James Worthy: The Boston Celtics and Larry Bird in 1984 Provided a “Lesson Learned”

‎James Worthy: The Boston Celtics and Larry Bird in 1984 Provided a “Lesson Learned”

The Los Angeles Lakers are aware that in 1984, they let one get away. They think they should have an 18–16 advantage over the Boston Celtics in terms of NBA titles won, rather than being tied with them at 17. That is a result of what transpired during the NBA Finals in 1984.

Despite outplaying the Celtics for a large portion of the series, the Lakers were humiliated by their seven-game loss to Boston. However, the Lakers’ ’85 celebration in Boston would never have happened if not for 1984. Although James Worthy acknowledges he might have cost the Lakers the championship in 1984, he claimed there was a “lesson learned” from that traumatic final series versus their opponents.

In the 1984 LA Lakers’ loss to the Boston Celtics, James Worthy was a key player.

Early in the 1984 Finals, the Lakers accomplished exactly what they set out to do. In the Boston Garden, they defeated the Celtics 115-109 to take advantage of homecourt advantage. They led the series 2-0 going out of Boston.

With eighteen seconds remaining, the Lakers lead 113-111 and are in possession of the ball. Gerald Henderson intercepted a lofted throw from Worthy that was intended for Byron Scott. Henderson made a game-tying layup while sprinting in. In the end, Boston prevailed in overtime, sending the series to Los Angeles level at one game each.

On Off the Dribble: The Byron Scott Podcast in 2021, Worthy stated that “Magic Johnson grabbed it and threw it to me.” We are about 13 seconds away from winning Game 2, so I was anxious as a scarecrow. Even if I’m in the backcourt, I have to get rid of it. Not even looking, not even thinking. I attempted to make a mistaken pass towards you. You were really

far beyond the play’s boundaries.

“All Gerald Henderson was doing was picking his teeth. He went for that layup, and I can still feel the leather slip from my fingers. Man, I still wake up in the middle of the night, sweating. We had won four championships at that point. That was our fourth championship, but as I often say, we were just not good enough.

In Game 3, the Lakers easily defeated the Lakers, a game in which Bird criticized the Celtics for their lackluster play. When Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis, who was driving in for a basket in Game 4, Bird’s teammates retaliated. Benches were free. The Celtics maintained their momentum into overtime and won again after the order was restored.

In the end, the series was won by the Celtics in seven games.

Wells claims that 1984 was a “lesson learned.”
1985’s Magic-Bird II

Worthy claimed that 1984’s events might not have occurred in 1985 in an interview with former Celtics forward Cedric Maxwell and Lakers teammate Michael Cooper on the Showtime With Coop podcast.

The Lakers and Celtics squared off again in 1985. The result was very different. After just six games in the series, the Lakers ultimately celebrated their victory on the floor in Boston.

Regarding 1984, Worthy remarked, “It was definitely a lesson learned.” The Lakers were still growing as a team. They had the Showtime, but as a rookie player, I entered the picture. Mychal Thompson arrived

A lesson was acquired. Pat Riley even claimed, “The Celtics really got us.” It wasn’t until the next season that we adjusted to your physical play. You guys simply kept coming it to us back in 1984. Rather than returning to our normal, we continued to strive to compete in that manner.

For their final meeting of the decade, the Lakers and Celtics faced off once again in 1987, with the Lakers adding another championship to their resume.