Given that the Boston Celtics had just won the NBA title in 1986, expectations were high for the following season. Defending the championship and aiming for back-to-back titles seemed possible, but consistent strong performance was essential.
At one point during the 1986-87 season, Boston demonstrated their potential. After an eight-game road trip where they secured six wins, the Celtics’ confidence soared. They maintained their momentum by winning three consecutive games and two more at home.
Continuing their winning streak
The Celtics defeated the New Jersey Nets 116-103 on February 23, and the Portland Trail Blazers 122-116 on February 25. In the game against the Blazers, Larry Bird scored 43 points. With this winning streak, Bird confidently declared that Boston was still the team to beat for the 1987 NBA title.
“This brought us together as a team, and we feel we’re still the team to beat,” Bird said after the win over the Trail Blazers via UPI.
Bird wasn’t the only standout player. Kevin McHale and Robert Parish formed a formidable frontline, making it difficult for any opposing team. Double-teaming Bird often gave McHale or Parish more space to operate, posing a significant challenge for their opponents.
Heading toward the playoffs
The Celtics emerged as the best team in the Eastern Conference, achieving a 59-23 record and securing home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
After easily defeating the Chicago Bulls in the first round, the Celtics faced tough competition from other Eastern teams. They narrowly overcame the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games and faced a fierce battle against the Detroit Pistons in another seven-game series.
Despite these challenges, they achieved their goal of reaching the NBA Finals. However, they faced a formidable opponent in their archrival, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although Bird continued to excel in the finals, the Celtics fell behind 3-1 in the series. A crucial turning point was Game 4, where Magic Johnson’s game-winning hook shot gave the Lakers a decisive victory.
The Celtics managed to win Game 5 in Los Angeles, coming close to tying the series. However, the Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, proved too strong. Abdul-Jabbar scored 32 points with 6 rebounds, and Johnson added 16 points with 19 assists, leading the Lakers to their 10th NBA title that year.
