Could the 1986 Celtics Beat the 2017 Warriors?
By Liam O'Brien
Many put the 1985-86 Celtics in the conversation for being the best team in NBA history. Unfortunately for Boston fans who wish to proclaim that the Celtics are the NBA’s premier franchise, that team does not hold a candle to today’s Warriors.
In March 2016, legendary Boston Globe correspondent Bob Ryan penned a column plotting a hypothetical matchup between the 1985-86 Boston Celtics and the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, a team that would go on to win the most regular season games in NBA history.
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In this virtual tilt, Stephen Curry still managed to collect 36 points on six three-pointers. However, the big man depth of the Celtics ended up being too dominant for the small-ball Warriors to cope with, as Boston would eke out a narrow 110-106 victory at the United Center in Chicago.
The exquisite passing skills of Larry Bird forced the helpless Warriors to simply “ooh” and “ahh” as they stool lifeless as No. 33 whipped dime after dime. Power forward Kevin McHale bullied Golden State with his plethora of post moves. “Did McHale (26) take Green, Iguodala, Andrew Bogut, Marreese Speights,” wrote Ryan, “and seemingly half of California into his infamous low post “torture chamber” and then inflict severe psychic pain with his endless assortment of jump hooks, turnarounds, and baseline maneuvers? Of course.”
Despite what Ryan and the rest of the Boston sports media who were around for the era of the original Boston Big Three might stipulate, the 2015-16 Warriors could have handled the ’86 Celtics in a seven-game series. The fast break wizardry and deadly guard-centric lineups of last season’s Golden State team could have withered down the aging Bill Walton and the rest of the Boston bench, with the array of splashing three-pointers tossed up by Curry and running mate Klay Thompson could have disparaged the Celtics psyche.
Add Kevin Durant to the mix? The dispute is over. With the 2014 NBA MVP playing at an unforeseen level defensively, the Warriors would finally have somebody who could check Bird in the half court. Durant has been performing at an otherworldly level on this end of the floor in the NBA Finals, blocking five shots in Game 2 including an emasculation of Kevin Love on a jump-hook attempt. Durant has the speed to stay with Bird on his dribble-drive attempts while containing the length necessary to bother his jump shot and challenge his attempts at the rim.
There is not a single member of the ’86 Celtics who could keep Durant in check defensively. If Bird attempted to stay with him, he would be gassed by the beginning of the second quarter. It would be effortless for Durant to release his mid-range jumper over 6’7″, 11-year veteran Scott Wedman and the inexperienced Rick Carlisle. Should the Celtics opt to double team Durant, it would open the door for a double-digit assist game for the near-seven-footer as he would have a murderer’s row of shooters on the perimeter.
Now that Bird would be fixated upon by Durant, this opens up the opportunity for two-time reigning All-NBA Defensive First Team selectee Draymond Green to match up against McHale. Green has showcased his ability to frustrate big men throughout the NBA, and he could bully McHale defensively with his 20-pound advantage. Also, McHale could have a difficult time defending Green on the perimeter and coping with his ability to hit the defense with a pump fake and a strong drive to the rim.
As for the third member of the Big Three, Robert Parish, there may not even be room for him on the floor. Should Golden State go with a lineup of Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green, and 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, who would Parish guard? Would he be forced to race out to the perimeter to guard Iguodala? Would he attempt to stick onto Green?
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Additionally, the Warriors lightning-quick style of play would make it so Parish’s opportunities to work the defense in an isolation set in the post would be whittled down severely. We have seen the Cleveland Cavaliers forced to play at a frantic pace due to Golden State’s aggressiveness. What would make Boston different from the defending champions in this matchup?