I split the first round of games in half just to minimize the amount of work for each day, but also because Boston and Los Angeles each trying to host something like five games on a single day would have been insane. This broke things up a little bit and made it a little easier.
So as a refresher, the consolation bracket is a double elimination tournament, where the losers go into a loser bracket where it becomes win or go home with fewer off days, while teams that stay in the winner's bracket get more rest and have to play fewer times en route to a consolation title.
So here is the second batch of our first round games. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it.
Hakeem Olajuwon Pod
(7) '79 Seattle Supersonics 114, @ (6) '62 Boston Celtics 95
The Celtics turned the ball over 22 times and shot just 37.5 percent from the floor in losing on their home floor. Seattle didn't shoot much better, but played well enough on defense to pull the upset. Lonnie Shelton had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Sonics, Gus Williams scored 21 points, and Jack Sikma added 15 points and 14 rebounds. Bill Russell paced the Celtics with 10 points and 20 rebounds, Sam Jones had 18 and six, and Bob Cousy finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Chicago trailed by 10 at halftime and couldn't catch up after settling for outside shots repeatedly, shooting almost twice as many threes (17) as free throws (nine), and that helped the Pacers survive a subpar shooting day, while they hit 25 of 30 at the line to pull the upset. Freddie Lewis scored 23 points for the Pacers, Mel Daniels added 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Roger A. Brown chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds. Luc Longley had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, Scottie Pippen added 13 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, and Toni Kukoc finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Magic Johnson Pod
@ (6) '69 Boston Celtics 124, (7) '69 Oakland Oaks 116
It took until the Consolation Bracket, but we finally have a same-year matchup! In it, the Celtics got to the line 51 times and won the rebounding battle to rock chalk and set up yet another Lakers-Celtics matchup in the next round. John Havlicek scored 29 points for Boston, Bailey Howell had 22 points and eight rebounds, Satch Sanders had 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and Bill Russell finished with nine points, 17 rebounds, and four steals. Gary Bradds had 24 points and six rebounds to pace the Oaks, Rick Barry added 20 and six, Warren Jabali chipped in 20 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, and Doug Moe put up 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Indiana shot 44.2 percent from the floor to Boston's 41 percent, each team turned the ball over 20 times, and Indiana also won the rebounding battle to grab the upset. George McGinnis led the Pacers with 25 points, 17 rebounds, and five steals, Mel Daniels added 23 points and 19 rebounds, Donnie Freeman scored 23 points, and Billy Keller added 14 points and 11 assists. Sam Jones had 24 points and five rebounds for the Celtics, while John Havlicek added 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, Satch Sanders chipped in 15 points and seven assists, and Bill Russell finished with eight points, 24 rebounds, and four blocks.
Larry Bird Pod
(7) '73 New York Knicks 118, @ (6) '72 Indiana Pacers 96
The Knicks forced 22 turnovers to pull the upset and advance in the winner's bracket while hitting five of seven threes to make it a blowout. Earl Monroe scored 22 points, Dave DeBusschere added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Willis Reed finished with 14 and 11 for the Knicks. Mel Daniels paced Indiana with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Bob Netolicky added 16 and eight, and George McGinnis chipped in 15 and 10 off the bench.
Utah outscored Boston 34-15 in the second quarter to gain control of this one, and they held on to sustain home court advantage in the winner's bracket. Zelmo Beaty had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Glen Combs scored 20 points, Donnie Freeman added 21 points and five rebounds, and Willie Wise chipped in 15 and six for the Stars. Dave Cowens went off for 19 points and 21 rebounds to pace the Celtics, Jo Jo White added 19 points and 10 assists, and Paul Silas chipped in 14 points, and 13 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant Pod
The Rockets shot 51 percent from the floor, including a 10-17 mark from beyond the arc to put the Sixers away in round one. Hakeem Olajuwon went bonkers with 43 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks, Vernon Maxwell added 24 points and six assists, and Mario Elie hit five of seven threes to the tune of 19 points and seven assists for Houston. Wilt Chamberlain was no slouch on the other side, putting up 24 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks, Billy Cunningham scored 20 points off the bench, and Luke Jackson added 15 points and eight rebounds for Philly.
@ (5) '93 Chicago Bulls 109, (8) '56 Philadelphia Warriors 99
The Bulls trailed by as many as 12 early in the first quarter, but fought back in the second quarter to make it a game, and took full control in the third to rock chalk and advance in the winner's bracket. Michael Jordan had a ridiculous day with 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and seven steals, Scottie Pippen added 21 points and 11 rebounds, B.J. Armstrong scored 14 points, and Horace Grant finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for Chicago. Paul Arizin paced Philly with 30 points and 12 rebounds, Neil Johnston added 18 and 12, Tom Gola chipped in 17 points and nine assists, and Joe Graboski logged nine points and 15 rebounds.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
Our first round is complete. Tomorrow, we have eight games scheduled down in the loser's bracket among the 16 teams that have lost the past two days. They will all fight for survival, so check back tomorrow to see who stays alive!
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