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The 1981 NBA Championship season was a memorable one for the Boston Celtics. The team had finished the regular season with a record of 62-20 and clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics were led by Larry Bird, who had just completed his rookie year in the league.
Bird had already made a name for himself as a star player, and he continued to impress throughout the playoffs. In the first round, the Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls in three games, with Bird averaging 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. In the second round, they faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that featured the likes of Julius Erving and Moses Malone. Despite the tough competition, the Celtics managed to come out on top, winning the series in seven games. Bird put up an impressive 23.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in the series.
The Eastern Conference Finals saw the Celtics face off against the defending champions, the Washington Bullets. The Celtics won the series in five games, clinching their spot in the NBA Finals. Bird continued to dominate, averaging 20.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game in the series.
The NBA Finals pitted the Celtics against the Houston Rockets, who had finished the regular season with a record of just 40-42. Despite their mediocre regular season, the Rockets managed to make it all the way to the Finals, thanks in part to the strong play of Moses Malone. The Celtics, however, were just too much for the Rockets to handle.
In Game 1 of the series, the Celtics took control early and never looked back, winning 98-95. Bird led the way with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Game 2 was much closer, but the Celtics managed to pull out a 92-90 victory, with Bird once again leading the way with 19 points and 21 rebounds.
Game 3 was held in Houston, and the Rockets were determined to defend their home court. They managed to pull off a 106-104 victory in a nail-biter of a game. Malone had a stellar performance, scoring 31 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Bird had another impressive game, with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
In Game 4, the Celtics bounced back with a vengeance, winning 91-86. Bird once again led the way, putting up 27 points and 13 rebounds. Game 5 was played in Houston, and the Rockets once again managed to win on their home court, with a final score of 111-96. Malone was dominant once again, scoring 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Bird had another strong game, with 28 points and 14 rebounds.
With the series tied at 3-3, Game 7 was held in Boston. The Celtics came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a 20-point lead in the first half. The Rockets managed to make a comeback in the second half, but it was too little too late. The Celtics won the game 102-91 and clinched the NBA Championship. Bird had yet another incredible game, with 27 points and 13 rebounds.
Bird was named the Finals MVP, averaging 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. He became just the third rookie in NBA history to be named Finals MVP, joining the likes of Magic Johnson and Willis Reed.
The 1981 Celtics were an incredibly talented team, and they proved it by winning the NBA Championship. In addition to Bird, the team featured players like Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Cedric Maxwell. The Celtics’ dominance continued throughout the 1980s, as they won two more championships in 1984 and 1986.