Continuing today’s theme of pluming the depths of Laker bitterness, we next move to the mind of Byron Scott. Even when Magic Johnson and Big Game James Worthy were big enough to rise above the pettiness that has often marked purple’s side of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, we have seen that the same could not be said for Byron Scott.
A few months ago, I retold the story of the closely contested Eastern Conference Playoff game where Bird banked in a 15-foot, left-handed runner, prompting Johnson and Worthy, who were watching the game in their hotel room, to stand up and commence trading high-fives. Byron Scott sat by solemn, sullen, and motionless.
Depending on when you ask me, Bill Walton (aka “the Mountain Man”) is my all-time favorite Boston Celtic. He did a little bit of everything, and he did it at an extremely high level. Based primarily on his contributions, the 1985-86 Boston Celtics went from being a Chevrolet with a chance to do some damage deep into the playoffs to a Rolls Royce that earned a place at the table with the greatest teams of all time.
Even though he only played one year for the Celtics (yes, I know he played a few games in 1987, but I try and forget those games), that one year represented the best nine months of my Celtics fanhood.
Like the current player on the Celtics roster who wears the number 5, Bill Walton wasn’t afraid to talk a little smack to the opponent. The Celtics played the Lakers twice during the 1985-86 regular season, and won both games handily, forcing Magic Johnson after the second game to concede the obvious: “The Boston Celtics are just the better team this year.”
Walton owned Jabbar in both contests (I don’t have time to link to the game summaries right now, but they can be found on this blog in the January time-frame). The best part of both victories was the joy Walton shared with the Lakers in reminding them after just about every basket he made and every shot he rejected that Walton had given the Lakers first crack at his services the summer before, only to be politely shown the door by Laker management.
“I’ve seen your X-rays, Bill.” Jerry West intoned (Wow. Now that we now a little bit more about Jerry West, you gotta wonder what methods of self-flagellation he undertook watching Walton clean-up on opponents that entire season?).
Walton played more than 100 games—exhibition, regular season, and playoffs—in 1985-86, after never having played more than 67 in any prior season and having missed four and a half seasons due to injury. Unfortunately, the Big Red Head broke his foot riding a stationary bike in August of 1986, and that injury basically ended his career.
But it didn’t end the banter.
Whenever the Los Angeles media asked the Lakers players if they cared to comment on rumors regarding Bill Walton’s possible return to the Celtics in 1987 or 1988, Byron Scott always referred to Walton as “Dr. Shoals,” the brand name for a line of foot-related products. The rest of the Lakers began following suit.
Making fun of a player’s chronic health problems.
Amazing.
Clearly, the bitterness experienced by Pat Riley and Jerry West in the 1960s had been passed on to the next generation of Lakers.
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