Here we are, at the Final Four of our simulated tournament to determine the greatest team in NBA History! Are we going to see yet another Boston-LA match-up? Or perhaps we'll see two teams that didn't even win the championship in their year battle off for the greatest team of all-time.
(5) 2006 Detroit Pistons (63-19) vs. (2) 1986 Boston Celtics (67-15)
Here we have a team that's basically devoid of any superstars, going up against a team filled with a Big 3 of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale. Though it took a while, this difference in star power showed. The Pistons made the first two buckets, and wouldn't relinquish their lead until just about three minutes left in the first, but from their, it was almost all Celtics. Detroit to a four point lead into the second, and extended their lead to double-digits heading into the half. The Pistons slowly charged back, and with 2:17 left in the third, tied the game at 75 a piece. However, some nice plays by Larry Bird helped Boston take an 82-77 lead into the next frame. Though four points by Rip Hamilton in 33 seconds in the first minute of the first would pull the Pistons within one, that was as close as they would get. Boston outscored Detroit 6-0 in the last 1:58 of the game, on their way to the championship game. Bird led all scorers with 31 points, and was helped out by the 18 points and 12 rebounds of Parish. Hamilton's 20 led the Pistons, and Ben Wallace added 15 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to help a Detroit team that got pounded 52-42 on the boards. Free-throws also proved to be a big difference, as Boston was a perfect 17-17 from the stripe, while Detroit was just 11-20.
Final Score: Boston 108, Detroit 98
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5817819&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1
(5) 1993 Phoenix Suns (62-20) vs. (1) 1972 LA Lakers (69-13)
The game had the makings of a classic as both teams went back and forth at the start. In the first, no team led by more than four points, and Los Angeles took a 28-27 lead going into the second. However, with 7:16 left in the half, John Trapp of the Lakers made a 12-footer that gave the Lakers the lead, and sparked an 8-0 run. From there, the Lakers would never look back. Los Angeles would take a 64-55 heading into intermission, and then outscore Phoenix 28-18 in the third to extend their lead to 92-73. Though Phoenix would mount a comeback and cut the lead to four with 1:19 remaining, it was too little too late as Los Angeles advanced to the championship game. Dan Majerle led all scorers with 31, and Charles Barkley put in 21 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort. The Lakers proved too much as Jim McMillan, Gail Goodrich, Harry Hairston, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West all scoring at least 18 points, with the latter three getting a double-double.
Final Score: Los Angeles 113, Phoenix 107
http://whatifsports.com/NBA/boxscore.asp?GameID=5817841&nomenu=1&teamfee=-1
Thoughts
All I have to say, is that isn't it appropriate that it's Boston and LA?
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