In the years Larry Bird/Celtics won 3 NBA titles--did they knock off a defending champ?

Answer 1

Larry Bird’s Celtics had three championships
None of them were back to back.
Not one of those playoff title runs did Bird’s Celtics
knock off a defending NBA Champion.


Tim Duncan’s Spurs have four championships.
None of them back to back.
However, those Spurs DID knock off a defending
NBA Champion during their playoff title runs.
Twice!

In 2003, the Lakers (Champs 2000-2001-2002) were going for an unprecedented ‘four-peat’ but ‘twas not to be. Timmy D and the Spurs knocked them out in the WC semis 4 games to 2.


In 2005, the Pistons were going for a repeat of their
2004 Championship. However, they ran into Tim
Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. Spurs knocked them out
in the Finals 4 games to 3.

So, no the Celtics did NOT knock off a defending NBA Champion in the years the Celtics won a title (1981-1984-1986).

Tweety: I stand corrected and you are absolutely correct. I don't know where my brain was when I made that stupid mistake. Thank you for pointing out the error.

Answer 2

No.

In 1981, they defeated Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston in the playoffs...the Lakers were the defending champs at that time, but they were eliminated by Houston in the first round mini-series (2 games to 1) of the Western Conference playoffs.


In 1984, they defeated the Washington Bullets, the Knicks, the Bucks and the Lakers in the playoffs...the 76ers were the defending champs at that time, but they were knocked out by the New Jersey Nets in a stunning first-round upset.

In 1986, they defeated Chicago, Atlanta, Milwaukee and the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. The Lakers were the defending champs at that time, but were knocked out by Houston in the Western Conference Finals.

In both of their finals against Houston, the Celtics defeated the team that knocked out the defending champs (Lakers, in both cases)... but the Celtics themselves never defeated the defending champs in a head-to-head matchup.

If the 86 Celtics had the opportunity to have played the Lakers in the NBA finals, the Celtics probably would have won that series, and probably would have won it fairly easily. For one season, the 86 Celtics were the best team of the 80s (or 90s, or 2000's)

btw, re: a previous answer referring to a "four peat" as being "unprecedented"... pay no attention to that comment... that person has obviously never seen a list of NBA champions, and obviously doesn't have much of a clue about NBA history...If he had, he'd know that the Celtics won not four, not five, not six, not seven, but eight titles in a row. He must think the Bulls hold the record with 3 in a row, hence the "unprecedented four peat" comment.

Answer 3

NO. In '81 they faced Houston and the defending champs were the Lakers (1980). In '84 they squared with the Lakers while the defending champs were the Sixers (1983). Lastly, in '86 they again faced Houston and the defending champs were the Lakers (1985).

Answer 4

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