BOSTON - JUNE 8: Ralph Sampson #50 of the Houston Rockets rebounds against Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the 1986 NBA Finals at the Boston Garden played on June 8, 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets 114-97 to win the series 4-2 and the 1986 NBA Championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1986 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
DOG COMMENTARY:
The 1985/1986 NBA Finals featuring the Boston Celtics vs Houston Rockets was a match-up that showcased maybe the only Celtics team….with five (5) players who were future members of the NBA Hall of Fame including Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson and Bill Walton that could even come close to rivaling the 1960 Celtics with eight (8) future Hall Members in Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jomes, Frank Ramsey, Satch Sanders, Bill Sharman and K. C. Jones.
In Game 2, the third quarter again proved decisive for the Celtics….who outscored the Rockets 34-19 in the quarter….after Sampson and Olajuwon had combined for 32 points in the first half….but the Twin Towers of Houston were held to only seven in the second half. Larry Bird paced the Celtics with 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting….while Kevin McHale added 25 in another Boston rout. It was Boston’s 40th consecutive victory at home for the 1985/1986 regular season and playoffs combined….which basically made them unbeatable because they had home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
This Game 2 was played on May 29, 1986 at Boston Gardens….and was won by the Celtics in a shellacking of the Rockets by a score of 117 – 95……as Larry Bird would pace the Celts with 31 ponts, 8 rebounds and 7 assists…..while Akeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 21 points and 10 rebounds….as Rodney McCray and Robert Reid would have 5 assists each in a losing effort.
Any way you cut the pie….this Game 2 video was the best of the Boston Celtics for nearly 35 years to follow…..and when you consider this was the first year of a Rockets team that would become NBA Champions in 1994 and 1995….then this makes this must see TV…..for it was a great NBA Finals match-up..
