These Celtics boast quite possibly the greatest front line in NBA History: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish with Bill Walton and Scott Wedman off the bench give this squad inside scoring firepower, solid interior defense, a great passing game as well as potent outside shooting.  Kevin McHale is a serious match up problem for every player he faces, his long arms allow him to shoot over the top of defenders in the post as well as being able to hit the open 20 footers. Walton and Bird are both great passers who will get the ball to either the open man or the mismatch inside.  Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge in the backcourt were great at hitting the open shot when the post is double teamed as well as providing solid perimeter defense.  The Celtics are solid to strong on all of the weapons needed to defeat the Bulls.

SYNOPSIS

There is one question here: Can Jordan go off for 55 points per game with Dennis Johnson in his shirt to counter the huge scoring edge the Celtics have in the paint?  He has to if the Bulls are going to beat the Celtics.  Pippen should be able to match Bird on the scoreboard & bother him on D but Pippen won't stop Bird overall.  Bird can get his shot off as well as pass into the post where McHale & Parish can score over Rodman & Longley, plus McHale can hit the open 20 footers that Rodman will give him when he sits under the basket waiting for rebounds.  The Bulls also have no match for the energy and fire that Bill Walton brings in off the Celtic bench, especially since Walton, McHale & Parish will have to extend themselves very little in one-on -one low post defense.  When the Bulls guards are forced to double team the post Danny Ainge & Dennis Johnson will hit their share of the open shots. Ainge shot .386 from 3 point range in 1985-86.  Scott Wedman & Jerry Sichting are a perfect outside shooting counter to the Bulls duo of Toni Kucoc and Steve Kerr off the bench.  One final fact that is overlooked: In the 1986 playoff game after Jordan lit the Celtics up for 63 points the Celtics stuffed Dennis Johnson & some prudent double teams down MJ's shirt and held him to 28 points as they routed the Bulls in game 3, eliminating them from the playoffs.  People also forget that Jordan poured in 50 in game 1 and the Celtics still won easily by 18 points.  The 1996 Bulls are way better than their 1986 counterparts, but they have the same glaring weaknesses. The answer to the question above is NO, Jordan averages 40 to 45 points a game in this match up but the Bulls lose anyway because they get out gunned in the paint.
 

1967 Sixers

1971 Bucks

1972 Lakers

1983 Sixers

1987 Lakers

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