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<\/a><\/p>\nBoston\u2019s player-coach Bill Russell blocks a shot by Keith Erickson as the Celtics defeat the Lakers, 108-106, in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
The NBA had 14 teams now, and the Celtics finished the regular season at 48-34 for fourth place in the East. Sam Jones announced before opening night that this would be his last season. (Spoiler: He did not go out quietly.) Though no one knew it yet, player-coach Bill Russell would also be saying goodbye.<\/p>\n
Before the season, Boston acquired two former New York Knicks who found minutes in the rotation. Jim Barnes, the 1964 no. 1 overall pick, had the role of backup center to Russell. Emmette Bryant, a reserve guard, was more of a factor. The Knicks gave him to Phoenix in an expansion draft, then Phoenix gave him to the Celtics for just a second-round pick. But with Boston, Bryant appeared in 80 games and surprisingly became the starting point guard in the postseason.<\/p>\n
The Celtics regular season wasn\u2019t special, mostly short winning streaks that were offset by short losing streaks. However, when the playoffs began, they were ready to pull it all together.<\/p>\n
The Sixers weren\u2019t the same team without Chamberlain. Philly finished the regular season seven games ahead of Boston, but postseason was a different story. The Celtics won the first three games (two of them in Philadelphia) and closed out a gentleman\u2019s sweep with a 93-90 Game 5 win, also on the road.<\/p>\n
After dominating the season series, 6-1, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and the Knicks thought they were ready to bring down the Celtics in the East Finals. In reality, they were not. The Cs won Game 1 in Madison Square Garden, 108-100, with Bryant posting 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists against his former team. Boston then won Game 2 at home, 112-97, and closed out the series in six with home wins of 97-96 and 106-105. Bryant played 42 minutes in Game 6, torched New York with 8 of 14 shooting, and outscored Knicks star Walt Frazier, 19 to 17.<\/p>\n
Celtics vs. Lakers in the NBA Finals, for the seventh time since Bill Russell arrived in Boston. In the 1980s, this was the dream matchup for fans, media members, and TV executives looking at their viewer ratings. It couldn\u2019t get any bigger or better than that.<\/p>\n
But in 1969? The NBA didn\u2019t have that sort of status yet. The Lakers had yet to beat Boston at that point, so there was no historic rivalry to hype. In fact, Games 1 and 2 were not televised nationally, and they were not even shown in the Boston area!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true. Celtics fans in Massachusetts and throughout New England were not able to watch their team play for the 1969 league championship. As explained in \u201cTall Men, Short Shorts,\u201d a book about this Finals written by retired Boston Globe sports reporter and columnist Leigh Montville, the ABC network would televise the Finals nationally, but not until Game 5. Channel 38 in Boston was the Celtics\u2019 home station, but they skipped West Coast games \u2013 even the Finals \u2013 due to high costs of production.<\/p>\n
Don Nelson had the strangest free throw technique, but his shots went in 76% of the time. His basket late in Game 7 clinched Banner 11. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1967 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Also, Games 3 and 4 were seen only by fans who were present in the Boston Garden. They weren\u2019t on Boston TVs because home games were blacked out \u201cto protect ticket sales.\u201d We had the great Johnny Most on the radio to call the games, but even now it is hard to believe that nothing was worked out to solve this problem. Fans who didn\u2019t or couldn\u2019t buy tickets were denied the ability to watch unforgettable hoops action, and the NBA forfeited a huge opportunity to promote its product. Obviously, that was a far, far different world than we live in now.<\/p>\n The opening game set the tone for the series, and that tone was \u201cWOW!\u201d The score at the end of each quarter was no more than two points difference. According to a game report in the press, the lead changed hands 27 times and the score was tied 14 times. Most team stats were virtually even. Both teams took exactly 100 shots. Five players on each team scored in double figures. Chamberlain unofficially blocked 13 shots.<\/p>\n Havlicek led the way for Boston with 37 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. But even he couldn\u2019t match Jerry West, who was in a zone: 21 of 41 shooting (remember, no three-point shot yet), 11 of 13 free throws, 53 points. And 10 assists to go with that.<\/p>\n The final score was Lakers 120, Celtics 118. A very tough loss for Boston, unless your viewpoint is the Lakers got the best game they could expect from West, yet were down after three quarters and had to win the fourth just to take the game by two points.<\/p>\n Another heartbreaker for the Celtics. They led most of the way and were still up by four with four minutes left. A brief cold spell shooting opened the door for the Lakers to tie the score. After some trading of baskets, it was 112-112 in the final minute. From there, Elgin Baylor was fouled three times, the last two intentionally. With the Celtics in the penalty, he shot six free throws and made them all. Lakers 118, Boston 112.<\/p>\n Baylor scored 18 in the fourth quarter and 32 for the night. West was once again in another world with 41 points on 12 of 22 and 17 of 20 free throws. But Havlicek took the top spot with 43 points (15 of 27 FGs and 13 of 14 at the line). Chamberlain oddly tallied only four points. LA took 20 more free throws than Boston.<\/p>\n The 1969 Finals was the last of eight playoff battles between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. (Photo by George Long\/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Being down 2-0 is not quite as dangerous as down 3-1, but it\u2019s a deep hole to climb out of. Boston had never even been behind 2-0 in Russell\u2019s career. Game 3 at home was an absolute must-win, and honestly, so was Game 4.<\/p>\n Now at home, the Celtics almost turned the game into a blowout with a 57-40 first half. But\u2026it\u2019s the NBA, so the score was tied 78-78 after three quarters. Momentum is powerful in the league, but can change sides in a blink. So, Havlicek and Larry Siegfried combined for 24 points in the fourth, the Celtics retook the lead and were not threatened again.<\/p>\n West and Baylor proved to be mortals, scoring 24 and 11, respectively. On the Boston side, Havlicek continued his assault with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. Siegfried went for 28 points, his career playoff high.<\/p>\n This game was low-scoring simply because no one except West (40 points, 15 of 30 FGs, 10 of 10 FTs) could make a shot. By game\u2019s end, LA had made 39.3% and Boston, despite desperately needing to win, was a hideous 31.6%.<\/p>\n Regardless, in the final half-minute of the game, the Lakers were ahead 88-87 with the ball. Bailey Howell and Emmette Bryant double-teamed LA guard Johnny Egan, Bryant slapped the ball away, and Sam Jones picked it up. His shot bounced away but in a scramble it went out of bounds and was awarded to the home team.<\/p>\n In the timeout, coach Russell called for a triple screen to free Jones for the game-winner. It was a play used by college teammates Havlicek and Siegfried (\u201cthe Bouncing Buckeyes from Ohio State,\u201d as Johnny Most called them). The Celtics had practiced it but never used it in a game.<\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Sam Jones drives on LA\u2019s Jerry West (44) in the 1969 Finals. Jones saved the season in Game 4. (Photo by George Long \/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The next seven seconds will probably determine the NBA championship. If the ball goes in, its 2-2 and the season is saved. If not, it\u2019s 3-1 Lakers, and how many times can the Celts pull off that comeback?<\/p>\n As the play begins, referee Mendy Rudolph goofs up and throws the ball to the defender, disrupting the inbounds pass timing. But the Celtics keep going, Sam curls behind the screen and gets the pass, but slips a bit and is off-balance when he shoots. He says later that he hoped to get the ball on the rim for Russell to rebound, then is informed that the big center had subbed out for a better free-throw shooter.<\/p>\n But luck always seemed to be with Boston during Russell\u2019s years. This was a Sam Jones clutch shot, enough said. The ball hit the rim, caromed up and bounced gently around the cylinder like a roulette ball dropping into place on the spinning wheel. It fell through the net into Chamberlain\u2019s hands, and his scowl was pure art to Celtics fans.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n