Overview
In 1974, the Boston Celtics won their 12th championship in franchise history, posting their 11th straight victory in a Finals appearance. The Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, four games to three, in a best-of-seven series to end the 1973-74 NBA season. The 1974 Finals marked the first time in 7 years the teams with the best records in the Eastern and Western Conferences would play for the championship.
The Celtics knocked off the defending champion New York Knicks to earn a berth in the 1974 Finals. They made their first NBA Finals series appearance since Bill Russell's final season with the team in 1969.
Boston was led by veteran guard John Havlicek, who had already won six championships with the Celtics. Havlicek averaged 22.6 points and 5.9 assists per game during the regular season, but entered the Finals with a postseason average of 27.5 points per game on the strength of a 52 percent shooting average. Another key contributor was big man Dave Cowens, who posted 19 points and 15.7 rebounds per game.
The Bucks had home-court advantage in the Finals after finishing the regular season with the NBA's best record. Milwaukee was only three seasons removed from its last title having won the 1971 championship over the Baltimore Bullets.
Their star center may have changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but there was no change in his game. Abdul-Jabbar was still a dominant force in the paint averaging 27 points and 14.5 rebounds per game during the regular season. Entering the Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had just been named the NBA's most valuable player for the third time in his five years in the league.
Lucius Allen, Abdul-Jabbar's former teammate at UCLA, was the main conduit for getting the ball to the big center during the regular season. However, in March of 1974, Allen suffered a tear to his left medial collateral ligament after slipping on a pile of warm-up jackets while chasing a loose ball. As a result, the Bucks' third-leading scorer was unavailable for the playoffs.
Milwaukee also returned veteran guard Oscar Robertson from its '71 title team. The 35-year-old Robertson was slowing down a bit in his 14th NBA season averaging 12.7 points per game, but he was still Milwaukee's assist leader at 6.4 per game.
The Celtics knocked off the defending champion New York Knicks to earn a berth in the 1974 Finals. They made their first NBA Finals series appearance since Bill Russell's final season with the team in 1969.
Boston was led by veteran guard John Havlicek, who had already won six championships with the Celtics. Havlicek averaged 22.6 points and 5.9 assists per game during the regular season, but entered the Finals with a postseason average of 27.5 points per game on the strength of a 52 percent shooting average. Another key contributor was big man Dave Cowens, who posted 19 points and 15.7 rebounds per game.
The Bucks had home-court advantage in the Finals after finishing the regular season with the NBA's best record. Milwaukee was only three seasons removed from its last title having won the 1971 championship over the Baltimore Bullets.
Their star center may have changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but there was no change in his game. Abdul-Jabbar was still a dominant force in the paint averaging 27 points and 14.5 rebounds per game during the regular season. Entering the Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had just been named the NBA's most valuable player for the third time in his five years in the league.
Lucius Allen, Abdul-Jabbar's former teammate at UCLA, was the main conduit for getting the ball to the big center during the regular season. However, in March of 1974, Allen suffered a tear to his left medial collateral ligament after slipping on a pile of warm-up jackets while chasing a loose ball. As a result, the Bucks' third-leading scorer was unavailable for the playoffs.
Milwaukee also returned veteran guard Oscar Robertson from its '71 title team. The 35-year-old Robertson was slowing down a bit in his 14th NBA season averaging 12.7 points per game, but he was still Milwaukee's assist leader at 6.4 per game.
Road to the Finals
| Celtics | Bucks | |
| Regular Season | 56-26, 1st in Atlantic Division | 59-23, 1st in Midwest Division |
| Conf. Semifinals | Def. Buffalo Braves, 4-2 | Def. Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1 |
| Conf. Finals | Def. New York Knicks, 4-1 | Def. Chicago Bulls, 4-0 |
Game 1 -- Celtics 98, Bucks 83
Going into the Finals, the Celtics made their strategy clear, let Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get his points, but shut down every other Milwaukee player. Boston head coach Tom Heinsohn had his defense in a full-court press the entire way, and harassed Milwaukee into its lowest playoff point total in franchise history.
Although Abdul-Jabbar tallied 9 of the Bucks' first 13 points, Boston forced six turnovers in the first quarter. The Celtics shot over 60 percent from the floor in the first, and led 35-19 entering the second quarter. The Bucks cut the lead to six at one point in the game, but never truly challenged Boston in Game 1.
John Havlicek led the way with 26 points for the Celtics, and Dave Cowens, who drew the nearly impossible assignment of guarding Abdul-Jabbar, added 18 points and 17 rebounds. As Heinsohn expected, Abdul-Jabbar got his points. He scored 35 points on 50 percent shooting and collected 14 rebounds, but thanks to the Celtics' press, no other Milwaukee player could get much of anything going from the floor.
The rest of the Bucks combined for a 37 percent shooting average. Oscar Robertson was just 2 of 13 from the field, and Bob Dandridge was 6 of 17. The Bucks played 50 previous playoff games, but had never been held to just 83 points.
Although Abdul-Jabbar tallied 9 of the Bucks' first 13 points, Boston forced six turnovers in the first quarter. The Celtics shot over 60 percent from the floor in the first, and led 35-19 entering the second quarter. The Bucks cut the lead to six at one point in the game, but never truly challenged Boston in Game 1.
John Havlicek led the way with 26 points for the Celtics, and Dave Cowens, who drew the nearly impossible assignment of guarding Abdul-Jabbar, added 18 points and 17 rebounds. As Heinsohn expected, Abdul-Jabbar got his points. He scored 35 points on 50 percent shooting and collected 14 rebounds, but thanks to the Celtics' press, no other Milwaukee player could get much of anything going from the floor.
The rest of the Bucks combined for a 37 percent shooting average. Oscar Robertson was just 2 of 13 from the field, and Bob Dandridge was 6 of 17. The Bucks played 50 previous playoff games, but had never been held to just 83 points.
Game 2 -- Bucks 105, Celtics 96 (OT)
After an unexpected Game 1 defeat, Milwaukee forced the run-and-gun Celtics into a half-court game, and the Boston offense suffered. Behind the strength of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee built up a big lead through three quarters.
The Bucks had a double-digit lead going into the final quarter of play, but the Celtics got a lift when John Havlicek, who had been benched after getting his fourth foul just before halftime, came back into the game. Havlicek scored 10 points in the fourth, while Abdul-Jabbar hit just 2 of his 11 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. The Celtics seized the opportunity to make a comeback.
Havlicek hit two free throws with 58 seconds left to tie the game at 90. After a steal by Havlicek with three seconds remaining, the Celtics had a chance at a winning shot, but Havlicek's 15-foot jump shot was no good. Tied at 90 points apiece, the game went to overtime.
Milwaukee led for most of the OT period, but with 46 seconds left, Boston guard Jo Jo White hit a jumper from the left baseline to cut the Bucks' lead to two. On the next possession, Milwaukee's Cornell Warner drove, dunked the ball and was fouled by Dave Cowens. The foul marked the Boston center's sixth foul, and Warner converted the three-point play to give Milwaukee breathing room at 101-96.
Milwaukee ended up outscoring the Celtics 15-6 in the extra period for the win. The Bucks outrebounded the Celtics by a 55-38 margin, and had five players in double figures. Despite his fourth-quarter drought, Abdul-Jabbar finished with 36 points and 15 rebounds. Bucks forward Bob Dandridge contributed 25 points on 11 of 18 shooting.
The series was headed to Boston Garden tied at one game apiece.
The Bucks had a double-digit lead going into the final quarter of play, but the Celtics got a lift when John Havlicek, who had been benched after getting his fourth foul just before halftime, came back into the game. Havlicek scored 10 points in the fourth, while Abdul-Jabbar hit just 2 of his 11 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. The Celtics seized the opportunity to make a comeback.
Havlicek hit two free throws with 58 seconds left to tie the game at 90. After a steal by Havlicek with three seconds remaining, the Celtics had a chance at a winning shot, but Havlicek's 15-foot jump shot was no good. Tied at 90 points apiece, the game went to overtime.
Milwaukee led for most of the OT period, but with 46 seconds left, Boston guard Jo Jo White hit a jumper from the left baseline to cut the Bucks' lead to two. On the next possession, Milwaukee's Cornell Warner drove, dunked the ball and was fouled by Dave Cowens. The foul marked the Boston center's sixth foul, and Warner converted the three-point play to give Milwaukee breathing room at 101-96.
Milwaukee ended up outscoring the Celtics 15-6 in the extra period for the win. The Bucks outrebounded the Celtics by a 55-38 margin, and had five players in double figures. Despite his fourth-quarter drought, Abdul-Jabbar finished with 36 points and 15 rebounds. Bucks forward Bob Dandridge contributed 25 points on 11 of 18 shooting.
The series was headed to Boston Garden tied at one game apiece.
Game 3 -- Celtics 95, Bucks 83
Boston Garden was packed with a sell-out crowd of 15,320 who came out to see the Celtics attempt to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The Celtics responded to the crowd's energy by jumping out to a 23-9 lead. The Garden was silenced, however, when Celtics center Dave Cowens picked up his third foul of the game just 8:45 into the first quarter.
To this point in the playoffs, Cowens had been the chief defender of NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Celtics' next option at the position was 7-foot-tall Henry Finkel. Up to that point, Finkel had played a grand total of five minutes and one second in the 1974 postseason, but he surprisingly held his own against the superstar center, who made 14 of the 24 shots he attempted in the game.
On the offensive end, the Celtics shot a blistering 61 percent from the field in the first quarter and built up a 32-13 lead. The Celtics' full-court press again flustered Milwaukee, who turned the ball over 27 times in the game. Cowens returned to the game in the third quarter, and posted 14 second-half points on 9 of 11 shooting. He finished with a team-leading 30 points.
John Havlicek also had a big game making 13 of 18 field goals on the way to 28 points, but the story of the game was Finkel.
Thanks in part to Finkel's contributions on defense, Abdul-Jabbar finished with 26 points, a total that would prove to match his lowest of the series. Finkel posted 8 points and 5 rebounds, but his defense on Abdul-Jabbar was what made him the hero of Game 3. He was quoted as saying of his 16 minutes of playing time, "I can't remember the last time I played that long."
To this point in the playoffs, Cowens had been the chief defender of NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Celtics' next option at the position was 7-foot-tall Henry Finkel. Up to that point, Finkel had played a grand total of five minutes and one second in the 1974 postseason, but he surprisingly held his own against the superstar center, who made 14 of the 24 shots he attempted in the game.
On the offensive end, the Celtics shot a blistering 61 percent from the field in the first quarter and built up a 32-13 lead. The Celtics' full-court press again flustered Milwaukee, who turned the ball over 27 times in the game. Cowens returned to the game in the third quarter, and posted 14 second-half points on 9 of 11 shooting. He finished with a team-leading 30 points.
John Havlicek also had a big game making 13 of 18 field goals on the way to 28 points, but the story of the game was Finkel.
Thanks in part to Finkel's contributions on defense, Abdul-Jabbar finished with 26 points, a total that would prove to match his lowest of the series. Finkel posted 8 points and 5 rebounds, but his defense on Abdul-Jabbar was what made him the hero of Game 3. He was quoted as saying of his 16 minutes of playing time, "I can't remember the last time I played that long."
Game 4 -- Bucks 97, Celtics 89
To shake up his offense, Bucks head coach Larry Costello started the 6-foot-7 Mickey Davis, replacing Fritz Williams. Davis, who had primarily played at forward, joined the Bucks after the Pittsburgh Condors franchise went under. Milwaukee picked him up in the seventh round of the NBA draft.
Davis provided an immediate spark to the Bucks' offense in Game 4 scoring eight points in the first quarter.
The Celtics couldn't find the mark from the floor early on, and only managed 12 points in the second quarter. Guard Jo Jo White was particularly off missing all seven shots he attempted in the first half.
In the second half, John Havlicek brought Boston back scoring 16 points in the third quarter to bring his team within five, 75-70. That's as close as the Celtics would get. Bob Bob Dandridge made eight of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Davis proved to be a viable option in the backcourt scoring 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got his usual big numbers posting 34 points and 14 rebounds.
Havlicek led the Celtics with 33 points and Dave Cowens added 24, but the Buck's were too much in Game 4. The Bucks had regained their home-court advantage, and the series headed back to Milwaukee for Game 5.
Davis provided an immediate spark to the Bucks' offense in Game 4 scoring eight points in the first quarter.
The Celtics couldn't find the mark from the floor early on, and only managed 12 points in the second quarter. Guard Jo Jo White was particularly off missing all seven shots he attempted in the first half.
In the second half, John Havlicek brought Boston back scoring 16 points in the third quarter to bring his team within five, 75-70. That's as close as the Celtics would get. Bob Bob Dandridge made eight of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Davis proved to be a viable option in the backcourt scoring 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got his usual big numbers posting 34 points and 14 rebounds.
Havlicek led the Celtics with 33 points and Dave Cowens added 24, but the Buck's were too much in Game 4. The Bucks had regained their home-court advantage, and the series headed back to Milwaukee for Game 5.
Game 5 -- Celtics 96, Bucks 87
Despite being back at home in Milwaukee Arena, the Bucks got off to a poor start from the field in Game 5. Milwaukee made six of the first 24 shots it attempted, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson kept the Bucks in the game, and Milwaukee trailed by a single point at halftime.
The Boston pressure defense struck again after halftime forcing the Bucks into seven turnovers in the first 8:30 of the third quarter. The Celtics built up an 18-point lead in the third, and Milwaukee never recovered, despite getting 13 points in the fourth quarter from Abdul-Jabbar. He had what would turn out to be his best game of the Finals scoring 37 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Robertson also had his best game of the series making 9 of 13 field goals on the way to 23 points with six assists. The rest of the Bucks line-up was unable to make much of a contribution combining for just 27 points on 11 of 40 shooting.
John Havlicek and Dave Cowens were the driving force behind the Celtics victory scoring 28 points apiece. Cowens got 11 of his points in the fourth quarter alone. Boston took the all-important Game 5 win and was a victory away from its first post-Bill Russell championship.
The Boston pressure defense struck again after halftime forcing the Bucks into seven turnovers in the first 8:30 of the third quarter. The Celtics built up an 18-point lead in the third, and Milwaukee never recovered, despite getting 13 points in the fourth quarter from Abdul-Jabbar. He had what would turn out to be his best game of the Finals scoring 37 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Robertson also had his best game of the series making 9 of 13 field goals on the way to 23 points with six assists. The rest of the Bucks line-up was unable to make much of a contribution combining for just 27 points on 11 of 40 shooting.
John Havlicek and Dave Cowens were the driving force behind the Celtics victory scoring 28 points apiece. Cowens got 11 of his points in the fourth quarter alone. Boston took the all-important Game 5 win and was a victory away from its first post-Bill Russell championship.
Game 6 -- Bucks 102, Celtics 101 (2 OT)
Milwaukee needed two overtimes to avoid elimination in an epic game 6 at Boston Garden. It looked as if avoiding the knock out would be easy for the Bucks, as the Celtics shot just 35 percent from the field in the first half, and lost center Dave Cowens to the bench when he drew his third foul early on. Milwaukee pushed its lead to as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but the Celtics stormed back and finally tied the game at 86 on a Cowens shot with 1:06 remaining in regulation.
The emphasis was on defense in the first extra frame, as the teams combined for just eight points. John Havlicek got a second-chance basket with six seconds left to send the game into a second overtime tied at 90.
In the second overtime, Havlicek took over on offense for Boston scoring nine points. Havlicek's final points of the game came on a 15-foot jumper that gave the Celtics a 101-100 lead with eight seconds left. Milwaukee immediately called a timeout to regroup.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took the inbound from Oscar Roberston. Abdul-Jabbar was supposed to feed the ball to guard Jon McGlocklin, but McGlocklin was heavily defended. Abdul-Jabbar decided to take the shot. With three seconds left, he put up one of his patented sky-hooks from about 15 feet out, and the ball went in. Boston got the ball back, but Jo Jo White's long shot was off-target and the Bucks escaped with the win.
Havlicek led all scorers in the game with 36 points, but the Celtics couldn't overcome their dismal 39 percent success rate from the field. Before fouling out with less than two minutes to go in the game, Cowens managed just 13 points on 5 of 19 shooting. For his part, Abdul-Jabbar finished the game with 34 points, but his final two were the most important. The Bucks had forced a Game 7 on their home court.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 16 on the list.
The emphasis was on defense in the first extra frame, as the teams combined for just eight points. John Havlicek got a second-chance basket with six seconds left to send the game into a second overtime tied at 90.
In the second overtime, Havlicek took over on offense for Boston scoring nine points. Havlicek's final points of the game came on a 15-foot jumper that gave the Celtics a 101-100 lead with eight seconds left. Milwaukee immediately called a timeout to regroup.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took the inbound from Oscar Roberston. Abdul-Jabbar was supposed to feed the ball to guard Jon McGlocklin, but McGlocklin was heavily defended. Abdul-Jabbar decided to take the shot. With three seconds left, he put up one of his patented sky-hooks from about 15 feet out, and the ball went in. Boston got the ball back, but Jo Jo White's long shot was off-target and the Bucks escaped with the win.
Havlicek led all scorers in the game with 36 points, but the Celtics couldn't overcome their dismal 39 percent success rate from the field. Before fouling out with less than two minutes to go in the game, Cowens managed just 13 points on 5 of 19 shooting. For his part, Abdul-Jabbar finished the game with 34 points, but his final two were the most important. The Bucks had forced a Game 7 on their home court.
When the NBA compiled its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 16 on the list.
Game 7 -- Celtics 102, Bucks 87
Tom Heinsohn changed up his strategy for defending Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 7. The Celtics applied the double-team, and looked to deny the MVP the ball at every turn.
At first, it looked like the strategy was failing. Abdul-Jabbar racked up 14 points in the first quarter of Game 7, but his teammates had difficulty getting him the ball, and his game suffered. Boston held Milwaukee's superstar center scoreless for an 18-minute span after his initial flurry, and only allowed him three field goal attempts during the drought.
With Abdul-Jabbar a non-factor on offense, Boston got out to a 13-point halftime lead. Dave Cowens set the tone for Boston by going 8 for 13 from the floor in the first half. Midway through the third quarter, however, Abdul-Jabbar started getting the ball again, and Milwaukee drew closer.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Bucks trailed by just three points, 71-68. Around that same time, Cowens was whistled for his fifth foul of the game, and things looked bleak for Boston Heinsohn decided to leave Cowens in the game, and he responded by kicking off two runs of eight and 11 points respectively. Those points put the game firmly out of reach of Milwaukee.
The Bucks got no closer than 8 points for the rest of the game. The 11-0 run gave Boston a 98-81 lead with just over a minute remaining, and sealed the Celtics' 12th title in franchise history.
Cowens finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead five Celtics in double figures, and never did pick up that sixth foul. Boston held Abdul-Jabbar to just 26 points, matching his lowest point total of the Finals. Oscar Robertson went just 2 for 13 from the floor and managed just six points in what turned out to be his final NBA game. He retired after the season. John Havlicek wrapped up his seventh career title with a 26.5 scoring average, and was awarded a new car as the series' most outstanding player.
At first, it looked like the strategy was failing. Abdul-Jabbar racked up 14 points in the first quarter of Game 7, but his teammates had difficulty getting him the ball, and his game suffered. Boston held Milwaukee's superstar center scoreless for an 18-minute span after his initial flurry, and only allowed him three field goal attempts during the drought.
With Abdul-Jabbar a non-factor on offense, Boston got out to a 13-point halftime lead. Dave Cowens set the tone for Boston by going 8 for 13 from the floor in the first half. Midway through the third quarter, however, Abdul-Jabbar started getting the ball again, and Milwaukee drew closer.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Bucks trailed by just three points, 71-68. Around that same time, Cowens was whistled for his fifth foul of the game, and things looked bleak for Boston Heinsohn decided to leave Cowens in the game, and he responded by kicking off two runs of eight and 11 points respectively. Those points put the game firmly out of reach of Milwaukee.
The Bucks got no closer than 8 points for the rest of the game. The 11-0 run gave Boston a 98-81 lead with just over a minute remaining, and sealed the Celtics' 12th title in franchise history.
Cowens finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead five Celtics in double figures, and never did pick up that sixth foul. Boston held Abdul-Jabbar to just 26 points, matching his lowest point total of the Finals. Oscar Robertson went just 2 for 13 from the floor and managed just six points in what turned out to be his final NBA game. He retired after the season. John Havlicek wrapped up his seventh career title with a 26.5 scoring average, and was awarded a new car as the series' most outstanding player.