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Boston Celtics: Top 5 Heartbreaking Moments in Celtics History

By Mateo Aycardi

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 24: Paul Pierce #34 and Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics wait to resume action against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 24, 2013 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 24: Paul Pierce #34 and Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics wait to resume action against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 24, 2013 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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3. 1987 NBA Finals Loss- Magic’s Baby Hook

Before the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnetts, there was an even more dominant era of basketball, ruled by two of the best to ever play the game.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were sworn rivals, and good friends. They met three times in the Finals, as the Lakers bested Boston in two out of their three contests.

Many members of the media noted what made the rivalry between the two such a fascinating topic, noting that Boston’s nitty and gritty style of play was perfectly embodied by Bird, while the Los Angeles and Hollywood flashiness was perfectly embodied by Johnson.

"“We’re mirrors of each other,” Johnson said in an interview with David Letterman in the late show in 2012.  “I may smile a little bit more, but the way we play the game of basketball was exactly the same because we would do anything to win. We didn’t care about scoring points. We cared about winning the game and making our teammates better. That’s why we were able to change not only basketball but able to change the NBA, too.”"

One of the most heated games of the 80’s came after the Celtics bounced back from a first time loss against the Los Angeles Lakers with their triumph over the Houston Rockets in the 1986 Finals. Magic and Bird were neck and neck up to that point, and Bird was still regularly in the conversation for league MVP.

This all changed in the 1987 season.

Before 1985, the Lakers had never beaten the Celtics in the Finals. Larry Bird had grown to be a legend in Beantown, and Magic knew that if he wanted to be considered one of the best to ever play the game, he would have to surpass Larry one more time (bringing his title count to 4 vs Bird’s 3).

The series was a heated exchange from the beginning, as Magic and the Lakers took the first two games by storm.

While the Lakers were rested and ready to go after a clean sweep of the Seattle Supersonics in the Western Conference Finals, the Celtics had endured a tremendous amount of injuries to their roster, and were worn down from their seven game series win against the mean Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics managed to battle back however, winning the following contest after a great game from Kevin McHale, who was playing with a broken navicular bone in his right foot from a previous contest against the Chicago Bulls on March 27th.

While there was still hope for Boston, the Lakers managed to take a commanding 3-1 series lead after a humbling defeat for Bird in the Old Garden in Game 4.

Dennis Johnson would lead Boston to one more win before a deciding game 6 in Los Angeles, scoring 25 points and 11 assists in game 5.

With the battle heading to a deciding Game 6, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would combine for 48 points, and Magic would break the heart of all Boston fans with a running baby hook that would seal his place over Bird in the all-time greats list for the time being.

“Magic is a great, great basketball player,” Bird noted after the series. “The best I’ve ever seen.”