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Magic in the 1980 NBA Finals.

Publié le 14/05/2013

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Magic in the 1980 NBA Finals. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, star center of the Los Angeles Lakers, sprained his ankle and missed game six of the 1980 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, many observers thought the Lakers did not have a chance to win the game. But rookie guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson lit up the court both offensively and defensively, giving the Lakers new hope. . Magic Johnson in the 1980 NBA Finals The 1980 National Basketball Association (NBA) finals were billed as a matchup between two of the game's greatest all-time players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius "Dr. J" Erving. "No matter what the outcome," Time magazine declared in a preview article, "the 1980 championship will be remembered as the long awaited meeting of the Big Guy and the Doctor." Then a sensational rookie named Earvin "Magic" Johnson stole the show. With Abdul-Jabbar out of game six with an injury, Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists, pacing his team to a 123-107 win that clinched the NBA championship for the Lakers. What made the performance more remarkable was that Johnson, normally the team's starting guard, spent much of the game playing center, Abdul-Jabbar's position. "Everybody thought the guy who thought up the idea was some demented coach," said Lakers coach Paul Westhead, "the kind who reads too many books. But the move to center really wasn't as strange as it seemed. We knew Magic would present problems for them, and he did." Although Johnson later developed into a more polished, complete player, that game on May 17, 1980, was perhaps his greatest single achievement and established him as a special player in his very first season. "You have just witnessed a miracle," said Jerry Buss, the Lakers' owner, "a magical ride by our magical man." Only a year earlier Johnson had occupied basketball's limelight on a different stage. As a sophomore at Michigan State University, Johnson led the Spartans to the collegiate championship. The title game was a much-ballyhooed affair that featured Johnson's Michigan State team against an Indiana State University squad led by forward Larry Bird. Bird and Johnson were the top two college players that season. Johnson, who bypassed his final two years of college to enter the pro draft, was a most unusual player. At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, he possessed the body of a power forward. But his ball-handling skills and ability to run the court made him well-suited to playing point guard, a position usually manned by a small, quick player. The Lakers, who had obtained a first-round draft pick from the Utah Jazz, selected Johnson as the number-one pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Some feared that Johnson was too slow to play guard, that he couldn't shoot well enough to play forward, and that his game was more flash than substance. The Lakers found out quickly, though, that not only was Johnson a terrific guard for the Lakers' fast-paced attack, he was also a tough, hard-working player. "He's like an artist. He creates basketball as he goes along," Westhead said. "We thought he was a movie-star player, but we found out he wears a hard hat. It's like finding a great orthopedic surgeon who can also operate a bulldozer." Nevertheless the 1979-1980 Lakers were the team of center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged 24.8 points per game and won his sixth NBA most valuable player award that season. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 60-22 record and then blitzed through the playoffs into the NBA finals. In the NBA finals they faced the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving, whom the 76ers had signed four years earlier, was coming off his best NBA season, averaging 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. The 76ers' talented and deep lineup also included Darryl Dawkins, Caldwell Jones, Lionel Hollins, Maurice Cheeks, and Bobby Jones. But Erving was the team's marquee player, and the prospect of the swooping Erving against the sky-hooking Abdul-Jabbar whetted the appetites of basketball fans across the country. Abdul-Jabbar racked up 33 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers won game one in Los Angeles, 109-102. Erving responded in game two with 23 points, 7 assists, and 5 blocked shots as the 76ers evened the series with a 107-104 victory. The series flipped back to Philadelphia. The Lakers won game three, 111-101, and the 76ers triumphed in the fourth contest, 105-102. Abdul-Jabbar poured in 40 points in game five, a 108-103 Lakers win that put Los Angeles ahead in the series, 3-2, needing only one win in the final two games to take the championship. However, Abdul-Jabbar sprained his left ankle during the fifth game and was forced to sit out while the series moved back to Philadelphia. It seemed unlikely that without their top scorer and team leader the Lakers could win in Philadelphia. Not anticipating a postgame celebration, the Lakers didn't even bring champagne to Philadelphia. The best they could hope for, it was believed, was to have Abdul-Jabbar back in time for the seventh game in Los Angeles. Johnson had another idea. Westhead drew up a strategy in which Johnson would play center on offense and Jim Chones would play center on defense. Johnson opened the game by jumping center, and for the rest of it he ran the show. He had too much creativity for the Philadelphia defense down low, hitting 14 of 23 shots and 14 of 14 free throws while staying on the court all but one minute. His enthusiasm spread to his teammates, and the Lakers outran and outhustled the 76ers, winning 123-107. "They just played great basketball," said Billy Cunningham, Philadelphia's head coach. "They had to prove they were not a one-man team, and they put on one of the greatest performances I've ever seen." Westhead said, "The trouble for the 76ers tonight was Magic--our magical man, our Houdini. Who would have thought we could win in Philadelphia without Kareem and with Magic playing center." Abdul-Jabbar watched the game on television from his home in Bel Air, California. "The whole thing, it was kind of unreal," he said. "I sweated through the whole second half and after a while, I couldn't listen. I just had to watch it. With just under two minutes to go, I went out in the yard to yell a little bit." After the game, with reporters swarming him, Johnson displayed his charm and personality. "Big Fella," said Johnson into the television microphones, "I did it for you. I know your ankle hurts, but I want you to get up and dance." Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

« Abdul-Jabbar racked up 33 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers won game one in Los Angeles, 109-102.

Erving responded in game two with 23 points, 7 assists,and 5 blocked shots as the 76ers evened the series with a 107-104 victory.

The series flipped back to Philadelphia.

The Lakers won game three, 111-101, and the76ers triumphed in the fourth contest, 105-102.

Abdul-Jabbar poured in 40 points in game five, a 108-103 Lakers win that put Los Angeles ahead in the series, 3-2,needing only one win in the final two games to take the championship. However, Abdul-Jabbar sprained his left ankle during the fifth game and was forced to sit out while the series moved back to Philadelphia.

It seemed unlikely thatwithout their top scorer and team leader the Lakers could win in Philadelphia.

Not anticipating a postgame celebration, the Lakers didn't even bring champagne toPhiladelphia.

The best they could hope for, it was believed, was to have Abdul-Jabbar back in time for the seventh game in Los Angeles. Johnson had another idea.

Westhead drew up a strategy in which Johnson would play center on offense and Jim Chones would play center on defense.

Johnsonopened the game by jumping center, and for the rest of it he ran the show.

He had too much creativity for the Philadelphia defense down low, hitting 14 of 23 shotsand 14 of 14 free throws while staying on the court all but one minute.

His enthusiasm spread to his teammates, and the Lakers outran and outhustled the 76ers,winning 123-107. “They just played great basketball,” said Billy Cunningham, Philadelphia's head coach.

“They had to prove they were not a one-man team, and they put on one of thegreatest performances I've ever seen.” Westhead said, “The trouble for the 76ers tonight was Magic—our magical man, our Houdini.

Who would have thought wecould win in Philadelphia without Kareem and with Magic playing center.” Abdul-Jabbar watched the game on television from his home in Bel Air, California.

“The whole thing, it was kind of unreal,” he said.

“I sweated through the wholesecond half and after a while, I couldn't listen.

I just had to watch it.

With just under two minutes to go, I went out in the yard to yell a little bit.” After the game, with reporters swarming him, Johnson displayed his charm and personality.

“Big Fella,” said Johnson into the television microphones, “I did it foryou.

I know your ankle hurts, but I want you to get up and dance.” Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

All rights reserved.. »

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