The Magic Bird Show
copyright (c) 1996 Don Sibrel
The NBA of the 1980s belonged to two teams: the Los Angeles
Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The nine years, from 1980 through
1988, these two teams won eight championships. Both Teams had a
number of Hall-of-Fame players, but it was Magic Johnson and
Larry Bird that highlighted their team's greatness. When they
both entered the NBA in 1979, their teams immediately became
contenders for the title for the next nine years. No other time
in NBA history have two teams dominated the way they did in one
decade.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson was probably the finest all-round
talent to ever play the game. He could just do more things
better than anyone. This best ever point guard played
brilliantly in the center position in the NBA finals of 1980.
Larry Bird was probably the best forward to every play the
game. He was easily the best combination passer and shooter at
the forward position, and maybe at any position. He was also a
good rebounder who averaged over 10 rebounds a game in each of
his first six seasons. While not an outstanding individual
defensive player, he was a great team defender who lead his
team in steals in each of these nine years.
The 23 year old Bird was an immediate superstar his first
season when he lead his team in minutes played, scoring,
rebounds, and steals. Magic, three years younger, had a harder
time adjusting to NBA basketball. He was then a great player,
but not quit the player that Bird was the first few seasons.
Part of the problem was that L.A., already had a fine point guard
in Norm Nixon. They would both start as guards with Nixon
playing shooting guard. But both liked to control the ball.
It took Magic several years to develop a deadly outside shot.
When he did, and after Nixon was traded, Johnson was probably a
better all-round player than Bird.
Any time during these years when LA played Boston there was
tremendous fan enthusiasm. They were the best two teams having
the best two team players. Competition was fierce, and no one
team dominated the other. LA won five titles to Boston's three,
but the 1985-86 Celtic team may the been the best of them all.
CAST OF MAJOR PLAYERS
From Los Angeles:
Magic Johnson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Maybe the best center of all time. No
one has ever played basketball at a higher level longer than
Kareem. At the start of these nine years he was 32 years old.
While past his prime his "sky hook" could still dominate a
game.
Jamaal Wilkes: Played for the Lakers through the 1983-84 season.
A quick small forward having a great shot and averaging over 20
ppg for three seasons.
Norm Nixon: Played for Lakers through 1982-83 season. A very
good guard who shared the point with Magic.
Michael Cooper: Played for all of these nine years. A thin 6-7
forward/guard was probably the best defensive player of his time.
Bird claims Cooper was his toughest defender.
James Worthy: Played in LA his entire career starting with the
1982-83 season. This college player of the year became one of
the quickest small forwards in NBA history. At 6-9 he could run
the court and post up with the best. He averaged over 20 ppg in
four different seasons.
Bob McAdoo: Played for L.A. for four seasons starting in 1981-82
when he was 30 years old. A 6-9 forward/center had lead the NBA
in scoring in the mid seventies three straight times. He was a
very valuable, high scoring substitute for the Lakers.
Byron Scott: Joined the Lakers for the 1983-84 season. Became a
a very good shooting guard with a superior jump shot. Averaged
22 ppg in 1987-88 season.
Mychal Thompson: This strong, 6-10 center joined the club in the
1986-87 season and was a very effective substitute for the aging
Kareem.
Kurt Rambis & A.C. Green: Both were power forwards whose
effective team play was overshadowed by other more flashier
Laker players.
From Boston:
Larry Bird
Cedric Maxwell: Played at Boston from 1977 to 1985. At 6-8 he
was a very versatile power forward who was an excellent shooter,
rebounder, and defender. MVP of the NBA finals in 1981.
Dave Cowens: Ended his career with the Celtics in the 79-80
season. The 6-9 center was quick, strong, had a very good
outside jump shot, and generally out hustled his opponents. Was
league MVP in 72-73 season.
Tiny Archibald: Played in Boston near the end of his career
through the 82-83 season. Averaged 34 ppg in the 72-73 season.
Still a very quick point guard for Boston.
Robert Parish: Joined Boston for 80-81 season. Turned into one
of the best centers in the NBA. He could run the court, shoot,
rebound, and play defense. A very valuable player.
Kevin McHale: Came to Boston same season as Parish. This 6-10
very long armed power forward developed into one of the best post
players of any forward, ever. He had the best pivot moves of his
time. Averaged above 20 ppg for five straight seasons.
Dennis Johnson: Joined Celtics for 83-84 season. A very
versatile point guard. Good ball handler, scorer, and a
tenacious defender. Always seemed to play best in the big games.
Larry Bird claims he was the best player he ever played with.
Danny Ainge: Joined the Celtics in 81-82. A very emotional,
aggressive shooting guard who reached his peak in the last 1980s.
Reggie Lewis: Joined Celtics in 87-88. Next year averaged 19
ppg.
THE FIRST YEAR: 1979-80
Boston finished the season at 61-21. The previous year they
were 29-53. This was the greatest turn-a-round in NBA history.
Bird led his team in minutes played, points scored, rebounds, and
in steals. The Celtics lost to Philadelphia in the Eastern
finals.
The 76ers, a great team, had won 59 games that year. They had
Julius Erving in his prime with Darryl Dawkins, Bobby Jones,
Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks, Caldwell Jones, and others. If it
wasn't for Boston, Philadelphia would be remembered as one of the
top two teams of the 1980s.
L.A. finished at 60-22. Kareem, Wilkes, Magic, and Nixon all
averaged 18 or more points per game, with MVP Kareem leading with
23. Magic and Norm were the best back-court pair in the league.
That season Nixon got 79 more assists than Johnson.
The Lakers met the 76ers in the NBA finals. They split the
first four games with Kareem dominating with 33, 38, and 33
points in the first three games.
In game five, Kareen twisted his left ankle in the third
quarter with L.A. leading by two. Jabbar had 26 points at that
time. He limped back into the game in the fourth quarter and
scored 14 points giving the Lakers a 108-103 win.
Game six in Philly was one of the all time classics. Kareem
did not play due to his injury. Magic played center and scored
42 points, made all 14 free throws, had seven assists, 15
rebounds, three steals, and a block. What other point guard
would be able to do that?
1980-81
The Lakers finished at 54-28. Magic only played in 37 games
due to a cartilage tear in his knee. Again the same four players
each averaged more than 17 ppg with Kareem at 26. Team chemistry
that year was not good between Magic and Nixon. The Lakers lost
to the Moses Malone led Houston Rockets. Magic had a last second
shot to tie the final game, but threw up an air ball.
The Celtics finished at 62-20, the same as Philly. Milwaukee
also had a very good team and won 60 games. Bird again led his
team in minutes played, points, rebounds, and steals. The other
top scorers for Boston were Parish and Maxwell.
The Celtics beat Chicago 4-0 in the playoffs and then met
Philadelphia in the Eastern finals. As in the previous year,
Philly took a 3-1 lead in the series. It looked really bad for
the Celtics in game five when the 76ers had six point lead and
the ball with a minute and a half to go. But the Celtics came
back to win the game. Boston then won the next two games to win
the Eastern finals. The final scores of the last four games were
all within two points.
The Celtics won the NBA title in six hard fought games against
Houston. Bird made a three point shot late in the final game to
seal the victory.
1981-82
Boston finished the season at 63-19. This was five games
ahead of the second best finisher in the NBA, Philadelphia. As in
the previous year Bird led Boston in scoring followed by Parish
and Maxwell.
Boston beat Washington 4-1 in the playoffs and again met
Philly in the finals of the East. And for the third year in a
row the 76ers took a 3-1 series lead. The Celtics lost point
guard Tiny Archibald for the series in game three due to injury.
But Boston came back, and won the next two games. Game seven was
played in Boston where the Celtics were heavily favored. But for
some reason Boston played poorly while Dr. J had a huge game
leading Philly to a 14 point win.
The Lakers finished at 57-25. Again Jabbar, Wilkes, Johnson,
and Nixon were the top scorers with Kareem leading with 24 ppg.
This year Magic had 91 more assists than Norm Nixon.
The Lakers beat Philly 4-2 for the NBA championship after
beating both Phoenix and San Antonio 4-0. Magic had 13 points,
13 rebounds, and 13 assists in game six. He was voted series MVP.
The 76ers year: 1982-83
The Celtics finished at 56-26. Bird lead Boston in minutes
played, scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. Parish and
McHale followed Larry in scoring.
Boston lost to Milwaukee in the second round of the finals 4-0
as Bird suffered from the flu and a dislocated finger on his
shooting hand.
The Lakers finished at 58-24. Jabbar lead the team in scoring
with 22 ppg followed by Wilkes, Magic, Nixon, Bob McAdoo, and
James Worthy. All averages over 13 ppg. This year Magic had 243
more assists than Nixon.
The Lakers made it to the finals by beating Portland 4-1 and
San Antonio 4-2. However, Philadelphia was clearly the best team
in the NBA that year. They finished the regular season at 65-17.
They were led by Moses Malone who received the regular season MVP
award for the second straight year. At 28 years of age, Moses
was at his prime. He was one of the best centers of all time -
famous for his strength, determination, and offensive rebounding.
No one worked harder than Moses Malone. But Philly was not all
Malone. Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, and Maurice Cheeks were
also in their primes and had outstanding years. (Only 14 years
later did John Stockton break Maurice's career steal record.)
The Lakers fell to the 76ers 4-0 in the finals. Moses
dominated the 36 year old Kareem. He just ware him down,
particularly in the second halves of each of the four games.
Malone out rebounded Jabbar 72-30 in the series. Philly had lost
only one game in the playoffs.
1983-84
The Lakers finished at 54-28. Magic was now THE point guard
as Norm Nixon had been traded. Byron Scott, Nixon's
replacement, was a natural shooting guard. Johnson led the league
in assists and was second to Jabbar in scoring for the Lakers.
Boston finished at 62-20. This year Bird won the first of
three MVP awards. In other words, he had a typical Larry Bird
Season. The Celtics had traded for Dennis Johnson, who had the
first of many outstanding years for Boston as their point guard.
This year the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA finals. Fan
enthusiasm across America was unbelievable. Show time versus
the shamrock. Magic versus Bird.
Boston almost didn't make it beyond the first round of the
playoffs. It took them seven games to beat the Knicks with an
inspired Banard King. They then beat Milwaukee 4-1. The Lakers
had an easier time beating Dallas 4-1 and Phoenix 4-2.
Game 1 (at Boston): Lakers win 115-109. Boston gets back
into the game after falling behind by 18 points in first quarter.
Magic's brilliant passing and great play by Kareem rallies L.A.
for the win. The 37 year old center had 32 points, eight
rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Game 2 (at Boston): Celtics win 124-121 in overtime.
Celtic's Gerald Henderson stole a pass from Worthy and tied the
score near the end of regulation. Then Magic made a major
mistake by allowing the clock to run down and not taking a final
shot.
Game 3 (at L.A.): Lakers win 137-104. Magic had playoff
record 21 assists and Boston played poorly. After the game Bird
told the press that we played like a bunch of sissies.
Game 4 (at L.A.): Celtics win 129-125 in overtime. Boston was
down by five with under a minute to play, but came back and tied
the score. Magic missed two key free throws and Bird missed a
shot at the buzzer. The Celtics won in overtime in a very
physical game.
Game 5 (at Boston): Celtics win 121-103 with superior
rebounding. Bird was 15 for 20 from the floor scoring 34 points.
Kareem played like a very tired 37 year old in the very hot
un air-conditioned Boston Gardens.
Game 6 (at L.A.): Lakers win 119-108 as Byron Scott hits
everything in sight. Kareem scored 30 air conditioned points and
the Lakers played a more physical game.
Game 7 (at Boston): Celtics won the series with a 111-102
victory. The Lakers came back from 13 down to pull within three
points with under a minute to play, but the Celtics held on under
a barrage of Laker fouls. Maxwell played a super game. He had
24 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Bird had 20 points
and 12 rebounds, Parish 14 points and 16 rebounds. Dennis
Johnson scored 22 points while guarding Magic.
Bird was voted MVP, but Maxwell was the difference in game
seven.
1984-85
Boston finished at 63-19. Bird had his second MVP season by
again leading the Celtics in rebounds, minutes played, steals,
and in scoring with 29 ppg. McHale, who won the sixth man award
the two previous years, became a starter when Maxwell went down
with an injury in February. Maxwell had an operation on his knee
and came back near the end of the season, but was never the same.
Whether it was pain or the fact that McHale was now the starting
power forward, no one knew.
Boston beat Cleveland 3-1, Detroit 4-2, and Philadelphia 4-1
in the playoffs. The 76ers, who for several years gave Boston
all they could handle, were now in decline. Even with Charles
Barkley on the team, they won five less games than Boston.
Lakers finish at 62-20. Magic was second in the league in
assists per game and second on the Lakers in scoring behind
Kareem. The scoring was Kareem 22, Magic 18, Worthy 18, and
Scott 17 ppg. The Lakers made it to the finals by beating
Phoenix 3-0, and Portland and Denver 4-1.
For the second year in a row it was the Lakers and Celtics
playing for the NBA championship.
Game 1 (at Boston): Boston buried L.A. 148-114. Everything
worked for the Celtics. Scott Wedman came off the bench and shot
11 for 11. Kareem had 12 points and three rebounds. Magic had
one rebound.
Game 2 (at Boston): Lakers beat Celtics 109-102. Kareem had 30
points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks. Cooper hit
eight for nine from the field.
Game 3 (at L.A.): Lakers beat Celtics 136-111. At one time
Boston lead at 48-38, but L.A. can storming back for an easy
win. Worthy got 29 points, and Kareem 26 points with 14
rebounds.
Game 4 (at L.A.): Boston beats L.A. 107-105 as Dennis Johnson
scores at the buzzer on a pass from Bird.
Game 5 (at L.A.): L.A. beats Boston 120-111 as Jabbar scores 36.
Game 6 (at Boston): Lakers beat Boston 111-100 to win the series
and the championship. Kareem scored 29 points and was voted
series MVP. The Lakers were more physical than the year before
and were able to stop Boston from pounding the offensive boards.
This was the first time the Celtics lost the championship on
their home floor.
1985-86
The Lakers finished at 62-20. Magic led the league in
assists. He averaged almost 2 per game more than Isiah Thomas
who was second. Magic averaged 19 ppg, Worthy 20, and Kareem 23.
In the playoffs they beat San Antonio 3-0, Dallas 4-2, but lost
to Houston 4-1. L.A. won the first game, but then lost four
straight. The last game was the only one of the four defeats
that was close. Team chemistry for the Lakers was not what it
was the previous year.
The Celtics finished at 67-15. Again Larry Bird led the
Celtics in minutes played, rebounds, steals, assists, and in
scoring with 26 ppg. McHale was second in scoring with 21 ppg.
In the off season the Celtics had traded Cedric Maxwell for
Bill Walton. One of the best college centers of all time, Bill's
pro career was a history of injuries and frustrations. He had
never been able to play more than 67 games in a season. Yet when
he was at near 100%, he played as good as anyone in the league.
In the 1976-77 season he led Portland to the NBA championship
while being the teams second highest scorer and leading the
league in rebounding and blocked shots. He was the league MVP
the following year.
For the Celtics in 1985-86, he was able to play in 80 regular
season games as their sixth man. And he played brilliantly. He
passed the ball from the post as good as anyone in the league,
led the Celtics in rebounds per minute played, and received the
league's sixth man award. McHale had received it the two
previous years.
The Celtics won the NBA championship that season beating
Chicago 3-0, Atlanta 4-1, Milwaukee 4-0, and Houston 4-2.
1986-87
The Celtics finished at 59-23. It was the best record in the
East. But lady luck, who appeared generous to the wearers of the
green in the past, played some mean tricks that season. Lem
Bias, their first round draft choice, who they were so high on,
died from a drug overdose. Bill Walton due to injuries would
only play in 10 regular season games. Kevin McHale, who for most
of the season was probably the best low post player in the
league, injured his foot and was never the same afterwards. And
Larry Bird, who was able to play through his back problems in
the past, finally was forced to play at reduced effectiveness.
For the first time in his career, Larry did not lead his team
in minutes played. He did lead the Celtics in steals and scoring
at 28 ppg. McHale was second at 26 ppg.
In the playoffs the Celtics beat Chicago 3-0, Milwaukee 4-3,
Detroit 4-3. Larry Bird saved game five against Detroit by
stealing an inbound pass under the Celtic basket and hitting
Dennis Johnson for a layup as time expired. In game seven two
Detroit players banged heads trying for a loose ball. Dantley
went to the hospital and Vinnie Johnson was not the same the rest
of the game. Boston won by three. The celtics then met the
Lakers in the finals.
The Lakers finished at 65-17. Magic led the league in assists
per game, the Lakers in scoring, and was league MVP. He became
the first guard so honored since Oscar Robertson.
Before the season started, the Lakers acquired Mychal Thompson
form San Antonio. The strong, physical, 6-10 Thompson gave the
Lakers exactly what they needed - a quality backup center for the
aging Jabbar, and a solid power forward.
In the playoffs they beat Denver 3-0, Golden State 4-1,
Seattle 4-0, then played the Celtics for the NBA title.
Game 1(at L.A.): Lakers beat Celtics 126-113. The Celtics
looked very tired as L.A. ran 35 fast breaks in the first two
quarters and led by 21 at half time. Magic had 29 points, 13
assists, eight rebounds, and no turnovers. Worthy had 33 points
and nine rebounds.
Game 2(at L.A.): Lakers beat Boston 141-122. In this route
magic had 20 assists and 22 points. Cooper made a playoff record
six treys.
Game 3(at Boston): Boston beats L.A. 109-103. Greg Kite
substituting for the foul plagued Parrish, played a great all
round game.
Game 4(at Boston): Lakers beat Celtics 107-106. The Celtics
had a 16 point lead in the third quarter, but couldn't hold it.
Near the end of the game Magic scored on a driving hook shot.
Bird then barely missed a three point shot from the corner as
time ran out.
Game 5(at Boston): Boston beats L.A. 123-108. An easy Celtic
victory, but the Lakers were thinking about the next game in L.A.
Game 6(at L.A.): Lakers beat Celtics 106-93. Boston had a 15
point lead at the half, but the Lakers put the game away in the
third quarter win a 18 to 2 run. For the Celtics, Dennis Johnson
had a great game with 33 points and 10 rebounds.
Kareem had 32 points, six rebounds; Worthy had 22 points;
Thompson had 15 points, nine rebounds; and Magic had 16 points,
19 assists, eight rebounds, and the series MVP award. The Lakers
were just the better team.
1987-88
The Celtics finished at 57-25. Larry Bird averaged almost 30
ppg that year, but he missed six games due to injuries and McHale
missed 18. Larry was only third in assists on the Celtics that
year.
Boston beat New York 3-1 and Atlanta 4-3 in the playoffs, but
lost to Detroit 4-2. Detroit was just too deep, too physical, and
played defense too well against the banged up Celtics.
The Lakers finished at 62-20. Magic finished second in the
league in assists per game and third on the Lakers in scoring.
First was Scott at 22 ppg, followed by Worthy and Johnson at 20
ppg, and forth was Kareem at 15. Kareem was slowing down, but
Mychal Thompson was very effective as his substitute.
Worthy had his best year. No small forward in the league was
better at both running the floor and posting up to the basket.
In the playoffs they beat San Antonio 3-0, then played two
very tough series against Utah and Dallas - both going seven
games. In the finals they faced Detroit; the most physical team
in the league. The Lakers down 3-2 in the series, won the last
two close games in L.A. to win the championship. James Worthy
was voted MVP.
WHICH WAS THE BETTER TEAM FOR THESE NINE YEARS?
These nine seasons, 1979-80 through 1978-88, Magic and Bird
played brilliantly leading their teams to eight NBA titles. But
which team was the best and which player was the best?
If you only look at the titles won in the nine years, you
would rate the Lakers better since they won five titles to
Boston's five.
However, the Eastern Conference appears to have had the better
teams during this time period, thus making it more of an
accomplishment for Boston to reach the finals than L.A. If you
look at teams other than Boston or L.A. during these nine years,
every year the top team in the East won more games than any team
in the West - every year. Clearly Philadelphia was better than
any Western Conference team other than the Lakers for a number of
years, and Milwaukee was probably better also.
Boston's 1985-86 team won 67 games. This was more than any
Laker team won during the nine years. The 1986-87 Laker team won
65 games, their highest total. I would say that these were the
best two teams. In both years, the team that won the title lost
only three games in the playoffs.
So, which team was better, the Lakers or the Celtics? I say
that the two teams were so close in talent, coaching, team play,
and in winning the big games, that it is too close to call. Both
played magnificently for these nine years. And that is all that
one can say for sure.
Now who was better, Magic or Bird? If one just looked at
individual statistics, then Bird would have to be judged the
better. Twice he led his team in minutes played, rebounds,
assists, steals, and in scoring. Four other seasons he led his
team in all but one of these categories. No other player that I
know of, with the possible exceptions of Oscar Robertson, Scotty
Pippen, or John Havlicek, did more for their team in as many
ways.
I think Bird was clearly the better player for the first
couple of seasons. I think the main reason for this was age.
Magic was only 20 in his first season in the NBA, while Larry
was 23.
In his prime, I think Magic was the most versatile player to
ever play the game. Has there ever been anyone besides Magic
that could play both point guard and center at the highest
levels? None that I know.
I personally think that Bird was the best forward of all-time
and Magic easily the best point guard of all-time. Both Magic
and Larry, more than anyone else ever to play the game with the
possible exception of Bill Russell, make their teammates better
players.
So, who was the better player? Individually, one is not
clearly better than the other. However, the point guard has
possession of the ball longer and can control the game easier
than a forward. And for this reason only, I rate Magic the more
valuable player to his team, and thus the better player.
In retrospect, these nine seasons may have been the most
exciting in NBA history. I think the Lakers, the Celtics, Magic,
and Bird brought NBA basketball into a new era of fan enjoyment.
Michael Jordan and Shaq are two very popular and great present
day players. Maybe Jordan is better than Magic or Bird. And
maybe Shaq will dominate the center position the future more than
anyone did in the past. But neither made their teammates better
the way Magic and Bird did. The Magic Bird show was just the
greatest.
Don Sibrel