Celtics-Cavs: A Look Back To The 1992 Playoffs
Courtesy of North Station Sports
Celts and Cavs: Past and Present
With the 2010 Celtics-Cavs Eastern Conference semi-finals series now heading back to Boston, many observers are calling this a potential “rematch series” for Cleveland, with the Celtics having ousted the – at the time- defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers from the playoffs in the 2008 conference semis.
That 2008 series was a grueling 7-game battle that ended with Paul Pierce outdueling Lebron James in an epic Game 7 at the new Garden en route to eventually leading the C’s -along with the new Big Three- to Banner 17.
The truth is, however, (no pun intended on “The Truth”) that 2008 series was not the first time the Celts and Cavs had ever met in the playoffs. In fact, it wasn’t even the first time the two teams had met in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. In 2008, the Celtics were actually the ones seeking revenge for their predecessors against Cleveland. Revenge, for a 1992 playoffs series loss in 7 games, that also closed out the original Big Three Era and saw Larry Legend play his last games as a Celtic and in the NBA.
Like the series this year, the Celtics traveled to Cleveland for Games 1 and 2 back in 1992, dropping the first game and taking the 2nd to head into a Game 3 at the Garden all knotted up at one win a piece.
(Funny side note: Everyone bickers about the playoffs scheduling layout for this current series with the Cavs -game Saturday; game Monday; three days off; game Friday- but that has been the 2nd round format for scheduling since the television explosion in the mid-80’s. Ironically, those were the same exact days of the week with corresponding games as the Celts-Cavs series in ’92!)
1991-1992 Celtics
The 91-92 Boston Celtics were not terribly different from the 09-10 version of the C’s. Coming into the season, we knew we were old, but we were battle tested, and –if healthy- primed to make one last run at a title with the Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish intact.
Although the Big Three were still, well the Big Three, age and injuries had begun to take their toll on their bodies, and a new, younger superstar had emerged as the “go-to” man in Boston.
Reggie Lewis, a product of nearby Northeastern and a member of the greatest HS basketball team that ever existed (screw Lebron’s St-Mary’s- St.Vincent squad; look up Lewis’ teams during the early/mid-80’s at Dunbar HS in Baltimore. Muggsy Bogues was a sixth man on those teams for crying out loud! That’s how stacked they were), played his fifth season for the C’s and was at the pinnacle of his career. Lewis led the Celtics in scoring in 91-92 at a clip of 20.8 ppg. He also averaged 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 blocks and was the team’s most athletic player. Like Rajon Rondo this year, many fans and critics wondered alike if the 91-92 Celtics should be Reggie’s team or Larry’s…
Bird finished the season a hair behind Lewis in scoring at 20.2 ppg. He led the team in assists at 6.8 apg, and also in rebounding at 9.6 rpg. Not bad for an old man with a gimpy back that couldn’t even sit in a seat (he had to lay belly-up on the floor when not playing and on the team-plane when traveling) because the pain was so intolerable.
McHale made an argument for himself as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 91-92, averaging 13.9 ppg and 5.9 boards off the bench. The award would be won by Detlef Schrempf of Indiana, however.
The ageless “Chief” meanwhile checked in at a solid 14.1 ppg and 8.9 RPG (very similar to KG’s production this season). Parish was the lone member of the Big Three that seemed to have beaten father time, and still looked, played, and felt relatively the same as he did in the mid-80’s.
Veteran PG John Bagley, also a local product out of Boston College, was the team’s playmaker and 2nd in the team in assists at 6.6 apg. He was flanked by Sherman Douglas (7.3 ppg and 4.1 apg) and 1991 slam dunk king Dee Brown (11.7 ppg and 5.3 apg) as his backups at the point.
Other contributing members of the 91-92 C’s were: big man Ed Pinckney -acquired from the Kings along with Joe Kleine in a trade for Danny Ainge and Brad Lohaus three years earlier- at 7.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg; swingman Kevin Gamble (13.5 ppg and a dogged off the ball defender, much like TA this season ), Brian Shaw (10.3 ppg, traded on 1/10/92 to acquire Douglas), and rookie Rick Fox (8.0 ppg).
The team was coached by Chris Ford, a former player and assistant for the Celtics on the championship teams of the 1980’s and forever the answer to the popular trivia question: Can you name the first NBA player to hit a 3-point FG in a game?
The Regular Season
The Celtics somewhat stumbled out of the gate, and by mid-March found themselves with a very modest 36-30 record, well off the pace of the New York Knicks for the Atlantic Division lead.
“In the early 90’s we used to really try and turn things up after the all star break,” McHale recently told Bill Simmons on a BS report podcast. “We knew we couldn’t sustain that level of play for an entire season, but we wanted to make sure we would peak by the spring and make our best run possible.”
And peak they did. On the NBC game of the week on Sunday March 15, hosting the eventual Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers, the Celtics began to make their run.
Larry Legend, who only played in 45 games that season while battling back injuries once again turned the Garden into his personal playground like he had so many times before. Bird erupted for 49 points , 14 rebs, 12 asst, and 4 steals in leading the C’s to a thrilling 152-148 2OT victory. Bird not only out-dueled Clyde Drexler (41-8-11), but also hit an improbable twisting and turning 3-pointer to send the game into OT.
That win triggered a 15-1 finish by the C’s to close out the regular season, and with a 92-89 victory over Detroit on 4/15 (coupled with a New York 95-94 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on the same day) also secured the Atlantic Division title and the 2 seed in the East. (Back in ‘92, there were only two divisions per conference, and by winning your division you were guaranteed no less than a 2 seed. Had the Knicks won the Atlantic Division, the Celtics would have been the four seed which meant a date with Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 2nd round, who were coming off a 67-15 regular season and in the middle of the first of Jordan’s two 3-peats)
1991-1992 Cavaliers
The Cavs' Mark Price
The 91-92 Cavaliers were a very good team. They finished at 57-25, tying the Trail Blazers for the 2nd best overall record in the NBA behind only Jordan’s Bulls.
They were led by a pair of 3rd Team All NBA players that season.
Center Brad Daugherty paced the Cavs with 21.5 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Mark Price, meanwhile, was one of the great shooters of that era and came in at 17.3 ppg to go along with 7.4 apg for the year. Price also finished the season with a 95% FT percentage, and would later go on to become Rondo’s off-season free throw coach in the summer of 2009.
A supporting cast of former all star Larry Nance (17.0 ppg & 8.3 rpg), Craig Ehlo (12.3 ppg), Hot Rod Williams (11.9 ppg & 7.6 rpg), rookie Terrell Brandon (7.4 ppg & 3.9 apg), and a pair of future NBA GM’s: Danny Ferry (5.1 ppg) and sniper Steve Kerr (6.6 ppg) rounded out a well balanced Cleveland attack.
Head-to-Head
During the regular season, the Celtics and Cavs met four times, with the C’s finding the upper hand in three of those contests.
1/3/92 @ Boston- Cavaliers 111, Celtics 100
1/20/92 @ Cleveland- Celtics 107, Cavaliers 102
3/18/92 @ Boston- Celtics 96, Cavaliers 94
4/7/92 @ Cleveland- Celtics 100, Cavaliers 97
The Playoffs
Even though Cleveland won six more games than Boston during the regular season, the Celtics secured the two seed by virtue of winning the Atlantic Division crown. (Although the team with the better record, Cleveland, would have home-court advantage when they would meet in the 2nd round). This set up a 2 vs 7 mathcup for the C’s against the Indiana Pacers, who a year earlier had stretched us out to a 5-game first round slug-fest (remember, back in the early 90’s the first round was best-of-five). It took a gutsy performance from Larry Legend in Game 5 of the ’91 playoffs to come back from an in-game concussion and push the Celts to the series win. (I don’t need to describe the game. It is now part of NBA legacy and I know we all know everything about it!)
In ’92 however, the Pacers would offer little resistance for Boston, as we would sweep them in three games.
Meanwhile, the three-seeded Cavaliers had no trouble with the six seed New Jersey Nets closing them out in four games to set up an Eastern Conference semifinals showdown with the Celtics.
Game 1 – Sat. May 5, 1992 @ Cleveland
The Celtics looked old and overwhelmed in Game 1 of the series as Cleveland raced ahead 1-0 in the series with a 101-76 victory. Bird’s back once again had him sidelined and he was a DNP for the game, and in his absence Cavalier big men Daugherty and Nance had their way with Parish, McHale, and Pinckney.
Daugherty led the way for the Cavs with 26 points and 17 rebounds, while Nance put up 24 points of his own. Price got into the act as well with 16 points, 7 dimes, and 5 steals while completely controlling the tempo of the game from the get-go.
For the C’s Kevin Gamble led the team with 24 points, while Reggie Lewis added 18.
Game 2 – Mon. May 4, 1992 @ Cleveland
Reggie and Dee
Game 2 became somewhat of a statement game for the C’s as they did not want to be outplayed as badly as they were in Game 1 and set the tone as such for the entire series.
It was a very similar mindset that this year’s Celtics had going into their Game 2 with Cleveland last night. After being brutalized in the 2nd half of Game 1, the 2010 C’s knew they had to send a message in Game 2, and emphatically did that Monday. The ’92 Celts were dominated start to finish in Game 1, and knew they had to show up in a big way for Game 2 if they were going to make a series of this.
The Chief did just that, making sure everyone knew he and the rest of the Celtics still had something left in the tank. Parish took it to Daugherty early and often en route to 27 points and 8 boards, and Lewis kept Cleveland off balance with a combination of slashes and mid-range jumpers for 26 points as the Celtics evened the series with a 104-98 win on the road.
Bird once again did not go with the bad back, but John Bagley kept the ball moving to the tune of 11 assists (to go with his 11 points), and the C’s had just enough to hold off a late Cleveland run led by Daugherty (22 points; 9 rebs) and Price (20 points; 8 asst).
Game 3 –Fri. May 8, 1992 @ Boston
Reggie Lewis
The Boston Garden was rocking for Game 3. Heading into the game, there were rumors that Bird might try to give it a go, but team doctors and trainers refused to let him play. His back was still in that bad of shape, and despite the fact that he couldn’t walk, he desperately wanted in.
Enter Reggie Lewis. Before the game, Reggie promised to be more aggressive for the rest of the series, and in Game 3 he was just that– notching 36 points with 7 assists. It felt like Lewis was responsible, in some way, for every Boston bucket that night. The Celts ended up taking a fiercely contested 110-107 victory and 2-1 series lead.
The C’s also got a huge effort from their entire frontcourt: McHale (22 points- 9 rebs), Pinckney (17 points- 13 rebs), and Parish (17 boards) all played exceptionally well for Boston.
Mark Price, once again, paced Cleveland with 27 points and 10 assists in defeat. Brad Daugherty –although outplayed collectively by the Boston bigs- did manage 22 points with 11 rebounds.
Game 4 – Sun. May 10, 1992 @ Boston
This would end up being the pivotal game of the series. A win would put Boston up 3-1, with the chance to close things out at home for Game 6 (providing they didn’t end it in Cleveland for Game5!). A loss, would even the series up and relinquish the coveted home-court advantage back to the Cavs.
What ensued was 48 minutes of pure playoffs basketball intensity; and oh yeah, the return of Larry Legend!
Bird finally got clearance from his doctors to play, but was limited to 17 minutes off the bench. It wasn’t a classic Larry Bird night either as the rust and injuries showed. Larry could only muster 4 points on 1 of 5 shooting with 2 rebs and 3 assists for the afternoon.
Reggie Lewis, however, was another story. Continuing with his promise for more aggression, Reggie scorched the Cavs for 42 points, 6 asst, and 5 steals. If not for Larry Nance catching fire himself for Cleveland (32 points on 13 of 16 shooting) the Celts would have put this one away early.
As fate would have it though, the Celtics trailed 114-112 with only seconds remaining in regulation. Coach Ford would design a play that everyone knew had to be going to Lewis given the afternoon he was having. The C’s in-bounded the ball to Bird, Larry pump faked his man, drove past him, went around the basket and tossed up a lay-up. The Garden was about to absolutely explode as we had witnessed this from Larry Legend in these precise moments so many times in the past. Only this time, the ball rolled out and Cleveland won, 114-112. Series tied.
The aftermath was ugly. NBA nation, and even some in Boston, wondered aloud if the C’s were better off without Bird. How, everyone wanted to know, could Ford conceivably draw up the last play of the game for Larry and not Reggie?
What could have been a series wrenching victory for the C’s, now had them reeling and heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.
Game 5- Wed. May 13, 1992 @ Cleveland
Perhaps still out of synch from the crushing Game 4 loss on Sunday, the Celtics never really showed up for Game 5, and dropped a 114-98 decision.
Craig Ehlo ended up making a cameo appearance for the Cavs nailing 8 of 9 shots for 20 points and 13 assists. Daugherty was his usual self with 28 points – 9 boards and the Cavs went up 3-2 for the seires on the C’s.
For Boston, Reggie Lewis once again led the way with 27 points, and Bird coming off the bench, began to find a little more of a rhythm, hitting 6 of 10 shots for 13 points and 5 rebs.
Game 6- Fri. May 15, 1992 @ Boston
Larry Bird
It was widely believed at the time that injuries had taken their toll on Bird, and regardless of how the Celtics ended their season, Bird was retiring after the year. With that in mind, Game 6 at Boston –potentially- was his last game in the NBA.
It’s on now. Larry Legend, for all his greatness, had been very un-Larry like the past two games of the series. Critics everywhere were calling him washed up and saying he had nothing left.
It is said that once past their prime, every great heavyweight boxer has one last meaningful fight in them. One fight, where they can still compete with anyone in the world, and for that one night dominate the sport like they once had.
For Larry Bird, that night was May 15, 1992.
Taking his rightful place back in the starting line-up, Larry made sure his career, and the Celtics season would not be ending just yet. Controlling every aspect of the game with his presence alone, Bird took all of the life out of Cleveland with his uncanny court vision, pinpoint shooting, and overall control of the game. He finished the night with 16 points, 14 assists, and 6 boards; and the Celtics cruised to a 122-91 win, once again tying the series up and sending it back to Cleveland for a do-or-die Game 7!
Lewis was spectacular as usual putting in 26 points, and McHale shone beside Bird for one last time with a 22 and 6 night.
Game 7- Sun. May 17, 1992 @ Cleveland
The stage was set for a dog-fight. But whether it was, the emotions from Game 6, old age and injuries finally catching up to them, or just the simple fact that Cleveland was better this particular Sunday afternoon, the Celtics had nothing to offer.
Behind 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists from Brad Daugherty Cleveland won the game and the series, 122-104.
It wasn’t a particularly ceremonious closing to Bird’s career and the end of the original Big Three’s reign together. In Jackie Macmullan’s book “When the Game was Ours” Bird reflects on the moment:
“I remember thinking, well I guess this is it as I walked back to the tunnel and looked around. Is this what it is supposed to feel like?”
Probably, not Larry. But in 2008 Paul Pierce would get your back for Cleveland having ended your career that way.
Post-Script
As a fan, the 1992 series against Cleveland always bothered me. I didn’t feel like the Celtics were done after the ’87 loss in the Finals to the Lakers. How could the greatest team ever (’86 Celtics) not win again?
A lot of things happened over the ensuing years, whether it be the death of Len Bias, the Pistons catching us in ’88, Bird’s surgery in ’89, effing up against Ewing in ’90, etc… Whatever it was, the chips just didn’t seem to fall the Celtics way and it seemed we couldn’t quite make one last run with the Big Three.
But I thought we had a chance at that in 1992. We had finished the regular season strong at 15-1. We smoked the Pacers in the 1st round. The team was showing they could win with or without Larry. We were deep with a good mix of young talent and veterans that knew how to win. If the Big Three had one more run in them, I thought this was the team that needed to be built around them in order for that to happen.
I liked our match-up against Cleveland as well. Sure, they had home-court advantage, but the ’92 Celtics were a savvy group that knew how to win on the road. Plus, we had already won in Cleveland twice during the regular season, and overall beaten them 3 out of 4. Despite the 57 wins, the Cavs just didn’t scare me.
Furthermore, the Bulls as invincible as they were, were coming off a brutal round of “Riley ball” against the Knicks in the other Eastern Conference semifinal series. John Starks was showing that he did not fear Jordan (a year later he would dunk over the entire Bulls team in the Eastern Conf Finals); and Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, and Xavier McDaniel were being so physical with the Bulls that even the Pistons Bad Boys’ teams would have to blush.
The fact that the Knicks extended the Bulls to 7 games (against arguably Jordan’s best Bulls team) encouraged me a little for a Celtics-Bulls eastern Conf Finals matchup.
If nothing else, I wanted there to be some link between the great Celtics teams of the 80’s and the great Bulls teams of the 90’s (no, the Celtics sweep of a 32-win Bulls team in ’86 does not count). But the cards just were not meant to fall that way.
……………………………
Let’s hope in this case, despite some similarities between the ’92 C’s and the 2010 Celtics, history does not repeat itself.
So, as we head into Game 3 this Friday night in Boston, not only is the 2010 Eastern Conf semifinal series between the Celtics and Cavs tied up at a game apiece, but the playoffs history between the two teams is also dead locked at one series each. Here’s to us winning the rubber match series this year!
Nick Gelso covers the Boston Celtics and NBA for Boston Sports Then and Now. You can check out more of his great work on his blog: North Station Sports.
Loading ...