Larry v. Magic: Game 14 (part 6)

1984 NBA Finals Game 7

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary

Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage

DJ's Defense on Magic Helped Sway the Series

Eight of those 15 banners have come at the expense of the Lakers, who have never beaten the Celtics in a championship final.

This series saw mistakes by Los Angeles and a key adjustment by Coach K. C. Jones of the Celtics make a difference.

Before Game 1, the expected matchup at big guard was between Dennis Johnson, 6-4, and Earvin (Magic) Johnson, the 6-8 playmaker who makes the Lakers run.

Instead, the 6-2 Gerald Henderson played Magic Johnson. The Lakers ran at will in the opener, Magic had 18 points and 10 assists, and Los Angeles had a victory that erased the Celtics' homecourt advantage.

In the second-guessing that followed the loss, Red Auerbach's words were recalled after he had acquired Dennis Johnson from the Phoenix Suns in a trade for Rick Robey last year. "Now we have a guy who can play Magic," the Celtic president and general manager had said,

Then why was Henderson playing Magic?

Coach Jones did not waver from that matchup until halftime of the fourth game, with the Lakers leading the series, 2-1, and the game by 14 points.

During the intermission, Jones gave Henderson and Dennis Johnson the choice of switching matchups. Dennis Johnson took the challenge and Magic Johnson and the Laker running game were never the same.The Lakers got only two fast-break baskets in the second half of game four before the overtime. Harassed by Dennis Johnson, Magic also made a bad pass that led to the extra session and the 129-125 victory that sent the series back to Boston tied, 2-2, and that regained for Boston the home- court edge.

Larry Bird, who was voted unanimously as the series' most valuable player, took note of another major reason for his team's success.

A Big Play

"We lucked out in the first two games we won," said Bird, who had 192 points, 98 rebounds, 25 assists and 15 steals for the series. "Gerald's steal in Game 2 definitely was the biggest play of the series. If he had not made that steal, we would have been down, 2-0, and it would have been very tough to come back on their court."

Henderson stole a cross-court pass from James Worthy, intended for Byron Scott, and scored on a lay-in that tied the game, 113-113, with 15 seconds left in regulation time. Then came a big mistake by Magic Johnson, who dribbled away the final seconds of regulation without the Lakers getting off a shot. The Celtics won in overtime.

While Bird got the job done for the Celtics, Magic failed when the Lakers needed him and Dennis Johnson was the chief reason. In the deciding game, he slowed Magic's pace to the midcourt line and then dropped off and dared him to hit from the outside. Magic did not, shooting only 5 for 14.

"Boston harassed Magic particularly in the last three games," Kurt Rambis, the Laker power forward, said. "Dennis Johnson did a good job making him turn, making it much more different to scan the court the way he can do when he is running free."

During the trophy presentation, Auerbach, who has been involved in all 15 titles either as coach or general manager, chided those who had made reference to a Laker dynasty.

"Dynasty, what dynasty?" said Auerbach. "The only dynasty is right here in Boston."