8. Magic had 28 points (going 8 for 23), 8 assists, and 8 rebounds in the Lakers 102-112 point loss to Boston, but Kareem (18 points; 7-18 shooting), Cliff Robinson, World B. Free (5-17 shooting, 19 points), and Buck Williams were held to just 44 combined points, and Los Angeles watched Larry Bird hoist up his second championship trophy in 3 years, now 2-0 against rival Magic Johnson in the Finals. Larry Bird took home the Finals MVP award for the second time, and Boston fans across the world went wild.
Adam Lehner sighed from his living room, not having bothered to attend the game. It was exciting, sure, but he didn't want to watch another team win, not again. He needed to change this team back into winners.
Milwaukee won the #1 pick (their pick from Phoenix; obtained from Boston in the Eddie A. Johnson trade), while Dallas took #2, New York #3 (originally obtained from Kansas City, traded for Bob Gross), Portland 4, New Jersey 5, Atlanta 6, and New Jersey 7 (their pick from Cleveland; traded for Byron Scott). To no one's surprise, Magic Johnson won MVP having posted 23.6 ppg, 11.4 apg, 10.0 rpg, 1.2 spg, and 0.8 bpg. The Clipper's Swen Nater won Defensive Player of the Year, behind 11.4 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks and 1.8 steals (plus 3.5 assists and 17.2 points), while Boston's Ralph Sampson took home 6th man of the year awards, posting 10.2 points per game, 1.2 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 0.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Michael Jordan was named the unanimous rookie of the year, becoming the first rookie to win Rookie of the Month every year of the season, while also leading his team in points per game, assists per game, steals per game, and blocks per game posting 24.3 points per game, 4.1 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks, and Pat Riley won Coach of the Year behind his incredible 71-11 season for the 4th time while Jerry West won Executive of the Year for the second time.
- The Laker's Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins (posting 28.4 ppg, 4.1 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in just his third year in the league), Portland's Tom Chambers (posting 20.3 points per game, 2.6 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks), and the Laker's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22.2 ppg, 3.8 assists, 11.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 4.0 blocks) were named to the All NBA First Team.
- Detroit's Isiah Thomas (22.9 ppg, 9.7 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, 0.8 bpg), Golden State's Ricky Pierce (24.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg), Boston's Larry Bird (26.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 8.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.2 bpg), Boston's Kevin McHale (17.2 ppg, 1.2 apg, 8.9 rpg, 0.3 spg, 2.6 bpg), and the Clipper's Swen Nater were named to the second team.
- Milwaukee's Phil Ford (22.4 ppg, 10.2 apg, 4.1 rpg, 0.8 spg, 0.4 bpg), Washington's Rolando Blackman (22.0 ppg, 4.4 apg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg), Philadelphia's Julius Erving (25.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.4 bpg), San Antonio's Mitch Kupchak (14.8 ppg, 1.1 apg, 9.0 rpg, 0.7 spg, 1.9 bpg), and Philadelphia's Moses Malone (20.6 ppg, 1.2 apg, 11.9 rpg, 1.3 spg, 1.9 bpg) made up the third team.
- The Laker's Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Boston's Larry Bird, Utah's Larry Nance (13.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 7.4 rpg, 1.2 spg, 3.3 bpg), and the Clipper's Swen Nater made up defense team one.
- The Knicks Michael Ray Richardson (15.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 2.0 spg, 0.7 bpg), Philadelphia's Clyde Drexler (16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 spg, 0.9 bpg), Philadelphia's Julius Erving, Milwaukee's Rick Mahorn (14.4 ppg, 1.8 apg, 7.0 rpg, 0.6 spg, 2.2 bpg), and the Rocket's Hakeem Olajuwon (14.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 9.8 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2.6 bpg) made up the All Defense team two.
- John Stockton from Philadelphia (9.3 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg), Michael Jordan from Chicago, Jerome Kersey from Chicago (6.8 ppg, 1.0 apg, 3.6 rpg, 0.7 spg, 0.6 bpg), Charles Barkley from Golden State (16.9 ppg, 1.3 apg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg), and Hakeem Olajuwon from Houston were picked for All Rookie team one.
- Vern Fleming from Denver (8.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.3 rpg, 0.6 spg, 0.2 bpg), Alvin Robertson from Seattle (12.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 0.6 bpg), Tony Campbell from Atlanta (4.5 ppg, 0.9 apg, 2.1 rpg, 0.5 spg, 0.2 bpg), Kevin Willis from Chicago (11.5 ppg, 1.1 apg, 8.7 rpg, 0.8 spg, 1.0 bpg), and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu from Cleveland (9.7 ppg, 0.7 apg, 7.8 rpg, 0.3 spg, 2.0 bpg) were picked for team two.
Going into next season, Lehner had a team where the average age was 30.1. In a league where youth was emerging as new teams began to grow, he still needed something else. That said, the team was great, and it -had- young talent, in Drexler, Worthy, and Stockton- maybe they just needed more of a focus.
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This season, we saw the emergence of some of the finest talent in decades. In a season of records all around, where the Los Angeles Lakers managed to set an all time highest win-loss record, and where Magic Johnson averaged a -triple double-, it's easy to overlook some of the smaller victories around the league. However for one team this season, toppling guys like Magic Johnson weren't even something they considered - they were more interested in just making the playoffs. Tonight we're going to take a trip to the Mecca of basketball - or the Mecca Arena, anyways, as we visit the team with the lowest fan attendance in the NBA - and arguably the biggest heart. I'm Slick Watts, and tonight we're going to Wisconsin on this edition of "Inside a Team - Milwaukee".
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It's July 29th, and I'm sitting with Mike Bantom at a relatively quiet bar in downtown Milwaukee on a Sunday afternoon. He's just signed a 32 million dollar 3 year deal - relatively good, given that he's 32 now and on the decline, having arguably peaked his rookie season when he won All-Rookie 1st team honors, the biggest accolade of his career thus far aside from his championship with Boston in 1981.
"One of the best teams I've ever seen" Bantom is saying, drinking a beer - a draft, nothing fancy, multi million dollar contracts aside - as I ask about him about the team. "Larry Bird was unstoppable. 35 points a game, 9.4 rebounds, and he's playing 34 minutes with one of the deepest benches in the league? Best MVP I've ever seen, I'll tell ya that." Bantom - a 6-9 power forward who won Silver on the 1972 US Basketball team against the Soviet Union - is surprisingly keen on his time in Boston, despite being a Philadelphia native. "Of course I had my skepticism. I didn't think I'd fit in. But K.C Jones was great, and I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Bantom - who averaged 6.7 points per game in 20 minutes off the bench that season - is coming into his second season in Milwaukee. He'll play 54 games here, before general manager ships him along-side a second round pick to Chicago for sharpshooter Mike Harper. But for now, he's happy, and confident about the season. The team - which went 26-56 last season - is bound to see success. "We've got guys like me coming off the bench" he jokes, obviously ecstatic about his contract. "What can go wrong?"
What can indeed. After winning a championship in 1971, and going 49-33 in 79, winning their division and making it to the semifinals, the Bucks began a long fall down, going 39-43 in the season of 1980-81 (getting knocked out in a 4 game sweep in the first round by New Jersey, before going 30-52 in 82, 31-51 in 83, and 26-56 in 84. They lost superstars Mickey Johnson, Bob Lanier, and Sidney Moncrief, picking up instead players like Phil Ford, Rick Mahorn, Terry Cummings, and Dan Roundfield to round out their cast. Coach Don Nelson was hired, while Dick Motta was hired to fix the mess of things. 1984 seemed like a bright year going into the season.
Phil Ford claims he never wanted to be here. "I'm from North Carolina, man. I played for Kansas City. For Indiana. I wanted a big city, a big splash." The 6-2 27 year old point-guard is sitting with me in his back yard. It's August 3rd, and free agency is coming to a close. Ford, who was traded from Indiana for Bob Lanier, Chris Ford (no relation), and a 1st round pick, felt betrayed. "I had one of my best seasons in Indiana. Me and those guys, we was flourishin'. Herb Williams, James Edwards, Louis Orr, Roger Phegley- we could've really shaken up the East, I really think that." Instead, Ford found himself shipped to a team that wasn't even in the playoff picture, forced to sit on the sideline as Indiana made it to the playoffs year after year, while Milwaukee struggled to bring in fans.
"This year is gonna be different though. I truly think that. This year, we're gonna splash." Ford, who will be a free agent in the summer of '86 at 29, has every reason to want to splash: to get out of Milwaukee, he'll need to prove to the NBA he's worth all the hype. The one time All Star 1978 Rookie of the Year may hate the small town crowds, but the team certainly loves him.
Coach Dick Motta is happy to say as much. "He's the focal point of this offense. I like to run a high paced offense, with a lot of zone defense and more of a focus on smart ball movement than crashing defensive boards. Ford's a fast game, a great handler, and a relentless scorer and a passer. He's perfect, and he's going to take us to the playoffs this year."
We're sitting in his office - the season's closer now, it's the start of September, and many in the league are writing Milwaukee off as the probable worst team in the Eastern conference. Is Ford why the team is going to make the difference? "No. I mean, not just him. We've got two big guys with two big names: Terry Cummings and Rick Mahorn. Not to mention Marques Johnson."
The three are definitely good. Cummings averaged 11.9 points per game last season, alongside 8.4 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Mahorn averaged 18.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in the 26 games he played for Milwaukee last season (after being traded by Philadelphia for a 1st round pick and Mickey Johnson). Marques Johnson, meanwhile, has averaged around 18 points per game for almost his entire career, posting a career high 25.6 points per game his sophomore year of 1978, but being held to around 17.8 ever since. He's still an explosive offensive player, great at slashing to the basket and finishing strong. Together, this trio, alongside Phil Ford, hopes to revitalize a team that's fallen apart. And who's the 5th member of this motley squad, you ask?
"I really should not be here, man. Bad luck, if you ask me." 6-8 power forward Dan Roundfield sighs as we walk the streets outside Mecca Arena - hardly anyone on the street seems to notice us, despite our height, and I wonder if anyone in this city even watches basketball anymore. "Atlanta needed a point-guard. I was being stupid, running my mouth off to Jerry Sloan - the new coach for Atlanta - and he didn't like it. He told me I was expendable. Guess I was." Roundfield was shipped to Milwaukee for young guard Dennis Johnson and a second round pick, and suddenly the three time All Star found himself in rural Wisconsin. "Of course my play went down. I felt betrayed." Roundfield, once a sThetar in the league, averaged a career low 8.1 points per game, and missed 22 games that season for a series of minor injuries, starting only 34 of 60 games. He rebounded a career low 5.3 rebounds per game, and didn't even seem to care. This season, the coach hopes things will be different.
"Phil Ford at point-guard. Marques Johnson at shooting guard. They pass back and forth, Dan Roundfield plays defense and gets rebounds at small forward, Terry Cummings does the same and runs the post, Mahorn stays glued to the basket, getting baskets and converting any offensive boards. Paul Thompson comes in as a scoring small forward off the bench, Dave Corzine provides some traditional center time, Alvin Scott snipes threes. Why shouldn't that work?" General manager Larry Costello is sitting at his desk as we look through some of his old pictures from when he coached the Bucks in the 70s. Him and Kareem - the championship trophy - the banner. "It brought life to this city. I don't know what's happened."
The team starts off terrible. "Embarassing" as assistant coach Bob Dandridge puts it. They were 3-10, looking lost and confused, having lost to teams like New York, Indiana, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, Boston, Golden State, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Houston. There was one good thing going on; Phil Ford. He'd had at least 20 points in all except 2 of those games, posting 30 plus in four of them, and was averaging 10.4 assists per game to start the season. He was playing some of the best basketball in the Central division, and people were noticing. On December 7th, he'd have one of the only high-lights of the season, posting a 41 point 12 assist 10 rebound triple double in a 108-97 point win over Philadelphia. "Get a real guard. Go Ford." The billboard outside the arena was about as cocky as they got.
Rick Mahorn loved it. "Ford is something else. He's on another level, man! Reminds me of Erving. Like, if Erving took that shot, and he sent it sideways - like a pass, y'know?" Mahorn's chattering away at me - he'd been having a good season of his own, having been averaging 14.4 points a game alongside 7 rebounds, finally having gotten a starting role of his own (after having been a crucial part of Philadelphia's championship run, coming off the bench). The forward is the life of the team, always chipper and merry, and always ready to destroy his body for the good of the team. He was the guy that dived into the crowd for a rebound, who didn't mind taking an elbow or sending one out for the team. He was suspended towards the end of December for a rowdy argument with Michael Jordan in a Milwaukee loss to Chicago that saw him headbutt the budding superstar in the face. It didn't matter to the team. He was an enforcer, and a hard player. "I love it here, man. Some of these guys - they hate the small town. Me? I love it! We're like hollywood celebrities out here, man!"
He was definitely right - there wasn't exactly too much else going on, though often times fans overlooked basketball for football with Green Bay so close by. Despite their issues, the team would go on to become a dominant force, pushing teams apart as they snuck into the playoffs over Cleveland with the 8th seed. In the first round, they'd match-up against Larry Bird and the Celtics, getting swept in a dominating performance by the masterful team - who'd go on to win the championship. It didn't matter though. They'd shown they could get that far, that they were on the rise.
"We've got a great young cast, and I'm excited to see where they go." Coach Motta is packing up a few things in his office, getting ready for a probably much needed vacation. "Just watch. Next season, we're gonna be something else."
Something else? "Next season, man. Next season we're gonna win." Rick Mahorn has a grin on his face, as Phil Ford rolls his eyes; we're walking out of a resturant as I finish up my last meeting with the duo, at least for this special. "Milwaukee Bucks, man. Former NBA champions! Future perennial dynasty. Right, Phil?"
"Future something, man."
Future something indeed. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Milwaukee edition".
The Hall of Fame ceremony for Bob Lanier was sweet and warming. Dave Bing - riding a several year broadcasting contract - came to speak at his former team mate's ceremony, sharing a ton of memories dating back to 1970. Lanier - who came back the previous season to finish his career in Detroit - did a physical "passing of the torch" ceremony as young star Bill Laimbeer happily shook his hand on stage.
Cleveland fired their entire coaching staff. Billy Cunningham, despite an incredible playoffs performance, found himself on the hunt for a job once again. Golden State followed suit, as Bill Russell found himself without a job after just one year with the team. New Jersey also fired young coach Mike Krzyzewski, while Portland took perhaps the most drastic measure, firing their entire staff, including GM Bill Walton as well as Don Nelson. Seattle finished construction on their new arena, Cray Arena, and San Diego officially moved to Los Angeles, playing in the Staples Center alongside the Lakers. Sidney Wicks would take over as Portland's GM, while in a move that devastated Philadelphia fans, Billy Cunningham signed on as the New Jersey head coach. Golden State picked up Jack Ramsay, and Cleveland signed Mike Krzyzewski. Don Nelson signed on with New Jersey as an assistant coach, while Al Attles signed with Golden State and Bill Russell signed with Cleveland (as assistant coaches), while Portland signed former player Rick Adelman as head coach.
Lehner worked out a handful of rookies, including Stockton, Jay Humphries, Vern Fleming, Alvin Robertson, Michael Jordan, Michael Holton, Charles Barkley, Leon Wood, Othell Wilson, Danny Young, Steve Colter, and Ralph Jackson. The media was centered -all around- the young trio of Jordan, Barkley, and Olajuwon. Magic called Jordan a "future all star in this league, no doubt." When asked about Hakeem, Moses showered him with praise. "He's a great rebounder, a great post player. I don't see why he wouldn't go #1." Drexler had played with Hakeem in Houston, while Worthy had played with Jordan in North Carolina, so both were quick to testify to the talent of those players. And boy did Houston love Hakeem, coming off his ridiculous Phi Slamma Jamma season. His predictions ran true; Houston took Hakeem Olajuwon at 1, and Chicago picked Michael Jordan at 2. Golden State grabbed Charles Barkley at 3, and so Lehner found himself with a wide variety of options at 4. He went with his gut; John Stockton, the 6-1 point guard out of Gonzaga. Dallas selected Lancaster Gordon out of Louisville, a move draft commentators called absolutely bizarre, while Rick Carlisle went to Portland at 6. Chicago shipped their 7th pick and Michael Cooper for Indiana's Louis Orr, Lonnie Shelton, and a 1986 first round pick, which Indiana used to pick up Kevin Willis. Cleveland picked up a Turkish center, Ya'kub Ihsanoglu, a 23 year old 7'1 player, while Stuart Gray went to San Diego at 9. New York shipped George McGinnis and a 1st round pick for New Jersey's Bob Gross, and Detroit took Otis Thorpe at 10- a player projected to go much higher, though incidents with police officers soured him on others. Alvin Robertson went to Seattle at 11, and Vern Fleming went to Denver at 12. Chicago shipped Lonnie Shelton right away - alongside Billy Knight and Ken Richardson, for Detroit's Geoff Huston and a second round pick, and then drafted Jerome Kersey. New Jersey took Michael Cage, Los Angeles shipped Randy Wittman and Dirk Minniefeld for Alton Lister, and Kansas City took Sam Bowie at 15. Sam Perkins went to Seattle at 16, while Tony Campbell went to Atlanta at 17 and Jay Humphries went to Utah at 18. Ben Coleman went to Atlanta again, at 19, and Tim McCormick went to Washington at 20. Mel Turpin went to Milwaukee at 21, Michael Holton to Golden State at 22, and Ron Anderson to Boston at 23. The rest of the draft was relatively unexciting- Kansas City traded Craig Ehlo for Indiana's Terry Teagle, Los Angeles gave up Darren Daye for Cleveland's Bob Hansen- but this class would be remembered as one of the most loaded for ages to come.
Lehner had found a new starting point guard. Larry Drew, while a consistent and great asset to the team, had served his purpose. The summer team, led by Stockton and Worthy, had decent success, going 2-2. Stockton had 14 points with 15 assists in his first game, 13 points and 9 assists in his second, 13 points and 13 assists in his third, and 13 points and 13 assists in his 4th. He was perfect. Free agency was a bore; Dallas signed Darryl Dawkins, Monti Davis, and Gerald Henderson, perhaps eager to learn Philadelphia's secrets, while Houston signed Joe Meriweather, Washington signed Wayne Robinson. Philadelphia re-signed bench riders Reggie Carter, Scott May, and Joey Hassett, Indiana signed Campy Russell, and Boston signed an aging Nate Archibald to a one year contract (perhaps looking to follow in Jo Jo White's lead). The Jazz signed Mark Eaton, in potentially the biggest move of the free agency, to a 3 year contract, while the Lakers picked up Jawann Oldham for a year contract.
Going into training camp, Larry Drew fought hard to prove he deserved to be a starter. Adam actually felt bad. But Stockton was just -such- a naturally talented passer. Philadelphia grabbed free agent Paul Westphal (having aged through his prime, now 34 years old) and moved into the season with high aspirations. Before the season started, with sad reluctance- but wishing to give him the best chance to flourish in his career- Lehner sent Larry Drew and a second round pick to Houston for Keith Herron and Houston's 1985 plus 1987 first round pick. After three years with the team, he was gone.
It was a new era for the NBA. David Stern had taken over as commissioner, succeeding Larry O'Brien. The Lakers were expected to win again, with the addition of former Kansas City power forward Buck Williams, while Boston looked to dominate the East, having added Eddie A. Johnson from Milwaukee to their roster. In Chicago, an exciting saga was set to begin behind the efforts of young rookie Michael Jordan, while in Houston, a scorned Larry Drew began practicing with rookie Hakeem Olajuwon as they began preparing for the new year as Houston came off a 32-50 season. Golden State looked good, despite finishing near the bottom of the league the year before at 25-57; the combined squad of Bernard King, Doc Rivers, Joe Barry Carroll, Ricky Pierce, and Charles Barkley seemed absolutely dominant.
Starting line-up:
Coach Chuck Daly
- 206-152* (.575; 4th highested among coaches), 1 championship, 2 playoffs.
- A fly guy with a flash for style, and a tendency towards riding his players hard, Daly relies on a deep bench, running 9-10 players typically, while working a strong guard to center based offense. He's all about rebounds, and focuses less on zone defense and more on isolating the other team's best players, and holding them out. A big fan of Malone, he's liked by the whole team and revered in the league as "Daddy Rich", thanks to his fashion and swagger.
*- (win-loss records for coaches post 1980)
PG: John Stockton
- 6-1, 22, R, 4th pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, from Gonzaga University.
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- Stockton is an archetypal pass-first point guard. With great vision, incredible quickness, and tons of potential for his ball handling ability, he's capable of handling 1-on-1's with defenders effortlessly. Looking to cement his role in the franchise his rookie season, Stockton joins a seasoned cast; hopefully he grows quick enough to keep up. His passing and stealing, by far his strongest skills, will be vital on a team that needs to learn how to run the offense at a more planned out rate.
SG: Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 23, 1 year experience, 3rd pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, from Houston University.
- Career-best 32 points, 10 assists, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 8 steals.
- 9 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games (82 started), 33.0 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 5.0 rpg (3.5 d, 1.4 o), 2.0 spg, 0.7 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- Coming into this season, Drexler's All Defense 1st team selection (in his rookie year!) helps solidify him as one of the premiere defensive guards in the league right now. When he sets his mind to shutting down an opponent, he's capable of limiting even the most explosive players in the league to low scoring numbers. An underrated three point shooter, he's also a reliable scorer, and a great third option on offense.
SF: Julius Erving
- 6-7, 34, 8 years experience in the NBA, 12th pick in the 1976 draft, from the University of Massachussetts-Amherst.
- Career-best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 93 double-doubles, 197 p.o.t.gs, 31 player of the weeks, 8 player of the months, 3 All-Star games, 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 33.4 mpg, 24.9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 5.1 rpg (4.2 d, 0.9 o), 2.5 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.8 topg (a career low!)
- Erving is aging. It's finally happened, and the decline has started, albeit at a relatively slow rate. The captain of a powerful squad, Erving still is more than capable of leading the team both with his play and his strategic mindset. An explosive scorer, he's a serious threat at any point in the game, and undoubtedly Philadelphia's most coveted player.
PF: Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 27, 3 years experience in the NBA, 14th pick in the 1981 NBA draft, from Penn State.
- Career-best 34 points, 8 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 steals.
- 96 double-doubles, 7 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 30.2 mpg, 12.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 9.2 rpg (a career high- 7.2 d, 2.1 o), 1.4 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.3 topg.
- With a competitive spirit and a knack for making his team better, Brickowski is for sure of the most underrated steals from 1981's draft (with guys like Lewis Lloyd and Jay Vincent, being drafted ahead of him). A consistent rebounder with a flare for scoring, his height allows him to play power forward with ease, where at times, he drifts around the court with the handling skill of a guard. Coming into his prime, Brickowski is another excellent member of the team, and one who Lehner hopes to keep for the duration of his career.
C: Moses Malone-
- 6-10, 29, 8 years experience in the NBA, undrafted, from the ABA.
- Career-best 50 points, 8 assists, 23 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals.
- 274 double-doubles, 149 p.o.t.gs, 16 player of the weeks, 7 player of the months, 4 All-Star Games.
- Last season's stats: 75 games played (75 started), 33.5 mpg, 24.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 9.8 rpg (6.3 d, 3.9 o), 1.3 spg, 2.1 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- An incredible athlete with a knack for bad decision making, Malone has shown himself to be at a MVP level, though struggled the season before with a series of minor injuries that brought down his statistical output significantly. Coming into this season, Malone hopes to capitalize on his size and increase his rebounding output back into double-digits, while remaining a consistent scoring option. Just because he was a little rusty the season before doesn't make him arguably the best center in the league still; he was voted to the All-League 2nd team the year before none-the-less, and was an All Star Game starter. The second go-to on the offense, and the heart of the defense.
6th Man: Kermit Washington
- 6-8, 33, 12 years experience in the NBA, 5th pick in the 1972 NBA draft, from American University.
- Career-best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 106 double doubles, 18 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star appearance, 1 triple double.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (0 started), 22.9 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 6.1 rpg (4.3 d, 1.8 o), 0.6 spg, 1.9 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- The aging Washington remains an excellent go-to option off the bench. A player good enough to start on several teams, he's the perfect charge to help accelerate the bench, and a reliable rebounder for an otherwise sparse defensive second option bench.
7th: James Worthy
- 6-9, 24, 2 years experience in the NBA, 10th pick in the 1982 NBA draft, from University of North Carolina.
- Career-best 31 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 steals.
- 1 p.o.t.g.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (35 started), 23.5 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.2 rpg (2.5 d, 0.7 o), 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.2 topg.
- The largest issue with James Worthy is that he's going to get good; a rhythmic shooter (not the best spot-up, making most of his shots moving towards the basket) who can get to the line well. He's got the versatility to guard on the perimeter and the post, and knows how to read a defense well, knowing when to pull up, when to drive, and when to pass. As he grows in skill, the issue of either putting him into a starting role (over Drexler, Erving, or Brickowski though? not likely) or trading him to another team grows more and more of a concern. Lehner loves the guy, but he definitely doesn't want to impede his growth- and he'd definitely be a valuable trade piece.
8th: Mickey Johnson
- 6-10, 32, 10 years experience in the NBA, 31st pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Aurora University.
- Career-best 32 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 steals.
- 32 double doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 81 games played (0 started), 12.9 mpg, 6.0 ppg, 0.6 apg, 2.8 rpg (1.8 d, 1.0 o), 0.5 spg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 topg.
- A good bench player acquired from Milwaukee, Johnson can provide solid minutes of relief while playing consistent defense and holding down the court. Very good at scoring in the low block, with a great touch, he's a good on the ball defender and even better at anticipating passing lanes thanks to good fundamentals and a great understanding of the game. A seasoned veteran, reliable option.
9th: Jim McElroy
- 6-3, 31, 10 years experience in the NBA, 37th pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Central Michigan University.
- Career-best 25 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (1 started), 12.9 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 rpg (0.8 d, 0.1 o), 0.2 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.9 topg.
- The biggest risk on the court, but unfortunately, the team's only other option, McElroy will have to play decent this season in order to help the young rookie Stockton grow and flourish. A mediocre back-up, McElroy is a hard team player none-the-less and a great locker-room presence, having been on 5 different teams in his career and having played with some of the best players in the league. Never appears tired, with great conditioner and work ethic for his age, but could use some work in terms of his handling abilities.
Other bench players: Scott May, Paul Westphal, Keith Herron, Joey Hassett, Reggie Carter.
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Game 1 went exactly as planned. Daly called it "the perfect start to what's going to be a perfect season". Malone had 22 points with 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 steals. Erving dropped 21 and 8, Brickowski dropped 12 and 13, Drexler had 11, 6, and 4, and Stockton had 11 points with 13 assists in 35 minutes during his first game in the NBA. That same day, rookie Charles Barkley dropped 6 points with 15 rebounds in a Golden State 102-94 win over Portland, while the Lakers lost their first game of the season in a Western conference finals rematch against Utah; Griffith had 23, Dantley had 20, and Nancy dropped 17. "World B. Free will be out for another three and a half months" Coach Riley was quoted as saying after the game. "We're working with a new cast [in reference to new starting forward Buck Williams- John Drew had taken over the shooting guard position, and Cliff Robinson had dropped down to small forward] and we're figuring things out." Coach Baylor, meanwhile, was ecstatic. "This is our year- just you wait. This is our year!" Boston won it's first game of the season, Bird dropping 26 points with 10 rebounds in a 118-107 win over Detroit, as Toney hit 28 while Thomas went 15 and 11. New addition Eddie A. Johnson had 25 points in his first start with the game. The next day, rookies Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan each hit jaw-dropping milestones of their own, as Olajuwon dropped 18 points, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and -21 rebounds- (the most ever recorded by a rookie in his starting game) in a 110-90 win over cross-town rival San Antonio, while Jordan dropped 35 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds in his own first appearance in a 124-94 win over Atlanta at home in Chicago.
In a November 10th match-up against his former team, Mark Eaton had 12 points and -24 rebounds- in a 101 - 80 Utah win over Phoenix at the Salt Palace. NBA viewership was at an all time high. The rest of the month was equally exciting; narratives developed around the fledgling Chicago Bulls, led by team veteran Reggie Theus, young rookie Michael Jordan, reliable wing man Louis Orr, veteran center Artis Gilmore, and rookie Kevin Willis, as well as many other teams, including the Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Andrew Toney, rookie Otis Thorpe, and Phil Hubbard making it rain in the East-, the Golden State Warriors (who's squad of Barkley, Carroll, Pierce, King, and Rivers was doing an equally good job in the East), the Los Angeles Clippers - a team new to the L.A. scene, but who behind team captain Swen Nater was making themselves competitve again in the West -, the Utah Jazz (featured prominently in Inside a Team the year before, who were flourishing with new center Mark Eaton), and the Houston Rockets, who behind a combined front-court of Hakeem Olajuwon and Alvan Adams alongside newly added point guard Larry Drew were doing their best to make basketball competitive in Houston again. And of course, the continued domination of Boston and Los Angeles continued, while Philadelphia fought to stay competive. The stage was set for the season; glory awaited.
Philadelphia held it's own. As Magic and the Lakers thrived in the West (alongside the notable Utah Jazz following closely behind, as well as the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers), Boston thrived in the East- Detroit, a new team to the show, fought hard for second, and Philadelphia floated around third. Boston was actively trying to ship young thriving rookie Ralph Sampson; they offered him to Lehner for Clyde Drexler (a move he shot down). The Kings sent Trent Tucker, Bernard Thompson, Danny Vranes, and Jeff Cook for Seattle small forward Abdul Jelani, alongside a second round pick. The season rolled on. On December 22nd, 1984, in a 93-116 point loss to Los Angeles at the Staples Center (behind Magic's 19-12-11 triple double), Erving shot 7-27 for 26 points. Yes, he could score, but he was getting older; the team needed to expand. Drexler needed to shoot more, and Stockton needed to control the tempo better. He said as much to Dixon, who briefly floated the idea of firing Daly- "We -need- to make the most of this talented squad"- though Lehner shot that idea down. The next day, Stockton dropped 28 points, with 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and a steal on 12-13 shooting. The kid wasn't even that good of a shooter- it was just a sign from fate. The torch was passing on to the next generation. Drexler had 20, on 9 for 14 shooting, while Erving had 22- on 10 for 24. Lehner contemplated something crazy, something that could destroy the chemistry of the team- benching Erving for Worthy? It seemed too radical for now, but definitely something to consider.
By the beginning of the new year, the league was beginning to look entirely new. Gone were names like the New Jersey Nets, the Denver Nuggets, or the San Diego Clippers; Boston sat at the top of the East at 25-4, with Detroit second at 22-10, and Philadelphia third at 20-10. Indiana was 4th, at 19-12, while Cleveland was 5th at 17-13. Chicago, behind the forces of Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Artis Gilmore, and a young rookie Michael Jordan, had fought their way back into the playoff picture in 6th place at 13-18, while the Knicks were next up at 12-17. Atlanta was 8th, at 12-18, while Washington, Milwaukee, and New Jersey hovered in the bottom (Washington with an 8-23 record). In the West, the Lakers continued to reign king at 26-4, while the Jazz fought for contention with a close 23-6 for second. Golden State, 3rd at 21-10, had found success with Barkley, Pierce, Rivers, Carroll, and King, while Hakeem Olajuwon and Alvan Adams (who signed with Houston in the off-season) were tearing it up alongside Larry Drew to put Houston in at 4th. Seattle followed at 5th, with a 15-15 record, while the newly moved Los Angeles Clippers sat at 15-16. San Antonio, down from the usual second, was in at 14-16, while Portland hovered in eigth at 12-17. Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, and Phoenix all sat in the bottom (Dallas with a 7-24 record, Phoenix a 6-24).
The league was on fire, and that fire burned for Magic Johnson. His face was everywhere, as the 25 year old reigning MVP came into January averaging 25.4 points per game, alongside a league-high 12.3 assists, and a career high 10.1 rebounds per game - yes, averaging a -triple double-. He had 18 in the season thus far, with 52 games to go. Larry Bird led in scoring, with 30.3 points per game, while Utah's Mark Eaton dominated the rebounds and blocks category, with 15.0 and 4.3 respectively. Erving - 10th in scoring behind names like Milwaukee's Phil Ford, Indiana's Herb Williams, Golden State's Ricky Pierce, Utah's Adrian Dantley, Detroit's Isiah Thomas, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins, and Los Angeles's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - might not even make the All Star game at this rate.
Age, man. What a trip.
On January 10th, 1985, at the Staples Center, Milwaukee power forward Rick Mahorn got into a punching match with Los Angeles center Swen Nater during a 98-90 win over the home Los Angeles Clippers team. Both were ejected from the game. Two days later during a Utah-Houston game, Utah back-up center Joe Cooper had to be physically pulled off Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon after a nasty foul saw the two beginning to brawl on the floor. David Stern was angry about the violence in the league. The fans loved it.
On , Chicago came to the Spectrum for an on the road game. While Philadelphia dominated them in the first half, an explosion by a young Michael Jordan late in the second saw Chicago leading 50-49 going into the half. Daly was empassioned once they reached the locker room. "Are you going to let these guys take this from us? A bunch of misfits led by an overhyped rookie? Are we really going to play like this? Why has Reggie Theus been to the line 6 times already? Why aren't you containing Jordan, Drexler? Don't answer me- just go out there and play. For real this time." Unfortunately, with 7:44 left in the 4th down 75-71, Stockton fouled out. In went Worthy. Philadelphia took a lead following a 8 point explosion from him, up 83-81 with 0:44 left. Kevin Willis had fouled out, and victory was all but assured- until Jordan (who had 5 steals in the game) stole a pass, and sent the ball up to Reggie Theus who took a hard foul. After sinking both free throws, Worthy tried to run down the clock again, but with 14 seconds left Jordan got another steal, running the ball up the court before a pass to Mike Harper and a last second three all but sealed the deal. Erving tried to run the ball up the court, but couldn't get a shot off as the buzzer sounded off, signalling the end of the 86-83 defeat. The locker room was silent, until suddenly, Erving just screamed, storming off. He'd had 28 on 10/20 shooting, a fairly good game, but had been one of the worst defensively, posting a +/- of -9.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
January 24th, 1984 - Titans Meet; Kareem Shines
In a match-up of the two respective East and West conferences, Boston and Los Angeles met at the Staples Center today for one of the most exciting games of the year. While Boston led going into the 4th, a dominant performance by Abdul-Jabbar saw the Lakers tear away in the 4th, winning 115-101. Kareem, who posted an impressive 20 point, 8 assist, 16 rebound, 2 steal, and -10 block- triple double, is currently 37 years old, the second oldest player in the league behind Elvin Hayes, yet he's still playing at an All Star level. Simply incredible.
Magic Johnson, who nearly recorded a triple double of his own with 27 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds, called the performance "legendary". Boston's coach, Phil Jackson, agreed that the performance was one of the greatest he'd seen all year.
Philadelphia will need to find a secret weapon to take on this squad. With World B. Free finally starting to play some minutes again following the long recovery from his torn achilles, this is a team that may go 70-12, with the combined star power of Kareem, Magic, World B. Free, John Drew, Cliff Robinson, Buck Williams, and role players such as Alton Lister, Jawann Oldham, Junior Bridgeman, and Billy McKinney making for an incredible team. Coach Pat Riley really has perfected one of the most incredible basketball squads of all time.
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All Star Weekend was held in Indiana. Coming in at second in the East (with Indiana, Chicago, and Detroit following closely behind) behind Boston, the team used the weekend to try and rest up for a rigorous remaining season. Wes Matthews won the dunk contest for the second time, while former 76er Monti Davis took home the 3 point honors. Clyde Drexler became the first two-time MVP award winner in the Rookie-Sophomore game, dropping 47 points as the Sophomore class took home the victory in an exciting 129-127 point win (John Stockton also dropped an impressive Rookie-Sophomore game high 20 assists to go along with 27 points). The All Star game came amidst a young generation laced with potential; this could be the last game for many playing in the East, and so they played with their entire hearts. Erving had 17 points in his start, while Malone had 14. Rookie starter Michael Jordan had 10, while Phil Ford had 22. Kevin McHale led the starters with the first ever All Star game triple double, posting an insane 39 points, with 2 assists, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocks. Bill Laimbeer had 10 off the bench, Atlanta's Otis Birdsong 7, Atlanta's Mark Aguirre had 3, Washington's Rolando Blackman had 13, Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka had 3, while Sleepy Floyd and Cliff Levingston failed to score (though neither took a shot). The East won 138-122, never giving up the lead after a dominating 45-31 second quarter. Magic led the West in scoring, with 24 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Ricky Pierce, Kareem, Alvan Adams, and Dominique Wilkins made up the other starters. George Gervin came off the bench, as did Adrian Dantley, rookie Hakeem Olajuwon, Swen Nater, Tom Chambers, Fat Lever, and Justin Johnson.
There had been quite a few trades, as per usual; the Nuggets had sent Steve Hawes and a 1st round pick for Seattle's James Bailey. The Clippers gave up a first round pick for Boston's Randy Breuer. The Suns sent former All Star Brad Davis to Indiana for Kevin Grevey, while the Kings sent a 1st round pick and Reggie King for New York's Bob Gross (still being traded around, poor Bob). Portland sent Calvin Natt and a 1st round pick for New Jersey's 1st round pick in 85 and Maurice Lucas, while Phoenix made another move, sending Mike Bratz and a 1st round pick for Dallas's Darrell Walker and Lancaster Gordon. Utah sent Jay Vincent and Wayne Cooper for Los Angeles's 1st round pick (courtesy of Kansas City) and their own 1st round pick in 86 as well as Terry Teagle, while the Bulls shipped Mike Harper for Milwaukee's Mike Bantom and a 2nd round pick. Detroit sent Phil Hubbard to Atlanta for Caldwell Jones and a 2nd round pick, while Indiana sent David Greenwood to New York for Scott Wedman and a 2nd round pick. Finally, the Bulls sent Rory Sparrow and a 2nd round pick for New York's Peter Gudmundsson.
Boston's Clark Kellog was set to return from a broken hand relatively soon, by the end of February, as was Detroit's Andrew Toney (from a broken arm). Alvan Adams was out with severe back pains, while Hakeem had suffered a pretty nasty concussion. Kansas City's Justin Johnson had a broken leg, while recently acquired Bob Gross had come with a broken wrist, set to return at the end of March. New Jersey's Bob McAdoo had a broken wrist, while sophomore Cliff Levingston had a broken leg (having actually been selected for the All Star game originally). San Antonio's Gene Banks had a torn achilles, and Seattle's Jeff Malone had a broken arm.
On February 23rd, 1985, Philadelphia played the Los Angeles Clippers. Erving had 40 points, while Malone had 24; towards the end of the game, amidst a 40-20 point 4th quarter (in a 108-140 point win over Los Angeles) Swen Nater had a hard foul on Malone (who had done something similar to him in 1980, causing him to go out for nearly a year with a torn ACL) sending him sliding across the floor with a look of pain. Both benches erupted, and Kermit Washington punched Tom Abernathy so hard he hit the court unconscious. He was suspended for eight games.
They won the next game regardless - a surprisingly close 133-123 point win over the home-town New Jersey Nets, the Eastern Conference's worst team (thanks in large to a 4th quarter comeback fueled by Erving's 42). The rivalry had died down in recent years, though Bob McAdoo was as fierce as ever, putting up 29 points with 9 rebounds. Mickey Johnson, Scott May, and Jim McElroy - 3 major parts of the bench now - combined for 4 points and 4 assists in 46 combined minutes. Worthy, luckily, led the bench with 16 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes of gameplay, while Malone had 34 points with 10 rebounds. They won their next game too - another against the Nets, this game in Philadelphia - and Worthy dropped 20 off the bench (alongside Malone's 21 point 17 rebound 5 block display of excellence).
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
March 11th, 1985 - Philadelphia Emerges Champion in High-Profile Battle Against Lakers
In a game where Erving looked as fresh as ever, dropping 35 points on 15/25 shooting alongside 6 steals and 5 rebounds, Philadelphia beat Los Angeles here at home in a 106-100 point victory. Down 3 going into the half, Drexler had 9 of his 14 points in the third quarter, and Philadelphia ended up taking a late lead. When Los Angeles took a 4th quarter lead - with Magic Johnson, locked into his triple double of the season (with a 25 point, 12 rebound, 16 assist performance) rallying strongly - it was up to James Worthy to take the team home, as Erving fouled out. He ended up coming through, finishing the game with 16 points (Malone had 22, Drexler 14, and Stockton 9) to send Los Angeles down to a 53-11 record - still the leagues best.
When interviewed after the game, Erving called it "an incredible team performance. The bench was working hard, I was getting good looks thanks to excellent ball movement, and Malone played perfect D. These kinda games, man. This is why I play."
Lakers Coach Pat Riley called Erving one of his favorite players in the league, citing his explosiveness for scoring, and his tenacity on defense.
Philadelphia is now 47-17, second in the East behind Boston's 52-12. Detroit follows behind at 40-24, while Indiana's 5th at 39-25. The rest of the season should be exciting - stay tuned for more. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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Seated in a cluttered office in downtown Philadelphia, Adam found himself working harder than ever. The league was more competitive than ever, and Adam was quickly realizing the half-life of his once thriving team was quickly dwindling. Despite an incredible victory over Los Angeles a couple of days before hand, the team was still seen as secondary in the battle that was Los Angeles vs Boston. As the radio droned on - "I'll beeeee goneeee - with or without youuuuuuuuuu! (Take On Me, one of 1985's biggest hits) - Adam bit down on his lip, staring pensively at the sheets in front of him. The free agency class coming into this summer wasn't the strongest, and most higher names (Isiah Thomas, Herb Williams, Rolando Blackman, Kelly Tripucka, Tom Chambers to name a few) were restricted agents. Mark Aguirre from Atlanta, maybe. Or Mitch Kupchak from San Antonio. He needed -something-.
The season finished up in an exciting fashion. In the East, Boston finished up with their 3rd highest record of all time, at an impressive 63-19. Philadelphia was second, at 61-21, while Detroit was third at 52-30. Indiana ranked 4th, at 49-33, while Chicago had fought it's way into playoff contention at 45-37. The Knicks were 6th at 40-42, Washington 7th at 34-48, and Milwaukee, tied with the same record (but they lost the season series). Atlanta was close at 9th, with a 32-50 record, while Cleveland was 10th at 31-51. The Nets were going to miss the playoffs for the second year in the row, with a 20-62 record. In the West, Los Angeles had set history in two major ways- 1st, Magic Johnson became the second player in history to average a triple double, with a 23.6 ppg, 11.4 apg, 10.0 rpg statline to finish the season (with 35 triple doubles in the season), 2nd, they finished with the best record in history at 71-11. Utah won the Midwest division, coming in at second in the conference with a 57-25 record, while Houston had come in 3rd at 52-30, thanks to the new additions of Alvan Adams, Larry Drew, and rookie Hakeem Olajuwon. Golden State was 4th at 50-32 (Barkley, Carroll, Rivers, King, and Pierce being one of the most effective offenses in the league), while San Antonio was 5th at 45-37, Seattle 6th at 43-39, Los Angeles (Clippers) 7th at 35-47, and the Denver Nuggets 8th at 34-48.
The first match-up put Philadelphia up against Washington. They won the first two games at home, behind some excellent play from Moses Malone, and the next on the road following a scoring explosion from Clyde Drexler that saw him post 21 points in the second half for a total of 29, however Washington managed to steal Game 4 at home, following a 32 point 6 rebound game from Washington point guard Dennis Johnson, but Philadelphia won back at home in a Game 5 98-84 victory behind another great game from Clyde Drexler, with 22 points, 4 assists, and 9 rebounds. Boston managed to sweep Milwaukee (despite Ford putting up an impressive 22.8 ppg with 11.3 assists) while Los Angeles swept Denver. Chicago managed to steal Game 1 against Indiana, but Indiana ended up winning in 6 (though Jordan managed to fight his heart out, with a 41 point 7 rebound 6 assist 3 block game in the 93-102 point loss in Game 6). Detroit won a hard fought 7 game series against New York, thanks in large part to a monster Game 7 performance from Bill Laimbeer, posting 44 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks with just 1 turnover in 43 minutes played. San Antonio beat Golden State in 6 - thanks in large part to Ricky Pierce going out with a broken hand in Game 2 - while Seattle beat Houston in 7 (with Seattle's Dominique Wilkins going for 52 in Game 2) and Utah beat the Clippers in 5.
The second round saw Philadelphia up against the hot shot Detroit squad.
Boston the third time in 4 years.
With Detroit leading going into half during Game 1, Kermit Washington came off the bench for 13, while Erving dropped 27, and Philadelphia took the victory winning 111-97. They controlled Game 2, leading the entire game behind another impressive 25 point outing from Erving as they won 93-86. Detroit came back in Game 3, as Laimbeer dropped 27 points, 2 blocks, and 18 rebounds along side Andrew Toney's 28 and Isiah Thomas's 22 (with 9 assists and 3 steals). Interviewewed after the game, Thomas was excited; "I think we could beat these guys. They're a great team, but I think we've got the match-ups down perfectly." Detroit won again in Game 4, this time behind Isiah's 35 point 10 assist 5 rebound 7 steal monster performance, winning 114-100 despite Philadelphia leading 28-14 coming out of the 1st quarter. Coming into Game 5, three different games were tied 2-2; Boston-Indiana, Philadelphia-Detroit, and Seattle-Utah (Los Angeles had swept San Antonio 4-0). Philadelphia rallied back to win Game 5, Drexler leading the charge again with 26 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, but Detroit rallied right back in Game 6, with Laimbeer going for 20 points (alongside 18 rebounds and 3 blocks) as Thomas dropped 23 points with 9 assists. Game 7 was in Philadelphia. Everything was going perfect; Philadelphia led 76-73 going into the 4th, Erving was 6-17 with 18 points, Worthy had dropped 10 off the bench. But Andrew Toney was having one of those magic nights- and boy did it get magical. Philadelphia was outscored 23-36 in the 4th quarter, and Toney finished with a personal playoff high 39 points on 8-15 shooting with 21-26 free throws made as Detroit won 109-99. Philadelphia would be out of the conference finals for the first time in three years.
Seattle pulled a major upset, breaking the pockets of tons of Vegas bettors behind some incredible play from core cast Dominique Wilkins, Maurice Cheeks, and center Mike Gminski, and won against second-seed Utah in 6, becoming the second-highest seed in history (6) to reach the conference finals, and the highest in the West. Wilkins, in just his third year, was averaging a playoffs high 32.2 ppg (both in terms of personal best and across all players for the '85 playoffs) alongside 5.3 assists and 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks. The Celtics successfully dispatched the Pacers in 6 as well, and the respective conference finals were set.
Boston took Game 1 in the East, and the Lakers Game 1 in the West (despite Dominique Wilkins 43 point explosion), however both Seattle and Detroit managed to strike back to win Game 2 (with Toney dropping 34 points and 8 rebounds in Detroit's 104=96 win over Boston). Both Los Angeles and Boston came back and won Game 3, with Larry Bird dropping 50 points alongside 7 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal (with just 1 turnover in 45 minutes) for a 121-102 point win over Detroit. Laimbeer, in that same game, had 44 points, 22 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while Thomas had 24 points with 15 assists. It was Terry Tyler, the teams starting center, who was their biggest gap, scoring 0 points in his 34 minutes on the court. Detroit and Seattle both came back to win Game 4- Wilkins scoring 33, Thomas scoring 35 - and each series was tied 2-2. For the two monsters of each conferences, expected to coast their way to the finals (except pundits who thought Boston might've struggled against Philadelphia, who they were tied 3-3 with for the season series) to be in this position was remarkable, especially Los Angeles against a -6 seed-.
Los Angeles and Boston each came back to win Game 5, despite Dominique Wilkin's 32 and Andrew Toney's 38, but Detroit came back to steal Game 6 at home, winning 106-104 despite Larry Bird going for 47. Los Angeles won Game 6 at Cray Arena with a dominating 27 point 21 assist 12 rebound triple double (fitting for the season) display by Magic Johnson, despite Wilkin's 37 point 6 rebound 6 assist game.
Game 7 was at TD Garden. The Boston squad- arguably the best in years- composed of Eddie A. Johnson at the point, Danny Ainge at shooting guard, a flourishing Robert Parish at center, an even more talented Kevin McHale at power forward, and a league-best contender Larry Bird at small forward, with Foots Walker, Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellogg, and Nate Archibald coming off the bench (amongst others). Detroit- featuring a quickly developing Isiah Thomas, a prime Bill Laimbeer, a talented Andrew Toney at shooting guard, rookie Otis Thorpe at power forward and 7th year team veteran Terry Tyler at small forward plus bench players Billy Knight, Caldwell Jones, and Lonnie Shelton coming off the bench. It was one of the best eastern conference game 7s of the decade. Boston ended up winning, with a giant 38-28 4th point quarter helping them win 124-115 behind Bird's 37 points and Parish's 24 point 13 rebound game. Thomas had 23, Toney had 35 (up against Boston's arguable worst starting player, Danny Ainge), and Laimbeer had 10 points alongside 7 rebounds in the unfortunate loss.
The finals was set; Boston vs Los Angeles for the first time in three years. Boston was 8-0 against the Lakers in the Finals, though the heavily decorated Los Angeles team were the clear favorites going into the series. But surprisingly, Boston came in fierce, taking the lead in the third quarter of Game 1 following a 52-44 Lakers first half behind Kevin McHale's 45 points and 11 rebounds and Larry Bird's 36 points 9 rebounds 5 assists 5 steals. Magic had 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in the 103-115 point loss to Boston, while World B. Free was second on the team with 22. Magic came back with a triple double in Game 2, dropping 29 points, 10 assists, 1 block, 2 steals, and 12 rebounds in a 118-107 point win over Boston, while McHale had 31. Game 3 was back in Boston; Bird had 29, Eddie A. Johnson had 22, and Parish had 16 rebounds in a 96-91 point win over Los Angeles in which World B. Free dropped 31 behind 11-17 shooting. That shooting remained consistent, with Free going 10-15 in a 34 point performance during Game 4 where Kareem had 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 blocks, while Magic had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 117-112 point win over Boston at TD Garden. Boston won a tight game 5, with Bird putting up 26 points and 10 rebounds (despite Free's second-in-a-row 34 point game) in a 107-106 win at home, before Los Angeles won Game 6 behind Magic's 31 point 15 assist 10 rebound triple double.
Game 7 was at the Staples Center. Los Angeles was the obvious favorite, with their impressive season record and the home court advantage, but Bird had other plans. Boston took a commanding 53-38 lead going into the half, and kept up their game-play throughout the game, with Bird posting 40 points (on 14/28 shooting), 4 assists, and 14 rebounds, while Parish had 15 points (on 7/8) and 15 rebounds, and McHale had 17 (on 8/10) and 8. Magic had 28 points (going 8 for 23), 8 assists, and 8 rebounds in the Lakers 102-112 point loss to Boston, but Kareem (18 points; 7-18 shooting), Cliff Robinson, World B. Free (5-17 shooting, 19 points), and Buck Williams were held to just 44 combined points, and Los Angeles watched Larry Bird hoist up his second championship trophy in 3 years, now 2-0 against rival Magic Johnson in the Finals. Larry Bird took home the Finals MVP award for the second time, and Boston fans across the world went wild.
Adam Lehner sighed from his living room, not having bothered to attend the game. It was exciting, sure, but he didn't want to watch another team win, not again. He needed to change this team back into winners.
Milwaukee won the #1 pick (their pick from Phoenix; obtained from Boston in the Eddie A. Johnson trade), while Dallas took #2, New York #3 (originally obtained from Kansas City, traded for Bob Gross), Portland 4, New Jersey 5, Atlanta 6, and New Jersey 7 (their pick from Cleveland; traded for Byron Scott). To no one's surprise, Magic Johnson won MVP having posted 23.6 ppg, 11.4 apg, 10.0 rpg, 1.2 spg, and 0.8 bpg. The Clipper's Swen Nater won Defensive Player of the Year, behind 11.4 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks and 1.8 steals (plus 3.5 assists and 17.2 points), while Boston's Ralph Sampson took home 6th man of the year awards, posting 10.2 points per game, 1.2 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 0.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Michael Jordan was named the unanimous rookie of the year, becoming the first rookie to win Rookie of the Month every year of the season, while also leading his team in points per game, assists per game, steals per game, and blocks per game posting 24.3 points per game, 4.1 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks, and Pat Riley won Coach of the Year behind his incredible 71-11 season for the 4th time while Jerry West won Executive of the Year for the second time.
- The Laker's Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins (posting 28.4 ppg, 4.1 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in just his third year in the league), Portland's Tom Chambers (posting 20.3 points per game, 2.6 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks), and the Laker's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22.2 ppg, 3.8 assists, 11.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 4.0 blocks) were named to the All NBA First Team.
- Detroit's Isiah Thomas (22.9 ppg, 9.7 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, 0.8 bpg), Golden State's Ricky Pierce (24.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 0.5 bpg), Boston's Larry Bird (26.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 8.8 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.2 bpg), Boston's Kevin McHale (17.2 ppg, 1.2 apg, 8.9 rpg, 0.3 spg, 2.6 bpg), and the Clipper's Swen Nater were named to the second team.
- Milwaukee's Phil Ford (22.4 ppg, 10.2 apg, 4.1 rpg, 0.8 spg, 0.4 bpg), Washington's Rolando Blackman (22.0 ppg, 4.4 apg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.1 bpg), Philadelphia's Julius Erving (25.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.4 bpg), San Antonio's Mitch Kupchak (14.8 ppg, 1.1 apg, 9.0 rpg, 0.7 spg, 1.9 bpg), and Philadelphia's Moses Malone (20.6 ppg, 1.2 apg, 11.9 rpg, 1.3 spg, 1.9 bpg) made up the third team.
- The Laker's Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Boston's Larry Bird, Utah's Larry Nance (13.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 7.4 rpg, 1.2 spg, 3.3 bpg), and the Clipper's Swen Nater made up defense team one.
- The Knicks Michael Ray Richardson (15.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.4 rpg, 2.0 spg, 0.7 bpg), Philadelphia's Clyde Drexler (16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 spg, 0.9 bpg), Philadelphia's Julius Erving, Milwaukee's Rick Mahorn (14.4 ppg, 1.8 apg, 7.0 rpg, 0.6 spg, 2.2 bpg), and the Rocket's Hakeem Olajuwon (14.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 9.8 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2.6 bpg) made up the All Defense team two.
- John Stockton from Philadelphia (9.3 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg), Michael Jordan from Chicago, Jerome Kersey from Chicago (6.8 ppg, 1.0 apg, 3.6 rpg, 0.7 spg, 0.6 bpg), Charles Barkley from Golden State (16.9 ppg, 1.3 apg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg), and Hakeem Olajuwon from Houston were picked for All Rookie team one.
- Vern Fleming from Denver (8.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.3 rpg, 0.6 spg, 0.2 bpg), Alvin Robertson from Seattle (12.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 0.6 bpg), Tony Campbell from Atlanta (4.5 ppg, 0.9 apg, 2.1 rpg, 0.5 spg, 0.2 bpg), Kevin Willis from Chicago (11.5 ppg, 1.1 apg, 8.7 rpg, 0.8 spg, 1.0 bpg), and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu from Cleveland (9.7 ppg, 0.7 apg, 7.8 rpg, 0.3 spg, 2.0 bpg) were picked for team two.
Going into next season, Lehner had a team where the average age was 30.1. In a league where youth was emerging as new teams began to grow, he still needed something else. That said, the team was great, and it -had- young talent, in Drexler, Worthy, and Stockton- maybe they just needed more of a focus.
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This season, we saw the emergence of some of the finest talent in decades. In a season of records all around, where the Los Angeles Lakers managed to set an all time highest win-loss record, and where Magic Johnson averaged a -triple double-, it's easy to overlook some of the smaller victories around the league. However for one team this season, toppling guys like Magic Johnson weren't even something they considered - they were more interested in just making the playoffs. Tonight we're going to take a trip to the Mecca of basketball - or the Mecca Arena, anyways, as we visit the team with the lowest fan attendance in the NBA - and arguably the biggest heart. I'm Slick Watts, and tonight we're going to Wisconsin on this edition of "Inside a Team - Milwaukee".
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It's July 29th, and I'm sitting with Mike Bantom at a relatively quiet bar in downtown Milwaukee on a Sunday afternoon. He's just signed a 32 million dollar 3 year deal - relatively good, given that he's 32 now and on the decline, having arguably peaked his rookie season when he won All-Rookie 1st team honors, the biggest accolade of his career thus far aside from his championship with Boston in 1981.
"One of the best teams I've ever seen" Bantom is saying, drinking a beer - a draft, nothing fancy, multi million dollar contracts aside - as I ask about him about the team. "Larry Bird was unstoppable. 35 points a game, 9.4 rebounds, and he's playing 34 minutes with one of the deepest benches in the league? Best MVP I've ever seen, I'll tell ya that." Bantom - a 6-9 power forward who won Silver on the 1972 US Basketball team against the Soviet Union - is surprisingly keen on his time in Boston, despite being a Philadelphia native. "Of course I had my skepticism. I didn't think I'd fit in. But K.C Jones was great, and I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Bantom - who averaged 6.7 points per game in 20 minutes off the bench that season - is coming into his second season in Milwaukee. He'll play 54 games here, before general manager ships him along-side a second round pick to Chicago for sharpshooter Mike Harper. But for now, he's happy, and confident about the season. The team - which went 26-56 last season - is bound to see success. "We've got guys like me coming off the bench" he jokes, obviously ecstatic about his contract. "What can go wrong?"
What can indeed. After winning a championship in 1971, and going 49-33 in 79, winning their division and making it to the semifinals, the Bucks began a long fall down, going 39-43 in the season of 1980-81 (getting knocked out in a 4 game sweep in the first round by New Jersey, before going 30-52 in 82, 31-51 in 83, and 26-56 in 84. They lost superstars Mickey Johnson, Bob Lanier, and Sidney Moncrief, picking up instead players like Phil Ford, Rick Mahorn, Terry Cummings, and Dan Roundfield to round out their cast. Coach Don Nelson was hired, while Dick Motta was hired to fix the mess of things. 1984 seemed like a bright year going into the season.
Phil Ford claims he never wanted to be here. "I'm from North Carolina, man. I played for Kansas City. For Indiana. I wanted a big city, a big splash." The 6-2 27 year old point-guard is sitting with me in his back yard. It's August 3rd, and free agency is coming to a close. Ford, who was traded from Indiana for Bob Lanier, Chris Ford (no relation), and a 1st round pick, felt betrayed. "I had one of my best seasons in Indiana. Me and those guys, we was flourishin'. Herb Williams, James Edwards, Louis Orr, Roger Phegley- we could've really shaken up the East, I really think that." Instead, Ford found himself shipped to a team that wasn't even in the playoff picture, forced to sit on the sideline as Indiana made it to the playoffs year after year, while Milwaukee struggled to bring in fans.
"This year is gonna be different though. I truly think that. This year, we're gonna splash." Ford, who will be a free agent in the summer of '86 at 29, has every reason to want to splash: to get out of Milwaukee, he'll need to prove to the NBA he's worth all the hype. The one time All Star 1978 Rookie of the Year may hate the small town crowds, but the team certainly loves him.
Coach Dick Motta is happy to say as much. "He's the focal point of this offense. I like to run a high paced offense, with a lot of zone defense and more of a focus on smart ball movement than crashing defensive boards. Ford's a fast game, a great handler, and a relentless scorer and a passer. He's perfect, and he's going to take us to the playoffs this year."
We're sitting in his office - the season's closer now, it's the start of September, and many in the league are writing Milwaukee off as the probable worst team in the Eastern conference. Is Ford why the team is going to make the difference? "No. I mean, not just him. We've got two big guys with two big names: Terry Cummings and Rick Mahorn. Not to mention Marques Johnson."
The three are definitely good. Cummings averaged 11.9 points per game last season, alongside 8.4 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Mahorn averaged 18.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in the 26 games he played for Milwaukee last season (after being traded by Philadelphia for a 1st round pick and Mickey Johnson). Marques Johnson, meanwhile, has averaged around 18 points per game for almost his entire career, posting a career high 25.6 points per game his sophomore year of 1978, but being held to around 17.8 ever since. He's still an explosive offensive player, great at slashing to the basket and finishing strong. Together, this trio, alongside Phil Ford, hopes to revitalize a team that's fallen apart. And who's the 5th member of this motley squad, you ask?
"I really should not be here, man. Bad luck, if you ask me." 6-8 power forward Dan Roundfield sighs as we walk the streets outside Mecca Arena - hardly anyone on the street seems to notice us, despite our height, and I wonder if anyone in this city even watches basketball anymore. "Atlanta needed a point-guard. I was being stupid, running my mouth off to Jerry Sloan - the new coach for Atlanta - and he didn't like it. He told me I was expendable. Guess I was." Roundfield was shipped to Milwaukee for young guard Dennis Johnson and a second round pick, and suddenly the three time All Star found himself in rural Wisconsin. "Of course my play went down. I felt betrayed." Roundfield, once a sThetar in the league, averaged a career low 8.1 points per game, and missed 22 games that season for a series of minor injuries, starting only 34 of 60 games. He rebounded a career low 5.3 rebounds per game, and didn't even seem to care. This season, the coach hopes things will be different.
"Phil Ford at point-guard. Marques Johnson at shooting guard. They pass back and forth, Dan Roundfield plays defense and gets rebounds at small forward, Terry Cummings does the same and runs the post, Mahorn stays glued to the basket, getting baskets and converting any offensive boards. Paul Thompson comes in as a scoring small forward off the bench, Dave Corzine provides some traditional center time, Alvin Scott snipes threes. Why shouldn't that work?" General manager Larry Costello is sitting at his desk as we look through some of his old pictures from when he coached the Bucks in the 70s. Him and Kareem - the championship trophy - the banner. "It brought life to this city. I don't know what's happened."
The team starts off terrible. "Embarassing" as assistant coach Bob Dandridge puts it. They were 3-10, looking lost and confused, having lost to teams like New York, Indiana, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, Boston, Golden State, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Houston. There was one good thing going on; Phil Ford. He'd had at least 20 points in all except 2 of those games, posting 30 plus in four of them, and was averaging 10.4 assists per game to start the season. He was playing some of the best basketball in the Central division, and people were noticing. On December 7th, he'd have one of the only high-lights of the season, posting a 41 point 12 assist 10 rebound triple double in a 108-97 point win over Philadelphia. "Get a real guard. Go Ford." The billboard outside the arena was about as cocky as they got.
Rick Mahorn loved it. "Ford is something else. He's on another level, man! Reminds me of Erving. Like, if Erving took that shot, and he sent it sideways - like a pass, y'know?" Mahorn's chattering away at me - he'd been having a good season of his own, having been averaging 14.4 points a game alongside 7 rebounds, finally having gotten a starting role of his own (after having been a crucial part of Philadelphia's championship run, coming off the bench). The forward is the life of the team, always chipper and merry, and always ready to destroy his body for the good of the team. He was the guy that dived into the crowd for a rebound, who didn't mind taking an elbow or sending one out for the team. He was suspended towards the end of December for a rowdy argument with Michael Jordan in a Milwaukee loss to Chicago that saw him headbutt the budding superstar in the face. It didn't matter to the team. He was an enforcer, and a hard player. "I love it here, man. Some of these guys - they hate the small town. Me? I love it! We're like hollywood celebrities out here, man!"
He was definitely right - there wasn't exactly too much else going on, though often times fans overlooked basketball for football with Green Bay so close by. Despite their issues, the team would go on to become a dominant force, pushing teams apart as they snuck into the playoffs over Cleveland with the 8th seed. In the first round, they'd match-up against Larry Bird and the Celtics, getting swept in a dominating performance by the masterful team - who'd go on to win the championship. It didn't matter though. They'd shown they could get that far, that they were on the rise.
"We've got a great young cast, and I'm excited to see where they go." Coach Motta is packing up a few things in his office, getting ready for a probably much needed vacation. "Just watch. Next season, we're gonna be something else."
Something else? "Next season, man. Next season we're gonna win." Rick Mahorn has a grin on his face, as Phil Ford rolls his eyes; we're walking out of a resturant as I finish up my last meeting with the duo, at least for this special. "Milwaukee Bucks, man. Former NBA champions! Future perennial dynasty. Right, Phil?"
"Future something, man."
Future something indeed. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Milwaukee edition".
- rawr123456787654
- Junior Member
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Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Sat Jun 17, 2017 4:10 am
1985 - YEAR 6
And so began the off-season. Kansas City, having dropped from a playoff team at 42-40 to a team scraping the bottom at 25-57, fired general manager Oscar Robertson, while Chicago fired newly named head coach Bill Fitch. Team member Scott May retired, as did Nate Archibald, who after winning his only ring, decided to call it quits rather then spend the rest of his career playing from the bench. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame; former Kansas City team mate Jimmy Walker gave a heartfelt speech, testifying to his commitment to the team, as did Sam Lacey and Boston's John Havlicek. His number was retired at Kansas City - who was moving to Sacramento that year - and he was named as the newly moved team's general manager, following Oscar Robertson's dismissal. He signed K.C Jones as head coach, and Scott May as an assistant coach. Atlanta signed Wilt Chamberlain to head coach, Doug Moe went to Chicago, Bill Fitch to Cleveland, and Bill Russell to Denver. Phil Chenier went to Dallas, Mike Kryzewski to Detroit, and Phoenix decided to sign former Atlanta assistant coach Bob Pettit to head coach.
The draft started off with a bang. New York shipped their second round pick, their first round pick (at 3; the one acquired from Kansas City, not their own at 13), a 1987 1st round pick, and veteran player and center Bill Cartwright for the first round pick and aging player Dan Roundfield. Without hesitation, they picked the only plausible choice; Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown. Dallas selected Karl Malone at 2, while Milwaukee picked Chris Mullin at 3. Portland took Michael Adams at 4, and New Jersey took Detlef Schrempf at 5. Charles Oakley went to Atlanta at 6, Terry Porter to New Jersey at 7, Wayman Tisdale to Seattle at 8, A.C. Green to Washington at 9, Hot Rod Williams to Milwaukee at 10, Xavier McDaniel at 11, Spud Webb to New York at 12, Benoit Benjamin to Seattle at 13, Tyrone Corbin to Chicago at 14, Gerald Wilkins to Chicago at 15, Blair Rasmussen to Indiana at 16, Joe Dumars to Detroit at 17, Terry Catledge to Philadelphia at 18, Jerry Reynolds to Portland at 19, Sam Vincent to Dallas at 20, Sedric Toney to Phoenix at 21, Manute Bol to San Antonio at 22, and Ed Pinckney to Utah at 23.
Going into free agency, Lehner did his best to prepare carefully; he didn't have much cap-room, with Erving and Malone's massive contracts costing him 52 million, and Brickowski to demand at least 10-15 million a year more (he'd keep his bird rights) along side Worthy, Drexler, and Stockton's roughly 5 million a piece. He started by declining Mickey Johnson's 15 million dollar team option, than renounced Keith Herron's 5.5 million dollar contract as well as Kermit Washington's 28 million - hoping to resign Kermit for a fraction of that, as well as a more reliable back-up point guard. Mike Harper went to New Jersey, and Lehner got Brad Davis to sign in Philadelphia on a 4 year 28 million dollar contract. Next, he convinced Kermit to sign for a 4 year 32 million dollar contract, and Brickowski to sign for a 5 year 39 million dollar contract. He got the aging George McGinnis to sign a 2 year contract worth 3 million, and with that had 13 players to fill up the squad. Boston got an aged Dan Issel to sign with them on the chase for a ring, as San Antonio signed Ricky Sobers. The Lakers had made out like bandits; they'd gotten Kareem, Jawann Oldham, Buck Williams, and Cliff Robinson to re-sign, and had added defensive player of the year Larry Nance to the cast- though he wouldn't come in until midway through the season, suffering a torn ACL he recieved during the playoffs. Paul Westphal went to Boston on a 1 year contract, and Atlanta picked up D-League's defensive player of the year Mark McNamara. Last but not least, Lehner re-signed Mickey Johnson to a 2-year contract worth 3 million; a steal, the guy definitely still had some juice in him. Lastly, he signed a young Benny Anders to a one year contract worth $522,130 - the shooting guard had played alongside Drexler, Rob Williams, and Olajuwon on the heralded Houston "Phi Slamma Jammas" team, and had yet to make a dent in the NBA, following a string of legal issues (including pulling a gun on someone on a court) and behavioral problems that had followed the player wherever he went. But Drexler maintained he could control the young player's ego, and Lehner decided to sign him to ride the bench.
The team was set. Chuck Daly, who was experiencing frequent issues with team owner , was ready for a championship run none-the-less. Lehner knew if they were going to do it again with this cast, it had to be now- it had to be this season. In a league of giants, Philadelphia needed to stand out. It was up to Julius Erving, captain of the team, to do it one more time.
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Starting Line Up:
Coach Chuck Daly
PG: John Stockton
- 6-1, 23, 1 year experience in the NBA, 4th pick in the 1984 draft, from Gonzaga university.
- Career best 28 points, 15 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6 steals.
- 15 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 30.4 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.7 rpg (2.3 d, 0.4 o), 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- John Stockton comes off a career rookie season, having shown he can distribute the ball with great discipline and wisdom. He has great vision, but doesn't look for the "oooooh" pass, instead finding the easy (and right) one. He's got a killer crossover dribbler, and is a strong defender, capable of racking up stealing due to his great anticipation ability and quickness. A solid fit for the team.
SG: Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 24, 2 years experience in the NBA, 3rd pick in the 1983 NBA draft, from University of Houston.
- Career-best 36 points, 10 assists, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks, 8 steals.
- 13 double doubles, 8 player of the games.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 34.8 mpg, 16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg (3.7 d, 1.4 o), 2.4 spg, 0.9 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- One of the greatest defensive minds on the team, Drexler is one of the purest shooters in the game. He excels in the open court and loves to push the ball up quickly, and is a smart player, with a good understanding of hgis role and what he should do on court. An excellent fit, likely to grow into an All Star role this season.
SF: Julius Erving
- 6-7, 35, 9 years experience in the NBA, 12th pick in the 1976 NBA draft.
- Career-best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 95 double doubles, 220 p.o.t.gs, 31 player of the weeks, 8 player of the months, 4 all star games, 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (79 started), 33.5 mpg, 25.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.7 rpg (3.7 d, 0.9 o), 2.1 spg, 1.4 bpg, 2.3 topg.
- The heart and soul of the team, and an aging veteran. Still very strong offensively, with great form on his shot, Erving is still playing his heart out, and he's still a great fit for the team. Capable of making his teammates better with his vision and ability to create, he's got enough left in his engine to score the pants off most players in the game.
PF: Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 28, 4 years experience in the NBA, 14th pick in the 1981 NBA draft, from Penn State.
- Career-best 34 points, 8 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 steals.
- 119 double-doubles, 10 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 31.2 mpg, 11.8 ppg, 2.7 apg, 8.8 rpg (6.9 d, 1.9 o), 1.3 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Strong fundamentally, with a nice touch on his shot, Brickowski has many effective moves in the low post including a go-to jump hook remiscent of Kareem's skyhook. With good vision and passing skill and an extremely long wingspan that makes him a terrific rebounder, Brickowski has all the physical tools to be a shut-down defender. As he ages into his prime, he'll continue to be a flourishing part of this team's defense and offense.
C: Moses Malone
- 6-10, 30, 9 years experience in the NBA, undrafted, from the ABA.
- Career best 50 points, 8 assists, 26 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals.
- 316 double doubles, 165 p.o.t.gs, 18 player of the weeks, 7 player of the months, 5 All Star games.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (79 started), 33.6 mpg, 20.6 ppg, 1.2 apg, 11.9 rpg (8.1 d, 3.8 o), 1.3 spg, 1.9 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- A tremendous defender with long arms and quick reflexes, Malone is starting to run into age at an earlier age than some, thanks in large due to the physical demands of his position. He's still a monster none-the-less, likely to blow the roof off the Spectrum night in and night out, and is still the go-to guy on defense for this squad.
6th Man: James Worthy (SF)
- 6-9, 25, 3 years experience in the NBA, 10th pick in the 1982 NBA draft, from University of North Carolina.
- Career best 31 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 steals.
- 2 double doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (3 started), 20.7 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 rpg (2.0 d, 0.6 o), 0.9 spg, 0.7 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- A player who elevates his teammates play with his passing and excellent ball handling ability, Worthy is an excellent shooter, who can get to the line well and shoots at a solid clip. He's quick off his feet, making him a good offensive rebounder, and anticipates passes well, often forcing a ton of steals with his on ball pressure. Great at filling in the blanks (tipping passes, taking charges, etcetera), and as he grows it's becoming apparent that he needs to take a more dominant role in this team's offense.
7th: Kermit Washington (PF/C)
- 6-8, 34, 13 years experience in the NBA, 5th pick in the 1972 NBA draft, from American University.
- Career-best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 110 double-doubles, 18 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star game, 1 triple double.
- Last season's stats: 66 games played (0 started), 24.1 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 2.8 apg, 5.7 rpg (3.7 d, 2.0 o), 0.8 apg, 2.1 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Coming into his age with class, Kermit continues to be a reliable bench player, arguably the heart of this bench's defense and efforts. Alongside fellow big man Mickey Johnson, Washington is expected to contribute reliable defense from the bench, and continue to rack up blocks while providing reliable scoring like he does best.
8th: Mickey Johnson (PF)
- 6-10, 33, 11 years experience in the NBA, 31st pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Aurora University.
- Career-best 32 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 steals.
- 32 double-doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (3 started), 17.1 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 0.8 apg, 3.2 rpg (2.6 d, 0.6 o), 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 topg.
- Another older veteran, Johnson, who's yet to see a ring in his 11 year career, hopes to be a stable assett to this bench, despite seeing his value decline as age takes its wear on his still reliable tall and defensively built frame.
9th: Brad Davis (PG)
- 6-3, 30, 10 years experience in the NBA, 15th pick in the 1975 NBA draft, from University of Maryland.
- Career-best 30 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals.
- 9 double doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star game.
- Last season's stats: 74 games played (5 started), 18.0 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 rpg (1.4 d, 0.6 o), 0.4 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.6 topg.
- Coming in from a season that saw him traded from Phoenix to Indiana (where he played off the bench), the former All Star point guard Brad Davis seeks to revitalize his career with increased effort and resilience. He's got great skills to let the ball go early against big men, and has legitimate lead guard skills, with a yo yo handle and solid passing ability. Hopefully he fits in better with this Philadelphia squad.
10th: Benny Anders (SG)
- 6-5, 22, rookie, undrafted (from University of Houston).
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- As a risky gamble, Anders showed in early practices with the team he's more than capable of stepping up to the role of an NBA player. Whether or not he can do so successfully will be largely determined by general manager Adam Lehner and the coaching staffs ability to keep his ego in check. The young guard, often seen wearing shirts that say "OUTLAW", his given nickname, is expected to be an ignition off the bench. Hopefully he steps up to task.
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There was a lot of press present for Game 1 of the season, a road game to Chicago. Following a record rookie year from Jordan, Chicago was expected to emerge as a serious contender this year, and Coach Daly was insistent on shutting them down the first game of the season. Malone had 22, Stockton had 14, Johnson had 11, Kermit 16, McGinnis 5, Brad Davis 13, and Worthy with 12 alongside 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds. Anders didn't play his first game out, given the high stakes of the game, Daly wanted to rely on Drexler to contain Jordan for as long as he could afford. Jordan dropped a game high 27 regardless, but Philadelphia still managed to win 120-106.
Worthy was even better in the next game. He posted a game high 26 points on 8/14 shooting, with 4 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 steals coming off the bench as Philadelphia beat New York 97-92 at the Spectrum. Anders, who had 2 in the game (only playing 8 minutes) was ecstatic, having beat Patrick Ewing in their first match up after losing to the All American center in the NCAA finals two years prior. Ewing, to his defense, was incredible, posting 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks in his time on the floor. Malone had just 12, despite coming away with an impressive 14 rebounds (5 of them offensive). In Game 3, against Milwaukee at the Mecca, Drexler had 27 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals as they won 123-109. Mickey Johnson had 26 off the bench, and Worthy had 21. This squad was looking good - good and deep. Daly also had Malone move down to power forward, while Brickowski took over center, to better utilize them in match-ups. The day before, Patrick Ewing had broken his ankle in New York's -3rd game-. Injuries were a serious concern. Game 4 was a similar tale; Malone had 36 with 16 rebounds, 1 block, and 4 steals, and Philadelphia won again, this time against the rival New Jersey Nets, 122-96. After winning their next game against New York 105-84 at the Garden - this time behind another explosive 25 point, 14 rebound, 2 block, 2 block game from Malone - Lehner was willing to admit it. They looked good.
Good is an understatement. They won 10 games straight, before losing to Washington at home behind Rolando Blackman's 32 points. A huge part of this was Malone; the center was averaging 25.2 points per game, 12.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, on 58% field goal shooting. Daly was optimistic. Lehner was ecstatic. He was also high - perhaps too often. The eighties were all about drugs, and Adam was happy to participate, though the year was definitely hazy as a result. Life was good though. Philadelphia was on top.
They won four more straight after that, before going to Boston for a December 3rd match-up. At the top of the east and feeling cocky, in a pre-game interview Moses Malone said Larry Bird might be a great scorer, but he wasn't getting past him in the post. "This is my season." Bird responded with 42 points and 11 rebounds, while Eddie Johnson had 29 and the Celtics won 115-107 as Malone dropped a team high 23 points with 15 rebounds. Bird was humble in the post game conference, but he had the last laugh. "Philadelphia's a great team with a bunch of old guys I respect a lot. Old though, sometimes that shows."
The locker room was quiet - though, in retrospect, the team was still doing great. Two days later they lost again, this time in Indiana thanks to an incredible team effort where 8 players hit double digits (with the other 3 posting 9, 5, and 2) while James Edwards posted a team high 14 points (alongside 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals) leading to a 114 - 104 win over Philadelphia. Malone had 27, Erving had 16, Drexler had 18, while Stockton served up 11 assists. They got beat by a lesser team.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 6th, 1985 - Philadelphia Strides Strong
In a league dominated by Magic Birds, this season has saw a lot of the attention reserved for the bitter rivalry shift instead towards the 1983 NBA champions here in Philadelphia. And contention seems imminent; Malone is playing at an all time high, and point-guard John Stockton is beginning to flourish, posting 11 and 12 assist games on the regular. Julius Erving, who many pundits write off as "old", is still averaging over 20 points a game, and no one can stop us.
Except maybe Boston. The team struggled with them in their first match-up, and the media battle with Bird and Malone is still being discussed. The former MVP might have a lot of talk, but this team has something else. Something round - we've got two of them. I don't mean the NBA ball either. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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They rallied back quickly none-the-less. They were 20-5 by the time they met Boston again, once more on the road, on December 27th. Malone had 28, Erving had 24, but Bird's 31 and McHale's 24 coasted Boston to another 123-110 lead. Once more, Philadelphia came up short. Boston was coming to Philadelphia three days later; Malone was insistent on winning.
They lost again, this time at home. Malone had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and -8- blocks, but Bird's 32 point 3 steal 10 rebound display sent Boston over them again. Malone was without words in the post conference interview. "He's good, sure. He's very good. He's what we need to focus on beating, and he's why ten game winning streaks don't even matter in comparison." In Daly's post-conference interview, he expressed a desire to focus more on the team's success for the season, and not their struggles against Boston. Malone later said a couple of days later the coach should "readjust his priorities".
Ten games might not matter, but fourteen was nice. They were dominant, winning game after game before Chicago took them out on February 4th. They won 6 more after that, and went into the All Star weekend at a league high 44-8 record.
- Boston hovered behind, at 40-11 - the squad of Eddie Johnson at point, Danny Ainge at shooting guard, Larry Bird at small forward, Kevin McHale at power forward, Robert Parish at center, with Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellong, Xavier McDaniel, Paul Westphal, Dan Issel, and Foots Walker coming off the bench. January 24th had marked a special occassion for Boston, as Bird had dropped a record setting 102 points to top Chamberlain's 100, dropping 10 assists and 14 rebounds to go along side it.
- Detroit was third at 32-19, as Isiah Thomas, Andrew Toney, Otis Thorpe, and Bill Laimbeer rocked team after team with impressive play, alongside key bench players Wayne Robinson, Lonnie Shelton, Lionel Hollins, Caldwell Jones, and Joe Dumars.
- Cleveland was fourth at 31-21, as Sleepy Floyd, Derek Smith, Kelly Tripucka, Kenny Carr, and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu making up a solid starting roster, with powerful bench players Byron Scott, Kelly Tripucka, and Art Collins helping out.
- Chicago was fifth behind a 30-23 record with Michael Jordan, Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Kevin Willis, Artis Gilmore, Peter Gudmundsson, Tyrone Corbin, Jerome Kersey, and Mike Bantom carving their own future in the east.
- New York was sixth at 26-27 - Michael Ray Richardson, Ray Williams, Chris Mullin, David Greenwood, and Patrick Ewing starting to figure out how to work together.
- Washington was seventh, with Rolando Blackman, LaSalle Thompson, Dennis Johnson, Truck Robinson, A.C. Green, Jerry Sichting trying to stay relevant. Blackman was out with a torn ACL, so the team had fallen considerably.
- Milwaukee was eighth at 21-31, as Phil Ford, John Bagley, Marques Johnson, Terry Cummings, Rick Mahorn, Bill Cartwright, and Hot Rod Williams fighting to stay in playoff contention.
In the west, the Lakers led as usual at 44-10, despite missing World B. Free for several months due to a broken elbow; Cliff Robinson, Buck Williams, Kareem, Larry Nance, John Drew, and Jaween Oldham helped build up what many called the league's most dominant team. The strangest part about Bird's 102? Three days later, in Boston's next game they met Los Angeles; World B. Free had 82 (the league's third highest points ever scored in a game) setting the Lakers franchise record for points in a single game, and Los Angeles won. Los Angeles was dominant.
- The Spurs were second at 33-17, with Johnny Moore, George Gervin, Gene Banks, Mitch Kupchak, Pat Cummings, Ricky Sobers, and Elvin Hayes remaining consistent under the solid tutelage of Gregg Popovich.
- At 29-23 in third were the Sacramento Kings; Fat Lever, Jay Vincent, Bob Gross, Justin Johnson, Tree Rollins, Freeman Williams, Sam Bowie, and Abdul Jeelani were working their best to finish competitively for the first time in years.
- The Jazz - close behind in fourth with a 28-23 record - flourished with the roster of Jay Humphries, Darrel Griffith, Adrian Dantley, Pete Verhoeven, Mark Eaton, Jo Jo White, and Joe Cooper. Coach Elgin Baylor was carving out a grade A team, and people were noticing.
- The Warriors - 5th at 28-23 (due to a couple of losses to Utah) - had a lot of future potential of their own. Doc Rivers, Ricky Pierce, Bernard King, Charles Barkley, and Joe Barry Carroll made up a starting line-up where the average age was twenty six and a half - but they were kicking ass, under tutelage of players like Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon, and it was working.
- In 6th were the Houston Rockets, at 29-24, the Rockets remained consistent, with Larry Drew, Alvan Adams, and Hakeem Olajuwon making the whole city pay attention, alongside Olajuwon's former Houston team mates Larry Micheaux and Michael Young.
- In 7th, the Seattle Supersonics fought to rise the ladder at 26-23, with Alvin Robertson, Jeff Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Sam Perkins, Mike Gminski, and a young Wayman Tisdale trying their best to beat teams like Los Angeles and San Antonio.
- In 8th, at 23-28, the Portland Trailblazers just wanted to make the play-offs. Rookie pointguard Michael Adams, alongside Dale Ellis, Maurice Lucas, Tom Chambers, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma, Mychal Thompson, and Kevin Ransey, was hoping to bring attention to the city. It was working; the squad looked good, and coach Del Harris was trying his best in a fairly competitive Pacific division.
All Star weekend provided a much needed break. Drexler won the dunk contest, against San Antonio's Mario Elie, while Golden State's Bernard King won the three point contest against Alvin Scott and Gene Banks. Michael Jordan was the player of the game as the Sophomores won, dropping an impressive 45 points (third only to Drexler's 47 point performance two years prior and Dominique Wilkin's two years 46 points two years before that) before all attention shifted to the main event. Bird, McHale, Malone, Jordan, and Thomas made up the East's starting five, with Bill Laimbeer, Andrew Toney, Otis Birdsong, Mark Aguirre, Clyde Drexler, Rick Mahorn, and Sleep Floyd coming off the bench, while Dominique Wilkins, Karl Malone, Kareem, George Gervin, and Magic Johnson made up the West's starting five, with Johnny Moore, Adrian Dantley, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tom Chambers, Fat Lever, and Ricky Pierce coming off the bench. The West dominated for mch of the game, outscoring the East 46-33 in the third quarter, but a dominating 40 point display by Larry Bird saw him seize All Star MVP honors, as well as achieve victory as the East won in an impressive fourth quarter victory, 151-142.
Lehner was doing more coke than ever. What had started as a casual habit had erupted into a full blown addiction, and people were starting to notice. It was February 26th, 1986, and Lehner had two lines laid out on his dark oak desk, in between a flutter of paperwork and depth line-ups. "We built this city - built this city on rock and roooolllllllll"; the radio droned on, as he rolled up a bill, licking his lips in anticipation. Just as benji went up his nostril and he craned down to rip a line, a soft knock on the door shot his eyes wide open. He immediately jolted up, leaning back as he slammed his hand across the desk, sending the powder to the ground - damn he'd regret that later - and nearly fell out of his chair as team owner Fitz Dixon entered the room, a cigar in his room. His eyebrow raised, as Lehner cracked a weak smile, taking a moment to run a hand through his hair. "Hello? Am I interrupting something...?"
"N-no, it's fine sir! Hey! How's it going? What's up?" Dixon took a moment to stare at him, shaking his head, before he approached the desk, sitting in the chair across from Adam. "You don't look good, Adam. Get some rest." Adam nodded, as Dixon sighed, pushing his arms across his chest.
"It's Daly. We need to talk about him." Lehner blinked, waiting for him to continue, a bit confused. "He's had a lot of problems with Malone recently. It's getting worse. Maybe it's time to start thinking about other options."
Lehner was taken aback completely. "Sir, with all due respect, the team's doing great. He's a huge part of that."
Dixon shook his head. "Maybe some. But Malone - Malone's the real reason we're doing so good. Don't forget that, Lehner." He stood up, moving towards the door, as Adam just kind of stared at him confused. "And layoff the drugs, Lehner. It's showing."
The season roared on. John Stockton was doing excellent, serving in his role as point-guard perfectly, averaging over -12- rebounds a game coming into March while notching up steal after steal and doing an excellent job on guarding shots as well. Drexler was an animal, having learned how to pick up some of the offensive slack as Erving aged, and Worthy was undoubtedly going to win 6th man of the year, averaging 17.3 points a game off the bench alongside 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 and a half steals. But still, the team was sometimes lost in the locker room. Their was another focus at mind. Another obstacle to overcome.
Philadelphia needed to overcome Boston. That was their only priority now. The rest of the season roared on, and it wasn't until April 5th that the teams met again. Philadelphia was at the top of the league, at 61-14. They'd play back-to-back games, the first at home the second in Boston, so it was essential to win immediately. Philadelphia took an early lead, coming into the second quarter with an eight point lead, but Danny Ainge had other plans. He dropped 9 points in the first six minutes, before a scuffle between him and Frank Brickowski saw Frank pick up a technical - his fourth already. He went to the bench, and Boston ended up going on a triumphant run as Larry Bird took flight. He ended the game with 44 points, as Boston won 130-117, and Malone was just furious. He got into a shouting match in the locker room with Chuck Daly, and demanded a victory three days later.
It didn't happen. A long three from Xavier McDaniel at the end of the fourth saw the game go into overtime, and Bird took the Celtics home as they won 124-120 behind Bird's 40, despite James Worthy's staggering 52 points off the bench. Malone and Daly got into another heated arguement, and the team went into playoffs under a weird kind of vibe. Lehner was ecstatic - the team was atop the league, it looked like a championship was very likely, and everything seemed perfect. But not all was well in Philadelphia.
They swept Atlanta in the first round, and Chicago in the second, before meeting Boston in the conference finals. They won the first game - Stockton dropped an impressive 19 assists, while Malone had 30 points and Erving and Drexler had 21 and 19 respectively. They won the next one too - Malone had 33 and Erving had 32 - but the next two games saw them going to Boston. And Bird was ready. Malone had 39 points, but Bird had 45, and Boston took Game 3. He had 48 in the next game, as Boston won 127-115, and Boston tied the series going into Game 5. Philadelphia needed to be on it's A game.
They were. In the next game, Bird had 48 again, but Philadelphia dominated from the get-go as Malone had 33 points with 15 rebounds, Drexler had 21, Brickowski had 18, Erving had 23, and Worthy had 18 off the bench. Bird had 55 in the next game, but Malone followed right behind him, grabbing 21 rebounds with 3 blocks and 51 points of his own, as Philadelphia won in Boston, heading to the finals 138-131.
Waiting for them were the Lakers. Unfortunately for them, they were missing two major parts of their roster; Cliff Robinson had broken his hand shortly before the playoffs, and World B. Free had a nasty sprained ankle, he'd be back, but not right away. Malone took advantage; up against an old (38!) but still talented Kareem, Malone grabbed 23 rebounds alongside 29 points in Game 1, as Philadelphia started off strong, winning 112-92. Free game back in the next game, dropping 33 points as the Lakers won 102-95. Once again, the Locker Room was silent. The team was winning, but Malone was tearing the team apart as him and Daly continued to fight. This couldn't be both their teams, it was apparent. Amidst all this, Worthy wanted a place on the team, but couldn't handle waiting for Erving to retire. Chemistry was at an all time low.
That quickly rebounded in Game 3. Stockton had 14 assists and Malone finished with 52 points as Philadelphia won 121 - 104. Coach Pat Riley called the team excellent, but cited his own team's will and drive. Magic called Malone "on another level, man." He came into Game 4 just as determined, dropping 43, before Philadelphia sealed it all in Game 5, as Malone dropped 30 to win the game. He was awarded Finals MVP honors, and Philadelphia brought home it's second trophy in just 4 years. Things should've been perfect. Lehner was ecstatic.
But all was not well in Philadelphia - as Lehner would soon find out for himself.
The award ceremony saw Bird take home his second MVP honor. Utah's Mark Eaton won defensive player of the year, while Dallas's Karl Malone won Rookie of the Year over New York's Patrick Ewing. As expected, James Worthy took home 6th man of the year, while San Antonio's Gregg Popovich won Coach of the Year and New York's Dave DeBusschere won Executive of the Year for taking New York up into second with some great drafts and great trades (getting Mullin was hugeeeeee) to round it all off.
- The First All NBA Team was Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Golden State's Charles Barkley, and Moses Malone.
- Detroit's Isiah Thomas, San Antonio's George Gervin, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins, Dallas's Karl Malone (in his rookie season!), and Kareem made up the second team.
- John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Denver's Alex English, Portland's Tom Chambers, and Utah's Mark Eaton made up the third team.
- The First Defensive Team consisted of John Stockton, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, and Mark Eaton.
- Second team was New York's Michael Ray Richardson, Clyde Drexler, James Worthy, Charles Barkley, and Sacramento's Tree Rollins made up the third team.
- The All First rookie team consisted of New Jersey's Terry Porter, Indiana's Brook Steppe, New York's Chris Mullin, Dallas's Karl Malone, and New York's Patrick Ewing.
- Second team was Portland's Michael Adams, Detroit's Joe Dumars, New Jersey's Detlef Schrempf, Atlanta's Charles Oakley, and Seattle's Benoit Benjamin.
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The 80's have treated us to an extraordinary amount of impressive basketball, from heated rivalries to jawdropping records being shattered. This season especially was hectic; we saw battles of the best, battles of the worst, and battles of somewhere in between a plenty. One of the most exciting teams to watch - though their post season might say otherwise - came from unexpected places, as they managed to sneak their way into the playoffs amidst the last stretch of games. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Atlanta edition."
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It's July 1st, and sitting with me is Rick Adelman, Atlanta's offensive coach. He's excited about the oncoming season - the team had drafted Charles Oakley, traded for Wes Matthews and Larry Smith, and were looking set to re-sign Mark Aguirre and Demarcus Phelan. With guys like Otis Birdsong, Mike Woodson, Phil Hubbard, and Tony Campbell, they hoped to have a turn around year. "The focus is going to be shooting" Adelman says as we ride in the back of a car towards the Omni, Atlanta's 18,000 person arena. Did they see themselves making the playoffs, having missed it the year before? "Make it? We're gonna run it."
At the arena, we meet with Wilt Chamberlain, coach of the team. He'd retired the same year I came into the league, but we'd met a couple of times since, and he greeted me with a smile. Now coming close to fifty years of age, the seven footer still was as giant as ever, making me (a six footer, 6'1, an entire foot shorter than the 7'1 Hall of Famer) feel small in comparison. "I think they can do it" Chamberlain says as we walk down the hall towards the court. "There's a lot of talent on this roster that's been overlooked. Guys like Birdsong, Wes, Phelan. They're both one of kind dudes in their own way."
Chamberlain, who had an illustrious NBA career, was still working on figuring his way through the whole coaching fiasco. He'd coached the ABA San Diego Conquistadors the year he came out of the league, before taking a six year hiatus, taking time to travel and enjoy retirement. But basketball brought him back, and he spent the next 5 years from 1980 on working with Detroit to help build up the Piston's lineup. "It was my idea to trade for Laimbeer, you know." Really? "Oh, yeah. I saw the talent in him from day one. I still think he's gonna get it, just wait. Him and Isiah's time is coming."
After 5 years with Detroit - making the playoffs every year, and the eastern conference finals last season - Bill Davidson and Jack McCloskey decided to let Chamberlain go. Initially, he considered retirement, but when Atlanta fired Jerry Sloan - who would go on to take a job working as the offensive coordinator for Phil Chenier in Dallas - he decided to put his name in the hat for one last ride.
"We'll see how free agency goes. I expect great things either way." Great might've been a stretch. The team managed to sign Rickey Green and Mark McNamara over free agency to help bolster the bench, and they definitely -started- strong, beating Cleveland and then reigning league Boston in their first two games at home - Matthews dropping 26 in the second game, with Aguirre and Birdsong chipping in 19 each - before losing the next two to Chicago and Washington. No big deal; they'd come back to win the next three straight, including a 26 point thrashing at Market Square Arena in Indiana and a 36 point display from Birdsong at the Omni that saw him drop 9 3s. Then, something happened.
"No one's hurt. No one's playing bad - at least, none of our starters. I'm at a loss." General manager Ryan Ned is sitting behind his desk, chewing away at a baseball eraser in his mouth. It's December 9th - after the team's last win against New York on November 15th, they've managed to lose 12 in a row. Worst was perhaps the team's 95-132 point thrashing to Philadelphia, though December 4th's 113-106 point loss to Milwaukee at Mecca Arena - a game in which Chris Mullin (who would be shipped to New York a month later) ended up in a fist fight with Mark Aguirre, a fight that saw Rick Mahorn lay out Birdsong and Matthews, ending up with a 6 game suspension - was much more notable. The team was meshing well enough; Birdsong's averaging 25 a game, Matthews has close to 20, Aguirre 18.5, Woodson 11.5 off the bench, Phelan averaging 10 rebounds a game, Oakley with 9. "I'm at a loss. I'm at a loss for words. We're gonna go a month straight with losses. I'm at a loss."
The next day the team traded Ben Coleman and a first round pick for Spud Webb from New York. He had 5 points and 5 assists, alongside Matthew's 17 point 9 assist game, and finally Atlanta won again, besting Denver 80-94 in Atlanta. Webb - short for a NBA player, at 5'6 - was hoisted up onto 7-4 Demarcus Phelan's shoulders after the game, as Phelan screamed up into the arena in a thick Panamanian accent. "We're back baby!" An unusually raucous celebration for a meager win against a sub-par team. But at least they didn't go 0-13.
Later that night, I finally get Phelan to sit down for an interview with me. At 22 years old, he's still pretty young, given that this was his 4th year in the league now - and at 7'4, the beast of a man was surprisingly docile, given his title on the court - the "Felon of the Paint". 1981's D-League Player of the Year and the only player on the team with a ring (aside from Chamberlain) having won with Philadelphia in 1983. He'd started for Atlanta for 2 years now, this being his third, and was already being hailed by fans as one of their team favorites. Despite having been in the country for several years, the Panamanian national still spoke with a thick accent, making him shy to speak.
"I have faith in the team. In Matthews, in Birdsong. I just play defense." So it had been, and so it would be; Phelan was notorious for it. He'd have a few twenty point games here and there, but he'd never managed to average double digit scoring consistently and was shooting less than ever. "Why shoot? I've got Otis Birdsong on my team. He shoots."
Otis Birdsong. The two time All Star was definitely something else - arguably one of the league's best shooters, behind Larry Bird and World B. Free. The 3 was his secret weapon, and boy was he good at it. Going into their first rematch against Milwaukee that season, the team was 16-27 - still fighting for relevance, but in a much better position that 5-14 - and they wanted revenge. In the wake of his suspension, Mahorn had called Birdsong "weak" and argued his hit had been more of a jerk of the arm, and that it wasn't his fault the shooting guard was so soft it knocked him to the ground. Team mate Wes Matthews was quick to take his defense, calling Mahorn a dirty player who had to resort to hurting his match-ups because he couldn't outplay them, and Marques Johnson struck back, calling Wes Matthews an overrated point guard who should "learn to talk on the court, no gossip s***."
January 29th. The stage was set. The game was at the Omni this time, with a sold out showing of 18,118 people. The team had lost two close games to league titans Los Angeles (Lakers) and Detroit, so this win was absolutely vital for their season moving forward. It started pretty quiet; Birdsong had 6 in the first quarter, Aguirre had 8, Oakley had 4, Matthews had 6. Milwaukee led 30-21. And then, in one of the stupidest things he'd ever done, Marques Johnson stuck a leg out from the bench as Birdsong ran by leading into the second quarter and tripped him. A technical was called, and Birdsong hit two free throws to give the team a nice boost. He also caught fire.
He had 7 threes in the quarter, finishing with 25 in the second half, before dropping another 2 in the third and three more in the fourth, finishing the game with 50 points and 13 threes (having hit one in the first quarter), a NBA single game record. Unfortunately, Ford and Johnson were too much. The Bucks won 108-101.
"The game. The GAME! Oh my god man, that was something else man, just incredible." Mike Woodson raises hand to his mouth, mimicking a gasp of awe, as he shook his head laughing. The 27 year old former Hoosier and 6-5 bench shooting guard shakes his head again, smiling at me. "How am I supposed to compete with that? I can't. I'm gonna be riding the bench for awhile, man. Whatever! He keeps shooting like that, man, I don't even care!" Larry Smith - hovering near the seats where I'm interviewing Woodson courtside before a team practice - chips in as well. "I don't care if that was a loss, I don't care if we'd been blown out a hundred fiddy points man. That **** should be going into the Atlanta Hall of Fame, asap."
Unfortunately for Birdsong, it didn't exactly rally the team. They lost the next four on the road, before Birdsong's 33 at the Moda Center in Portland saw them steal a win. They were in tenth in the east now, and for a team that saw itself as contenders, they weren't making a good argument for themselves. Luckily, they had Otis. They were far behind, but with giants like Philadelphia, Boston, and Los Angeles haunting the league, the higher end of the conference was weak. They could still sneak in.
By April 1st, it looked like they might. They were 31-41, floating right behind New Jersey (at 32-39) at 9th in the East. Matthews was ecstatic. "We're gonna do it, man. Prove 'em wrong. Maybe even take a shot at Philadelphia. Who knows, right?"
And they did. By April 16th, one game before the end of the season, New Jersey had officially fallen behind Atlanta. All they had to do was win their last game of the season - a homer against Detroit. Easier said than done. Thomas was incredible; he was all over the court, throwing passes (10), catching steals (3), and notching up 33 points to go with it, but Birdsong was as steady as ever, going 9 for 13 to put up 39 points as the Hawks won at home, 111-97, and solidified their role in the post season. Not that it meant much; Philadelphia was a monster, and they'd lost all four of their match-ups that season. Still - it was nice.
"We showed everyone - hey, we're here. We're relevant." Birdsong's sitting on the bleachers, a couple of days before playoffs. They'll end up getting swept by Philadelphia - Birdsong sets an Atlanta high 48 points in the first playoff loss, losing 116-125, before impressively doing it again in Game 2 (going 17/28 and (16/25 respectively) and dropping 35 in Game 3. He'd be held to just (just? still okay) 21 points in their final game against Philadelphia, before the team was headed home for the season.
But Birdsong smiles up at me in that last interview, and suddenly I realize why it doesn't matter to him. "We're underdogs, man, and we just want to show the world - hey, we can ball too. And we did."
Hopefully next season brings them better luck. I'm Slick Watts, and this is Inside a Team - the Atlanta Edition.
And so began the off-season. Kansas City, having dropped from a playoff team at 42-40 to a team scraping the bottom at 25-57, fired general manager Oscar Robertson, while Chicago fired newly named head coach Bill Fitch. Team member Scott May retired, as did Nate Archibald, who after winning his only ring, decided to call it quits rather then spend the rest of his career playing from the bench. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame; former Kansas City team mate Jimmy Walker gave a heartfelt speech, testifying to his commitment to the team, as did Sam Lacey and Boston's John Havlicek. His number was retired at Kansas City - who was moving to Sacramento that year - and he was named as the newly moved team's general manager, following Oscar Robertson's dismissal. He signed K.C Jones as head coach, and Scott May as an assistant coach. Atlanta signed Wilt Chamberlain to head coach, Doug Moe went to Chicago, Bill Fitch to Cleveland, and Bill Russell to Denver. Phil Chenier went to Dallas, Mike Kryzewski to Detroit, and Phoenix decided to sign former Atlanta assistant coach Bob Pettit to head coach.
The draft started off with a bang. New York shipped their second round pick, their first round pick (at 3; the one acquired from Kansas City, not their own at 13), a 1987 1st round pick, and veteran player and center Bill Cartwright for the first round pick and aging player Dan Roundfield. Without hesitation, they picked the only plausible choice; Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown. Dallas selected Karl Malone at 2, while Milwaukee picked Chris Mullin at 3. Portland took Michael Adams at 4, and New Jersey took Detlef Schrempf at 5. Charles Oakley went to Atlanta at 6, Terry Porter to New Jersey at 7, Wayman Tisdale to Seattle at 8, A.C. Green to Washington at 9, Hot Rod Williams to Milwaukee at 10, Xavier McDaniel at 11, Spud Webb to New York at 12, Benoit Benjamin to Seattle at 13, Tyrone Corbin to Chicago at 14, Gerald Wilkins to Chicago at 15, Blair Rasmussen to Indiana at 16, Joe Dumars to Detroit at 17, Terry Catledge to Philadelphia at 18, Jerry Reynolds to Portland at 19, Sam Vincent to Dallas at 20, Sedric Toney to Phoenix at 21, Manute Bol to San Antonio at 22, and Ed Pinckney to Utah at 23.
Going into free agency, Lehner did his best to prepare carefully; he didn't have much cap-room, with Erving and Malone's massive contracts costing him 52 million, and Brickowski to demand at least 10-15 million a year more (he'd keep his bird rights) along side Worthy, Drexler, and Stockton's roughly 5 million a piece. He started by declining Mickey Johnson's 15 million dollar team option, than renounced Keith Herron's 5.5 million dollar contract as well as Kermit Washington's 28 million - hoping to resign Kermit for a fraction of that, as well as a more reliable back-up point guard. Mike Harper went to New Jersey, and Lehner got Brad Davis to sign in Philadelphia on a 4 year 28 million dollar contract. Next, he convinced Kermit to sign for a 4 year 32 million dollar contract, and Brickowski to sign for a 5 year 39 million dollar contract. He got the aging George McGinnis to sign a 2 year contract worth 3 million, and with that had 13 players to fill up the squad. Boston got an aged Dan Issel to sign with them on the chase for a ring, as San Antonio signed Ricky Sobers. The Lakers had made out like bandits; they'd gotten Kareem, Jawann Oldham, Buck Williams, and Cliff Robinson to re-sign, and had added defensive player of the year Larry Nance to the cast- though he wouldn't come in until midway through the season, suffering a torn ACL he recieved during the playoffs. Paul Westphal went to Boston on a 1 year contract, and Atlanta picked up D-League's defensive player of the year Mark McNamara. Last but not least, Lehner re-signed Mickey Johnson to a 2-year contract worth 3 million; a steal, the guy definitely still had some juice in him. Lastly, he signed a young Benny Anders to a one year contract worth $522,130 - the shooting guard had played alongside Drexler, Rob Williams, and Olajuwon on the heralded Houston "Phi Slamma Jammas" team, and had yet to make a dent in the NBA, following a string of legal issues (including pulling a gun on someone on a court) and behavioral problems that had followed the player wherever he went. But Drexler maintained he could control the young player's ego, and Lehner decided to sign him to ride the bench.
The team was set. Chuck Daly, who was experiencing frequent issues with team owner , was ready for a championship run none-the-less. Lehner knew if they were going to do it again with this cast, it had to be now- it had to be this season. In a league of giants, Philadelphia needed to stand out. It was up to Julius Erving, captain of the team, to do it one more time.
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Starting Line Up:
Coach Chuck Daly
PG: John Stockton
- 6-1, 23, 1 year experience in the NBA, 4th pick in the 1984 draft, from Gonzaga university.
- Career best 28 points, 15 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6 steals.
- 15 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 30.4 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.7 rpg (2.3 d, 0.4 o), 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- John Stockton comes off a career rookie season, having shown he can distribute the ball with great discipline and wisdom. He has great vision, but doesn't look for the "oooooh" pass, instead finding the easy (and right) one. He's got a killer crossover dribbler, and is a strong defender, capable of racking up stealing due to his great anticipation ability and quickness. A solid fit for the team.
SG: Clyde Drexler
- 6-7, 24, 2 years experience in the NBA, 3rd pick in the 1983 NBA draft, from University of Houston.
- Career-best 36 points, 10 assists, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks, 8 steals.
- 13 double doubles, 8 player of the games.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 34.8 mpg, 16.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg (3.7 d, 1.4 o), 2.4 spg, 0.9 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- One of the greatest defensive minds on the team, Drexler is one of the purest shooters in the game. He excels in the open court and loves to push the ball up quickly, and is a smart player, with a good understanding of hgis role and what he should do on court. An excellent fit, likely to grow into an All Star role this season.
SF: Julius Erving
- 6-7, 35, 9 years experience in the NBA, 12th pick in the 1976 NBA draft.
- Career-best 64 points, 11 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 11 steals.
- 95 double doubles, 220 p.o.t.gs, 31 player of the weeks, 8 player of the months, 4 all star games, 5 triple doubles.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (79 started), 33.5 mpg, 25.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.7 rpg (3.7 d, 0.9 o), 2.1 spg, 1.4 bpg, 2.3 topg.
- The heart and soul of the team, and an aging veteran. Still very strong offensively, with great form on his shot, Erving is still playing his heart out, and he's still a great fit for the team. Capable of making his teammates better with his vision and ability to create, he's got enough left in his engine to score the pants off most players in the game.
PF: Frank Brickowski
- 6-9, 28, 4 years experience in the NBA, 14th pick in the 1981 NBA draft, from Penn State.
- Career-best 34 points, 8 assists, 19 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 steals.
- 119 double-doubles, 10 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (82 started), 31.2 mpg, 11.8 ppg, 2.7 apg, 8.8 rpg (6.9 d, 1.9 o), 1.3 spg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Strong fundamentally, with a nice touch on his shot, Brickowski has many effective moves in the low post including a go-to jump hook remiscent of Kareem's skyhook. With good vision and passing skill and an extremely long wingspan that makes him a terrific rebounder, Brickowski has all the physical tools to be a shut-down defender. As he ages into his prime, he'll continue to be a flourishing part of this team's defense and offense.
C: Moses Malone
- 6-10, 30, 9 years experience in the NBA, undrafted, from the ABA.
- Career best 50 points, 8 assists, 26 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals.
- 316 double doubles, 165 p.o.t.gs, 18 player of the weeks, 7 player of the months, 5 All Star games.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (79 started), 33.6 mpg, 20.6 ppg, 1.2 apg, 11.9 rpg (8.1 d, 3.8 o), 1.3 spg, 1.9 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- A tremendous defender with long arms and quick reflexes, Malone is starting to run into age at an earlier age than some, thanks in large due to the physical demands of his position. He's still a monster none-the-less, likely to blow the roof off the Spectrum night in and night out, and is still the go-to guy on defense for this squad.
6th Man: James Worthy (SF)
- 6-9, 25, 3 years experience in the NBA, 10th pick in the 1982 NBA draft, from University of North Carolina.
- Career best 31 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 5 steals.
- 2 double doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (3 started), 20.7 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 rpg (2.0 d, 0.6 o), 0.9 spg, 0.7 bpg, 2.1 topg.
- A player who elevates his teammates play with his passing and excellent ball handling ability, Worthy is an excellent shooter, who can get to the line well and shoots at a solid clip. He's quick off his feet, making him a good offensive rebounder, and anticipates passes well, often forcing a ton of steals with his on ball pressure. Great at filling in the blanks (tipping passes, taking charges, etcetera), and as he grows it's becoming apparent that he needs to take a more dominant role in this team's offense.
7th: Kermit Washington (PF/C)
- 6-8, 34, 13 years experience in the NBA, 5th pick in the 1972 NBA draft, from American University.
- Career-best 38 points, 11 assists, 20 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 110 double-doubles, 18 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star game, 1 triple double.
- Last season's stats: 66 games played (0 started), 24.1 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 2.8 apg, 5.7 rpg (3.7 d, 2.0 o), 0.8 apg, 2.1 bpg, 1.5 topg.
- Coming into his age with class, Kermit continues to be a reliable bench player, arguably the heart of this bench's defense and efforts. Alongside fellow big man Mickey Johnson, Washington is expected to contribute reliable defense from the bench, and continue to rack up blocks while providing reliable scoring like he does best.
8th: Mickey Johnson (PF)
- 6-10, 33, 11 years experience in the NBA, 31st pick in the 1974 NBA draft, from Aurora University.
- Career-best 32 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 steals.
- 32 double-doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 82 games played (3 started), 17.1 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 0.8 apg, 3.2 rpg (2.6 d, 0.6 o), 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 topg.
- Another older veteran, Johnson, who's yet to see a ring in his 11 year career, hopes to be a stable assett to this bench, despite seeing his value decline as age takes its wear on his still reliable tall and defensively built frame.
9th: Brad Davis (PG)
- 6-3, 30, 10 years experience in the NBA, 15th pick in the 1975 NBA draft, from University of Maryland.
- Career-best 30 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals.
- 9 double doubles, 12 p.o.t.gs, 1 All Star game.
- Last season's stats: 74 games played (5 started), 18.0 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 rpg (1.4 d, 0.6 o), 0.4 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.6 topg.
- Coming in from a season that saw him traded from Phoenix to Indiana (where he played off the bench), the former All Star point guard Brad Davis seeks to revitalize his career with increased effort and resilience. He's got great skills to let the ball go early against big men, and has legitimate lead guard skills, with a yo yo handle and solid passing ability. Hopefully he fits in better with this Philadelphia squad.
10th: Benny Anders (SG)
- 6-5, 22, rookie, undrafted (from University of Houston).
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- As a risky gamble, Anders showed in early practices with the team he's more than capable of stepping up to the role of an NBA player. Whether or not he can do so successfully will be largely determined by general manager Adam Lehner and the coaching staffs ability to keep his ego in check. The young guard, often seen wearing shirts that say "OUTLAW", his given nickname, is expected to be an ignition off the bench. Hopefully he steps up to task.
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There was a lot of press present for Game 1 of the season, a road game to Chicago. Following a record rookie year from Jordan, Chicago was expected to emerge as a serious contender this year, and Coach Daly was insistent on shutting them down the first game of the season. Malone had 22, Stockton had 14, Johnson had 11, Kermit 16, McGinnis 5, Brad Davis 13, and Worthy with 12 alongside 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds. Anders didn't play his first game out, given the high stakes of the game, Daly wanted to rely on Drexler to contain Jordan for as long as he could afford. Jordan dropped a game high 27 regardless, but Philadelphia still managed to win 120-106.
Worthy was even better in the next game. He posted a game high 26 points on 8/14 shooting, with 4 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 steals coming off the bench as Philadelphia beat New York 97-92 at the Spectrum. Anders, who had 2 in the game (only playing 8 minutes) was ecstatic, having beat Patrick Ewing in their first match up after losing to the All American center in the NCAA finals two years prior. Ewing, to his defense, was incredible, posting 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks in his time on the floor. Malone had just 12, despite coming away with an impressive 14 rebounds (5 of them offensive). In Game 3, against Milwaukee at the Mecca, Drexler had 27 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals as they won 123-109. Mickey Johnson had 26 off the bench, and Worthy had 21. This squad was looking good - good and deep. Daly also had Malone move down to power forward, while Brickowski took over center, to better utilize them in match-ups. The day before, Patrick Ewing had broken his ankle in New York's -3rd game-. Injuries were a serious concern. Game 4 was a similar tale; Malone had 36 with 16 rebounds, 1 block, and 4 steals, and Philadelphia won again, this time against the rival New Jersey Nets, 122-96. After winning their next game against New York 105-84 at the Garden - this time behind another explosive 25 point, 14 rebound, 2 block, 2 block game from Malone - Lehner was willing to admit it. They looked good.
Good is an understatement. They won 10 games straight, before losing to Washington at home behind Rolando Blackman's 32 points. A huge part of this was Malone; the center was averaging 25.2 points per game, 12.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, on 58% field goal shooting. Daly was optimistic. Lehner was ecstatic. He was also high - perhaps too often. The eighties were all about drugs, and Adam was happy to participate, though the year was definitely hazy as a result. Life was good though. Philadelphia was on top.
They won four more straight after that, before going to Boston for a December 3rd match-up. At the top of the east and feeling cocky, in a pre-game interview Moses Malone said Larry Bird might be a great scorer, but he wasn't getting past him in the post. "This is my season." Bird responded with 42 points and 11 rebounds, while Eddie Johnson had 29 and the Celtics won 115-107 as Malone dropped a team high 23 points with 15 rebounds. Bird was humble in the post game conference, but he had the last laugh. "Philadelphia's a great team with a bunch of old guys I respect a lot. Old though, sometimes that shows."
The locker room was quiet - though, in retrospect, the team was still doing great. Two days later they lost again, this time in Indiana thanks to an incredible team effort where 8 players hit double digits (with the other 3 posting 9, 5, and 2) while James Edwards posted a team high 14 points (alongside 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals) leading to a 114 - 104 win over Philadelphia. Malone had 27, Erving had 16, Drexler had 18, while Stockton served up 11 assists. They got beat by a lesser team.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 6th, 1985 - Philadelphia Strides Strong
In a league dominated by Magic Birds, this season has saw a lot of the attention reserved for the bitter rivalry shift instead towards the 1983 NBA champions here in Philadelphia. And contention seems imminent; Malone is playing at an all time high, and point-guard John Stockton is beginning to flourish, posting 11 and 12 assist games on the regular. Julius Erving, who many pundits write off as "old", is still averaging over 20 points a game, and no one can stop us.
Except maybe Boston. The team struggled with them in their first match-up, and the media battle with Bird and Malone is still being discussed. The former MVP might have a lot of talk, but this team has something else. Something round - we've got two of them. I don't mean the NBA ball either. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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They rallied back quickly none-the-less. They were 20-5 by the time they met Boston again, once more on the road, on December 27th. Malone had 28, Erving had 24, but Bird's 31 and McHale's 24 coasted Boston to another 123-110 lead. Once more, Philadelphia came up short. Boston was coming to Philadelphia three days later; Malone was insistent on winning.
They lost again, this time at home. Malone had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and -8- blocks, but Bird's 32 point 3 steal 10 rebound display sent Boston over them again. Malone was without words in the post conference interview. "He's good, sure. He's very good. He's what we need to focus on beating, and he's why ten game winning streaks don't even matter in comparison." In Daly's post-conference interview, he expressed a desire to focus more on the team's success for the season, and not their struggles against Boston. Malone later said a couple of days later the coach should "readjust his priorities".
Ten games might not matter, but fourteen was nice. They were dominant, winning game after game before Chicago took them out on February 4th. They won 6 more after that, and went into the All Star weekend at a league high 44-8 record.
- Boston hovered behind, at 40-11 - the squad of Eddie Johnson at point, Danny Ainge at shooting guard, Larry Bird at small forward, Kevin McHale at power forward, Robert Parish at center, with Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellong, Xavier McDaniel, Paul Westphal, Dan Issel, and Foots Walker coming off the bench. January 24th had marked a special occassion for Boston, as Bird had dropped a record setting 102 points to top Chamberlain's 100, dropping 10 assists and 14 rebounds to go along side it.
- Detroit was third at 32-19, as Isiah Thomas, Andrew Toney, Otis Thorpe, and Bill Laimbeer rocked team after team with impressive play, alongside key bench players Wayne Robinson, Lonnie Shelton, Lionel Hollins, Caldwell Jones, and Joe Dumars.
- Cleveland was fourth at 31-21, as Sleepy Floyd, Derek Smith, Kelly Tripucka, Kenny Carr, and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu making up a solid starting roster, with powerful bench players Byron Scott, Kelly Tripucka, and Art Collins helping out.
- Chicago was fifth behind a 30-23 record with Michael Jordan, Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Kevin Willis, Artis Gilmore, Peter Gudmundsson, Tyrone Corbin, Jerome Kersey, and Mike Bantom carving their own future in the east.
- New York was sixth at 26-27 - Michael Ray Richardson, Ray Williams, Chris Mullin, David Greenwood, and Patrick Ewing starting to figure out how to work together.
- Washington was seventh, with Rolando Blackman, LaSalle Thompson, Dennis Johnson, Truck Robinson, A.C. Green, Jerry Sichting trying to stay relevant. Blackman was out with a torn ACL, so the team had fallen considerably.
- Milwaukee was eighth at 21-31, as Phil Ford, John Bagley, Marques Johnson, Terry Cummings, Rick Mahorn, Bill Cartwright, and Hot Rod Williams fighting to stay in playoff contention.
In the west, the Lakers led as usual at 44-10, despite missing World B. Free for several months due to a broken elbow; Cliff Robinson, Buck Williams, Kareem, Larry Nance, John Drew, and Jaween Oldham helped build up what many called the league's most dominant team. The strangest part about Bird's 102? Three days later, in Boston's next game they met Los Angeles; World B. Free had 82 (the league's third highest points ever scored in a game) setting the Lakers franchise record for points in a single game, and Los Angeles won. Los Angeles was dominant.
- The Spurs were second at 33-17, with Johnny Moore, George Gervin, Gene Banks, Mitch Kupchak, Pat Cummings, Ricky Sobers, and Elvin Hayes remaining consistent under the solid tutelage of Gregg Popovich.
- At 29-23 in third were the Sacramento Kings; Fat Lever, Jay Vincent, Bob Gross, Justin Johnson, Tree Rollins, Freeman Williams, Sam Bowie, and Abdul Jeelani were working their best to finish competitively for the first time in years.
- The Jazz - close behind in fourth with a 28-23 record - flourished with the roster of Jay Humphries, Darrel Griffith, Adrian Dantley, Pete Verhoeven, Mark Eaton, Jo Jo White, and Joe Cooper. Coach Elgin Baylor was carving out a grade A team, and people were noticing.
- The Warriors - 5th at 28-23 (due to a couple of losses to Utah) - had a lot of future potential of their own. Doc Rivers, Ricky Pierce, Bernard King, Charles Barkley, and Joe Barry Carroll made up a starting line-up where the average age was twenty six and a half - but they were kicking ass, under tutelage of players like Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon, and it was working.
- In 6th were the Houston Rockets, at 29-24, the Rockets remained consistent, with Larry Drew, Alvan Adams, and Hakeem Olajuwon making the whole city pay attention, alongside Olajuwon's former Houston team mates Larry Micheaux and Michael Young.
- In 7th, the Seattle Supersonics fought to rise the ladder at 26-23, with Alvin Robertson, Jeff Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Sam Perkins, Mike Gminski, and a young Wayman Tisdale trying their best to beat teams like Los Angeles and San Antonio.
- In 8th, at 23-28, the Portland Trailblazers just wanted to make the play-offs. Rookie pointguard Michael Adams, alongside Dale Ellis, Maurice Lucas, Tom Chambers, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma, Mychal Thompson, and Kevin Ransey, was hoping to bring attention to the city. It was working; the squad looked good, and coach Del Harris was trying his best in a fairly competitive Pacific division.
All Star weekend provided a much needed break. Drexler won the dunk contest, against San Antonio's Mario Elie, while Golden State's Bernard King won the three point contest against Alvin Scott and Gene Banks. Michael Jordan was the player of the game as the Sophomores won, dropping an impressive 45 points (third only to Drexler's 47 point performance two years prior and Dominique Wilkin's two years 46 points two years before that) before all attention shifted to the main event. Bird, McHale, Malone, Jordan, and Thomas made up the East's starting five, with Bill Laimbeer, Andrew Toney, Otis Birdsong, Mark Aguirre, Clyde Drexler, Rick Mahorn, and Sleep Floyd coming off the bench, while Dominique Wilkins, Karl Malone, Kareem, George Gervin, and Magic Johnson made up the West's starting five, with Johnny Moore, Adrian Dantley, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tom Chambers, Fat Lever, and Ricky Pierce coming off the bench. The West dominated for mch of the game, outscoring the East 46-33 in the third quarter, but a dominating 40 point display by Larry Bird saw him seize All Star MVP honors, as well as achieve victory as the East won in an impressive fourth quarter victory, 151-142.
Lehner was doing more coke than ever. What had started as a casual habit had erupted into a full blown addiction, and people were starting to notice. It was February 26th, 1986, and Lehner had two lines laid out on his dark oak desk, in between a flutter of paperwork and depth line-ups. "We built this city - built this city on rock and roooolllllllll"; the radio droned on, as he rolled up a bill, licking his lips in anticipation. Just as benji went up his nostril and he craned down to rip a line, a soft knock on the door shot his eyes wide open. He immediately jolted up, leaning back as he slammed his hand across the desk, sending the powder to the ground - damn he'd regret that later - and nearly fell out of his chair as team owner Fitz Dixon entered the room, a cigar in his room. His eyebrow raised, as Lehner cracked a weak smile, taking a moment to run a hand through his hair. "Hello? Am I interrupting something...?"
"N-no, it's fine sir! Hey! How's it going? What's up?" Dixon took a moment to stare at him, shaking his head, before he approached the desk, sitting in the chair across from Adam. "You don't look good, Adam. Get some rest." Adam nodded, as Dixon sighed, pushing his arms across his chest.
"It's Daly. We need to talk about him." Lehner blinked, waiting for him to continue, a bit confused. "He's had a lot of problems with Malone recently. It's getting worse. Maybe it's time to start thinking about other options."
Lehner was taken aback completely. "Sir, with all due respect, the team's doing great. He's a huge part of that."
Dixon shook his head. "Maybe some. But Malone - Malone's the real reason we're doing so good. Don't forget that, Lehner." He stood up, moving towards the door, as Adam just kind of stared at him confused. "And layoff the drugs, Lehner. It's showing."
The season roared on. John Stockton was doing excellent, serving in his role as point-guard perfectly, averaging over -12- rebounds a game coming into March while notching up steal after steal and doing an excellent job on guarding shots as well. Drexler was an animal, having learned how to pick up some of the offensive slack as Erving aged, and Worthy was undoubtedly going to win 6th man of the year, averaging 17.3 points a game off the bench alongside 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 and a half steals. But still, the team was sometimes lost in the locker room. Their was another focus at mind. Another obstacle to overcome.
Philadelphia needed to overcome Boston. That was their only priority now. The rest of the season roared on, and it wasn't until April 5th that the teams met again. Philadelphia was at the top of the league, at 61-14. They'd play back-to-back games, the first at home the second in Boston, so it was essential to win immediately. Philadelphia took an early lead, coming into the second quarter with an eight point lead, but Danny Ainge had other plans. He dropped 9 points in the first six minutes, before a scuffle between him and Frank Brickowski saw Frank pick up a technical - his fourth already. He went to the bench, and Boston ended up going on a triumphant run as Larry Bird took flight. He ended the game with 44 points, as Boston won 130-117, and Malone was just furious. He got into a shouting match in the locker room with Chuck Daly, and demanded a victory three days later.
It didn't happen. A long three from Xavier McDaniel at the end of the fourth saw the game go into overtime, and Bird took the Celtics home as they won 124-120 behind Bird's 40, despite James Worthy's staggering 52 points off the bench. Malone and Daly got into another heated arguement, and the team went into playoffs under a weird kind of vibe. Lehner was ecstatic - the team was atop the league, it looked like a championship was very likely, and everything seemed perfect. But not all was well in Philadelphia.
They swept Atlanta in the first round, and Chicago in the second, before meeting Boston in the conference finals. They won the first game - Stockton dropped an impressive 19 assists, while Malone had 30 points and Erving and Drexler had 21 and 19 respectively. They won the next one too - Malone had 33 and Erving had 32 - but the next two games saw them going to Boston. And Bird was ready. Malone had 39 points, but Bird had 45, and Boston took Game 3. He had 48 in the next game, as Boston won 127-115, and Boston tied the series going into Game 5. Philadelphia needed to be on it's A game.
They were. In the next game, Bird had 48 again, but Philadelphia dominated from the get-go as Malone had 33 points with 15 rebounds, Drexler had 21, Brickowski had 18, Erving had 23, and Worthy had 18 off the bench. Bird had 55 in the next game, but Malone followed right behind him, grabbing 21 rebounds with 3 blocks and 51 points of his own, as Philadelphia won in Boston, heading to the finals 138-131.
Waiting for them were the Lakers. Unfortunately for them, they were missing two major parts of their roster; Cliff Robinson had broken his hand shortly before the playoffs, and World B. Free had a nasty sprained ankle, he'd be back, but not right away. Malone took advantage; up against an old (38!) but still talented Kareem, Malone grabbed 23 rebounds alongside 29 points in Game 1, as Philadelphia started off strong, winning 112-92. Free game back in the next game, dropping 33 points as the Lakers won 102-95. Once again, the Locker Room was silent. The team was winning, but Malone was tearing the team apart as him and Daly continued to fight. This couldn't be both their teams, it was apparent. Amidst all this, Worthy wanted a place on the team, but couldn't handle waiting for Erving to retire. Chemistry was at an all time low.
That quickly rebounded in Game 3. Stockton had 14 assists and Malone finished with 52 points as Philadelphia won 121 - 104. Coach Pat Riley called the team excellent, but cited his own team's will and drive. Magic called Malone "on another level, man." He came into Game 4 just as determined, dropping 43, before Philadelphia sealed it all in Game 5, as Malone dropped 30 to win the game. He was awarded Finals MVP honors, and Philadelphia brought home it's second trophy in just 4 years. Things should've been perfect. Lehner was ecstatic.
But all was not well in Philadelphia - as Lehner would soon find out for himself.
The award ceremony saw Bird take home his second MVP honor. Utah's Mark Eaton won defensive player of the year, while Dallas's Karl Malone won Rookie of the Year over New York's Patrick Ewing. As expected, James Worthy took home 6th man of the year, while San Antonio's Gregg Popovich won Coach of the Year and New York's Dave DeBusschere won Executive of the Year for taking New York up into second with some great drafts and great trades (getting Mullin was hugeeeeee) to round it all off.
- The First All NBA Team was Magic Johnson, Chicago's Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Golden State's Charles Barkley, and Moses Malone.
- Detroit's Isiah Thomas, San Antonio's George Gervin, Seattle's Dominique Wilkins, Dallas's Karl Malone (in his rookie season!), and Kareem made up the second team.
- John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Denver's Alex English, Portland's Tom Chambers, and Utah's Mark Eaton made up the third team.
- The First Defensive Team consisted of John Stockton, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, and Mark Eaton.
- Second team was New York's Michael Ray Richardson, Clyde Drexler, James Worthy, Charles Barkley, and Sacramento's Tree Rollins made up the third team.
- The All First rookie team consisted of New Jersey's Terry Porter, Indiana's Brook Steppe, New York's Chris Mullin, Dallas's Karl Malone, and New York's Patrick Ewing.
- Second team was Portland's Michael Adams, Detroit's Joe Dumars, New Jersey's Detlef Schrempf, Atlanta's Charles Oakley, and Seattle's Benoit Benjamin.
--------------
The 80's have treated us to an extraordinary amount of impressive basketball, from heated rivalries to jawdropping records being shattered. This season especially was hectic; we saw battles of the best, battles of the worst, and battles of somewhere in between a plenty. One of the most exciting teams to watch - though their post season might say otherwise - came from unexpected places, as they managed to sneak their way into the playoffs amidst the last stretch of games. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Atlanta edition."
~~~~~~
It's July 1st, and sitting with me is Rick Adelman, Atlanta's offensive coach. He's excited about the oncoming season - the team had drafted Charles Oakley, traded for Wes Matthews and Larry Smith, and were looking set to re-sign Mark Aguirre and Demarcus Phelan. With guys like Otis Birdsong, Mike Woodson, Phil Hubbard, and Tony Campbell, they hoped to have a turn around year. "The focus is going to be shooting" Adelman says as we ride in the back of a car towards the Omni, Atlanta's 18,000 person arena. Did they see themselves making the playoffs, having missed it the year before? "Make it? We're gonna run it."
At the arena, we meet with Wilt Chamberlain, coach of the team. He'd retired the same year I came into the league, but we'd met a couple of times since, and he greeted me with a smile. Now coming close to fifty years of age, the seven footer still was as giant as ever, making me (a six footer, 6'1, an entire foot shorter than the 7'1 Hall of Famer) feel small in comparison. "I think they can do it" Chamberlain says as we walk down the hall towards the court. "There's a lot of talent on this roster that's been overlooked. Guys like Birdsong, Wes, Phelan. They're both one of kind dudes in their own way."
Chamberlain, who had an illustrious NBA career, was still working on figuring his way through the whole coaching fiasco. He'd coached the ABA San Diego Conquistadors the year he came out of the league, before taking a six year hiatus, taking time to travel and enjoy retirement. But basketball brought him back, and he spent the next 5 years from 1980 on working with Detroit to help build up the Piston's lineup. "It was my idea to trade for Laimbeer, you know." Really? "Oh, yeah. I saw the talent in him from day one. I still think he's gonna get it, just wait. Him and Isiah's time is coming."
After 5 years with Detroit - making the playoffs every year, and the eastern conference finals last season - Bill Davidson and Jack McCloskey decided to let Chamberlain go. Initially, he considered retirement, but when Atlanta fired Jerry Sloan - who would go on to take a job working as the offensive coordinator for Phil Chenier in Dallas - he decided to put his name in the hat for one last ride.
"We'll see how free agency goes. I expect great things either way." Great might've been a stretch. The team managed to sign Rickey Green and Mark McNamara over free agency to help bolster the bench, and they definitely -started- strong, beating Cleveland and then reigning league Boston in their first two games at home - Matthews dropping 26 in the second game, with Aguirre and Birdsong chipping in 19 each - before losing the next two to Chicago and Washington. No big deal; they'd come back to win the next three straight, including a 26 point thrashing at Market Square Arena in Indiana and a 36 point display from Birdsong at the Omni that saw him drop 9 3s. Then, something happened.
"No one's hurt. No one's playing bad - at least, none of our starters. I'm at a loss." General manager Ryan Ned is sitting behind his desk, chewing away at a baseball eraser in his mouth. It's December 9th - after the team's last win against New York on November 15th, they've managed to lose 12 in a row. Worst was perhaps the team's 95-132 point thrashing to Philadelphia, though December 4th's 113-106 point loss to Milwaukee at Mecca Arena - a game in which Chris Mullin (who would be shipped to New York a month later) ended up in a fist fight with Mark Aguirre, a fight that saw Rick Mahorn lay out Birdsong and Matthews, ending up with a 6 game suspension - was much more notable. The team was meshing well enough; Birdsong's averaging 25 a game, Matthews has close to 20, Aguirre 18.5, Woodson 11.5 off the bench, Phelan averaging 10 rebounds a game, Oakley with 9. "I'm at a loss. I'm at a loss for words. We're gonna go a month straight with losses. I'm at a loss."
The next day the team traded Ben Coleman and a first round pick for Spud Webb from New York. He had 5 points and 5 assists, alongside Matthew's 17 point 9 assist game, and finally Atlanta won again, besting Denver 80-94 in Atlanta. Webb - short for a NBA player, at 5'6 - was hoisted up onto 7-4 Demarcus Phelan's shoulders after the game, as Phelan screamed up into the arena in a thick Panamanian accent. "We're back baby!" An unusually raucous celebration for a meager win against a sub-par team. But at least they didn't go 0-13.
Later that night, I finally get Phelan to sit down for an interview with me. At 22 years old, he's still pretty young, given that this was his 4th year in the league now - and at 7'4, the beast of a man was surprisingly docile, given his title on the court - the "Felon of the Paint". 1981's D-League Player of the Year and the only player on the team with a ring (aside from Chamberlain) having won with Philadelphia in 1983. He'd started for Atlanta for 2 years now, this being his third, and was already being hailed by fans as one of their team favorites. Despite having been in the country for several years, the Panamanian national still spoke with a thick accent, making him shy to speak.
"I have faith in the team. In Matthews, in Birdsong. I just play defense." So it had been, and so it would be; Phelan was notorious for it. He'd have a few twenty point games here and there, but he'd never managed to average double digit scoring consistently and was shooting less than ever. "Why shoot? I've got Otis Birdsong on my team. He shoots."
Otis Birdsong. The two time All Star was definitely something else - arguably one of the league's best shooters, behind Larry Bird and World B. Free. The 3 was his secret weapon, and boy was he good at it. Going into their first rematch against Milwaukee that season, the team was 16-27 - still fighting for relevance, but in a much better position that 5-14 - and they wanted revenge. In the wake of his suspension, Mahorn had called Birdsong "weak" and argued his hit had been more of a jerk of the arm, and that it wasn't his fault the shooting guard was so soft it knocked him to the ground. Team mate Wes Matthews was quick to take his defense, calling Mahorn a dirty player who had to resort to hurting his match-ups because he couldn't outplay them, and Marques Johnson struck back, calling Wes Matthews an overrated point guard who should "learn to talk on the court, no gossip s***."
January 29th. The stage was set. The game was at the Omni this time, with a sold out showing of 18,118 people. The team had lost two close games to league titans Los Angeles (Lakers) and Detroit, so this win was absolutely vital for their season moving forward. It started pretty quiet; Birdsong had 6 in the first quarter, Aguirre had 8, Oakley had 4, Matthews had 6. Milwaukee led 30-21. And then, in one of the stupidest things he'd ever done, Marques Johnson stuck a leg out from the bench as Birdsong ran by leading into the second quarter and tripped him. A technical was called, and Birdsong hit two free throws to give the team a nice boost. He also caught fire.
He had 7 threes in the quarter, finishing with 25 in the second half, before dropping another 2 in the third and three more in the fourth, finishing the game with 50 points and 13 threes (having hit one in the first quarter), a NBA single game record. Unfortunately, Ford and Johnson were too much. The Bucks won 108-101.
"The game. The GAME! Oh my god man, that was something else man, just incredible." Mike Woodson raises hand to his mouth, mimicking a gasp of awe, as he shook his head laughing. The 27 year old former Hoosier and 6-5 bench shooting guard shakes his head again, smiling at me. "How am I supposed to compete with that? I can't. I'm gonna be riding the bench for awhile, man. Whatever! He keeps shooting like that, man, I don't even care!" Larry Smith - hovering near the seats where I'm interviewing Woodson courtside before a team practice - chips in as well. "I don't care if that was a loss, I don't care if we'd been blown out a hundred fiddy points man. That **** should be going into the Atlanta Hall of Fame, asap."
Unfortunately for Birdsong, it didn't exactly rally the team. They lost the next four on the road, before Birdsong's 33 at the Moda Center in Portland saw them steal a win. They were in tenth in the east now, and for a team that saw itself as contenders, they weren't making a good argument for themselves. Luckily, they had Otis. They were far behind, but with giants like Philadelphia, Boston, and Los Angeles haunting the league, the higher end of the conference was weak. They could still sneak in.
By April 1st, it looked like they might. They were 31-41, floating right behind New Jersey (at 32-39) at 9th in the East. Matthews was ecstatic. "We're gonna do it, man. Prove 'em wrong. Maybe even take a shot at Philadelphia. Who knows, right?"
And they did. By April 16th, one game before the end of the season, New Jersey had officially fallen behind Atlanta. All they had to do was win their last game of the season - a homer against Detroit. Easier said than done. Thomas was incredible; he was all over the court, throwing passes (10), catching steals (3), and notching up 33 points to go with it, but Birdsong was as steady as ever, going 9 for 13 to put up 39 points as the Hawks won at home, 111-97, and solidified their role in the post season. Not that it meant much; Philadelphia was a monster, and they'd lost all four of their match-ups that season. Still - it was nice.
"We showed everyone - hey, we're here. We're relevant." Birdsong's sitting on the bleachers, a couple of days before playoffs. They'll end up getting swept by Philadelphia - Birdsong sets an Atlanta high 48 points in the first playoff loss, losing 116-125, before impressively doing it again in Game 2 (going 17/28 and (16/25 respectively) and dropping 35 in Game 3. He'd be held to just (just? still okay) 21 points in their final game against Philadelphia, before the team was headed home for the season.
But Birdsong smiles up at me in that last interview, and suddenly I realize why it doesn't matter to him. "We're underdogs, man, and we just want to show the world - hey, we can ball too. And we did."
Hopefully next season brings them better luck. I'm Slick Watts, and this is Inside a Team - the Atlanta Edition.
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Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 1:59 am
1986 - YEAR 7
Lehner's sitting there in total shock. The paper sits on his lap, but he still can't believe it - even though he'd lived it the past few days. But man, to see it in print. It was so real.
-------
The Philadelphia Inquirer
June 18th, 1986 - Out With The Old; Dixon Ships Staff
In a move that shocked many - especially on the wake of a championship - team owner Fitz Dixon has fired young aspiring general manager Adam Lehner, in an apparent feud following his insistence on the removal of head coach Chuck Daly. Daly - who many claim was stripped of his status due to disagreements with Moses Malone - was apparently a good friend of Lehner's, and he'd stuck up on his behalf. Apparently Dixon can do without him, bringing in a young new hot shot out of no where, 26 year old R.C Buford, to replace him. Lehner joins the likes of former Chicago manager Jerry Krause and former New Jersey manager Bill Montgomery, though it's likely he'll find a job sooner than either of them.
The city will miss you, Lehner. Fans across Philadelphia are outraged, with many calling Dixon a "corporate clown". Members of the team were unavailable for comment, but I'm sure they feel the same. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
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It still didn't feel real. The team -had- reached out; Stockton was sympathetic especially, as was Drexler, and Erving called him right away to say he was sad to see him go. Even Malone called to wish him luck. Luck, though. He'd had such a good team! How could he go from here?!
And then the phone rang. He held his breath, almost ignoring it - almost making the mistake of a lifetime. "Is this Adam Lehner?" He didn't recognize the voice.
"Yes, hello, who is this?"
"Adam, this is Jerry Reinsdorf with the Chicago Bulls. How'd you like to be our new general manager?"
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He got to work right away. The team had a lot of useful talents - Michael Jordan highest amongst all of them - but there was still work to be done. First and foremost he needed a head coach; luckily for Adam, Phil Jackson was leaving Boston that off-season following issues handling salaries. Chicago had no such hesitation about paying the young coach exorbitantly and a deal was quickly worked out, the same day Adam decided to take the job. They were announced as a package deal.
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The Chicago Tribune
June 21st, 1986 - New Season Brings New Hope
In a press conference held at Chicago Stadium, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf was eager to announce the new additions of Adam Lehner and Phil Jackson as general manager and head coach respectively. Each with a seasoned resume under their belt - Jackson having won a championship in his 4 years with Boston, Lehner having won -two- in his 6 years with Philadelphia - Reinsdorf hopes they'll be able to rebuild this squad into an actual contender. They both had some interesting comments in their initial Q&A, as highlighted below.
Question: Do you see this team as a good fit for you?
AL: Well I'll be honest, I never expected to be here, not in a hundred years *chuckles from crowd*. But I'm eager, circumstances aside. This is a great team with a seasoned history, and I'm looking forward to doing my part in helping the rebuilding process from the inside out.
PJ: Certainly. As Adam discussed, the prospect of helping this team redefine it's identity amidst a surge of young new talent in the league - I expect great things from these guys.
Follow-up: "These guys". You talk a lot about rebuilding. Can I assume Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Kevin Willis, and Michael Jordan remain core parts of this team?
PJ: With this guy? I wouldn't bet on it. *laughter from crowd*. No, just teasing of course. I've got faith in a lot of these guys. I'm excited to get to work.
AL: I won't lie; it'll take me a couple of weeks to get my grounding. I've got some preliminary ideas in my head, but I wouldn't expect anything too crazy anytime soon.
Question: And with your famous assertion Adam - that you'd bring Philadelphia a championship within four years - can the same be said here?
AL: Hah! Well, the league is definitely a lot crazier than it used to be. How about this: this time, give me five?
This is Steven Shoemaker with the Chicago Tribune - we'll definitely plan on it Adam. Stay posted for more updates as the off-season progresses.
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When Adam said to not expect anything crazy anytime soon, he meant less than a week. He immediately shipped Jerome Kersey and the team's first round draft for that year to Dallas for a 1987 pick - Lehner had his eyes on a few guys in the 87 draft class who could be immediate gamechangers, and a young player showing early signs of a pretty solid career seemed more than worth the risk, especially given that Dallas had yet to make the playoffs since entering the league. The team still had Indiana's first round pick at 6 - the Bulls had sent their 1984 1st round pick and Michael Cooper for that, Louis Orr, and Lonnie Shelton before Orr had been considered a good player and when Indiana was still a reliable playoff contender (having made it four years straight, before posting a 27-55 season record the year before).
Draft day came with a bang. Lehner considered this the weakest class in years, but had his eyes set on a certain Lithuanian center he hoped would fall to him. Ron Harper from Miami went 1st, to New Jersey, before Roy Tarpley went second to Dallas out of Michigan, and Brad Daugherty went 3rd from Denver to North Carolina. Jeff Hornacek went 4th to Dallas from Iowa State, while Mark Price out of Georgia Tech went to Los Angeles at 5th. Lehner immediately grabbed Aryvdas Sabonis - a 7'3 center he saw with great potential - at 6, while Narve Voorhes went to Phoenix at 7, another center, this one from the Netherlands, who was 7'1. Otis Smith, out of Jacksonville, went to Philadelphia at 8, while Chuck Person from Auburn to Dallas at 9, and then Atlanta sent their first round pick the next year as well as a second round pick to Utah for the 10th pick, which they used ot pick up Kevin Duckworth out of Eastern Illinois. At 11, Scott Skiles from Michigan State went to Utah, while Michael Jackson out of Georgetown went to Cleveland at 12. Johnny Newman went to Atlanta at 13, Dennis Rodman went to Detroit at 14, Johnny Dawkins to Dallas at 15, Drazen Petrovic to Seattle at 16, Dell Curry to Houston at 17, Anthony Bowie to Golden State at 18, Nate McMillan to Detroit at 19, John Williams to San Antonio at 20, Harold Pressley to Los Angeles at 21, Buck Johnson to Detroit at 22, and Walter Berry to Milwaukee at 23. Notable second rounders included Dwayne "Pearl" Washington out of Syracuse to Milwaukee at 24 (1 in the second round), as well as Bootsy Walton out of East Tennessee State to Detroit at 19.
Some of the biggest moves didn't happen in the draft though - they happened on the trade market. Detroit, in a blockbuster move, sent Lionel Hollins, Otis Thorpe, Jim Sparnarkel, and Nate McMillan for Utah's Adrian Dantley, while Utah then shipped Jay Humphries and a 1988 1st round pick alongside Ed Pinckney for Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka. Seattle sent Drazen Petrovic to Detroit for Buck Johnson, while Los Angeles sent Keith Lee and Terence Stansbury for George McGinnis. Kiki Vandeweghe got traded by Denver for Milwaukee's Bill Cartwright, and New Jersey sent Frank Johnson to Sacramento for Tree Rollins.
Chicago didn't have much room to work with in free agency. Unable to secure better point-guards than Gerald Henderson or Jim McElroy, Adam sent Gerald Wilkins and Geoff Huston alongside a 1989 draft pick to Utah for their young point-guard, Scott Skiles. Kevin Willis, the team's starting power forward, had played with Skiles at Michigan State for two years, and said the kid was one of the best passers he'd ever seen. He'd also set the Spartan's record for most points scored in a season (850) while being named the Big Ten Conference MVP; a marijuana possession charge (and a cocaine charge that was dropped) had hurt his draft stock a little, but Adam was willing to take a shot. He'd only picked up a few names out of free agency, includng Henderson, McElroy, Benny Anders (it was nice to have familiar guys on the team), Phil Smith, and most notably, an aging former defense player of the year Swen Nater - coming out of his prime at 36. But the team didn't look half-bad.
Gametime, baby.
~~~
STARTING LINE-UP
Coach Phil Jackson
- 307-215* (.588; 5th highested among coaches), 1 championship, 4 playoffs.
- A liberal guy, young but seasoned, at 6'8 and just 41, Jackson is a fairly relatable guy for many of the players in the league. He's shown he's a talented coach, known for running the triangle offensive masterfully (especially with Tex Winter as one of his assistant coaches, alongside Jeff Van Gundy and Cazzie Russell). He has high hopes for the team, and while cominhg in from a championship team may set a high bar, he's confident in the talent this team has to produce a high-calibur squad within a few years.
*- (win-loss records for coaches post 1980)
PG: Scott Skiles
- 6-1, 23, R, 11th pick in the 1986 NBA draft, Michigan State.
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- A young tenacious guard with a very unselfish pass first mentality, Skiles is a great fast break player and play-maker and an accurate bounce passer. He can create for himself or others off the dribble drive, and can get into passing lanes with nice anticipation and above average basketball IQ. Without much hype coming into the season, Skiles hopes to prove his detractors wrong and solidify his role in the NBA.
SG: Michael Jordan
- 6-6, 24, 2 years experience, 2nd pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, University of North Carolina.
- Game high 41 points, 11 assists, 13 rebounds, 6 blocks, 7 steals.
- 29 double-doubles, 86 p.o.t.gs, 2 player of the weeks, 4 player of the months, 2 All Star games, 1985 All-Defense 1st team, 1985 NBA All-League 1st team, 1985 Rookie Game Starter, 1984 NBA All Rookie 1st team, All Defense 1st team, All League 1st team, 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (78 started), 35.5 mpg, 27.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 7.1 rpg (5.6 d, 1.5 o), 1.4 spg, 1.8 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- An excellent player with limitless potential, Jordan's the kind of guy who steps out to the 18 foot and knocks down the J every time. He sees plays before they develop, capable of finding team mates the instant they become open, and is a strong defneder, capable of racking up steals thanks to his good anticipation ability and quickness. He's a tireless scorer, relentless in the paint, always hitting lay-up after lay-up, and has the markings of a regular All Star in the league.
SF: Louis Orr
- 6-8, 28, 6 years experience, 29th pick in the 1980 NBA draft, Syracuse University.
- Game high 41 points, 13 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6 steals.
- 42 double-doubles, 40 p.o.t.gs, 1 player of the week, 4 triple-doubles, 1983 NBA All-Defense 2nd team, 1982 NBA All-League 3rd team.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (77 started), 32.9 mpg, 14.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 5.0 rpg (3.8 d, 1.2 o), 0.8 spg, 1.4 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- A hard working player with a scorer mentality, Orr has become a regular face in the high-flying side of Chicago's stat line sheets. Coming into his third year on the team (having spent his first 4 years in Indiana), Orr is eager to prove himself to the world. A player with a quick first step, long strides, and strong force, he can get to the basket off the dribble and finish in traffic all the time. He almost always impacts the game tempo in a positive way while on the floor, and his hard work is inspiration for the rest of the team.
PF: Kevin Willis
- 7-0, 25, 2 years experience, 7th pick in the 1984 NBA draft, Michigan State.
- Game high 24 points, 5 assists, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks, 6 steals.
- 76 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs, 1984 NBA All-Rookie 2nd team.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (76 started), 32.4 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 0.8 apg, 9.2 rpg (6.7 d, 2.5 o), 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 1.2 topg.
- A massive forward with relatively skilled handling, Willis is a heady player who typically makes good decisions with the ball. A pesky defender, he's very tough, with a warriors mentality on the court. Almost never a big-time scorer, Willis needs to improve his free throw shooting and his offensive presence if he's going to become a serious contender in the league. That said, the young player's drive has helped Chicago since they drafted him, and he's a great young presence on a sometimes bleak looking team.
C: Artis Gilmore
- 7-2, 37, 10 years experience in the NBA, 33rd pick in the 1976 NBA draft, University of Jacksonville.
- Game-high 36 points, 8 assists, 21 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 121 double-doubles, 9 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (72 started), 29.4 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 1.2 apg, 8.3 rpg (5.9 d, 2.4 o), 0.4 spg, 1.7 bpg, 0.9 topg.
- An older player with a strong heart - in a league where Kareem and Jo Jo White were rocking out pushing on 40, why couldn't Gilmore still ball? An extremely smooth player in general, Gilmore's great at drawing fouls and converting from the free throw line. Not the best shooter in the world, he makes up for it with his rebounding and defense ability, capable of guarding positions 1 to 4, taking advantage of his height and length to pressure his opponents to adjust their shooting rhythm. With good timing for blocked shots off the ball and on smaller perimeter players, his biggest issues are his poor vision and poor passing skills. Still, with age comes rust; Gilmore hopes to evade the toll of time for his long as he can.
6th Man - SG: Reggie Theus
- 6-7, 29, 8 years experience in the NBA, 9th pick in the 1978 NBA draft, UNLV.
- Game-high 48 points, 12 assists, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 steals, 24 double-doubles, 82 p.ot.gs, 3 player of the weeks, 1 player of the months, 3 All Star games, 1983 NBA All-League 3rd team, 1982 NBA All League 2nd team, 1981 All-League 2nd team, 1978 All-Rookie 1st team.
- A tough competitor who plays hard and is never afraid of taking big shots, Theus is the kind of guard who can face the basket from 15 feet out and get by bigger plays off the dribble as well as being able to knock down shots out to 20 feet with consistency. He's a good defender with excellent foot speed, especially laterally, and plays with a ball-hawking style. Coming off the bench as Jordan dominates, Theus hopes to be a 6th man of the year type contender, and hopefully it doesn't disrupt his play too much. He can help boost the team when it's needed most. Still, hopefully the move isn't met with too much scorn; a seasoned Bulls member, this is his 9th season on the squad, second only to Artis Gilmore (this being his 11th).
7th - C: Swen Nater
- 6-11, 36, 10 years experience in the NBA, 16th pick in the 1976 draft, UCLA.
- Game-high 42 points, 11 assists, 22 rebounds, 9 blocks, 7 steals, 165 double-doubles, 103 p.o.t.gs, 4 all-star games, 2 triple-doubles, 1984 All-Defense 1st team, All League 2nd team, 1984 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Last season's stats: 43 games played (35 started), 27.3 mpg, 14.1 ppg, 2.3 apg, 7.8 rpg (5.5 d, 2.3 o), 1.5 spg, 2.6 bpg, 2.4 topg.
- The best player to come out of the Netherlands, Nater's had an incredible career that could have been a lot better had injuries not plagued him for much of the past few years. Having missed half of the previous season due to severe back pain, having broken a leg in 83 (and a finger not too long before), and most notably having torn his ACL in a bad play with Malone most agreed was fairly dirty on the Philadelphia center (Houston at the time)'s behalf, injuries are just something that haunt Nater. Still, coming off the bench Lehner hopes to reduce the wear and tear of his body and capitalize on his tenacious ability to take over the court with his defensive presence. His strong fundamentals and great inside shot should help bolster the team when it's needed most without exposing him to the risks of injury too often.
8th - SG: Benny Anders
- 23, 1 year experience in the NBA, undrafted, from University of Houston.
- Game-high 25 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals.
- 1 title won (with Philadelphia the season before), 1985 Slam Dunk contest participant.
- Last season's stats: 72 games played (0 started), 9.9 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 0.7 apg, 1.3 rpg (1.1 d, 0.2 o), 0.4 spg, 0.1 bpg, 0.6 topg.
- Benny Anders, the enigma. Coming from the celebrated Phi Slamma Jamma team, Anders has legitimate lead guard skills with a yo-yo handle, but needs to work on his discipline and consistency if he's gonna make it to that level. Capable of making good decisions when he doesn't rush things, if he improves on his outside shot, he can solidify himself as a serious threat on the court. A useful bench player for sure, and someone Lehner was quick to pick-up when he saw that Philadelphia had failed to renew his contract.
9th - PF: Mike Bantom
- 35, 15 years experience in the NBA, 8th pick in the 1971 NBA draft, St. Joseph's university.
- Game-high 34 points, 9 assists, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals.
- 16 double-doubles, 6 p.o.t.gs, 1 title won (with Boston in '82), 1971 All-Rookie 1st team.
- Last season's stats: 49 games played (0 started), 9.6 mpg, 2.2 ppg, 0.6 apg, 3.4 rpg (2.3 d, 1.1 o), 0.3 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.3 topg.
- One of the older players on the team alongside Nater and Gilmore, this marks Bantom's third year in Chicago (having been shipped from Milwaukee) coming towards the end of his career. Despite being an excellent player in his hayday, Bantom has aged poorly, but he's still a good relief player to give some guys a break when needed, and he's an excellent locker room presence talent aside.
Other notable players: Gerald Henderson (32 years old, PG), Jim McElroy (33 years old, PG), Billy Knight (34 years old, SF), Phil Smith (34 years old, SG), Tyrone Corbin (25, SF, D-League), Arvydas Sabonis (23, C, D-League).
~~~~~~~
It was a very different start to the season than Adam's last tenure with Philadelphia. He'd gained credibility as a manager through his short time with the team, and now coming into a fairly young Chicago squad, he had the team ready and attentive, focused on the season ahead. Jordan wanted to prove he was a champion, Skiles wanted to prove he was better than he was hyped out to be, Theus wanted to prove he could still contribute to this team in wake of a young buck like Jordan, while Artis and Nater wanted to prove that age wasn't everything. In an era dominated by conference gargantuans, confidence was key.
They lost the first two games on the road. A rough loss to Boston - which saw Jordan drop 36 in his first game of the season - before an even -rougher- loss to New Jersey, as sophomore Detlef Schrempf notched 32. After that, though, things started to click; Jackson figured out how to work the team. In their first game at home of the season, in a sold out Chicago Arena against New York, Jordan dropped 37 in a win over a strong New York squad, before winning the next five in a row. They met Adam's old team - Philadelphia - at home in Chicago on November 16th, as the team continued to tear through the eastern conference.
The team picked up on Lehner's feelings going into the game. "So what, you want me to lay out Malone the first chance I get, or...?" Swen had a grin on his face, but Adam shook his head, waving his hands in front of him as they walked down the hall towards their locker room before the game. "No way, no bad blood with the players. Just make it memorable. Make it close."
Philadelphia dominated at first. Malone was a monster, as per usual, but Artis was playing with an unusually forceful vigor. Stockton was making some incredible passes, as Drexler dominated in the paint. But Jordan had his number; he dropped 12 in the first quarter, while Theus had 6 points in the 2 minutes of the end of the quarter as he came off the bench. Chicago was down 33-23. Then Swen Nater went in. He was a monster right away, seizing 6 rebounds in his first 4 minutes of the game. When Malone came back in, he immediately made his move, fouling him hard as he came in for a dunk on a lone fast break. Nater planted for a charge as Malone came in, but at the last minute shot his arms up, jumping up into him as he swiped his arm up sort of into his neck, wrapping it around him as the two smashed into the ground. Immediately they were seperated, as Kevin Willis hoisted Nater up and Drexler tried to get in between the two, but Nater swung over him, hitting Malone in the side of the head as he tried to regain his footing. A whistle was blown, and immediately Nater was sent off court; Malone went to the bench, screaming obscenities in Nater's direction as he the referee turned to him with a glare. He didn't care; the obscenities continued, and off went the ref's whistle as he got called for a technical. Philadelphia continued in it's dominance as Drexler and Malone tore the team apart, despite Scott Skiles and Michael Jordan's best efforts to work their jump shots effectively.
Malone was just enraged. Nater was out, having walked to the locker room, but Malone just started pressing everyone on Chicago, hitting block after block as he ripped rebounds out from people's hands. Chicago rallied in the second, out-scoring Philadelphia 24-22 in the 3rd, and 35-27 in the 4th, but still lost 118-110. It was interesting to see how the bench had developed without Worthy; Brad Davis had 6 assists and 10 points in his 24 minutes playing relief, while Kermit, Mickey Johnson, and the new addition of 1981's 6th man of the year Kevin Grevey (playing for his 5th team in 8 seasons) all played solid defense, notching up 17 rebounds between the 3 of them as well as 18 points.
In the post-game interview, Malone called Nater an "overrated punk" and had a tangle of other insults for the rest of the team, citing Jordan as overrated and overhyped, and claiming Lehner had fallen off in recent years, pretending to wish the best for him while subtlely disparaging his name. It hurt, honestly, seeing his former player tear him apart - "I'm not going to say he's got a problem, but he used to look... out of it. He's not focused anymore, y'know?" - but it didn't matter. He'd have the last laugh.
Chicago won their next game in Cleveland, before losing two on the road. They'd be without Nater for ten games, but they could manage. They rallied back to win against Indiana in a sold out Chicago Arena following the losing streak, before losing another two against Detroit and New York. November 30th however, back in Chicago, they came face-to-face with the Boston Celtics for the second time. Jordan just had one of those days - he went 16 for 21, going a perfect 25 for 25 on the free throw line while grabbing 3 steals, 1 block, 3 assists, and 13 rebounds, finishing with a career high 58 points in an absolutely magnificent game. Jordan couldn't do it alone though; they lost the next three, won one, and then lost two more. They were 10-12; not terrible, but not where they should be.
They managed to rally and beat Phoenix and Atlanta their next two games out. Then game the game they'd all been waiting for: a road game against Philadelphia at the Spectrum. Nater was back, and many were worried another fight would break out. Him and Malone played a rough game, with a lot of elbows thrown and some hard fouls, but it stayed relatively calm for most of the game. Chicago came into the half up 49-47, but Philadelphia had a monster 3rd quarter, outscoring them 42-27. In the 4th quarter, however, Skiles found his on switch; he hit 4 threes in the quarter alone alongside some excellent midrange game and some great passing to a relentless Swen Nater, finishing the game with 30 points and 5 assists on 5 for 8 3 point shooting, while Nater had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in his 24 minutes in the game. Chicago outscored Philadelphia 41-24 in the 4th, and won the game 117-113. Boo ya, suckers.
They lost two after that, but won a Christmas game at home to give something nice to the fans, and ended up going into 1987 with a 15-16 record; not great, but workable. The next couple of months went relatively the same; Jordan kept scoring, the rest of the team built themselves around him. Skiles found himself with a reliable touch, impressing many, while Nater and Theus ran the bench, and Willis and Orr contributed wholeheartedly. Jordan had another 40 point game in January, and than one where he hit 50 again in February. Arvydas Sabonis, who'd been dominating in the D-League at one point posting a 38 point 27 rebound game, unfortunately tore his ACL towards the beginning of February. Bill Laimbeer had been out for most of the season with a torn Achilles, while New York's Jack Sikma was out with a broken hand. Tom Chambers had broke his wrist, and Kevin McHale had been out for a couple of months with a broken foot, as had Detroit's Joe Dumars and James Bailey. Chicago was 26-25 going into the All Star break, finally positive for the first time in weeks, and felt good about the break.
The event was held in Seattle. n a surprising repeat of events, Philadelphia's Drexler once more won the dunk contest, while Golden State's Bernard King once more won the 3 point contest. Scott Skiles made the start for the rookie team, grabbing 6 assists and 6 points in his time in the game, while team-mates Chuck Person out of Houston and Denver's Brad Daugherty had 24 and 27 respectively, but it was the sophomores that dominated, winning 132-122. Portland's Michael Adams had 25 points and 12 assists, while Karl Malone had 27 points with 9 rebounds, and Joe Dumars had 28 points on 10 for 11 shooting. The main event was a little more high-paced. The East won 163-146, Jordan taking home All Star MVP honors with an impressive 44 point 5 block 7 rebound game on 16 for 17 shooting. The line-up's were as followed:
EAST
- Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Philadelphia, 42-10)
- PG: Isiah Thomas, Detroit (11 points, 11 assists)
- SG: Michael Jordan, Chicago (44 points on 16/17 shooting, 11/11 at the FT)
- SF: Larry Bird, Boston (28 points)
- PF: Kevin McHale, Boston (9 points)
- C: Moses Malone, Philadelphia (10 points)
- Adrian Dantley, SF, Detroit (5 points)
- Michael Ray Richardson, PG, New York (9 points, 6 assists)
- Clyde Drexler, SG, Philadelhpia (27 points on 11 for 13 shooting)
- Rick Mahorn, PF, Milwaukee (2 points, 6 rebounds)
- Patrick Ewing, C, New York (8 points)
- John Stockton, PG, Philadelphia (4 points)
- Eddie A. Johnson, SF (plays PG for Boston), Boston (6 points)
WEST
- Coach Pat Riley (Lakers, 44-10)
- PG: Magic Johnson, Lakers (17 points, 11 assists)
- SG: George Gervin, San Antonio (16 points on 5 for 8 shooting)
- SF: James Worthy, Clippers (7 point, 6 assists)
- PF: Charles Barkley, Golden State (10 points, 4 blocks)
- C: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston (31 points, 7 rebounds)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Lakers (10 points, 8 rebounds)
- Michael Adams, SG, Portland (4 points)
- World B. Free, SG, Lakers (16 points)
- Dale Ellis, SF, Portland (5 points)
- Mark Eaton, C, Utah (1 rebound)
- Karl Malone, PF, Dallas (17 points)
- Dominique Wilkins, SF, Seattle (13 points)
The rest of the season went was in sight. By March 3rd, Chicago was 31-27, and the playoff seeding was beginning to more or less stabilize. In terms of some of the trades that had gone on throughout the season, the Suns had shipped Greg Kelser and a second round pick for Dallas's Darryl Dawkins early on, while Denver had traded Vern Fleming for Philadelphia's injuried rookie, Terry Catledge. Philadelphia had also shipped out a second round pick and Brad Davis for the Clipper's back-up center, Steve Stipanovich, while Utah sent a package deal of Lester Conner and Walter Davis to Atlanta for Phil Hubbard and a second round pick. In one of the larger scale moves, New Jersey had sent Andrew Toney and a 1st round pick for Los Angeles's Cliff Robinson, Washington had also sent Antoinne Carr to the Clipper's for Terry Teagle, their first round pick in 87, and two second round picks. The Knicks, in a controversial move, sent Ray Williams, amidst his 10th season with the team, to Portland for Jack Sikma and a first round pick, while Utah gave up enforcer Joe Cooper for Indiana's Michael Cooper in a trade of the Coopers.
The league looked sharp. Jackson and Lehner didn't expect to go far in the playoffs; they were 5th in the standings, behind Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Detroit, but with some of the power going on in the higher rungs this season, it was unlikely they made it anywhere past the second round. Still, the team looked good. They were meshing.
It's March 6th. The team's on the road, making the overnight drive from Dallas to San Antonio, and most people are snoozing. The young assistant coach, Jeff Van Gundy, drums his fingers along the windowsill next to him, singing along softly to the headphones over his ears. "Ohhhhhhhh - we're half way thereeee. Livin' on a prayeeer! Take my hands, we'll make it I swear - ohhhhh, livin' on a praaaayeeeer!" Adam found himself lost in thought. The team would need to make some serious moves this off-season; teams like New York, Golden State, Houston, and Seattle only stood to get better as their young talent progressed. This was a pretty solid class stocked towards the higher rungs, but that meant a lot of gambling on people not taking guys he was looking at - names like David Robinson (the current NCAA leading scorer -and- rebounder), Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Muggsy Bogues (very short, but one of the better ball handlers and the NCAA's leading passer), Mark Jackson, Horace Grant, Kevin Johnson, Donald Royal, and Kenny Smith. He wanted at least three of them; for future trade value, if not for anything else. College basketball was more competitve than ever, and he wagered players in the 90s would be even better; young stock was valuable. That meant sacrificing some of the guys on the team; but who was expendable?
Certainly not Jordan, and older guys like Gilmore, Nater, and most of his bench had almost no value in a market where everyone was focused on finding the next Kareem, Larry, or Magic. Jordan showed signs of future dominance, but Adam had learned in his early seasons with Erving that one player alone could not carry a team. Jordan needed his Malone; or did he? He was a solid defensive player and an amazing handler - if Lehner could focus on a small wing based build, with a powerful defensive small forward, a good rebounding power forward, and a solid point guard (Skiles seemed excellent so far) then he wouldn't have to waste too much talent going after one of the bigger named centers. Guys like Mark Eaton, Moses Malone, Tree Rollins, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Joe Barry Carroll, Bill Cartwright, Ralph Sampson - they were in slim stock. No, the small approach seemed logical.
The playoffs awaited. The East, as had been the typical trend in the eighties thus far, was the much more dominant conference, at least it appeared to be initially.
- At 1st was Philadelphia at 65-17. Malone had a monster season, averaging 32.9 points per game, 12.4 rebounds (3.2 of them offensive), 2.3 blocks while playing just 35 minutes a game. Drexler had averaged a career high 23 points a game, while Erving had 16 (his age beginning to show), and Stockton had 11.2 - with a league high -12.7- assists per game. Brickowski was reliable as always, posting 8.8 points per game to go along with 8.2 rebounds, while Kermit led the bench with 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.
- In 2nd was New York at 55-27. Behind the wise leadership of long-time coach Red Holzman, the Knicks line-up of Michael Ray Richardson, Reggie King, Chris Mullin, Jack Sikma, and Patrick Ewing has sent waves through the east. With Bootsy Walton, Rory Sparrow, Dan Roundfield, Larry Kenon, and David Greenwood providing one of the best benches in the league, New York hopes to shake-up the east with their solid play.
- In 3rd, their lowest seeding in years, was Boston. Still strong and as formidable as ever, with a season record of 51-31, season injuries had plagued the team, but now they looked as sharp as ever. With Eddie A. Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish as their starting line-up, with Derek Smith, Clark Kellog, Xavier McDaniel, Foots Walker, and Dan Issel coming off the bench (Ralph Sampson out with injury), the team looks sharp, and remains poised as a threat as always.
- In 4th is one of the most interesting cases thus far; the Detroit Pistons. While he probably won't win, as 4 players averaged over 30 points per game while he had just 22.3 (alongside a league second 9.8 assists), Isiah Thomas deserves MVP more than any other player thus far. He put the 48-34 team on his back, starting all 82 games of the season, while his team was plagued with injuries. Joe Dumars spent 30 games out with a broken foot, Adrian Dantley around the same with a broken leg, James Bailey the first half of the season with a broken foot, and Bill Laimbeer almost the entire season (having just returned towards the end of March) with a torn Achilles. It was brutal. But Isiah persisted, and held his team afloat alongside some excellent bench help from Terry Tyler, Dennis Rodman, Peter Gudmundsson, Sidney Green, Stromile McIntosh, and Drazen Petrovic. Now that the team's healthy, expect them to be deadly.
- In 5th, the Milwaukee Bucks at 42-40. Phil Ford, Don Collins, Kiki Vandeweghe, Terry Cummings, Rick Mahorn, Marques Johnson, and a young Pearl Washington make up one of the more interesting small-ball quick offensive line-ups the league has seen thus far. Unlikely to beat a revitalized Detroit squad, they'll be interesting to watch none-the-less.
- In 6th, of course, is Chicago. 'Nuff said.
- Lastly, in 7th Cleveland has pushed their way into the playoffs once more, despite losing Kelly Tripucka. Sleepy Floyd, Byron Scott, Mike Mitchell, Cliff Levingston, and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu make up an impressive starting line-up, while Michael Jackson, Ed Pinckney, Kenny Carr, and Jay Humphries provide a reliable bench.
- Sneaking into 8th at 34-48 were the New Jersey Nets, marking the first time the Philadelphia-New Jersey rivalry has met in the post season ssince 1983. Led by the likes of young shot shots Detlef Schrempf, Terry Porter, and seasoned champion Cliff Robinson (having won a title with Los Angeles) as well as veteran Tree Rollins and key player Danny Schayes, the team has looked fairly good in the stretch since the All Star break, and hopes to pull a Cinderella story. Crazier things have happened; Cleveland beat Boston 1-8 just a few years prior.
The West, led by their usual champion, was interesting as well.
- In 1st, of course, at 65-17 were the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson, World B. Free, Larry Nance, Buck Williams, and Kareem had made it work; with Andrew Toney, Doug Collins, Darren Daye, George McGinnis, and Jawann Oldham coming off the bench, they were absolutely unstoppable, as always. Pat Riley was arguably the best coach in the league, and this looked like another year they'd be the favorites for the championship. The question on many's minds; would this be the season Kareem retired? He was now 39 years old, leading the league in points (35785), and coming second in games (Elvin Hayes being 1st at 1470, Kareem second at 1409; Jo Jo White, still active at 39 being 5 months older than Kareem, a close 3rd at 1389). The playoffs, and his performance, could very well define that.
- In 2nd, Seattle had fought it's way to the top at 61-21. Maurice Cheeks - certainly an underrated point-guard in the league, and someone Lehner often regretted trading off Philadelphia - had created an unrelenting jumpshot offense, with guys like Cedric Maxwell, Dominique Wilkins, Sam Perkins, and Benoit Benjamin flourishing on the court. Alvin Robertson, Wayne Robinson, and Jeff Malone made up an incredibly accurate bench, and suddenly you had a second seed conference contender. Started from the bottom now we hurr'. New team owner Seymour Cray - having unloaded millions into the Cray Arena built in 1984 - was finally getting his money's worth.
- In 3rd was Golden State at a close 59-23. Doc Rivers, Ricky Pierce, Bernard King, Charles Barkley, and Joe Barry Carroll were one of the most likeable line-ups in the league. A bunch of happy smart team-oriented guys, Barkley ran the train despite his young age, and the rest of them hoped to ride it to greatness. It helped to have excellent guys like Orlando Woolridge, Norm Nixon, and team veteran Jamaal Wilkes coming off the bench.
- In 4th, at 47-35, were the ever resilient Utah Jazz, at 47-35. Jo Jo White was still starting at 39, having posted 15.8 points per game and 5.2 assists for the season, while Darrell Griffith, Otis Thorpe, and newly acquired Kelly Tripucka did their best to work the offense effectively. Mark Eaton, 1985's defensive player of the year, was as dominant as ever, the likely canditate for defensive player of the year, and the bench efforts of Gerald Wilkins, Phil Hubbard, Paul Mokeski, Michael Cooper, and Nate McMillan were excellent. The team was sharp, poised, and ready to make a strike into the post-season. Elgin Baylor was as eager as ever. Maybe this time - who knows?
- In 5th, Dallas had finally made it into the post-season, posting an impressive 44-38 under the univted front of Karl Malone, Thurl Bailey, Purvis Short, and some fine coaching from relatively new-to-the-scene hot-shot Willis Reed. Derek Harper, Purvis Short, Roy Tarpley, Karl Malone, and Thurl Bailey made up the starting line-up, while Dan Rock, Monti Davis, Earl Cureton, Jerome Kersey, and Greg Ballard made up the bench.
- In 6th, surprisingly low (though they'd struggled with injuries) were the Houston Rockets with a .500 41-41 record. Larry Drew was meshing well with the team, while Ron Harper had become their go-to shooting guard. Robert Reid was the small-forward, while Alvan Adams and Hakeem Olajuwon made up an impressive big-man duo. Chuck Person, Dell Curry, Paul Thompson, and Joe Meriweather provided a reliable bench, and many expected the team to be the cindarella story of the west.
- In 7th, at 37-45, the Spurs made it into the post-season yet again, albeit lower than usual. Johnny Moore, George Gervin, Gene Banks, Mitch Kupchak, and Pat Cummings were impressive, but age was catching up quick. As always though, Gregg Popovich provided some of the best coaching in the league even at his young age (just 37, only 3 years older than Gervin).
- In 8th, at 36-46, the Clippers had snuck back into the playoffs with some impressive work from James Worthy and hotshot rookie point-guard Mark Price. He, Michael Brook,s James Worthy, Antoine Carr, and Bill Cartwright had brought the team back into relevance, alongside some crucial bench play from Rod Higgins and Brad Davis.
And so the playoffs began. Given they were expected to be dominated, many were surprised when Chicago managed to steal the first game of the series against Boston on the road; Jordan had an incredible 51 points, while Orr had 21, and Chicago beat Boston 126-111, leading for most of the game. When asked on his thoughts on the potential of winning the series against his former team, Phil Jackson chose to be cautious. "We'll play it one game at a time." They lost the next four straight. Jordan had 43 in Game 2, 40 in Game 3, 61 in Game 4, and 45 in Game 5 - he played one of the most incredible series ever seen. But Bird had a real team behind him, and emerged victorious. Still - Chicago looked good. They looked great. Some planning and reconstruction, and Lehner could see them winning this series within two years. Maybe even next year.
It was a fairly competive first round across the board. While Seattle swept San Antonio and Philadelphia swept rival New Jersey, the Los Angeles Los Angeles match up went to 5 (with the Lakers winning), Detroit-Milwaukee went to 6 (with Detroit taking the win), as did Golden State-Houston (with Houston winning) and Utah-Dallas (with Utah winning), while New York-Cleveland was the only series to go to 7 (New York winning at home). Los Angeles continued it's run, knocking out Utah in 5, while Seattle did the same to Houston. Meanwhile, the second round saw the competition only get fiercer in the east; New York beat Boston in 6, the home advantage coming in clutch, while Detroit managed to upset and beat the reigning champions 4-3 as they thrashed Philadelphia in their own court, the few Detroit fans in attendance swarming the court amidst a disgruntled Spectrum Arena crowd as Detroit snuck their way into the conference finals once more. And so it was set; the first time neither Philadelphia or Boston was in the conference finals since 1979.
To the surprise of no one in particular, Los Angeles knocked out Seattle in 5. Detroit, meanwhile, played a much fiercer game, but eventually managed to steal the momentum, beating out New York in 6, this time managing to win that all important game at home in the Palace. The conference finals awaited; Detroit VS Los Angeles. Man. That team would NOT have been even close to making it there without Isiah. Incredible, really. I think most people expected Los Angeles to dominate Detroit like they had everyone else. Los Angeles beat writer Will De La Vera was quoted as saying "this year, we win without so much as breaking a sweat. See how easy things get when teams like Boston and Philadelphia can't produce?" But boy did Detroit produce; they won the first two on the road, before losing the next three in a row, only to seize momentum, swinging back to push themselves back into contention with a critical game 6 win. Unfortunately for them, the Lakers managed to win when it mattered most, stealing away the spotlight in a tragic 121-118 win in one of the closest series of the entire playoffs. In his post-conference, Magic was eager to express how happy he was to win, but had some words for his opponents. "They were something else for sure. They were magic."
The draft lottery saw Denver at 1 (in a lottery where 1 - the prized David Robinson - was perhaps more valuable than ever), Washington at 2, Sacramento at 3, Chicago at 4 (courtesy of trading two of their picks and Jerome Kersey to Dallas), Portland at 5, Indiana at 6, and Detroit at 7 (who got it from Utah, who got it from Cleveland). Moses Malone took home his 3rd MVP, while Mark Eaton got his second Defensive Player of the Year, Mark Price won Rookie, Craig Ehlo (from Indiana) 6th man of the year, and Philadelphia's Mike Kryzewski took home Coach of the Year in a controversial decision, given that he'd essentially been handed the team, while for his work in turning around the Pistons, Jack McCloskey won Executive of the Year honors, much to the pleasure of his team.
- 1st team All NBA featured Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Moses Malone.
- 2nd team had John Stockton, George Gervin, James Worthy, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
- 3rd team had Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, New York's Chris Mullin, Seattle's Sam Perkins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, marking the first time in the decade a Laker hadn't made 1st or 2nd team.
- All Defense 1st team featured Isiah Thomas, Seattle's Alvin Robertson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Mark Eaton.
- 2nd team had John Stockton, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Milwaukee's Terry Cummings, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
- 1st Team All-Rookie featured the Clipper's Mark Price, Houston's Ron Harper, Houston's Chuck Person, Dallas's Roy Tarpley, and Denver's Brad Daugherty.
- 2nd team showcased Chicago's Scott Skiles, Detroit's Drazen Petrovic, Indiana's Billy Thompson, Detroit's Dennis Rodman, and Denver's Audie Norris.
Adam's 1st season away from Philadelphia was over; it hadn't gone as bad as he expected, though it'd also been his first season not to break .500. Still; there was potential in this team. He was sure of it. All it needed.. was a solid GM.
Lehner's sitting there in total shock. The paper sits on his lap, but he still can't believe it - even though he'd lived it the past few days. But man, to see it in print. It was so real.
-------
The Philadelphia Inquirer
June 18th, 1986 - Out With The Old; Dixon Ships Staff
In a move that shocked many - especially on the wake of a championship - team owner Fitz Dixon has fired young aspiring general manager Adam Lehner, in an apparent feud following his insistence on the removal of head coach Chuck Daly. Daly - who many claim was stripped of his status due to disagreements with Moses Malone - was apparently a good friend of Lehner's, and he'd stuck up on his behalf. Apparently Dixon can do without him, bringing in a young new hot shot out of no where, 26 year old R.C Buford, to replace him. Lehner joins the likes of former Chicago manager Jerry Krause and former New Jersey manager Bill Montgomery, though it's likely he'll find a job sooner than either of them.
The city will miss you, Lehner. Fans across Philadelphia are outraged, with many calling Dixon a "corporate clown". Members of the team were unavailable for comment, but I'm sure they feel the same. This is Alexander Rosewood, signing off.
-----------
It still didn't feel real. The team -had- reached out; Stockton was sympathetic especially, as was Drexler, and Erving called him right away to say he was sad to see him go. Even Malone called to wish him luck. Luck, though. He'd had such a good team! How could he go from here?!
And then the phone rang. He held his breath, almost ignoring it - almost making the mistake of a lifetime. "Is this Adam Lehner?" He didn't recognize the voice.
"Yes, hello, who is this?"
"Adam, this is Jerry Reinsdorf with the Chicago Bulls. How'd you like to be our new general manager?"
--------------
He got to work right away. The team had a lot of useful talents - Michael Jordan highest amongst all of them - but there was still work to be done. First and foremost he needed a head coach; luckily for Adam, Phil Jackson was leaving Boston that off-season following issues handling salaries. Chicago had no such hesitation about paying the young coach exorbitantly and a deal was quickly worked out, the same day Adam decided to take the job. They were announced as a package deal.
-------
The Chicago Tribune
June 21st, 1986 - New Season Brings New Hope
In a press conference held at Chicago Stadium, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf was eager to announce the new additions of Adam Lehner and Phil Jackson as general manager and head coach respectively. Each with a seasoned resume under their belt - Jackson having won a championship in his 4 years with Boston, Lehner having won -two- in his 6 years with Philadelphia - Reinsdorf hopes they'll be able to rebuild this squad into an actual contender. They both had some interesting comments in their initial Q&A, as highlighted below.
Question: Do you see this team as a good fit for you?
AL: Well I'll be honest, I never expected to be here, not in a hundred years *chuckles from crowd*. But I'm eager, circumstances aside. This is a great team with a seasoned history, and I'm looking forward to doing my part in helping the rebuilding process from the inside out.
PJ: Certainly. As Adam discussed, the prospect of helping this team redefine it's identity amidst a surge of young new talent in the league - I expect great things from these guys.
Follow-up: "These guys". You talk a lot about rebuilding. Can I assume Reggie Theus, Louis Orr, Kevin Willis, and Michael Jordan remain core parts of this team?
PJ: With this guy? I wouldn't bet on it. *laughter from crowd*. No, just teasing of course. I've got faith in a lot of these guys. I'm excited to get to work.
AL: I won't lie; it'll take me a couple of weeks to get my grounding. I've got some preliminary ideas in my head, but I wouldn't expect anything too crazy anytime soon.
Question: And with your famous assertion Adam - that you'd bring Philadelphia a championship within four years - can the same be said here?
AL: Hah! Well, the league is definitely a lot crazier than it used to be. How about this: this time, give me five?
This is Steven Shoemaker with the Chicago Tribune - we'll definitely plan on it Adam. Stay posted for more updates as the off-season progresses.
------
When Adam said to not expect anything crazy anytime soon, he meant less than a week. He immediately shipped Jerome Kersey and the team's first round draft for that year to Dallas for a 1987 pick - Lehner had his eyes on a few guys in the 87 draft class who could be immediate gamechangers, and a young player showing early signs of a pretty solid career seemed more than worth the risk, especially given that Dallas had yet to make the playoffs since entering the league. The team still had Indiana's first round pick at 6 - the Bulls had sent their 1984 1st round pick and Michael Cooper for that, Louis Orr, and Lonnie Shelton before Orr had been considered a good player and when Indiana was still a reliable playoff contender (having made it four years straight, before posting a 27-55 season record the year before).
Draft day came with a bang. Lehner considered this the weakest class in years, but had his eyes set on a certain Lithuanian center he hoped would fall to him. Ron Harper from Miami went 1st, to New Jersey, before Roy Tarpley went second to Dallas out of Michigan, and Brad Daugherty went 3rd from Denver to North Carolina. Jeff Hornacek went 4th to Dallas from Iowa State, while Mark Price out of Georgia Tech went to Los Angeles at 5th. Lehner immediately grabbed Aryvdas Sabonis - a 7'3 center he saw with great potential - at 6, while Narve Voorhes went to Phoenix at 7, another center, this one from the Netherlands, who was 7'1. Otis Smith, out of Jacksonville, went to Philadelphia at 8, while Chuck Person from Auburn to Dallas at 9, and then Atlanta sent their first round pick the next year as well as a second round pick to Utah for the 10th pick, which they used ot pick up Kevin Duckworth out of Eastern Illinois. At 11, Scott Skiles from Michigan State went to Utah, while Michael Jackson out of Georgetown went to Cleveland at 12. Johnny Newman went to Atlanta at 13, Dennis Rodman went to Detroit at 14, Johnny Dawkins to Dallas at 15, Drazen Petrovic to Seattle at 16, Dell Curry to Houston at 17, Anthony Bowie to Golden State at 18, Nate McMillan to Detroit at 19, John Williams to San Antonio at 20, Harold Pressley to Los Angeles at 21, Buck Johnson to Detroit at 22, and Walter Berry to Milwaukee at 23. Notable second rounders included Dwayne "Pearl" Washington out of Syracuse to Milwaukee at 24 (1 in the second round), as well as Bootsy Walton out of East Tennessee State to Detroit at 19.
Some of the biggest moves didn't happen in the draft though - they happened on the trade market. Detroit, in a blockbuster move, sent Lionel Hollins, Otis Thorpe, Jim Sparnarkel, and Nate McMillan for Utah's Adrian Dantley, while Utah then shipped Jay Humphries and a 1988 1st round pick alongside Ed Pinckney for Cleveland's Kelly Tripucka. Seattle sent Drazen Petrovic to Detroit for Buck Johnson, while Los Angeles sent Keith Lee and Terence Stansbury for George McGinnis. Kiki Vandeweghe got traded by Denver for Milwaukee's Bill Cartwright, and New Jersey sent Frank Johnson to Sacramento for Tree Rollins.
Chicago didn't have much room to work with in free agency. Unable to secure better point-guards than Gerald Henderson or Jim McElroy, Adam sent Gerald Wilkins and Geoff Huston alongside a 1989 draft pick to Utah for their young point-guard, Scott Skiles. Kevin Willis, the team's starting power forward, had played with Skiles at Michigan State for two years, and said the kid was one of the best passers he'd ever seen. He'd also set the Spartan's record for most points scored in a season (850) while being named the Big Ten Conference MVP; a marijuana possession charge (and a cocaine charge that was dropped) had hurt his draft stock a little, but Adam was willing to take a shot. He'd only picked up a few names out of free agency, includng Henderson, McElroy, Benny Anders (it was nice to have familiar guys on the team), Phil Smith, and most notably, an aging former defense player of the year Swen Nater - coming out of his prime at 36. But the team didn't look half-bad.
Gametime, baby.
~~~
STARTING LINE-UP
Coach Phil Jackson
- 307-215* (.588; 5th highested among coaches), 1 championship, 4 playoffs.
- A liberal guy, young but seasoned, at 6'8 and just 41, Jackson is a fairly relatable guy for many of the players in the league. He's shown he's a talented coach, known for running the triangle offensive masterfully (especially with Tex Winter as one of his assistant coaches, alongside Jeff Van Gundy and Cazzie Russell). He has high hopes for the team, and while cominhg in from a championship team may set a high bar, he's confident in the talent this team has to produce a high-calibur squad within a few years.
*- (win-loss records for coaches post 1980)
PG: Scott Skiles
- 6-1, 23, R, 11th pick in the 1986 NBA draft, Michigan State.
- N/A
- N/A
- N/A
- A young tenacious guard with a very unselfish pass first mentality, Skiles is a great fast break player and play-maker and an accurate bounce passer. He can create for himself or others off the dribble drive, and can get into passing lanes with nice anticipation and above average basketball IQ. Without much hype coming into the season, Skiles hopes to prove his detractors wrong and solidify his role in the NBA.
SG: Michael Jordan
- 6-6, 24, 2 years experience, 2nd pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, University of North Carolina.
- Game high 41 points, 11 assists, 13 rebounds, 6 blocks, 7 steals.
- 29 double-doubles, 86 p.o.t.gs, 2 player of the weeks, 4 player of the months, 2 All Star games, 1985 All-Defense 1st team, 1985 NBA All-League 1st team, 1985 Rookie Game Starter, 1984 NBA All Rookie 1st team, All Defense 1st team, All League 1st team, 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (78 started), 35.5 mpg, 27.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 7.1 rpg (5.6 d, 1.5 o), 1.4 spg, 1.8 bpg, 1.4 topg.
- An excellent player with limitless potential, Jordan's the kind of guy who steps out to the 18 foot and knocks down the J every time. He sees plays before they develop, capable of finding team mates the instant they become open, and is a strong defneder, capable of racking up steals thanks to his good anticipation ability and quickness. He's a tireless scorer, relentless in the paint, always hitting lay-up after lay-up, and has the markings of a regular All Star in the league.
SF: Louis Orr
- 6-8, 28, 6 years experience, 29th pick in the 1980 NBA draft, Syracuse University.
- Game high 41 points, 13 assists, 18 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6 steals.
- 42 double-doubles, 40 p.o.t.gs, 1 player of the week, 4 triple-doubles, 1983 NBA All-Defense 2nd team, 1982 NBA All-League 3rd team.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (77 started), 32.9 mpg, 14.0 ppg, 3.8 apg, 5.0 rpg (3.8 d, 1.2 o), 0.8 spg, 1.4 bpg, 1.9 topg.
- A hard working player with a scorer mentality, Orr has become a regular face in the high-flying side of Chicago's stat line sheets. Coming into his third year on the team (having spent his first 4 years in Indiana), Orr is eager to prove himself to the world. A player with a quick first step, long strides, and strong force, he can get to the basket off the dribble and finish in traffic all the time. He almost always impacts the game tempo in a positive way while on the floor, and his hard work is inspiration for the rest of the team.
PF: Kevin Willis
- 7-0, 25, 2 years experience, 7th pick in the 1984 NBA draft, Michigan State.
- Game high 24 points, 5 assists, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks, 6 steals.
- 76 double-doubles, 2 p.o.t.gs, 1984 NBA All-Rookie 2nd team.
- Last season's stats: 80 games played (76 started), 32.4 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 0.8 apg, 9.2 rpg (6.7 d, 2.5 o), 0.7 spg, 1.1 bpg, 1.2 topg.
- A massive forward with relatively skilled handling, Willis is a heady player who typically makes good decisions with the ball. A pesky defender, he's very tough, with a warriors mentality on the court. Almost never a big-time scorer, Willis needs to improve his free throw shooting and his offensive presence if he's going to become a serious contender in the league. That said, the young player's drive has helped Chicago since they drafted him, and he's a great young presence on a sometimes bleak looking team.
C: Artis Gilmore
- 7-2, 37, 10 years experience in the NBA, 33rd pick in the 1976 NBA draft, University of Jacksonville.
- Game-high 36 points, 8 assists, 21 rebounds, 7 blocks, 4 steals.
- 121 double-doubles, 9 p.o.t.gs.
- Last season's stats: 79 games played (72 started), 29.4 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 1.2 apg, 8.3 rpg (5.9 d, 2.4 o), 0.4 spg, 1.7 bpg, 0.9 topg.
- An older player with a strong heart - in a league where Kareem and Jo Jo White were rocking out pushing on 40, why couldn't Gilmore still ball? An extremely smooth player in general, Gilmore's great at drawing fouls and converting from the free throw line. Not the best shooter in the world, he makes up for it with his rebounding and defense ability, capable of guarding positions 1 to 4, taking advantage of his height and length to pressure his opponents to adjust their shooting rhythm. With good timing for blocked shots off the ball and on smaller perimeter players, his biggest issues are his poor vision and poor passing skills. Still, with age comes rust; Gilmore hopes to evade the toll of time for his long as he can.
6th Man - SG: Reggie Theus
- 6-7, 29, 8 years experience in the NBA, 9th pick in the 1978 NBA draft, UNLV.
- Game-high 48 points, 12 assists, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 steals, 24 double-doubles, 82 p.ot.gs, 3 player of the weeks, 1 player of the months, 3 All Star games, 1983 NBA All-League 3rd team, 1982 NBA All League 2nd team, 1981 All-League 2nd team, 1978 All-Rookie 1st team.
- A tough competitor who plays hard and is never afraid of taking big shots, Theus is the kind of guard who can face the basket from 15 feet out and get by bigger plays off the dribble as well as being able to knock down shots out to 20 feet with consistency. He's a good defender with excellent foot speed, especially laterally, and plays with a ball-hawking style. Coming off the bench as Jordan dominates, Theus hopes to be a 6th man of the year type contender, and hopefully it doesn't disrupt his play too much. He can help boost the team when it's needed most. Still, hopefully the move isn't met with too much scorn; a seasoned Bulls member, this is his 9th season on the squad, second only to Artis Gilmore (this being his 11th).
7th - C: Swen Nater
- 6-11, 36, 10 years experience in the NBA, 16th pick in the 1976 draft, UCLA.
- Game-high 42 points, 11 assists, 22 rebounds, 9 blocks, 7 steals, 165 double-doubles, 103 p.o.t.gs, 4 all-star games, 2 triple-doubles, 1984 All-Defense 1st team, All League 2nd team, 1984 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Last season's stats: 43 games played (35 started), 27.3 mpg, 14.1 ppg, 2.3 apg, 7.8 rpg (5.5 d, 2.3 o), 1.5 spg, 2.6 bpg, 2.4 topg.
- The best player to come out of the Netherlands, Nater's had an incredible career that could have been a lot better had injuries not plagued him for much of the past few years. Having missed half of the previous season due to severe back pain, having broken a leg in 83 (and a finger not too long before), and most notably having torn his ACL in a bad play with Malone most agreed was fairly dirty on the Philadelphia center (Houston at the time)'s behalf, injuries are just something that haunt Nater. Still, coming off the bench Lehner hopes to reduce the wear and tear of his body and capitalize on his tenacious ability to take over the court with his defensive presence. His strong fundamentals and great inside shot should help bolster the team when it's needed most without exposing him to the risks of injury too often.
8th - SG: Benny Anders
- 23, 1 year experience in the NBA, undrafted, from University of Houston.
- Game-high 25 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals.
- 1 title won (with Philadelphia the season before), 1985 Slam Dunk contest participant.
- Last season's stats: 72 games played (0 started), 9.9 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 0.7 apg, 1.3 rpg (1.1 d, 0.2 o), 0.4 spg, 0.1 bpg, 0.6 topg.
- Benny Anders, the enigma. Coming from the celebrated Phi Slamma Jamma team, Anders has legitimate lead guard skills with a yo-yo handle, but needs to work on his discipline and consistency if he's gonna make it to that level. Capable of making good decisions when he doesn't rush things, if he improves on his outside shot, he can solidify himself as a serious threat on the court. A useful bench player for sure, and someone Lehner was quick to pick-up when he saw that Philadelphia had failed to renew his contract.
9th - PF: Mike Bantom
- 35, 15 years experience in the NBA, 8th pick in the 1971 NBA draft, St. Joseph's university.
- Game-high 34 points, 9 assists, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals.
- 16 double-doubles, 6 p.o.t.gs, 1 title won (with Boston in '82), 1971 All-Rookie 1st team.
- Last season's stats: 49 games played (0 started), 9.6 mpg, 2.2 ppg, 0.6 apg, 3.4 rpg (2.3 d, 1.1 o), 0.3 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.3 topg.
- One of the older players on the team alongside Nater and Gilmore, this marks Bantom's third year in Chicago (having been shipped from Milwaukee) coming towards the end of his career. Despite being an excellent player in his hayday, Bantom has aged poorly, but he's still a good relief player to give some guys a break when needed, and he's an excellent locker room presence talent aside.
Other notable players: Gerald Henderson (32 years old, PG), Jim McElroy (33 years old, PG), Billy Knight (34 years old, SF), Phil Smith (34 years old, SG), Tyrone Corbin (25, SF, D-League), Arvydas Sabonis (23, C, D-League).
~~~~~~~
It was a very different start to the season than Adam's last tenure with Philadelphia. He'd gained credibility as a manager through his short time with the team, and now coming into a fairly young Chicago squad, he had the team ready and attentive, focused on the season ahead. Jordan wanted to prove he was a champion, Skiles wanted to prove he was better than he was hyped out to be, Theus wanted to prove he could still contribute to this team in wake of a young buck like Jordan, while Artis and Nater wanted to prove that age wasn't everything. In an era dominated by conference gargantuans, confidence was key.
They lost the first two games on the road. A rough loss to Boston - which saw Jordan drop 36 in his first game of the season - before an even -rougher- loss to New Jersey, as sophomore Detlef Schrempf notched 32. After that, though, things started to click; Jackson figured out how to work the team. In their first game at home of the season, in a sold out Chicago Arena against New York, Jordan dropped 37 in a win over a strong New York squad, before winning the next five in a row. They met Adam's old team - Philadelphia - at home in Chicago on November 16th, as the team continued to tear through the eastern conference.
The team picked up on Lehner's feelings going into the game. "So what, you want me to lay out Malone the first chance I get, or...?" Swen had a grin on his face, but Adam shook his head, waving his hands in front of him as they walked down the hall towards their locker room before the game. "No way, no bad blood with the players. Just make it memorable. Make it close."
Philadelphia dominated at first. Malone was a monster, as per usual, but Artis was playing with an unusually forceful vigor. Stockton was making some incredible passes, as Drexler dominated in the paint. But Jordan had his number; he dropped 12 in the first quarter, while Theus had 6 points in the 2 minutes of the end of the quarter as he came off the bench. Chicago was down 33-23. Then Swen Nater went in. He was a monster right away, seizing 6 rebounds in his first 4 minutes of the game. When Malone came back in, he immediately made his move, fouling him hard as he came in for a dunk on a lone fast break. Nater planted for a charge as Malone came in, but at the last minute shot his arms up, jumping up into him as he swiped his arm up sort of into his neck, wrapping it around him as the two smashed into the ground. Immediately they were seperated, as Kevin Willis hoisted Nater up and Drexler tried to get in between the two, but Nater swung over him, hitting Malone in the side of the head as he tried to regain his footing. A whistle was blown, and immediately Nater was sent off court; Malone went to the bench, screaming obscenities in Nater's direction as he the referee turned to him with a glare. He didn't care; the obscenities continued, and off went the ref's whistle as he got called for a technical. Philadelphia continued in it's dominance as Drexler and Malone tore the team apart, despite Scott Skiles and Michael Jordan's best efforts to work their jump shots effectively.
Malone was just enraged. Nater was out, having walked to the locker room, but Malone just started pressing everyone on Chicago, hitting block after block as he ripped rebounds out from people's hands. Chicago rallied in the second, out-scoring Philadelphia 24-22 in the 3rd, and 35-27 in the 4th, but still lost 118-110. It was interesting to see how the bench had developed without Worthy; Brad Davis had 6 assists and 10 points in his 24 minutes playing relief, while Kermit, Mickey Johnson, and the new addition of 1981's 6th man of the year Kevin Grevey (playing for his 5th team in 8 seasons) all played solid defense, notching up 17 rebounds between the 3 of them as well as 18 points.
In the post-game interview, Malone called Nater an "overrated punk" and had a tangle of other insults for the rest of the team, citing Jordan as overrated and overhyped, and claiming Lehner had fallen off in recent years, pretending to wish the best for him while subtlely disparaging his name. It hurt, honestly, seeing his former player tear him apart - "I'm not going to say he's got a problem, but he used to look... out of it. He's not focused anymore, y'know?" - but it didn't matter. He'd have the last laugh.
Chicago won their next game in Cleveland, before losing two on the road. They'd be without Nater for ten games, but they could manage. They rallied back to win against Indiana in a sold out Chicago Arena following the losing streak, before losing another two against Detroit and New York. November 30th however, back in Chicago, they came face-to-face with the Boston Celtics for the second time. Jordan just had one of those days - he went 16 for 21, going a perfect 25 for 25 on the free throw line while grabbing 3 steals, 1 block, 3 assists, and 13 rebounds, finishing with a career high 58 points in an absolutely magnificent game. Jordan couldn't do it alone though; they lost the next three, won one, and then lost two more. They were 10-12; not terrible, but not where they should be.
They managed to rally and beat Phoenix and Atlanta their next two games out. Then game the game they'd all been waiting for: a road game against Philadelphia at the Spectrum. Nater was back, and many were worried another fight would break out. Him and Malone played a rough game, with a lot of elbows thrown and some hard fouls, but it stayed relatively calm for most of the game. Chicago came into the half up 49-47, but Philadelphia had a monster 3rd quarter, outscoring them 42-27. In the 4th quarter, however, Skiles found his on switch; he hit 4 threes in the quarter alone alongside some excellent midrange game and some great passing to a relentless Swen Nater, finishing the game with 30 points and 5 assists on 5 for 8 3 point shooting, while Nater had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in his 24 minutes in the game. Chicago outscored Philadelphia 41-24 in the 4th, and won the game 117-113. Boo ya, suckers.
They lost two after that, but won a Christmas game at home to give something nice to the fans, and ended up going into 1987 with a 15-16 record; not great, but workable. The next couple of months went relatively the same; Jordan kept scoring, the rest of the team built themselves around him. Skiles found himself with a reliable touch, impressing many, while Nater and Theus ran the bench, and Willis and Orr contributed wholeheartedly. Jordan had another 40 point game in January, and than one where he hit 50 again in February. Arvydas Sabonis, who'd been dominating in the D-League at one point posting a 38 point 27 rebound game, unfortunately tore his ACL towards the beginning of February. Bill Laimbeer had been out for most of the season with a torn Achilles, while New York's Jack Sikma was out with a broken hand. Tom Chambers had broke his wrist, and Kevin McHale had been out for a couple of months with a broken foot, as had Detroit's Joe Dumars and James Bailey. Chicago was 26-25 going into the All Star break, finally positive for the first time in weeks, and felt good about the break.
The event was held in Seattle. n a surprising repeat of events, Philadelphia's Drexler once more won the dunk contest, while Golden State's Bernard King once more won the 3 point contest. Scott Skiles made the start for the rookie team, grabbing 6 assists and 6 points in his time in the game, while team-mates Chuck Person out of Houston and Denver's Brad Daugherty had 24 and 27 respectively, but it was the sophomores that dominated, winning 132-122. Portland's Michael Adams had 25 points and 12 assists, while Karl Malone had 27 points with 9 rebounds, and Joe Dumars had 28 points on 10 for 11 shooting. The main event was a little more high-paced. The East won 163-146, Jordan taking home All Star MVP honors with an impressive 44 point 5 block 7 rebound game on 16 for 17 shooting. The line-up's were as followed:
EAST
- Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Philadelphia, 42-10)
- PG: Isiah Thomas, Detroit (11 points, 11 assists)
- SG: Michael Jordan, Chicago (44 points on 16/17 shooting, 11/11 at the FT)
- SF: Larry Bird, Boston (28 points)
- PF: Kevin McHale, Boston (9 points)
- C: Moses Malone, Philadelphia (10 points)
- Adrian Dantley, SF, Detroit (5 points)
- Michael Ray Richardson, PG, New York (9 points, 6 assists)
- Clyde Drexler, SG, Philadelhpia (27 points on 11 for 13 shooting)
- Rick Mahorn, PF, Milwaukee (2 points, 6 rebounds)
- Patrick Ewing, C, New York (8 points)
- John Stockton, PG, Philadelphia (4 points)
- Eddie A. Johnson, SF (plays PG for Boston), Boston (6 points)
WEST
- Coach Pat Riley (Lakers, 44-10)
- PG: Magic Johnson, Lakers (17 points, 11 assists)
- SG: George Gervin, San Antonio (16 points on 5 for 8 shooting)
- SF: James Worthy, Clippers (7 point, 6 assists)
- PF: Charles Barkley, Golden State (10 points, 4 blocks)
- C: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston (31 points, 7 rebounds)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, Lakers (10 points, 8 rebounds)
- Michael Adams, SG, Portland (4 points)
- World B. Free, SG, Lakers (16 points)
- Dale Ellis, SF, Portland (5 points)
- Mark Eaton, C, Utah (1 rebound)
- Karl Malone, PF, Dallas (17 points)
- Dominique Wilkins, SF, Seattle (13 points)
The rest of the season went was in sight. By March 3rd, Chicago was 31-27, and the playoff seeding was beginning to more or less stabilize. In terms of some of the trades that had gone on throughout the season, the Suns had shipped Greg Kelser and a second round pick for Dallas's Darryl Dawkins early on, while Denver had traded Vern Fleming for Philadelphia's injuried rookie, Terry Catledge. Philadelphia had also shipped out a second round pick and Brad Davis for the Clipper's back-up center, Steve Stipanovich, while Utah sent a package deal of Lester Conner and Walter Davis to Atlanta for Phil Hubbard and a second round pick. In one of the larger scale moves, New Jersey had sent Andrew Toney and a 1st round pick for Los Angeles's Cliff Robinson, Washington had also sent Antoinne Carr to the Clipper's for Terry Teagle, their first round pick in 87, and two second round picks. The Knicks, in a controversial move, sent Ray Williams, amidst his 10th season with the team, to Portland for Jack Sikma and a first round pick, while Utah gave up enforcer Joe Cooper for Indiana's Michael Cooper in a trade of the Coopers.
The league looked sharp. Jackson and Lehner didn't expect to go far in the playoffs; they were 5th in the standings, behind Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Detroit, but with some of the power going on in the higher rungs this season, it was unlikely they made it anywhere past the second round. Still, the team looked good. They were meshing.
It's March 6th. The team's on the road, making the overnight drive from Dallas to San Antonio, and most people are snoozing. The young assistant coach, Jeff Van Gundy, drums his fingers along the windowsill next to him, singing along softly to the headphones over his ears. "Ohhhhhhhh - we're half way thereeee. Livin' on a prayeeer! Take my hands, we'll make it I swear - ohhhhh, livin' on a praaaayeeeer!" Adam found himself lost in thought. The team would need to make some serious moves this off-season; teams like New York, Golden State, Houston, and Seattle only stood to get better as their young talent progressed. This was a pretty solid class stocked towards the higher rungs, but that meant a lot of gambling on people not taking guys he was looking at - names like David Robinson (the current NCAA leading scorer -and- rebounder), Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Muggsy Bogues (very short, but one of the better ball handlers and the NCAA's leading passer), Mark Jackson, Horace Grant, Kevin Johnson, Donald Royal, and Kenny Smith. He wanted at least three of them; for future trade value, if not for anything else. College basketball was more competitve than ever, and he wagered players in the 90s would be even better; young stock was valuable. That meant sacrificing some of the guys on the team; but who was expendable?
Certainly not Jordan, and older guys like Gilmore, Nater, and most of his bench had almost no value in a market where everyone was focused on finding the next Kareem, Larry, or Magic. Jordan showed signs of future dominance, but Adam had learned in his early seasons with Erving that one player alone could not carry a team. Jordan needed his Malone; or did he? He was a solid defensive player and an amazing handler - if Lehner could focus on a small wing based build, with a powerful defensive small forward, a good rebounding power forward, and a solid point guard (Skiles seemed excellent so far) then he wouldn't have to waste too much talent going after one of the bigger named centers. Guys like Mark Eaton, Moses Malone, Tree Rollins, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Joe Barry Carroll, Bill Cartwright, Ralph Sampson - they were in slim stock. No, the small approach seemed logical.
The playoffs awaited. The East, as had been the typical trend in the eighties thus far, was the much more dominant conference, at least it appeared to be initially.
- At 1st was Philadelphia at 65-17. Malone had a monster season, averaging 32.9 points per game, 12.4 rebounds (3.2 of them offensive), 2.3 blocks while playing just 35 minutes a game. Drexler had averaged a career high 23 points a game, while Erving had 16 (his age beginning to show), and Stockton had 11.2 - with a league high -12.7- assists per game. Brickowski was reliable as always, posting 8.8 points per game to go along with 8.2 rebounds, while Kermit led the bench with 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.
- In 2nd was New York at 55-27. Behind the wise leadership of long-time coach Red Holzman, the Knicks line-up of Michael Ray Richardson, Reggie King, Chris Mullin, Jack Sikma, and Patrick Ewing has sent waves through the east. With Bootsy Walton, Rory Sparrow, Dan Roundfield, Larry Kenon, and David Greenwood providing one of the best benches in the league, New York hopes to shake-up the east with their solid play.
- In 3rd, their lowest seeding in years, was Boston. Still strong and as formidable as ever, with a season record of 51-31, season injuries had plagued the team, but now they looked as sharp as ever. With Eddie A. Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish as their starting line-up, with Derek Smith, Clark Kellog, Xavier McDaniel, Foots Walker, and Dan Issel coming off the bench (Ralph Sampson out with injury), the team looks sharp, and remains poised as a threat as always.
- In 4th is one of the most interesting cases thus far; the Detroit Pistons. While he probably won't win, as 4 players averaged over 30 points per game while he had just 22.3 (alongside a league second 9.8 assists), Isiah Thomas deserves MVP more than any other player thus far. He put the 48-34 team on his back, starting all 82 games of the season, while his team was plagued with injuries. Joe Dumars spent 30 games out with a broken foot, Adrian Dantley around the same with a broken leg, James Bailey the first half of the season with a broken foot, and Bill Laimbeer almost the entire season (having just returned towards the end of March) with a torn Achilles. It was brutal. But Isiah persisted, and held his team afloat alongside some excellent bench help from Terry Tyler, Dennis Rodman, Peter Gudmundsson, Sidney Green, Stromile McIntosh, and Drazen Petrovic. Now that the team's healthy, expect them to be deadly.
- In 5th, the Milwaukee Bucks at 42-40. Phil Ford, Don Collins, Kiki Vandeweghe, Terry Cummings, Rick Mahorn, Marques Johnson, and a young Pearl Washington make up one of the more interesting small-ball quick offensive line-ups the league has seen thus far. Unlikely to beat a revitalized Detroit squad, they'll be interesting to watch none-the-less.
- In 6th, of course, is Chicago. 'Nuff said.
- Lastly, in 7th Cleveland has pushed their way into the playoffs once more, despite losing Kelly Tripucka. Sleepy Floyd, Byron Scott, Mike Mitchell, Cliff Levingston, and Ya'kub Ihsanoglu make up an impressive starting line-up, while Michael Jackson, Ed Pinckney, Kenny Carr, and Jay Humphries provide a reliable bench.
- Sneaking into 8th at 34-48 were the New Jersey Nets, marking the first time the Philadelphia-New Jersey rivalry has met in the post season ssince 1983. Led by the likes of young shot shots Detlef Schrempf, Terry Porter, and seasoned champion Cliff Robinson (having won a title with Los Angeles) as well as veteran Tree Rollins and key player Danny Schayes, the team has looked fairly good in the stretch since the All Star break, and hopes to pull a Cinderella story. Crazier things have happened; Cleveland beat Boston 1-8 just a few years prior.
The West, led by their usual champion, was interesting as well.
- In 1st, of course, at 65-17 were the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson, World B. Free, Larry Nance, Buck Williams, and Kareem had made it work; with Andrew Toney, Doug Collins, Darren Daye, George McGinnis, and Jawann Oldham coming off the bench, they were absolutely unstoppable, as always. Pat Riley was arguably the best coach in the league, and this looked like another year they'd be the favorites for the championship. The question on many's minds; would this be the season Kareem retired? He was now 39 years old, leading the league in points (35785), and coming second in games (Elvin Hayes being 1st at 1470, Kareem second at 1409; Jo Jo White, still active at 39 being 5 months older than Kareem, a close 3rd at 1389). The playoffs, and his performance, could very well define that.
- In 2nd, Seattle had fought it's way to the top at 61-21. Maurice Cheeks - certainly an underrated point-guard in the league, and someone Lehner often regretted trading off Philadelphia - had created an unrelenting jumpshot offense, with guys like Cedric Maxwell, Dominique Wilkins, Sam Perkins, and Benoit Benjamin flourishing on the court. Alvin Robertson, Wayne Robinson, and Jeff Malone made up an incredibly accurate bench, and suddenly you had a second seed conference contender. Started from the bottom now we hurr'. New team owner Seymour Cray - having unloaded millions into the Cray Arena built in 1984 - was finally getting his money's worth.
- In 3rd was Golden State at a close 59-23. Doc Rivers, Ricky Pierce, Bernard King, Charles Barkley, and Joe Barry Carroll were one of the most likeable line-ups in the league. A bunch of happy smart team-oriented guys, Barkley ran the train despite his young age, and the rest of them hoped to ride it to greatness. It helped to have excellent guys like Orlando Woolridge, Norm Nixon, and team veteran Jamaal Wilkes coming off the bench.
- In 4th, at 47-35, were the ever resilient Utah Jazz, at 47-35. Jo Jo White was still starting at 39, having posted 15.8 points per game and 5.2 assists for the season, while Darrell Griffith, Otis Thorpe, and newly acquired Kelly Tripucka did their best to work the offense effectively. Mark Eaton, 1985's defensive player of the year, was as dominant as ever, the likely canditate for defensive player of the year, and the bench efforts of Gerald Wilkins, Phil Hubbard, Paul Mokeski, Michael Cooper, and Nate McMillan were excellent. The team was sharp, poised, and ready to make a strike into the post-season. Elgin Baylor was as eager as ever. Maybe this time - who knows?
- In 5th, Dallas had finally made it into the post-season, posting an impressive 44-38 under the univted front of Karl Malone, Thurl Bailey, Purvis Short, and some fine coaching from relatively new-to-the-scene hot-shot Willis Reed. Derek Harper, Purvis Short, Roy Tarpley, Karl Malone, and Thurl Bailey made up the starting line-up, while Dan Rock, Monti Davis, Earl Cureton, Jerome Kersey, and Greg Ballard made up the bench.
- In 6th, surprisingly low (though they'd struggled with injuries) were the Houston Rockets with a .500 41-41 record. Larry Drew was meshing well with the team, while Ron Harper had become their go-to shooting guard. Robert Reid was the small-forward, while Alvan Adams and Hakeem Olajuwon made up an impressive big-man duo. Chuck Person, Dell Curry, Paul Thompson, and Joe Meriweather provided a reliable bench, and many expected the team to be the cindarella story of the west.
- In 7th, at 37-45, the Spurs made it into the post-season yet again, albeit lower than usual. Johnny Moore, George Gervin, Gene Banks, Mitch Kupchak, and Pat Cummings were impressive, but age was catching up quick. As always though, Gregg Popovich provided some of the best coaching in the league even at his young age (just 37, only 3 years older than Gervin).
- In 8th, at 36-46, the Clippers had snuck back into the playoffs with some impressive work from James Worthy and hotshot rookie point-guard Mark Price. He, Michael Brook,s James Worthy, Antoine Carr, and Bill Cartwright had brought the team back into relevance, alongside some crucial bench play from Rod Higgins and Brad Davis.
And so the playoffs began. Given they were expected to be dominated, many were surprised when Chicago managed to steal the first game of the series against Boston on the road; Jordan had an incredible 51 points, while Orr had 21, and Chicago beat Boston 126-111, leading for most of the game. When asked on his thoughts on the potential of winning the series against his former team, Phil Jackson chose to be cautious. "We'll play it one game at a time." They lost the next four straight. Jordan had 43 in Game 2, 40 in Game 3, 61 in Game 4, and 45 in Game 5 - he played one of the most incredible series ever seen. But Bird had a real team behind him, and emerged victorious. Still - Chicago looked good. They looked great. Some planning and reconstruction, and Lehner could see them winning this series within two years. Maybe even next year.
It was a fairly competive first round across the board. While Seattle swept San Antonio and Philadelphia swept rival New Jersey, the Los Angeles Los Angeles match up went to 5 (with the Lakers winning), Detroit-Milwaukee went to 6 (with Detroit taking the win), as did Golden State-Houston (with Houston winning) and Utah-Dallas (with Utah winning), while New York-Cleveland was the only series to go to 7 (New York winning at home). Los Angeles continued it's run, knocking out Utah in 5, while Seattle did the same to Houston. Meanwhile, the second round saw the competition only get fiercer in the east; New York beat Boston in 6, the home advantage coming in clutch, while Detroit managed to upset and beat the reigning champions 4-3 as they thrashed Philadelphia in their own court, the few Detroit fans in attendance swarming the court amidst a disgruntled Spectrum Arena crowd as Detroit snuck their way into the conference finals once more. And so it was set; the first time neither Philadelphia or Boston was in the conference finals since 1979.
To the surprise of no one in particular, Los Angeles knocked out Seattle in 5. Detroit, meanwhile, played a much fiercer game, but eventually managed to steal the momentum, beating out New York in 6, this time managing to win that all important game at home in the Palace. The conference finals awaited; Detroit VS Los Angeles. Man. That team would NOT have been even close to making it there without Isiah. Incredible, really. I think most people expected Los Angeles to dominate Detroit like they had everyone else. Los Angeles beat writer Will De La Vera was quoted as saying "this year, we win without so much as breaking a sweat. See how easy things get when teams like Boston and Philadelphia can't produce?" But boy did Detroit produce; they won the first two on the road, before losing the next three in a row, only to seize momentum, swinging back to push themselves back into contention with a critical game 6 win. Unfortunately for them, the Lakers managed to win when it mattered most, stealing away the spotlight in a tragic 121-118 win in one of the closest series of the entire playoffs. In his post-conference, Magic was eager to express how happy he was to win, but had some words for his opponents. "They were something else for sure. They were magic."
The draft lottery saw Denver at 1 (in a lottery where 1 - the prized David Robinson - was perhaps more valuable than ever), Washington at 2, Sacramento at 3, Chicago at 4 (courtesy of trading two of their picks and Jerome Kersey to Dallas), Portland at 5, Indiana at 6, and Detroit at 7 (who got it from Utah, who got it from Cleveland). Moses Malone took home his 3rd MVP, while Mark Eaton got his second Defensive Player of the Year, Mark Price won Rookie, Craig Ehlo (from Indiana) 6th man of the year, and Philadelphia's Mike Kryzewski took home Coach of the Year in a controversial decision, given that he'd essentially been handed the team, while for his work in turning around the Pistons, Jack McCloskey won Executive of the Year honors, much to the pleasure of his team.
- 1st team All NBA featured Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Moses Malone.
- 2nd team had John Stockton, George Gervin, James Worthy, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
- 3rd team had Magic Johnson, Rolando Blackman, New York's Chris Mullin, Seattle's Sam Perkins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, marking the first time in the decade a Laker hadn't made 1st or 2nd team.
- All Defense 1st team featured Isiah Thomas, Seattle's Alvin Robertson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Mark Eaton.
- 2nd team had John Stockton, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Milwaukee's Terry Cummings, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
- 1st Team All-Rookie featured the Clipper's Mark Price, Houston's Ron Harper, Houston's Chuck Person, Dallas's Roy Tarpley, and Denver's Brad Daugherty.
- 2nd team showcased Chicago's Scott Skiles, Detroit's Drazen Petrovic, Indiana's Billy Thompson, Detroit's Dennis Rodman, and Denver's Audie Norris.
Adam's 1st season away from Philadelphia was over; it hadn't gone as bad as he expected, though it'd also been his first season not to break .500. Still; there was potential in this team. He was sure of it. All it needed.. was a solid GM.
- rawr123456787654
- Junior Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:34 am
Re: A Kid from Minnesota
by rawr123456787654 » Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:01 am
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With an incredible end to an incredible playoffs, it's time to sit and reflect on the previous season. With new stars constantly emerging, it's easy to overlook some of the more blossoming teams in the league. But one team is clearly on the rise, and fought against tough circumstances and bad luck in a season that should have saw them struggle to make the playoffs. Instead, they fought their way into a 7 game finals series, eventually losing, but solidifying themselves as future champions none-the-less. Today we'll take a look at one of the league's brightest teams; the Detroit Pistons. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Detroit edition."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dixon? He can **** himself." Chuck Daly - or Daddy Rich as he's fondly known by players - is sitting in his office with me, having just taken the job in Detroit two weeks prior. It's July 1st, and Daly - who spent 4 years with Philadelphia, in which he won 2 championships - has just taken a job with Detroit, and while he's eager to get started on working with such a talented young roster, I can tell he's still sore about his departure from Philadelphia. "It wasn't Lehner, obviously. Good luck to him in Chicago, christ, that team's ****ed now. Sorry, pardon my language. Fitz Dixon... he's just... he's a one of a kind guy. A one of a kind ***hole."
Daly - 55, but with better style than most of the kids in the league - grew up loving basketball. Born in St Marys Pennsylvania, he started coaching highschool before nabbing a gig as an assistant coach at Duke University - six years leader, he replaced Bob Cousy as head coach at Boston College, before moving on to the University of Pennsylvania, a team which he'd managed to take to the Final Four while dominating the Ivy League on a yearly basis. After starting off as an assistant coach in Philadelphia, he spent two years as the head coach in Cleveland before returning back to his Pennsylvania roots in Philadelphia. With two championships in four years, most would be stunned at the idea of firing him. Daly certainly was.
"Sure, I butted heads with Malone. Who wouldn't? You talk to the guy? He's a "me first" kind of player. Great, absolutely great, but sometimes the team has to come first. You butt heads, so what? We're men, we get over it. Dixon, though. He's not a man - not the kind you trust, anyways, and that's the worst kind of all." Anger aside, he had confidence in the team. "We just got Adrian Dantley. Who am I kidding? I'm ecstatic."
Yes indeed - Jack McCloskey had quite the active draft night. He'd started by taking Dennis Rodman at 14 - an older rookie at 26, but a power forward with great athleticism - while nabbing Buck Johnson at 12, someone he knew Seattle had been focused on. As a result, they traded him Drazen Petrovic, who they'd drafted shortly there after, as well as a pick, which they immediately put into a package deal, sending Otis Thorpe, Lionel Hollins, the draft pick, Jim Spanarkel, and 19th draft pick Nate McMillan for Utah's Adrian Dantley. The league was stunned. Detroit was hyped.
"ADRIAN DANTLEY?! ADRIAN GOD DAMN DANTLEY?!" Young player Joe Dumars threw his arms up in the air and screamed a roar of pride as we watched from the locker room, the rest of the team clapping their hands as Jack McCloskey smiled from on the TV screen. The traded player - only Thorpe was present - wasn't as thrilled. I glanced over at him, looking at the look of betrayal in his eyes. Maybe not betrayal - but he was certainly lost. Utah was a good team; Elgin Baylor would find a good fit for him.
Detroit, meanwhile, was ecstatic. Could you blame them? They now had one of the craziest line-ups in the east. Suddenly, they were contenders. Free agency was on the horizon, and things looked good.
They finished up the second round, picking up Bootsy Walton at 19th in the second round (44th overall). They picked up Caldwell Jones, Lonnie Shelton, Jim Paxson, Wayne Robinson, Peter Gudmundsson, Stromile McIntosh, and James Bailey in the off-season, and their team looked set. Except one major issue, that was sure to plague them: Bill Laimbeer.
The 5 time All-Star had torn his Achilles at the end of last March, and while initially they'd hoped him to be back by the beginning of the season, maybe November at the latest, it now looked like he'd be back more realistically towards April. That was huge. Still; they had talent. They'd persist. Their first couple of games - one against Philadelphia, one against Indiana - went rough, but they found their grips in the 3rd game against Washington, and looked good against Milwaukee in Game 4 playing at the Mecca. Then, Joe Dumars broke his foot. Suddenly, the team was in a real rough position. They ended up losing 88-110, and the locker room was just cold.
I caught up with Joe Dumars shortly after. "Not now, man. Not when we have a team this good." The look on his face was broken, but I reassured him - he'd be back. "Yeah. Yeah, you right. This team ain't done. This team can make it."
By Christmas, the team was doing just that. They were 16-11, behind some stellar play from Isiah Thomas - who was averaging 11 assists a game and 23.4 points - Adrian Dantley, who had 32.3 points a game, and Dennis Rodman, who was averaging 11.3 rebounds a game despite being just 6-7. James Bailey had also broken his foot, though he and Dumars were return soon enough. But then, shortly after the All Star weekend, Adrian Dantley broke his leg. Just one thing after another.
Isiah was keeping his chin up, injuries aside. The guard reeked confidence, always quick to crack a smile and brush things off. Having grown up in Chicago playing amongst some of the toughest conditions and most competitive courts in the city, Isiah was used to uphill battles. The year before, during my time traveling with Atlanta, Aguirre had once described a game he'd played against Thomas (the two grew up in Chicago) where he dropped -50 points- in the first quarter. Most people would give up after that, but Isiah willed his team none-the-less and never gave up, despite being the scrawniest kid on the court. He willed them to a comeback and they ended up winning the summer league game, despite Aguirre's monster performance.
"I guess I sort of thrive under pressure." Thomas grins, as I ask him about his current feelings. "As long as we have everyone back and ready by the post-season... well, challenges only make us stronger, right?"
Assistant coach Bob Lanier certainly seemed to think so. "This team is developing so fluidly. I'll be shocked if they don't win a championship by the end of the decade." In an era dominated by Malone, Bird, and Magic? "The only difference between Thomas and Johnson is 8 inches. That's a double-edged sword too, because while Johnson rides his confidence, Thomas is a threat no one's gonna see coming once we hit the off-season." Offensive coach Paul Arizin, in his second year with the team after stints with Phoenix and Golden State, completely agreed. "I don't know if I've ever seen the kind of motivation Isiah has. Every chip on his shoulder, every comment, every loss - it fuels him. It's incredible."
A couple of weeks, towards the beginning of March, Thomas blows up. He drops 42 points on 16/22 shooting, alongside 22 assists and 12 rebounds in a 105-100 point win over rivals New York. Sidney Lowe, the rookie back-up point guard for the team, summarized the team's feelings succinctly after the game. "It's a one man show, and I'm just happy to be here for the ride."
But it isn't just a one man show, for as impressive as Thomas has been, this bench and this team is really meshing together under his leadership. Rodman is averaging 7.7 points a game and 10.4 rebounds, Dumars is around 17.5 points a game coming off his injury, Gudmundsson is around 8.6 rebounds per game alongside 1.6 blocks, and even the coming-into-the-season-unknown Drazen Petrovic is up to 8.4 points per game in his 15 minutes off the bench. Chuck Daly had fit in with the team about as perfectly as you'd expect, and then things got a lot better.
On March 18th, after 354 days of being on the sidelines, Bill Laimbeer came back. 30 years old and off the worst injury of his career, expectations were low; it was understood he'd have to work his way back into form, but people were thrilled none-the-less. But he wasn't going to come in without a bang; in his return game against Milwaukee, Laimbeer posted 14 rebounds and 22 points in just 25 minutes on the court in an exciting 115-100 win over the Bucks at home. The focus almost immediately shifted towards the future; the playoffs.
The last game of the season - before Detroit would begin it's first round match-up with Milwaukee - pitted them up against the conference leader, Philadelphia. Thomas had 23 points and 15 assists, but future MVP Moses Malone's 36 points 14 rebounds was enough to send Philadelphia smashing through Detroit's defense, 117-98. It was almost inevitable Detroit would meet Philadelphia in the playoffs, and they were now 0-5 against the team for the season. This could be a major issue.
But first, they had to beat Milwaukee. Dantley had 27, Laimbeer had 20 and -21- rebounds, while Thomas had 17 and 9, but Kiki Vandeweghe's 29 and some excellent team offense saw Milwaukee win 110-96 none-the-less. Detroit won the next two - Laimbeer dropping 34 points and 15 rebounds in Game 2, Dantley and Thomas taking the lead with 37 and 31 in Game 3. Milwaukee rallied - Kiki Vandeweghe dropping 41 alongside some excellent passing from Milwaukee point guard Phil Ford - and Milwaukee won Game 4 at home, 129-122. Thomas had 29 and then 31 (alongside 15 assists) and Detroit managed to defeat Milwaukee in Game 6, sending Detroit into a second round match-up with Philadelphia, one in which they were expected to lose - by a lot. They hadn't beaten Philadelphia once that season, but they'd also been without key players nearly every time.
In a press conference before the game, Thomas called this the most important series of his life. Laimbeer said that with Thomas at the helm, the finals were inevitable. "Philadelphia's just one step on the way."
The first game saw the team hit the road, a game at the Spectrum amidst a sold out crowd. Thomas was confident he could outplay Stockton, Dantley was almost a given versus an aging Erving, but Laimbeer, Dumars, and Rodman each faced fairly difficult match-ups with Malone, Drexler, and Brickowski. Dantley had a pretty bad shooting night, scoring 27 with 10 rebounds on 11 for 33 (and 1 for 10 at the 3) while Thomas had 27 and 10 assists, but Drexler's 33 and Erving's 29 saw Philadelphia take the first game of the series 102-123. In the second game, Malone was simply unstoppable; he had 5 blocks, 2 steals, 12 rebounds, and 49 points while holding Laimbeer to just 2 of 7 shooting, forcing him to pass and limiting Detroit's ability to work the paint perfectly. Dantley did his best to seize the momentum, dropping 40 points on 16 for 27 shooting (alongside some excellent defense on Erving, holding him to just 11 alongside 3 steals) but it wasn't enough, and Philadelphia won 125-106.
In the press-conference afterwards, when asked about whether or not they could repeat a sweep as they had in the season series, Malone simply grinned. "Look, no offense to any of those guys, their hard workers and I respect it - but Bill Laimbeer ain't guardin' me. Isiah Thomas ain't carrying a team. Adrian Dantley can drop 50 tomorrow, and they're still not going to beat us. Maybe next season, right?"
Chuck Daly was furious. He couldn't lose to them, not now, not like this. The next day at practice, their offense and strategy completely changed; Daly introduced the Malone game. Cover him at all points; run him into the ground. Don't let him score, don't let him dunk, and most importantly, don't let him run fast breaks - foul if needed. Contain Stockton and contain the team; force them to run the offense through Brickowski and Erving.
It worked. In a resounding change of pace, Detroit won Game 3 at home in a massive 140-110 victory as Dantley did exactly as Malone taunted him to, dropping 49 (okay not 50, but close) while Laimbeer had 26 and Thomas had 24 and 16 assists. Malone was held to just 22, while Drexler had a team high 34 and Washington and Mickey Johnson came in with 17 and 14 respectively off the bench. Suddenly, things didn't look so one sided; finally Detroit had won. Now, maybe, they could win -big-.
In Game 4, the strategy worked even better. Malone had just 12 points and 10 rebounds, as Erving was forced to carry the offensive load with a team high 23 points on 8 for 28 shooting. Thomas had a ridiculous 21 assist 22 point game, alongside Laimbeer's 25 point 4 block 10 rebound baller performance, and Detroit won again, 112-100. They kept it up in Game 5, but this time behind a 30 point performance from Erving (while Malone had just 20) saw Philadelphia take it at home, winning 104-97. Going back to Detroit, Daly was confident in the team; they could push a Game 7, no doubt. Thomas had been playing incrediblely, but if someone else could step up to take the load, they could shatter Philadelphia's confidence. By someone, Daly meant Bill Laimbeer.
I remember catching up with him at half-time. Philadelphia was up 54-53, behind Drexler's 27 point explosion (he'd finish the game with 43 on 15 for 29 shooting) but man, Laimbeer was going off. He had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks already, but more importantly he'd held Malone to just 3 points (on 1 for 7 shooting). "Do you feel good about this? Do you think you can pull ahead?" Laimbeer grinned at me, sweat beading down his forehead. "Oh man. Is it on me tonight? Hah. I can do that. Yeah, no, we're taking this. No f****** way this ends tonight." It was game-time. In the next half, Thomas would finish with 19 points and 15 assists, his incredible passing highlighting what was undoubtedly the game of Laimbeer's career. He'd finish the game with 39 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, -16- rebounds, and -10- blocks for a monster triple double while holding Malone to just 7 points through-out the game on 3 for 13 shooting. Detroit came back and won the game 109-93, outscoring Philadelphia 39-22 in the final quarter. Walking off that Detroit court, you could see the absolute devastation in that Philadelphia squad. Clyde Drexler had a career playoff high 43 points, but he looked blanker than anyone else. Malone didn't look sad, or angry - he looked lost. He looked broken. As Isiah Thomas jumped up into Laimbeer's arms in a massive hug, throwing a fist in the air, I realized for a second what could actually happen - Detroit might actually win.
But first they had to win in Philadelphia. And that's where you could see Daly start to get edgy. "The Spectrum... it's something else. That crowd, that passion; the city of brotherly love they call it. Well when it comes to basketball, those guys don't feel love towards us. It's hate, hate, and more hate, and man do they make us feel it. It's almost as bad as Boston."
Dumars was more nervous than anyone else. "Make or break, baby. Make or break. And what if it's on me? What if I have a bad game or somethin? ****, man, get outta here, I need... I need to think man." The team was focused on the game tomorrow; I couldn't blame them. This was Chuck Daly's shot at revenge, but more importantly, this was an opportunity for Detroit to prove to the world that they were here, and they were contenders.
They won the game 102-81. Malone had just 4 points, while Laimbeer finished with 24 and 11, Thomas with 17, Dantley with 21, and an unexpected Drazen Petrovic with a team high 26. The young rookie, in his explosion off the bench, put the team on his shoulders in a night where a lot of guys struggled to get hot, Dumars dropping just 13, Rodman just 3. But they won. The crowd went crazy as fans stormed the court like it had been the NBA finals, and Chuck Daly just leaned back and smiled. Malone stormed off the court without congratulating anyone on the other team and Clyde Drexler kicked over a chair on his way towards the tunnel, but the rest of the guys were pretty graceful about it, Stockton taking a few minutes to talk to Daly privately, congratulating him and expressing his condolences about the team staff breaking apart under such rough circumstances. IT was official; Detroit would face New York in the conference finals.
Next stop, NYC. This time, they weren't playing around, no survive and advance type hustle. Thomas had an impressive 28 point 15 assist 7 rebound 6 steal game to start off the series in the big apple, and Detroit took the first game on the road, winning 120-107. The second game saw an unexpected hero, with second round pick Bootsy Walton dropping 26 off the bench as New York won the game 111-103, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin both just playing absolutely phenomenol defense. The 3rd game saw Detroit win again, 112-93 back at the Palace in Detroit, this time behind Adrian Dantley's 29 despite Michael Ray Richardson holding Thomas to just 8 points. Again though, New York managed to swing the tide as Richardson blew up for a triple double in Game 4, dropping 21 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals as New York beat Detroit on a buzzer beater from Mullin, 100-98. In Game 5, Detroit opted for a similar strategy before; shut their main man down, at all costs. In this case, that man was Patrick Ewing. Laimbeer had 25 points, 6 blocks, and 19 rebound as Ewing dropped just 8 points on 4 for 13 shooting in a 105-82 Detroit win at Madison Square Garden. They had no doubt they'd take the series in Game 6; Dantley had 37, Thomas had 32, and Dumars had 27 as Detroit won 115-103.
For the first time since the Pistons had moved to Detroit, they had made the NBA Finals. There opponent? The Los Angeles Lakers - in their record-tying 8th straight finals appearance (Bill Russell's Boston having achieved the same, albeit with a lot more wins) the team looked absolutely incredible. Almost immediately, people across the country assumed it was over; Detroit would get man-handled, losing in at most, 5 games. It was an insult to the team, to what they had accomplished, and to the entire city of Detroit. In a press conference before Game 1, Thomas addressed it directly; "A lot of people think we're just here for the ride or something. Like we just wanna have a good time. I mean hey, winning's a good time to me, and that's exactly what we're gonna do. This game, the next one, the whole series. Sometimes the underdog has the bigger bite, and I don't know if you guys have seen Bill Laimbeer's mouth, but man can that dude bite!"
It was on. In Game 1, Thomas and Dantley came to play, Thomas dropping 13 assists and 21 points while Dantley hit 39 points, alongside 12 rebounds. World B. Free finished with the Lakers, posting a team high 29 points, while Magic had 17, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists, but it wasn't enough as Detroit won the first game at Staples, surprising everyone as they took the first of the series 106-94. Game 2 was much closer, as Los Angeles led for most of the game, but a 28-19 point 4th quarter saw Thomas sneak in for the lead, dropping 27 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds as Detroit won 100-96.
Pat Riley and the Lakers regained momentum in Game 3. B. Free had 38 points, on 15 for 24 shooting, while Johnson had 13 and Andrew Toney had 28 off the bench. They won Game 4 as well, Johnson posting a 31-15-12 triple double as the Lakers rallied to win 119-112 despite Isiah's 39 point explosion (World B. Free meanwhile would go off for 40). Game 5 was essential; Detroit wanted to avoid another Game 7, especially in Los Angeles, and this could be the make or break for them. Going into the game, Chuck Daly was emotional. "You guys... you guys are some of the hardest workers I've ever had the honor to work with. You deserve this. You've -earned- this. Now go out there and reap the rewards of your labor. Let's do this!"
Laimbeer and Thomas took it to heart. They led coming out of the first quarter for the rest of the game, Laimbeer posting 30 points with 11 rebounds, Thomas notching 28 points with 12 assists as Detroit beat the Lakers 116-99. In the post game interview, Thomas put it all on the team. "These guys play on another level. We've hit a kind of chemistry I didn't know was possible."
Apparently, the Lakers knew exactly how to match it. In Game 6, World B. Free went 8 for 11 from the 3 point line, notching up 36 points while Magic and Buck Williams had 21 and 22 respectively, while Nance and Kareem held it down defensively, Nance grabbing 8 rebounds and notching 4 steals, Kareem getting 13 rebounds with 7 blocks. The Lakers won 110-101, and a Game 7 was inevitable. But this team was hopeful.
And so was I, until Bill Laimbeer went down. It was shortly before the end of the first quarter, and a hard foul from Buck Williams saw the center keel over, holding the same leg he'd had issues with just a little over a year before. He tried to finish off the quarter, but the obvious pain in his face and stiff movement alongside a major limp gave Chuck Daly no choice back to sub him out. Peter Gudmundsson wasn't bad - but he wasn't Laimbeer. Thomas played his heart out, dropping 41 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds to go along with 4 steals, but Magic Johnson's 33-11-11 triple double, alongside Kareem's 26-17-8 block monster performance in the wake of Laimbeer's absence saw the Lakers take it all in the 4th quarter, pulling away to win 126-114. Thomas was crushed. They had come so close, pushed through so much just to get there... to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals...
He ended up making the first All NBA team for the first time in his career, as well as the First All Defense. Rodman and Petrovic both made All Second Rookie, while general manager Jack McCloskey won Executive of the Year, much to the pleasure of the team and organization. Despite not winning, the team had a lot to be proud of.
As I catch up with Bill Laimbeer over the phone - he's at home, the injury luckily wasn't too serious and he should be back by the beginning of the season - he's proud of his team, and the season, but there's one guy above all he's gungho about. "Isiah Thomas, man. I think he proved why he's the best in the league. Like... god damn, man. The kid's really something else."
Something else indeed. Despite their inability to get that win, I've got confidence this team's going places, and I expect a championship awaits them on the horizon. This is Slick Watts with "Inside a Team - the Detroit Edition."
~~~~~~~~~
With an incredible end to an incredible playoffs, it's time to sit and reflect on the previous season. With new stars constantly emerging, it's easy to overlook some of the more blossoming teams in the league. But one team is clearly on the rise, and fought against tough circumstances and bad luck in a season that should have saw them struggle to make the playoffs. Instead, they fought their way into a 7 game finals series, eventually losing, but solidifying themselves as future champions none-the-less. Today we'll take a look at one of the league's brightest teams; the Detroit Pistons. I'm Slick Watts, and this is "Inside a Team - the Detroit edition."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dixon? He can **** himself." Chuck Daly - or Daddy Rich as he's fondly known by players - is sitting in his office with me, having just taken the job in Detroit two weeks prior. It's July 1st, and Daly - who spent 4 years with Philadelphia, in which he won 2 championships - has just taken a job with Detroit, and while he's eager to get started on working with such a talented young roster, I can tell he's still sore about his departure from Philadelphia. "It wasn't Lehner, obviously. Good luck to him in Chicago, christ, that team's ****ed now. Sorry, pardon my language. Fitz Dixon... he's just... he's a one of a kind guy. A one of a kind ***hole."
Daly - 55, but with better style than most of the kids in the league - grew up loving basketball. Born in St Marys Pennsylvania, he started coaching highschool before nabbing a gig as an assistant coach at Duke University - six years leader, he replaced Bob Cousy as head coach at Boston College, before moving on to the University of Pennsylvania, a team which he'd managed to take to the Final Four while dominating the Ivy League on a yearly basis. After starting off as an assistant coach in Philadelphia, he spent two years as the head coach in Cleveland before returning back to his Pennsylvania roots in Philadelphia. With two championships in four years, most would be stunned at the idea of firing him. Daly certainly was.
"Sure, I butted heads with Malone. Who wouldn't? You talk to the guy? He's a "me first" kind of player. Great, absolutely great, but sometimes the team has to come first. You butt heads, so what? We're men, we get over it. Dixon, though. He's not a man - not the kind you trust, anyways, and that's the worst kind of all." Anger aside, he had confidence in the team. "We just got Adrian Dantley. Who am I kidding? I'm ecstatic."
Yes indeed - Jack McCloskey had quite the active draft night. He'd started by taking Dennis Rodman at 14 - an older rookie at 26, but a power forward with great athleticism - while nabbing Buck Johnson at 12, someone he knew Seattle had been focused on. As a result, they traded him Drazen Petrovic, who they'd drafted shortly there after, as well as a pick, which they immediately put into a package deal, sending Otis Thorpe, Lionel Hollins, the draft pick, Jim Spanarkel, and 19th draft pick Nate McMillan for Utah's Adrian Dantley. The league was stunned. Detroit was hyped.
"ADRIAN DANTLEY?! ADRIAN GOD DAMN DANTLEY?!" Young player Joe Dumars threw his arms up in the air and screamed a roar of pride as we watched from the locker room, the rest of the team clapping their hands as Jack McCloskey smiled from on the TV screen. The traded player - only Thorpe was present - wasn't as thrilled. I glanced over at him, looking at the look of betrayal in his eyes. Maybe not betrayal - but he was certainly lost. Utah was a good team; Elgin Baylor would find a good fit for him.
Detroit, meanwhile, was ecstatic. Could you blame them? They now had one of the craziest line-ups in the east. Suddenly, they were contenders. Free agency was on the horizon, and things looked good.
They finished up the second round, picking up Bootsy Walton at 19th in the second round (44th overall). They picked up Caldwell Jones, Lonnie Shelton, Jim Paxson, Wayne Robinson, Peter Gudmundsson, Stromile McIntosh, and James Bailey in the off-season, and their team looked set. Except one major issue, that was sure to plague them: Bill Laimbeer.
The 5 time All-Star had torn his Achilles at the end of last March, and while initially they'd hoped him to be back by the beginning of the season, maybe November at the latest, it now looked like he'd be back more realistically towards April. That was huge. Still; they had talent. They'd persist. Their first couple of games - one against Philadelphia, one against Indiana - went rough, but they found their grips in the 3rd game against Washington, and looked good against Milwaukee in Game 4 playing at the Mecca. Then, Joe Dumars broke his foot. Suddenly, the team was in a real rough position. They ended up losing 88-110, and the locker room was just cold.
I caught up with Joe Dumars shortly after. "Not now, man. Not when we have a team this good." The look on his face was broken, but I reassured him - he'd be back. "Yeah. Yeah, you right. This team ain't done. This team can make it."
By Christmas, the team was doing just that. They were 16-11, behind some stellar play from Isiah Thomas - who was averaging 11 assists a game and 23.4 points - Adrian Dantley, who had 32.3 points a game, and Dennis Rodman, who was averaging 11.3 rebounds a game despite being just 6-7. James Bailey had also broken his foot, though he and Dumars were return soon enough. But then, shortly after the All Star weekend, Adrian Dantley broke his leg. Just one thing after another.
Isiah was keeping his chin up, injuries aside. The guard reeked confidence, always quick to crack a smile and brush things off. Having grown up in Chicago playing amongst some of the toughest conditions and most competitive courts in the city, Isiah was used to uphill battles. The year before, during my time traveling with Atlanta, Aguirre had once described a game he'd played against Thomas (the two grew up in Chicago) where he dropped -50 points- in the first quarter. Most people would give up after that, but Isiah willed his team none-the-less and never gave up, despite being the scrawniest kid on the court. He willed them to a comeback and they ended up winning the summer league game, despite Aguirre's monster performance.
"I guess I sort of thrive under pressure." Thomas grins, as I ask him about his current feelings. "As long as we have everyone back and ready by the post-season... well, challenges only make us stronger, right?"
Assistant coach Bob Lanier certainly seemed to think so. "This team is developing so fluidly. I'll be shocked if they don't win a championship by the end of the decade." In an era dominated by Malone, Bird, and Magic? "The only difference between Thomas and Johnson is 8 inches. That's a double-edged sword too, because while Johnson rides his confidence, Thomas is a threat no one's gonna see coming once we hit the off-season." Offensive coach Paul Arizin, in his second year with the team after stints with Phoenix and Golden State, completely agreed. "I don't know if I've ever seen the kind of motivation Isiah has. Every chip on his shoulder, every comment, every loss - it fuels him. It's incredible."
A couple of weeks, towards the beginning of March, Thomas blows up. He drops 42 points on 16/22 shooting, alongside 22 assists and 12 rebounds in a 105-100 point win over rivals New York. Sidney Lowe, the rookie back-up point guard for the team, summarized the team's feelings succinctly after the game. "It's a one man show, and I'm just happy to be here for the ride."
But it isn't just a one man show, for as impressive as Thomas has been, this bench and this team is really meshing together under his leadership. Rodman is averaging 7.7 points a game and 10.4 rebounds, Dumars is around 17.5 points a game coming off his injury, Gudmundsson is around 8.6 rebounds per game alongside 1.6 blocks, and even the coming-into-the-season-unknown Drazen Petrovic is up to 8.4 points per game in his 15 minutes off the bench. Chuck Daly had fit in with the team about as perfectly as you'd expect, and then things got a lot better.
On March 18th, after 354 days of being on the sidelines, Bill Laimbeer came back. 30 years old and off the worst injury of his career, expectations were low; it was understood he'd have to work his way back into form, but people were thrilled none-the-less. But he wasn't going to come in without a bang; in his return game against Milwaukee, Laimbeer posted 14 rebounds and 22 points in just 25 minutes on the court in an exciting 115-100 win over the Bucks at home. The focus almost immediately shifted towards the future; the playoffs.
The last game of the season - before Detroit would begin it's first round match-up with Milwaukee - pitted them up against the conference leader, Philadelphia. Thomas had 23 points and 15 assists, but future MVP Moses Malone's 36 points 14 rebounds was enough to send Philadelphia smashing through Detroit's defense, 117-98. It was almost inevitable Detroit would meet Philadelphia in the playoffs, and they were now 0-5 against the team for the season. This could be a major issue.
But first, they had to beat Milwaukee. Dantley had 27, Laimbeer had 20 and -21- rebounds, while Thomas had 17 and 9, but Kiki Vandeweghe's 29 and some excellent team offense saw Milwaukee win 110-96 none-the-less. Detroit won the next two - Laimbeer dropping 34 points and 15 rebounds in Game 2, Dantley and Thomas taking the lead with 37 and 31 in Game 3. Milwaukee rallied - Kiki Vandeweghe dropping 41 alongside some excellent passing from Milwaukee point guard Phil Ford - and Milwaukee won Game 4 at home, 129-122. Thomas had 29 and then 31 (alongside 15 assists) and Detroit managed to defeat Milwaukee in Game 6, sending Detroit into a second round match-up with Philadelphia, one in which they were expected to lose - by a lot. They hadn't beaten Philadelphia once that season, but they'd also been without key players nearly every time.
In a press conference before the game, Thomas called this the most important series of his life. Laimbeer said that with Thomas at the helm, the finals were inevitable. "Philadelphia's just one step on the way."
The first game saw the team hit the road, a game at the Spectrum amidst a sold out crowd. Thomas was confident he could outplay Stockton, Dantley was almost a given versus an aging Erving, but Laimbeer, Dumars, and Rodman each faced fairly difficult match-ups with Malone, Drexler, and Brickowski. Dantley had a pretty bad shooting night, scoring 27 with 10 rebounds on 11 for 33 (and 1 for 10 at the 3) while Thomas had 27 and 10 assists, but Drexler's 33 and Erving's 29 saw Philadelphia take the first game of the series 102-123. In the second game, Malone was simply unstoppable; he had 5 blocks, 2 steals, 12 rebounds, and 49 points while holding Laimbeer to just 2 of 7 shooting, forcing him to pass and limiting Detroit's ability to work the paint perfectly. Dantley did his best to seize the momentum, dropping 40 points on 16 for 27 shooting (alongside some excellent defense on Erving, holding him to just 11 alongside 3 steals) but it wasn't enough, and Philadelphia won 125-106.
In the press-conference afterwards, when asked about whether or not they could repeat a sweep as they had in the season series, Malone simply grinned. "Look, no offense to any of those guys, their hard workers and I respect it - but Bill Laimbeer ain't guardin' me. Isiah Thomas ain't carrying a team. Adrian Dantley can drop 50 tomorrow, and they're still not going to beat us. Maybe next season, right?"
Chuck Daly was furious. He couldn't lose to them, not now, not like this. The next day at practice, their offense and strategy completely changed; Daly introduced the Malone game. Cover him at all points; run him into the ground. Don't let him score, don't let him dunk, and most importantly, don't let him run fast breaks - foul if needed. Contain Stockton and contain the team; force them to run the offense through Brickowski and Erving.
It worked. In a resounding change of pace, Detroit won Game 3 at home in a massive 140-110 victory as Dantley did exactly as Malone taunted him to, dropping 49 (okay not 50, but close) while Laimbeer had 26 and Thomas had 24 and 16 assists. Malone was held to just 22, while Drexler had a team high 34 and Washington and Mickey Johnson came in with 17 and 14 respectively off the bench. Suddenly, things didn't look so one sided; finally Detroit had won. Now, maybe, they could win -big-.
In Game 4, the strategy worked even better. Malone had just 12 points and 10 rebounds, as Erving was forced to carry the offensive load with a team high 23 points on 8 for 28 shooting. Thomas had a ridiculous 21 assist 22 point game, alongside Laimbeer's 25 point 4 block 10 rebound baller performance, and Detroit won again, 112-100. They kept it up in Game 5, but this time behind a 30 point performance from Erving (while Malone had just 20) saw Philadelphia take it at home, winning 104-97. Going back to Detroit, Daly was confident in the team; they could push a Game 7, no doubt. Thomas had been playing incrediblely, but if someone else could step up to take the load, they could shatter Philadelphia's confidence. By someone, Daly meant Bill Laimbeer.
I remember catching up with him at half-time. Philadelphia was up 54-53, behind Drexler's 27 point explosion (he'd finish the game with 43 on 15 for 29 shooting) but man, Laimbeer was going off. He had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks already, but more importantly he'd held Malone to just 3 points (on 1 for 7 shooting). "Do you feel good about this? Do you think you can pull ahead?" Laimbeer grinned at me, sweat beading down his forehead. "Oh man. Is it on me tonight? Hah. I can do that. Yeah, no, we're taking this. No f****** way this ends tonight." It was game-time. In the next half, Thomas would finish with 19 points and 15 assists, his incredible passing highlighting what was undoubtedly the game of Laimbeer's career. He'd finish the game with 39 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, -16- rebounds, and -10- blocks for a monster triple double while holding Malone to just 7 points through-out the game on 3 for 13 shooting. Detroit came back and won the game 109-93, outscoring Philadelphia 39-22 in the final quarter. Walking off that Detroit court, you could see the absolute devastation in that Philadelphia squad. Clyde Drexler had a career playoff high 43 points, but he looked blanker than anyone else. Malone didn't look sad, or angry - he looked lost. He looked broken. As Isiah Thomas jumped up into Laimbeer's arms in a massive hug, throwing a fist in the air, I realized for a second what could actually happen - Detroit might actually win.
But first they had to win in Philadelphia. And that's where you could see Daly start to get edgy. "The Spectrum... it's something else. That crowd, that passion; the city of brotherly love they call it. Well when it comes to basketball, those guys don't feel love towards us. It's hate, hate, and more hate, and man do they make us feel it. It's almost as bad as Boston."
Dumars was more nervous than anyone else. "Make or break, baby. Make or break. And what if it's on me? What if I have a bad game or somethin? ****, man, get outta here, I need... I need to think man." The team was focused on the game tomorrow; I couldn't blame them. This was Chuck Daly's shot at revenge, but more importantly, this was an opportunity for Detroit to prove to the world that they were here, and they were contenders.
They won the game 102-81. Malone had just 4 points, while Laimbeer finished with 24 and 11, Thomas with 17, Dantley with 21, and an unexpected Drazen Petrovic with a team high 26. The young rookie, in his explosion off the bench, put the team on his shoulders in a night where a lot of guys struggled to get hot, Dumars dropping just 13, Rodman just 3. But they won. The crowd went crazy as fans stormed the court like it had been the NBA finals, and Chuck Daly just leaned back and smiled. Malone stormed off the court without congratulating anyone on the other team and Clyde Drexler kicked over a chair on his way towards the tunnel, but the rest of the guys were pretty graceful about it, Stockton taking a few minutes to talk to Daly privately, congratulating him and expressing his condolences about the team staff breaking apart under such rough circumstances. IT was official; Detroit would face New York in the conference finals.
Next stop, NYC. This time, they weren't playing around, no survive and advance type hustle. Thomas had an impressive 28 point 15 assist 7 rebound 6 steal game to start off the series in the big apple, and Detroit took the first game on the road, winning 120-107. The second game saw an unexpected hero, with second round pick Bootsy Walton dropping 26 off the bench as New York won the game 111-103, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin both just playing absolutely phenomenol defense. The 3rd game saw Detroit win again, 112-93 back at the Palace in Detroit, this time behind Adrian Dantley's 29 despite Michael Ray Richardson holding Thomas to just 8 points. Again though, New York managed to swing the tide as Richardson blew up for a triple double in Game 4, dropping 21 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals as New York beat Detroit on a buzzer beater from Mullin, 100-98. In Game 5, Detroit opted for a similar strategy before; shut their main man down, at all costs. In this case, that man was Patrick Ewing. Laimbeer had 25 points, 6 blocks, and 19 rebound as Ewing dropped just 8 points on 4 for 13 shooting in a 105-82 Detroit win at Madison Square Garden. They had no doubt they'd take the series in Game 6; Dantley had 37, Thomas had 32, and Dumars had 27 as Detroit won 115-103.
For the first time since the Pistons had moved to Detroit, they had made the NBA Finals. There opponent? The Los Angeles Lakers - in their record-tying 8th straight finals appearance (Bill Russell's Boston having achieved the same, albeit with a lot more wins) the team looked absolutely incredible. Almost immediately, people across the country assumed it was over; Detroit would get man-handled, losing in at most, 5 games. It was an insult to the team, to what they had accomplished, and to the entire city of Detroit. In a press conference before Game 1, Thomas addressed it directly; "A lot of people think we're just here for the ride or something. Like we just wanna have a good time. I mean hey, winning's a good time to me, and that's exactly what we're gonna do. This game, the next one, the whole series. Sometimes the underdog has the bigger bite, and I don't know if you guys have seen Bill Laimbeer's mouth, but man can that dude bite!"
It was on. In Game 1, Thomas and Dantley came to play, Thomas dropping 13 assists and 21 points while Dantley hit 39 points, alongside 12 rebounds. World B. Free finished with the Lakers, posting a team high 29 points, while Magic had 17, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists, but it wasn't enough as Detroit won the first game at Staples, surprising everyone as they took the first of the series 106-94. Game 2 was much closer, as Los Angeles led for most of the game, but a 28-19 point 4th quarter saw Thomas sneak in for the lead, dropping 27 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds as Detroit won 100-96.
Pat Riley and the Lakers regained momentum in Game 3. B. Free had 38 points, on 15 for 24 shooting, while Johnson had 13 and Andrew Toney had 28 off the bench. They won Game 4 as well, Johnson posting a 31-15-12 triple double as the Lakers rallied to win 119-112 despite Isiah's 39 point explosion (World B. Free meanwhile would go off for 40). Game 5 was essential; Detroit wanted to avoid another Game 7, especially in Los Angeles, and this could be the make or break for them. Going into the game, Chuck Daly was emotional. "You guys... you guys are some of the hardest workers I've ever had the honor to work with. You deserve this. You've -earned- this. Now go out there and reap the rewards of your labor. Let's do this!"
Laimbeer and Thomas took it to heart. They led coming out of the first quarter for the rest of the game, Laimbeer posting 30 points with 11 rebounds, Thomas notching 28 points with 12 assists as Detroit beat the Lakers 116-99. In the post game interview, Thomas put it all on the team. "These guys play on another level. We've hit a kind of chemistry I didn't know was possible."
Apparently, the Lakers knew exactly how to match it. In Game 6, World B. Free went 8 for 11 from the 3 point line, notching up 36 points while Magic and Buck Williams had 21 and 22 respectively, while Nance and Kareem held it down defensively, Nance grabbing 8 rebounds and notching 4 steals, Kareem getting 13 rebounds with 7 blocks. The Lakers won 110-101, and a Game 7 was inevitable. But this team was hopeful.
And so was I, until Bill Laimbeer went down. It was shortly before the end of the first quarter, and a hard foul from Buck Williams saw the center keel over, holding the same leg he'd had issues with just a little over a year before. He tried to finish off the quarter, but the obvious pain in his face and stiff movement alongside a major limp gave Chuck Daly no choice back to sub him out. Peter Gudmundsson wasn't bad - but he wasn't Laimbeer. Thomas played his heart out, dropping 41 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds to go along with 4 steals, but Magic Johnson's 33-11-11 triple double, alongside Kareem's 26-17-8 block monster performance in the wake of Laimbeer's absence saw the Lakers take it all in the 4th quarter, pulling away to win 126-114. Thomas was crushed. They had come so close, pushed through so much just to get there... to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals...
He ended up making the first All NBA team for the first time in his career, as well as the First All Defense. Rodman and Petrovic both made All Second Rookie, while general manager Jack McCloskey won Executive of the Year, much to the pleasure of the team and organization. Despite not winning, the team had a lot to be proud of.
As I catch up with Bill Laimbeer over the phone - he's at home, the injury luckily wasn't too serious and he should be back by the beginning of the season - he's proud of his team, and the season, but there's one guy above all he's gungho about. "Isiah Thomas, man. I think he proved why he's the best in the league. Like... god damn, man. The kid's really something else."
Something else indeed. Despite their inability to get that win, I've got confidence this team's going places, and I expect a championship awaits them on the horizon. This is Slick Watts with "Inside a Team - the Detroit Edition."
~~~~~~~~~
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