The 1982 NBA Finals: Lakers vs Sixers

R-Tistic

On another board, I saw folks discussing the 80's Lakers, and I realized something. I was born in 1984, so I wasn't there to see anything unless you count watching the 1988 Finals as a 3 year old. But after watching enough documentaries, old games on NBA TV/ESPN Classic/Laker Channel, and reading a lot about the Lakers history.....1982 is the least talked about Championship year we had in the 80's.

I think most fans can name something about every other year off the top of their head:

1980: Magic played Center in place of Kareem, and won Finals MVP as a rookie

1985: We finally got over the hump and beat the Celtics

1987: We beat the Celtics once again, and Magic hit the dramatic hookshot

1988: Isiah balled hard on a twisted ankle, scoring 25 in that 3rd quarter, but still couldn't bring the Pistons to victory. And Worthy went nuts and got MVP with that Game Seven Triple Double.

I was able to name all of those things without Google...but for 1982? Hmmm....I remember hearing Jamaal Wilkes played great, but that's about all I can tell you off the top.

So for those who were there, or who've researched it...what stood out about that series?

Wilkes52 · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 12:34 pm Post subject:

The Finals series itself was no big contest. Cap was steady. Magic was Mr Everything. Wilkes was at the peak of his game but un-flashy guy that he was, he made everything look sooo easy. Sixers got to game six, wobbly.

The overall feel I had at the time of the championship win was unshakeable confidence for the future. We had Cap. We had Magic. We had Silk, Coop and Stormin' Norman. We out-classed the Sixers by an arm's length - with an inexperience new coach (Riles.)

All indicators pointed towards support for the idea that Lakers could be unbeatable in the playoffs from here on out. After all, that June Magic's second title as a Laker had come with the loss of our new power forward, Mitch Kupchak. Rambis' Superman put on a cape that would last for a moment. Everything looked like roses. James Worthy would be drafted in another month.

But Kupchak would of course not return to health and power, and Worthy would break his leg long before mid-season 1983. Who would foresee that the league's new best center Moses Malone would make the difference and would enable Dr J and Toney to carve through us like butter in another year's time ? Those two teams had met for three of the past four Finals series ('80, '82, '83.)

Who would know ahead of time that Bird's Celtics would out-muscle the Lakers in'84 ? Superman would meet his green Kryptonite (McHale.)

Confidence baby, the NBA future looked like it in June 1982, that it would be All Lakers Forever. That's close to what happened for me.
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gumby · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject:

I just don't think there was anything striking about it, that's why.

Not meant as a negative, but just a fact.

Someone from back in the day would know better. I didn't start following the Lakers and basketball until 1984.

Bye.
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activeverb · Retired Number Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470

unleasHell · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:38 pm Post subject:

Itwasagreatyear!
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lakersboy · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:58 pm Post subject:

McAdoo was my recollection of what made the year special. The Lakers had a great need for a capable big man at pf and backup center.

Kupchack had been a big name, expensive free agent but he tore up his knee early in his first season in L.A. and was never right again.

Spencer Haywood was on the 79/80 championship teams but badly misbehaved and underperformed due to apparent drug probelms.

Early in his career McAdoo was THE man in Buffalo. He was Buffalo Bob McAdoo. Football analogy of guys you watched even if not a fan of the team was O.J., Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders. No matter what team you rooted for, you had to talk about McAdoo at school, the barber shop, or with your friends even though there weren't many televised national tv games. He had been a legend. So getting him from the unemployment line after he averaged 30.6, 31, and 34, in 3 of his first 4 seasons was amazing. Philly's GM commented about how fortunate the Lakers were to get him as he was making a difference in the 82 series.

Surfitall · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:15 pm Post subject:

This game was one of my best memories as a youngster. I got to go to the finals game when I was 12. Back then, there was no courtside security at the end of the game, so we along with what seemed like everyone else rushed the court and celebrated right there on the hardwood after the Lakers won. The parking lot and Century Blvd was electric with cars honking, people shouting, and dancing in the streets. It was awesome.

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hoopschick29 · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:01 am Post subject:

As a 7 year old, I remember my mother letting me stay up to watch one, may have even been the last one, game 6. They were in Philly. Hard to believe, but NBA Finals games were once shown on tape delay.
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Special: Jim Hill Lockerrom Interviews w/ '82 World Champions

Norm Nixon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bob McAdoo, rookies Kurt Rambis and Mike McGee

Jun. 08 1982: Los Angeles 114, Philadelphia 104

Jun. 06 1982: Philadelphia 135, Los Angeles 102

Jun. 03 1982: Los Angeles 111, Philadelphia 101

Jun. 01 1982: Los Angeles 129, Philadelphia 108

May 30 1982: Philadelphia 110, Los Angeles 94

May 27 1982: Los Angeles 124, Philadelphia 117

May 15 1982: Los Angeles 128, San Antonio 123

May 14 1982: Los Angeles 118, San Antonio 108

May 11 1982: Los Angeles 110, San Antonio 101

May 09 1982: Los Angeles 128, San Antonio 117

May 02 1982: Los Angeles 112, Phoenix 107

Apr. 30 1982: Los Angeles 114, Phoenix 106

Apr. 28 1982: Los Angeles 117, Phoenix 98

Apr. 27 1982: Los Angeles 115, Phoenix 96

doughboy90650 · Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 11:13 pm Post subject:

Was the finals that's probably the fifth significant of those five titles in the 80's.

1985 - finally ended C's curse
1988 - went back to back. Hasn't been done in a while
1987 - beat C's again. Baby hook.
1980 - first of Showtime era. Magic with 42/15/7. Wilkes huge as well
1982 - a title but doesn't trump the other 4.

TheKing23 · Starting Rotation Joined: 27 Jun 2014 Posts: 299

What a coincidence I'm watching game 6 right now at the airport