1986 nba finals – Syndication Server

On this day: Celtics win Banner 16 vs. Rockets; Larry Bird signs

On this day, the Celtics won Banner 16 by defeating the Rockets in Game 6 of the 1986 NBA Finals; they also signed Larry Bird in 1979.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise won its 16th banner in 1986 as it defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. It would be the third title for the trio of small forward Larry Bird, big man Robert Parish and power forward Kevin McHale, and the last for Boston until 2008.

The collection of talent on the roster is nearly unparalleled, with four first-ballot Hall of Famers: Bird, McHale, Parish, and super sixth man Bill Walton. The team also had veteran point guard Dennis Johnson and shooting guard (and future team president) Danny Ainge on the roster.

The Celtics finished the season 67-15 record and one home loss — one of the most dominant teams in all of NBA history.

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Celtics HoFer Kevin McHale regrets not being able to play Los Angeles Lakers in 1986 NBA Finals

“I really wanted a piece of the Lakers in ’86,” he recalled.

It isn’t just fans of the Boston Celtics who relish the idea of facing off with the Los Angeles Lakers — back in 1986 when the Celtics ended up drawing the Houston Rockets as a finals opponent, Boston Hall of Fame big man Kevin McHale was as disappointed as many fans were they wouldn’t be playing Los Angeles. “I was disappointed somewhat that Houston beat the Lakers,” said McHale in the ’86 Celtics Interviews via Basketball Network’s Virgil Villanueva.

“I really wanted a piece of the Lakers in ’86,” he added. “Once Houston got there, I never thought for a second that Houston could beat us. I looked at that team and just said there’s just no way.”

“I knew the Lakers could do this and this and this, and I thought Houston could do this”, said McHale.

Celtics ON FIRE + EXCLUSIVE Interview with Lakers Legend Derek Fisher + … https://t.co/dARr8qipAB via @YouTube

— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) November 8, 2023

“They’re not going to hit us player for player or play for play or toughness for toughness,” recalled the Celtics great.

“It was an inevitability in my mind that we were just going to win. I would have much rather beaten the Lakers, but Houston was there, so we were going to beat them.”

And beat them they did.

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Ralph Sampson breaks down iconic Boston Celtics-Houston Rockets fight in 1986 playoffs

Rockets star Ralph Sampson, a former NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer, played an instrumental role in that game.

It was one of the most memorable moments in NBA history. The fight in a 1986 postseason matchup between the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets was the most infamous brawl in NBA history until it was supplanted by the Malice in the Palace many years later.

Rockets star Ralph Sampson, a former NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer, played an instrumental role in that game, which is remembered as one of the most intense and physical playoff games ever played. Alongside Hakeem Olajuwon, Sampson helped lead the Rockets to a hard-fought victory over the Celtics.

To hear his account of that famous altercation from the other side, check out Sampson’s interview on the CLNS Media “Cedric Maxwell” podcast with the show’s eponymous host in the video embedded below.