The 1969 NBA Playoffs

NBA Playoffs

The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...

was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

's 1968–1969 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

 defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

, four games to three in the NBA Finals

1969 NBA Finals

The 1969 NBA World Championship Series to determine the champion of the 1968-69 NBA season was played between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the Lakers being heavily favored due to the presence of three formidable stars: Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West...

.

Despite finishing in 4th place, the Celtics won their second consecutive NBA championship, marking their 11th overall as their era of 1960s dominance drew to a close. They upset Philadelphia and the Knicks on the way to the finals. Out west, the San Francisco Warriors stunned the Lakers by winning the first two games in L.A., and Bay Area fans were thinking of avenging the prior year's sweep by the Lakers with a sweep of their own. But the Lakers won 4 straight to win the series in 6.

This year marked the debut of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award; it was awarded to Jerry West

Jerry West

Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...

 of the Lakers, which marks the only time, thus far, that the trophy has been given to a player on the losing team.

The second-year San Diego Rockets

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

 earned their first playoff appearance; the next time they appeared in the playoffs would be in 1975

1975 NBA Playoffs

The 1975 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1974-1975 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Eastern Conference champion Washington Bullets, four games to none in the NBA Finals...

 as the Houston Rockets.

Western Division

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

Division Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (3) San Francisco Warriors:
Lakers win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: San Francisco 99, Los Angeles 94
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: San Francisco 107, Los Angeles 101
• Game 3 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 115, San Francisco 98
• Game 4 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 103, San Francisco 88
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 103, San Francisco 98
• Game 6 @ San Francisco: Los Angeles 118, San Francisco 78 (Lakers become first team to come back after losing 2 home games.)

(2) Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

vs. (4) San Diego Rockets:
Hawks win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 107, San Diego 98
• Game 2 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 116, San Diego 114
• Game 3 @ San Diego: San Diego 104, Atlanta 97
• Game 4 @ San Diego: San Diego 114, Atlanta 112
• Game 5 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 112, San Diego 101
• Game 6 @ San Diego: Atlanta 108, San Diego 106

Division Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

vs. (2) Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...

:
Lakers win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 95, Atlanta 93
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 104, Atlanta 102
• Game 3 @ Atlanta: Atlanta 99, Los Angeles 86
• Game 4 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 100, Atlanta 85
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 104, Atlanta 96

Eastern Division

Champion: Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

Division Semifinals

(1) Baltimore Bullets

Baltimore Bullets

Baltimore Bullets has been the name of three different basketball franchises:* Baltimore Bullets , an American Basketball League franchise and National Basketball Association franchise that folded in 1954....

 vs. (3) New York Knicks

New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

:
Knicks win series 4-0

• Game 1 @ Baltimore: New York 113, Baltimore 101
• Game 2 @ New York: New York 107, Baltimore 91
• Game 3 @ Baltimore: New York 119, Baltimore 116
• Game 4 @ New York: New York 115, Baltimore 108

(2) Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

 vs. (4) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

:
Celtics win series 4-1

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Boston 114, Philadelphia 100
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 134, Philadelphia 103
• Game 3 @ Philadelphia: Boston 125, Philadelphia 118
• Game 4 @ Boston: Philadelphia 119, Boston 116
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Boston 93, Philadelphia 90

Division Finals

(3) New York Knicks

New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 vs. (4) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

 :
Celtics win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ New York: Boston 108, New York 100
• Game 2 @ Boston: Boston 112, New York 97
• Game 3 @ New York: New York 101, Boston 91
• Game 4 @ Boston: Boston 97, New York 96
• Game 5 @ New York: New York 112, Boston 104
• Game 6 @ Boston: Boston 106, New York 105 (John Havlicek game winner)

NBA finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 VS. (4) Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

:
Celtics win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 120, Boston 118
• Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 118, Boston 112
• Game 3 @ Boston : Boston 111, Los Angeles 105
• Game 4 @ Boston : Boston 89, Los Angeles 88 (Sam Jones
  Sam Jones (basketball)
  Samuel Jones is a retired American professional basketball player at shooting guard and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA Playoffs...
  
   hits game winning-shot.)
• Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 117, Boston 104
• Game 6 @ Boston: Boston 99, Los Angeles 90
• Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Boston 108, Los Angeles 106 (Bill Russell
  Bill Russell
  William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
  
   and Sam Jones
  Sam Jones (basketball)
  Samuel Jones is a retired American professional basketball player at shooting guard and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA Playoffs...
  
  ’s final NBA game; Celtics become first team to come back from a 2-0 series deficit in NBA Finals.)

In Game 7, Don Nelson

Don Nelson

Donald Arvid "Don" Nelson is a former NBA player and head coach. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors....

hits a foul-line jumper which dropped through the basket after hitting the back rim and bouncing several feet straight up. The shot gave the Celtics a 105-102 lead after the Lakers cut their lead down to 1, 103-102.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1969 NBA Playoffs page