Neither Age, Nor Injury, Nor Exhaustion Could Keep Them from the Finals

1986-87 Boston Celtics

Nothing seems to add correctly for the Detroit Pistons. Do the numbers once. Do the numbers twice. Do the numbers a dozen times. The final result still seems out of whack.

"Which players were supposed to be injured?" the Detroit Pistons have to ask as they trail, 2-0, in the best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference finals.

"Kevin McHale and Robert Parish and, of course, Danny Ainge and Bill Walton and Scott Wedman, who have not played."

"McHale is supposed to be injured?"

"Broken bone in his foot. Injured ankle. Twisted knee."

"Robert Parish?"

"Ankle the size of a junior high basketball."

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