After a layoff for the weekend from posting, I'm back at it this week with the other 4 brackets that have yet to play (even though in reality, they'd be playing right now and would have over the weekend, which is why I'm stretching this out). Once again, these series are best of seven (2-2-1-1-1) format. Home court is decided based on overall record (regular season plus playoffs). All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com.
'79 Seattle Supersonics (64-35) vs '61 Boston Celtics (65-24)
Game 1: '79 Supersonics 120, @ '61 Celtics 102 (SEA leads 1-0)
Game 2: '79 Supersonics 114, @ '61 Celtics 109 (SEA leads 2-0)
Game 3: @ '79 Supersonics 121, '61 Celtics 110 (SEA leads 3-0)
Game 4: '61 Celtics 139, @ '79 Supersonics 137 (OT) (SEA leads 3-1)
Game 5: '79 Supersonics 114, @ '61 Celtics 104 (SEA wins 4-1)
Game 4 was an instant classic. Bill Russell got MVP honors for that game when it should have been Tommy Heinsohn, who hit both the game-tying bucket to force overtime, and the game winner in the extra session. Otherwise, I'm amazed at the sheer balance of this Sonics team. Jack Sikma holds down the fort in the middle while Dennis Johnson and Gus Williams did most of the heavy lifting offensively with contributions pretty much everywhere else.
'97 Chicago Bulls (84-17) vs '04 Detroit Pistons (70-35)
Game 1: @ '97 Bulls 104, '04 Pistons 80 (CHI leads 1-0)
Game 2: @ '97 Bulls 104, '04 Pistons 80 (CHI leads 2-0)
Game 3: '97 Bulls 103, @ '04 Pistons 85 (CHI leads 3-0)
Game 4: @ '04 Pistons 83, '97 Bulls 80 (CHI leads 3-1)
Game 5: @ '97 Bulls 107, '04 Pistons 97 (OT) (CHI wins 4-1)
Full disclosure: Ben Wallace was not being given meaningful minutes by default (Mehmet Okur was starting), so I tweaked that to give Wallace more minutes and still let Okur have an impact. Meanwhile, I had to overhaul the Bulls. Kukoc was getting virtually no minutes, and I wanted to recognize the impact Brian Williams had for that '97 team. It turned out about as expected: Wallace was fairly impactful, but stole Game 4 with a 12-26 and had two key blocks on MJ late in the game. Then of course a pissed off MJ went out and made sure the series wouldn't go back to the Palace. He scored 34, including a buzzer beater to force overtime in Game 5, then scored a majority of the Bulls' points to put an end to this series.
'66 Boston Celtics (65-32) vs '85 Los Angeles Lakers (77-24)
Game 1: @ '85 Lakers 125, '66 Celtics 111 (LAL leads 1-0)
Game 2: '66 Celtics 111, @ '85 Lakers 94 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: '85 Lakers 124, @ '66 Celtics 109 (LAL leads 2-1)
Game 4: '85 Lakers 112, @ '66 Celtics 106 (LAL leads 3-1)
Game 5: @ '85 Lakers 120, '66 Celtics 103 (LAL wins 4-1)
The Celtics made it interesting heading back to Boston, but Kareem was just too much. In Game 4, with the score tied at 106, he hit a big shot and was fouled to put the Lakers ahead, and the Celtics couldn't answer. Then he scored 37 in the clincher as Bill Russell just couldn't quite keep up.
'83 Philadelphia 76ers (77-18) vs '59 Boston Celtics (60-23)
Game 1: @ '83 76ers 120, '59 Celtics 97 (PHI leads 1-0)
Game 2: @ '83 76ers 115, '59 Celtics 106 (PHI leads 2-0)
Game 3: '83 76ers 121, @ '59 Celtics 112 (PHI leads 3-0)
Game 4: '83 76ers 121, @ '59 Celtics 114 (PHI wins 4-0)
I believe the words here are "Fo fo fo." Moses put up big games in each of the first three contests but took more of a backseat in Game 4 as Dr. J decided it was his time and put up 41 points to put down another Celtics team.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
We took a bracket from one '80s legend today, tomorrow we go to the other's bracket. There's one Magic-Bird duel already in the works, with potential for more in each of the next couple rounds. Or can a Hakeem-led team make their dream a reality? What about the last of the Shaq/Kobe title partnerships, or Rick Barry? Check back tomorrow to find out!
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