The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 318 Urgent Need for Points
"The 1986 NBA championship series will be played between the Trail Blazers and the Celtics, and tonight is their first game, at the historic Boston Garden. This is the first time in history that the two teams have met in the Finals. The Trail Blazers and Rockets battled for seven games to reach the Finals. The Celtics have been unstoppable this season, achieving an astonishing 40-1 record in the regular season at the Garden, with their only loss coming against the Trail Blazers."

"While everyone is eagerly anticipating the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics game, there's no doubt that the matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics, the two teams with the best regular season records, is equally exciting. Just a few days ago, the Blazers' star player Sonny Gan defeated Larry Bird to win the regular season MVP award, a symbol of the NBA's diversity, inclusivity, and fairness. However, this has undoubtedly drawn criticism from many Boston fans and sports commentators, as the Celtics' 68-14 record is historic."

At 7 p.m. Atlantic Time, CBS started playing music on time, and the commentator for the evening was Brandt Musberg.

The MVP award did indeed cause considerable controversy after the results were announced, as team performance had a significant impact on MVP selection in the 80s.

Although the Trail Blazers achieved a record of 63 wins and 19 losses, the Celtics' 68 wins and 18-game winning streak during the season were extremely impressive, and Bird, as the team's leader, naturally received a very high number of MVP votes.

Larry Fleischer reportedly had a significant impact on the voting, suggesting that the Celtics' roster was too strong and their 68 wins were largely due to teamwork. He argued that while Bird's contribution was paramount, his teammates' contributions were equally crucial.

"If Larry and Forrest were swapped, Forrest could still lead the Celtics to 68 wins, but Bird would have a hard time leading the Trail Blazers to 60 wins. The Celtics have five All-Stars!"

Fleischer had a great influence in the New York media circle, and his ideas influenced many people; moreover, what he said did make sense.

The Celtics' roster is indeed extremely strong, especially after they traded Maxwell in the summer and acquired Marquese Johnson, who is in his prime.

Johnson is only 29 years old this year, in the prime of his life. He is very versatile, plays intelligently and methodically, and has excellent physical qualities.

In terms of offense and playmaking, he can be described as a weaker version of Larry Bird, while his defense is an upgraded version. He made up for the Celtics' shortcomings in frontcourt defense and was specially prepared by Auerbach for Worthy and Magic Johnson.

During the 1984-1985 season, he was on the verge of collapse with the Clippers. Except for fouls and turnovers, all his statistics dropped to career lows, giving people the illusion that he was rapidly declining.

After leaving the Clippers for the Celtics, Johnson quickly regained his form and, even under Bird's shadow, delivered an outstanding performance, winning the 1986 Sixth Man of the Year award.

When Michael Jordan had his promotional photos taken in college, the poster on his dorm room wall featured Marquez Johnson, Jordan's idol.

"Even without Larry Bird, the Celtics would still be a 60-win team with just Marquez Johnson, so how can Bird be called the MVP? I bet the Trail Blazers wouldn't even make the playoffs without Sonny, that's the true value of an MVP."

Larry Fleischer's various public relations efforts in New York, along with his propaganda and incitement of public opinion, ultimately paved the way for Gan Guoyang to win the regular season MVP.

The Celtics were certainly not happy about it, especially Bird. When he was interviewed by Boston media before the game and asked about his opinion on who would win the regular season MVP, his dissatisfaction was evident.

"In the past, the MVP was voted on by the players themselves, awarded to the player they considered the strongest. Now, it's a media vote, awarded to the best player from the best team. I think I'm qualified by either standard. Of course, I respect the voting results, since regular season records don't seem to be entirely reliable. Well, the Finals are even less effective, but they still represent something. Let's wait and see."

Before the game started, Bird's interview was broadcast on CBS, a new feature of NBA live broadcasts, where player pre-game interviews were shown during the game.

Inside the arena, players from both teams waited in the player tunnel to take their turn on the court. As the game drew closer, a sense of tension spread among the Trail Blazers players.

"Bill, what was it like playing in the Finals last time?" Drexler asked Bill Walton in a low voice.

"Go ask Jones, I almost fucking fell flat on my face on the court," Walton told Drexler to ask Caldeville Jones.

Jones was with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1977, where he was an important backup center and often matched up against Walton. Now the two are teammates.

Jones laughed and told Drexler, "The Trail Blazers were trying to press full-court, so Gene Shue let me dribble past half-court. I did a crossover dribble and faked out Beal. That was one of my best plays in the Finals."

Gene Shu is indeed a genius. Facing the Trail Blazers' full-court press, he came up with a strategy of having the center dribble across half-court, allowing Jones to control the ball and break through the Trail Blazers' defense.

It's easy to get nervous playing in the Finals for the first time. Not only Drexler, but also Vandeweghe went to the bathroom several times before taking the court.

Tonight, with so many people opposing, booing, and jeers, it's hard for the visiting team's players not to feel nervous about playing a two-hour crucial game at Boston Garden.

After praying for the Buddha's blessing, the time came, and the Trail Blazers players rushed into the bustling Boston Garden, the deafening sound filling the ancient dome.

After the opening ceremony and player introductions, the players from both sides took to the field, and the match was finally about to begin.

"Buy your tickets back to Portland early, you'll be itching to go home," Larry Bird offered the Trail Blazers players as he stepped onto the wooden floor.

“I’ve even bought my plane tickets for my next trip to Boston. Of course, we might not need them, so I can give them to you then,” Gan Guoyang retorted sarcastically.

"Oh, I think the same as you, I can take you down in five games. You'll leave Portland with your tails between your legs, not with a championship."

The battle between the two began with words, and the animosity between the two teams was obvious, leaving no room for compromise in the finals.

The Trail Blazers did not use the starting lineup from the last two games of the Western Conference Finals. In order to deal with McHale, Mitchell Thompson returned to the starting position.

Bill Walton's body cannot withstand long periods of high-intensity play.

Terry Porter has secured his starting point guard position, with Jim Paxson becoming the backup point guard.

The Celtics still rely on Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson in the backcourt and Bird, McHale, and Parish in the frontcourt.

The referee tossed the ball into the air, and the 1986 NBA Finals officially began.

Gan Guoyang forcefully overpowered Parish during the jump ball, touched the ball first, and tipped it into Porter's hands, giving the Trail Blazers their first offensive opportunity.

Porter was visibly nervous after receiving the ball. He held the ball steady for a second before dribbling across half-court, marking the Trail Blazers' first offensive possession.

"Gan called for the ball under the basket. On the Trail Blazers' first offensive possession, Porter passed the ball to Gan, who turned and hooked the ball... but missed. Gan's first shot was unsuccessful."

Gan Guoyang took his first shot of the Finals from his most familiar position on the right low post, but the ball bounced around the rim and fell out, and McHale grabbed the rebound.

Gan Guoyang missed his first shot, and the Celtics launched a counterattack amid cheers from the crowd, a cacophony that would continue throughout the entire game.

Larry Bird tried to establish position on the left side, but Vandeweghe resolutely fronted him, and in the Finals, he played with all his might on defense.

Dennis Johnson tried to feed Bird the ball several times without success, so he suddenly accelerated with the ball and drove from the middle to the inside.

"DJ's drive, floater...miss! But McHale puts it back in and scores! The Celtics get their first point of the game, with McHale scoring."

Kevin McHale scored a basket and grabbed a rebound in the first offensive possession, securing the game's first point.

For McHale, this Finals was a breakthrough journey.

McHale reached the peak of his career in this year's playoffs. He was unstoppable in the low post. As long as he got the ball in the midfield, there was a more than 60% chance that McHale would score.

Moreover, no matter who the defender is, McHale can use his agile and varied footwork to make things difficult for them—except for Mitchell Sampson.

He has never performed well against Thompson throughout his career, and this Finals will be a battle for him to prove himself and break free from his limitations.

"Gan is in the low post again, this time on the left side. Porter's pass... is intercepted! Dennis Johnson intercepts Porter's pass, and the Celtics launch a fast break! McHale receives the ball in the middle, shoots over Sampson... bank shot... the ball goes in, he stumbles and crawls into the basket!" Musberg's commentary was precise and full of passion.

The Trail Blazers made an offensive mistake. Gan Guoyang's passing lane in the low post was anticipated, but Porter's pass was too low and was easily blocked by Johnson.

McHale scored two more points. Mitchell Sampson made a good defensive comeback, but McHale still managed to put the ball in the basket.

0-4, the Celtics started strong, more relaxed and more energetic, having rested for almost two weeks.

The Celtics' defensive intensity is much higher than in the regular season, which will be a huge test for Porter and Drexler.

They have already endured pressure from the Rockets' perimeter players in the Western Conference Finals, and in the Finals they will face the more experienced and cunning DJ and Ainge.

The third time, Gan Guoyang didn't ask for the ball in the low post, but instead received it at the top of the arc and shot a three-pointer directly at Parish, but it still missed.

Ainge grabbed the long rebound and immediately dribbled up the court. Bird received the ball on the wing, faked out Vandeweghe, and drove to the basket for a two-handed dunk!
The Boston Garden erupted in cheers as the Celtics got off to a spectacular start.

The Trail Blazers desperately need points.

(End of this chapter)