The series covered so far have all gone chalk, with many of them only lasting four or five games. The last batch though saw a lot of the top seeds play, and we have several more even matchups based on seeding yet to go.
As we've done in the first couple parts of this round, I'm grabbing four series chosen completely at random and simulating through the full series, making sure to save box scores and make note of some of the key players from each game.
The up to date bracket, scores, and results from Group Play can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
(8) 1966 Boston Celtics vs (1) 2024 Boston Celtics
Game 1: @ '24 BOS 132, '66 BOS 110
Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday each hit a three in the opening minute, and the hosts were off and running. The '24 Celtics built a ten point lead after one. The visitors pulled within four a couple times in the second, but the '24 team answered right back with an extended 16-4 run to take firm control of the game. The lead reached 19 by halftime. The '66 Celtics got back to within 13 in the middle of the third, but the hosts pushed the lead back out to 21 by quarter's end, and cruised from there to a comfortable first win.
Jayson Tatum ('24 BOS): 30 pts, 14 reb, 8 ast
Derrick White ('24 BOS): 25 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast
John Havlicek ('66 BOS): 28 pts
Game 2: @ '24 BOS 129, '66 BOS 88
The '24 Celtics scored 12 of the game's first 14 points, survived a '66 push to cut it to four, before roaring out to a 16 point lead by quarter's end. The margin hit 20 less than two minutes into the second, but the visitors weren't going to go quietly in this one, closing the half on a 14-4 run to make it a ten point game at halftime. The '66 Celtics cut it to seven early in the third, but a 9-0 '24 Celtic run flipped the script back over, and the lead ballooned to 23 by the end of the third. The visitors got no closer the rest of the way.
Jayson Tatum ('24 BOS): 30 pts, 15 reb, 5 ast
Derrick White ('24 BOS): 17 pts, 8 ast, 6 blk
Bill Russell ('66 BOS): 10 pts, 20 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk
Game 3: '24 BOS 120, @ '66 BOS 79
The visitors continued their momentum with an 11-4 run to open the game, then added a 9-2 run after to push the lead out further. The '24 Celtics led by 13 after one quarter, by no fewer than 10 in the second as they slowly pushed the margin out towards 20, going up by 24 at the break. Late in the third the hosts got it back to a 12 point game, but the '24 Celtics scored seven of the final nine of the period to extend the lead back out. An extended 16-3 '24 Boston run midway through the final quarter iced the contest.
Jayson Tatum ('24 BOS): 21 pts, 9 reb, 5 stl
Jaylen Brown ('24 BOS): 30 pts, 7 reb
Bill Russell ('66 BOS): 14 pts, 25 reb
The Russell Celtics team somehow led 4-2 just a couple minutes in, but the '24 team used a 10-0 run to steal control of the contest and kept the margin around that double digit mark by period's end. The hosts were able to keep the margin around there for most of the second, but the visitors closed the half on a 12-2 run to push the margin to 20. Red Auerbach lit a fire at halftime though, and the '66 Celtics opened the third on a 13-3 run to cut the lead in half and managed to get it as low as seven before it settled back at 10 going into the fourth. But the tournament's top seed opened the frame with seven straight, and the '66 Celtics never threatened again.
Jaylen Brown ('24 BOS): 20 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast
Kristaps Porzingis ('24 BOS): 24 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 blk
Bill Russell ('66 BOS): 15 pts, 28 reb, 4 ast
(6) 2006 Miami Heat vs (3) 1984 Boston Celtics
Game 1: '06 MIA 99, @ '84 BOS 84
Miami got out to the early lead in this one, pushing that advantage to double digits midway through the first quarter. Boston would fight back and cut it to seven though by frame's end. The Celtics ended up getting back within one, then tying the game midway through the second but couldn't get over the hump, as a go-ahead three by Antoine Walker with about two minutes to go closed out the first half's scoring. Numerous times the Celtics got it down to just one point, but the Heat had an answer every time, eventually pushing the lead back to double digits with under a minute to play before Boston got back within seven by the buzzer. Boston managed to get within four with seven minutes left in the game, but that was as close as they got as the Heat steal the road win in Game 1.
Dwyane Wade ('06 MIA): 22 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast, 3 blk
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 28 pts, 10 reb
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 16 pts, 13 reb, 8 ast
Game 2: @ '84 BOS 94, '06 MIA 87
The teams went back and forth for the whole first quarter, with a James Posey three at the buzzer giving the Heat a two point lead. A couple quick buckets in the second extended the lead, but the Celtics fought back, staying within just four at the intermission. Despite needing almost three minutes into the second half for their first field goal, the Celtics kept the game close until they were ready to make their run, closing the third quarter on an extended 17-3 run. The Celtics kept that lead until late in the frame when the Heat scored 13 unanswered to take a three point lead of their own. But Gerald Henderson answered with a three to tie, Robert Parish gave the Celtics the lead with 45 seconds to go, and the Celitcs iced the game away at the line.
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 25 pts, 14 reb, 5 ast
Robert Parish ('84 BOS): 21 pts, 13 reb
Antoine Walker ('06 MIA): 24 pts, 6 reb
Game 3: '84 BOS 114, @ '06 MIA 107 (OT)
It seemed early like the Heat would capitalize on their return home, as they took control in the first and led by six by frame's end. The Celtics were able to hang around in the second, tying the game with about a minute to play before Miami scored the final four of the half to go into the locker room by that margin. The Heat got the lead to nine early in the third, but Boston rallied back with a 13-3 run to take its first lead of the half, and they would go into the fourth up five. Back to back James Posey threes gave the Heat the lead back, but the Celtics immediately tied it, settling us into a back and forth heavyweight fight. The Heat seemed poised to take the game, getting a Dwyane Wade three point play to take the lead with 36 seconds left, and he, Shaquille O'Neal, and Antoine Walker went 5-6 at the line following this play to try and ice it. But they couldn't get defensive stops, and after Wade's free throws made it 102-99 with six seconds left, Gerald Henderson buried a three at the buzzer to force overtime. That seemed to galvanize the visitors, who kept the Heat off the scoreboard for the first three minutes of the extra session and held on for the overtime victory.
Robert Parish ('84 BOS): 22 pts, 17 reb
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 28 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 31 pts, 15 reb, 5 blk
Game 4: '84 BOS 109, @ '06 MIA 97
Boston controlled most of the first quarter, though the Heat fought back from being down a couple possessions more than once, even taking the lead a couple times, but the Celtics closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to lead by four. Boston then scored 11 of the first 12 in the second, holding Miami without a field goal for almost five minutes to balloon the lead to 14. A Miami lead cut it back to two, but a 12-2 Celtic run late in the half helped give the Celtics that 14 point lead going into the break. The Heat couldn't get closer than 10 in the third as a late 8-0 Boston run pushed the lead as high as 18, and Miami got no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
Robert Parish ('84 BOS): 19 pts, 19 reb
Cedric Maxwell ('84 BOS): 20 pts, 6 reb
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 24 pts, 16 reb
Game 5: '06 MIA 92, @ '84 BOS 87
An early 9-2 Celtic run made it seem like Boston was poised to clinch, and an 8-1 run to close the frame only solidified that feeling. But the Heat opened the second on an 11-4 run, then managed to take the lead late in the half, going to the locker room up one. Back to back threes early in the third helped extend Miami's lead, followed later by a 10-0 run that got the lead up to 15. Boston got back within eight with about eight minutes left in the game, forced a long stalemate with no scoring, then got back within four with just a minute and a half to go. But an Antoine Walker jumper with 50 seconds left and a pair of Shaquille O'Neal free throws, the Heat staved off elimination.
Dwyane Wade ('06 MIA): 20 pts, 5 ast, 6 blk
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 17 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 24 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast
Game 6: @ '06 MIA 126, '84 BOS 114
Miami used an early 13-2 run to take command of this game, leading by ten after the opening stanza. Boston cut it to three several times in the second, then closed the half on a mini 6-2 run to get it down to a two point game at the break. The Celtics immediately tied the game to open the second half, but a 10-3 Heat run gave them the lead back. An 11-0 run late in the third helped them pull away, and the margin was 13 by quarter's end. The Heat led by as many as 19 in the fourth as they find a way to force a Game 7.
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 35 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 5 blk
Dwyane Wade ('06 MIA): 20 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 22 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl
Boston scored the game's first six points and led by as many as eight in the first quarter, but the Heat fought back to tie game at 25, though the Celtics would carry a three point lead into the second quarter. Boston's defense would clamp down, holding the Heat without a field goal for four and a half minutes to start the quarter, but needed a 16-2 run later in the quarter to take firm control of the game. After taking an 18 point lead into halftime, the Celtics dominated coming back out for the second half, using a 9-0 run spanning over four minutes to put the clincher on ice. Boston pushed its lead over 30 for a few moments and cruises on to the next round.
Larry Bird ('84 BOS): 33 pts, 15 reb, 7 ast, 3 blk
Robert Parish ('84 BOS): 17 pts, 16 reb
Dwyane Wade ('06 MIA): 27 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
(6) 1988 Los Angeles Lakers vs (3) 2005 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: '88 LAL 101, @ '05 SA 90
San Antonio clawed out of a little bit of a back and forth early in Game 1 to take an eight point lead after the first quarter. They would lead by as many as 13, surviving a mini Lakers surge late in the quarter to take that margin to the locker room. The Spurs pushed it to 14 about five minutes into the third, then the Lakers took over, using a 15-4 run to cut heavily into the margin, though they'd still trail by six going into the fourth. Six straight LA points to open the fourth tied it, then a pair of Magic Johnson free throws gave them the lead with about seven minutes to go. That helped spark a 14-4 run to get the Lakers up double digits, and they comfortably escape with a road win in Game 1.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 25 pts, 17 reb, 6 ast, 8 blk
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('88 LAL): 27 pts, 6 reb
Magic Johnson ('88 LAL): 18 pts, 5 reb, 13 ast
Game 2: @ '05 SA 113, '88 LAL 92
After a back and forth first nine minutes the Lakers closed the quarter on a 13-2 run and it looked like we might have a 2-0 lead for the road team. LA pushed it to 18 midway through the second, but an 11-2 Spurs run got them back into the game, though they would still trail by 10 at the break. San Antonio slowly chipped away at the lead in the third, finally getting it to a one possession game by the middle of the frame and just a one point game not long after, and eventually tied it with about a minute to play. An AC Green three point play put the Lakers back in front going into the fourth, but the momentum had clearly shifted. An extended 25-3 run taking up much of the fourth quarter completely flipped the story, and the Spurs salvage the second home game to even things up.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 15 pts, 14 reb, 3 blk
Tony Parker ('05 SA): 25 pts, 12 ast
AC Green ('88 LAL): 15 pts, 12 reb
Game 3: '05 SA 93, @ '88 LAL 76
San Antonio opened the game on a 7-2 run and held the Lakers without a field goal for the first four minutes, though the Lakers would get their offense going and only trail by three after one quarter. Both teams struggled mightily offensively in the second quarter as the Spurs couldn't pull away, but the Lakers couldn't capitalize either, and a Tim Duncan fadeaway at the halftime buzzer pushed the lead to five. Halftime seemed to be a good reset though, especially for San Antonio as they used a 17-4 run to blow the game open. The Spurs led by 13 after three, and the Lakers got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 18 pts, 16 reb, 4 ast, 5 blk
Tony Parker ('05 SA): 22 pts, 5 ast
Magic Johnson ('88 LAL): 11 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast
Game 4: '05 SA 105, @ '88 LAL 94
San Antonio scored the first five of the game and took control early in this game. The Lakers would find their footing though, even taking a brief lead before going down just three after the first quarter. The second quarter went very much back and forth, with Byron Scott throwing down a dunk to give the Lakers a two point lead going into halftime. But the Spurs opened the second half on a 15-4 run, and the Lakers went almost a full five minutes at the end of the quarter without a basket as San Antonio led by a dozen with 12 minutes to play. The 11 point margin at the final buzzer was the closest the Lakers would get as San Antonio take a stranglehold on the series.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 26 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk
Tony Parker ('05 SA): 18 pts, 6 ast
Magic Johnson ('88 LAL): 10 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast
This one was not all that close. After surrendering the early lead, the Spurs used a 17-2 run to take firm control of this game late in the first quarter, used three consecutive threes to add to it, then closed with a Brent Barry three to go up 18 after 12 minutes. San Antonio went up by as many as 27 in the second, but a Laker rally cut it to 14 by halftime, then cut that in half to open the third. But a 12-3 Spur run late in the third gave them some breathing room and a 12 point cushion going into the fourth.
Tim Duncan ('05 SA): 16 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast, 4 blk
Nazr Mohammed ('05 SA): 14 pts, 14 reb
Magic Johnson ('88 LAL): 14 pts, 7 reb, 11 ast
(5) 1991 Chicago Bulls vs (4) 2014 San Antonio Spurs
Game 1: '91 CHI 123, @ '14 SA 113
The teams traded runs in the early going, with the Spurs on top by four after one quarter. It stayed tight in the second, with each team sporting two possession leads before a Danny Green three gave San Antonio a two point halftime lead. The Spurs pushed it to five early in the third, but then the Bulls took over with a 13-3 run. Chicago would lead by as many as eight before late Spurs rally gave them a one point lead going into the final quarter. After a Boris Diaw three tied the game at 101 midway through the fourth, the Bulls scored seven straight to take control, and the Spurs got no closer than four the rest of the way.
Scottie Pippen ('91 CHI): 26 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast
Michael Jordan ('91 CHI): 30 pts, 6 ast, 5 stl
Kawhi Leonard ('14 SA): 19 pts, 8 reb, 3 blk
Game 2: '91 CHI 94, @ '14 SA 91
Chicago jumped out to a 9-2 lead to open Game 2, and held that margin by quarter's end. A 7-0 Spur run early in the second quarter got them back into the game though. They got to within two with just over three minutes left in the half, but Chicago scored the final six to go up eight at the break. The Bulls ended up going scoreless for over five minutes in the third as the Spurs managed to tie the game, though Chicago would retake a two point lead going into the fourth. A pair of three point plays early in the frame gave San Antonio a six point lead, but they couldn't pull away. A Tim Duncan jumper with about two minutes to go put the Spurs up five, then the Bulls made their final push. A quick Michael Jordan answer cut it to three, then he got a steal to set up a Scottie Pippen basket that trimmed it to a one point game. Jordan would put the Bulls ahead with 30 seconds to go, with Horace Grant and Bill Cartwright each blocking a go-ahead attempt by a Spur. Jordan's two free throws with four seconds left made it so Danny Green's last ditch attempt would have only tied the game, but he hit front iron and the Bulls will go to Chicago up two games to none.
Michael Jordan ('91 CHI): 27 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 7 stl
Horace Grant ('91 CHI): 21 pts, 8 reb
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 18 pts, 15 reb
Game 3: '14 SA 104, @ '91 CHI 92
San Antonio used an early 9-4 run to build a lead, though it would not last the quarter as Chicago closed it on a 12-4 run to take a narrow lead. But the Spurs used an 11-2 run early in the second quarter to take control of the game, and eventually take a 49-41 lead to the locker room. The Bulls cut the deficit to two midway through the third quarter, but the Spurs went on an extended 23-5 run to take complete control. Chicago would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way as the Spurs get back into the series.
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 18 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl
Kawhi Leonard ('14 SA): 17 pts, 8 reb, 6 stl
Scottie Pippen ('91 CHI): 26 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast, 6 stl, 4 blk
Game 4: @ '91 CHI 101, '14 SA 92
San Antonio got an early lead, and despite a counter from the Bulls, were able to remain in front by four after the opening 12 minutes. The Spurs then used an 11-2 run in the second to push the margin to double digits. Chicago managed to stay in it, and rallied back to that four point margin going into the locker room. The Spurs then seemed like they might get back on track, opening the third on a 10-2 run. Chicago was lurking though, and used a 12-0 run late in the quarter to take the lead back. They seemed poised to go into the fourth up five, but Kawhi Leonard buried a 65 footer at the buzzer to trim it to a one score game. The game stayed around that margin with the teams even trading leads, though a 6-0 Bulls run got the lead up to seven midway through the fourth. San Antonio got no closer than three the rest of the way.
Scottie Pippen ('91 CHI): 20 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast
Michael Jordan ('91 CHI): 20 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 17 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk
Game 5: @ '14 SA 106, '91 CHI 102
Determined to stave off elimination, the Spurs built a ten point lead just over halfway through the opening quarter. But Chicago closed the quarter on a 13-4 run to get it back to a one point game by period's end. The second quarter was tilted towards the Bulls, pushing the lead as high as seven before halftime. The Bulls kept that lead for a bit of the third quarter until the Spurs used a 10-4 run to grab the lead. They traded advantages from here, though the Bulls would manage to go back up by four going into the fourth. San Antonio fought back and the teams again fought tightly until the Spurs took the lead for good with just over a minute to go on a Danny Green triple. Horace Grant split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, keeping the Bulls down one and effectively allowing the Spurs to stay alive.
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 27 pts, 16 reb
Tiago Splitter ('14 SA): 19 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk
Michael Jordan ('91 CHI): 29 pts, 5 ast
Game 6: '14 SA 115, @ '91 CHI 106
Chicago used a late 11-3 run in the opening quarter to help take an eight point lead. The pushed the lead to a dozen just over three minutes into the second, but the Spurs responded with a 12-3 run late to make it a one score game. Chicago survived the rally, and took a four point lead to the locker room. But the Spurs opened the third with back to back threes, and used that momentum to trade leads for most of the third, with Patty Mills putting them up two to end the third. An 8-2 Spur run early in the fourth got them out to a more comfortable margin, then used a 6-0 run later to extend the margin once again. Patty Mills hit a trio of free throws with 3:44 left to make it a double digit game, and the Spurs force a Game 7.
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 18 pts, 12 reb, 9 ast
Kawhi Leonard ('14 SA): 20 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl
Scottie Pippen ('91 CHI): 28 pts, 12 reb, 3 stl
An extended 15-4 run in the opening quarter gave the Spurs command early in this game, then a 10-4 run to close out the quarter effectively made the 3-1 meme a reality. San Antonio then scored the first five of the second quarter and pushed the lead as high as 19 before settling into a 16 point edge by halftime. Chicago cut it to 11 a couple times early in the third, but the Spurs had an answer each time. It took until the end of the quarter on a Michael Jordan dunk that the deficit got trimmed to single digits. The Bulls would trim it to six early in the fourth, but they missed on multiple opportunities to get closer. Kawhi Leonard then scored seven in a row to push the margin to 14 and effectively secure the comeback, and the Spurs made enough free throws down the stretch to seal it.
Kawhi Leonard ('14 SA): 25 pts, 14 reb, 4 ast
Tim Duncan ('14 SA): 15 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 4 blk
Horace Grant ('91 CHI): 14 pts, 19 reb, 5 ast
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