1985 NBA playoffs
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| 1985 NBA playoffs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Year | 1985 |
| Champion | Los Angeles Lakers |
1985 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1984–85 NBA season, with the Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners competing for the NBA championship. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, won the championship by defeating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, with James Worthy and Kurt Rambis also playing key roles. The playoffs featured several notable teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers, with players like Alex English, Mark Aguirre, and Moses Malone making significant contributions. The tournament also included the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers, with Isiah Thomas, Bernard King, and Clyde Drexler being some of the notable players.
● Introduction
The 1985 NBA playoffs began on April 17, 1985, and ended on June 9, 1985, with the NBA Finals being played between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. The playoffs featured 16 teams, with the top four teams from each conference qualifying for the postseason. The Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, made their first playoff appearance since 1981, while the Utah Jazz, with Adrian Dantley and Rickey Green, also competed in the tournament. Other notable players who participated in the playoffs included Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets. The Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Washington Bullets also took part in the playoffs, with players like Clark Kellogg, World B. Free, and Jeff Malone making significant contributions.
● Playoff Bracket
The playoff bracket consisted of four rounds: the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics received first-round byes, as did the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Dallas Mavericks played the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, while the Detroit Pistons faced the New Jersey Nets. The Utah Jazz played the Houston Rockets, and the Chicago Bulls faced the Milwaukee Bucks. Other first-round matchups included the New York Knicks versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Bullets versus the Indiana Pacers. The winners of each series advanced to the next round, with the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately winning the championship.
● Conference Semifinals
The Conference Semifinals featured several exciting series, including the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics versus the Detroit Pistons. The Denver Nuggets played the Utah Jazz, while the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Milwaukee Bucks. The Dallas Mavericks played the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals, with the series going to five games. The Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons in six games, with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale leading the team. Other notable players who competed in the Conference Semifinals included Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as Charles Barkley and Moses Malone of the Philadelphia 76ers.
● Conference Finals
The Conference Finals featured the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference and the Boston Celtics versus the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers won the series 4-1, with Magic Johnson averaging 31.8 points and 10.2 assists per game. The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, with Larry Bird averaging 28.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Other notable players who competed in the Conference Finals included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as Charles Barkley and Moses Malone of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Denver Nuggets were led by Alex English and Fat Lever, while the Boston Celtics also featured Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
● NBA Finals
The NBA Finals were played between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the series 4-2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named the NBA Finals MVP, averaging 25.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. The series featured several notable games, including Game 1, which the Los Angeles Lakers won 126-113, and Game 4, which the Boston Celtics won 107-105. Other notable players who competed in the NBA Finals included Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kurt Rambis of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics. The NBA Finals were broadcast on CBS, with Brent Musburger and Oscar Robertson providing commentary.
● Statistical Leaders
The 1985 NBA playoffs featured several statistical leaders, including Magic Johnson, who averaged 17.5 points and 15.2 assists per game, and Larry Bird, who averaged 26.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Other notable statistical leaders included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged 26.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and Charles Barkley, who averaged 20.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. The Los Angeles Lakers' James Worthy averaged 21.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while the Boston Celtics' Kevin McHale averaged 22.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. The Denver Nuggets' Alex English averaged 27.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and the Philadelphia 76ers' Moses Malone averaged 26.0 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. The Utah Jazz's Adrian Dantley averaged 25.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and the Houston Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
Category:1985 in basketball