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The fans have voted and we've reached the conference finals in our quest to determine the NBA's all-time greatest roster. In the East, Michael Jordan and the all-time Bulls held off a tough Pistons squad. In the West, it's Magic and friends against the Rockets, led by a front line of Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and Elvin Hayes.
What happens next? Who advances to the Finals? Check out the rosters and place your votes. In the meantime, let's imagine how the games play out ...
Eastern Conference finals: Celtics vs. Bulls
Anticipation was already high for the epic Jordan-Bird duel, but things reached a fever pitch before Game 7 when Bill Russell stiffed the mandatory pregame media session and was fined $50,000 by commissioner David Stern. Not to be outdone, Dennis Rodman made sure he did appear, and did so in a Vera Wang gown that he said cost more than Russell's fine.
Though Vegas installed the 16-time champion Celtics as 8-point favorites, the Bostons appeared anything but early on when the strategy of putting Cousy on Jordan backfired mightily. Jordan turned it into a circus, driving past Cousy as if he were a statue in satin shorts -- which, essentially, he was. Cousy had trouble on the offensive end with a harassing Jerry Sloan, and the Bulls, behind Jordan's 15 first-quarter points, led 28-20. Reggie Theus not only scored eight first-quarter points, he offered to help Cousy with fashion tips.
"I can get you beyond crew cuts and Chuck Taylors," Theus told Cousy during one TV timeout.
The Celtics spent the second quarter working it inside to Russell, McHale and Parish. Horace Grant found himself frustrated by the long-armed baseline jumpers from McHale, his goggles fogged in frustration. Though Jo Jo White found his assist mojo, it was Larry Bird who remained relatively quiet, defensed well by Jordan. No. 23 continued to carry the Bulls -- who could stop him? -- with another 10 in the second quarter. Jordan had 25, Bird just 8, but the Bulls' halftime lead was only 52-48.
Back in Atlanta during halftime, Charles Barkley on TNT opined that Jordan was the best player on the court. "Better than Bird, better than Russell," quoth the Round Mound. "If anybody's lighting a cigar tonight, it'll be from Jordan's humidor."
Despite being harassed by one of the NBA's all-time greatest defenders in Jordan, and contested for every rebound by Rodman, Bird exploded in the third. He created shots from nowhere, and followed shots from everywhere, nearly scraping sprinkler heads on the ceiling with his arc. Jordan, now double-teamed, cooled off, and Bird's 22 third-quarter points gave him 30 heading into the final period. Jordan had 31. Tie ballgame, 80-80.
The fourth quarter was magic. When Bulls rushed to Bird, he turned on his assist charm, and fed Parish or McHale down low. Buckets. When Celtics rushed to Jordan, he located Scottie Pippen for jumpers from the wing or slashing moves to the bucket.
With 10 seconds left it was 108-all. Celtics' ball.
Cousy inbounded to Bird, who drove to the right baseline with Jordan in his hip pocket. Falling to his right, almost out of bounds, Bird arced it high, and ... yes ... through the net with 5.2 seconds left. His 41st and 42nd points.
Time out on the floor.
Bulls' ball. Jordan, with 42 points of his own, takes the inbound from Bob Love. He's at the top of the key. Tongue wagging. Four ... three ... he drives past Havlicek and down the lane ... two ...
He has liftoff ...
One second ...
... and lofts a jumper while falling to his right ...
And ... and ...
It's blocked.
Blocked!
Clean block!
The ball spins harmlessly away, bouncing into a mass of Celtics fans as they rush the court to mob their green-jerseysed man in the middle -- Russell, with his 10th and final block of the night.
Celtics 110, Bulls 108.
Western Conference finals: Lakers vs. Rockets
Things start on an awkward note when Shaq tells reporters before Game 7 that he refuses to continue playing on the same team as Kobe.
"Could Superman play on the same team as Lex Luthor?" Shaq says. "Trade me to Houston."
The Rockets reply quickly. "We're set at center with Hakeem and Moses," said Rockets coach Bill Fitch. "How about we swing a deal for Kobe?"
The word from Pat Riley came swiftly to Shaq and Kobe: "You two will get along, and you two will be winners. No time for crybabies. Time to be men. Time to kick ass. Time to summon your inner testosterone ..."
"Coach," said Magic Johnson, grinning broadly, "we get it. Let's play ball."
If it looks like a mismatch on paper, that's because it is. The Rockets' backcourt of Calvin Murphy and Kenny Smith has no answer for Magic and Kobe. It goes like this: Magic drives. If he likes what he sees, he either scores on a finger-roll or, if approached by Malone or Hakeem, dishes to Shaq or Kareem. If denied a drive, Magic kicks it out to Kobe. If all else fails, Magic finds James Worthy, who slashes to the hoop for his own finger-roll. Shaq puts his gluteus maximus into Moses down low if there's a miss, and the Lakers are off to the races.
When Magic tires, here comes Jerry West off the bench.
"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" says a gassed Mike Newlin, trying to keep up.
"NBA silhouette logo," says West, striking that very pose as he drives to the bucket for his own layup.
By halftime, Magic already has a double-double -- 10 points and 10 assists. Kobe, Shaq, Elgin, James and Kareem each has 10, also. The Lakes post 65 in the first half, and despite Sam Cassell's flurry of 3s off the bench in the second quarter, the Angelenos lead by a dozen, 65-53.
Back in the TNT studios in Atlanta at halftime, Barkley opined on the blowout. "If Moses said 'Fo, Fo and Fo,'" Barkley says, "he must have been talking about his points, rebounds and fouls."
After the Lakers build an 18-point lead, the Rockets take advantage of complacency. Hakeem begins hitting the fallaway baseline J over a relaxed Worthy, and Elvin Hayes works inside on a bored Kareem, who finds himself so content with the lead, he text-messages his agent during timeouts, asking him if he believes Charlie Parker or John Coltrane was the better sax player.
The Rockets close it to six points at the close of the third on a halfcourt heave by Tracy McGrady, but it only serves to inspire the Lakers. The fourth quarter is more of the same: Magic drives, Magic dishes to option A (Kobe), option B (Worthy), option C (Kareem or Shaq). When Magic tires, West and Baylor take over. The Rockets are no match. Ralph Sampson fouls out on an Elgin putback. Gail Goodrich dribbles out the clock, and the Lakers roll, 120-102, eyeing their place in the Finals.
"Magic," Shaq shouts in the celebratory locker room. "I misplaced my Rolex. What time is it?"
Magic grins.
"Showtime, baby," he says.
E-mail Brian Murphy at page2murphy@yahoo.com.
