Throwback Thursday: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 1987 ECSF Game 4
By Ian Levy
Welcome back to Throwback Thursday.
Today we travel back to 1987 for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals that featured the Boston Celtics vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Let’s get into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-SNgHCzSng
Pre-game
@bbeebe: right away I’m transported back to middle school. The head shots of the Celtics starting 5 reminds me so much of playing Tecmo NBA Basketball. I need a controller, a 2 – liter of Mountain Dew and a bean bag chair STAT!
First quarter
@DonnieBuckets: Jack Sikma’s Intro Photo is HOF worthy. Off to a good start
@wshareNBA: Jack’s back-to-the-basket game is pretty SIKma IMO
@bbeebe: is there any NBA fan who wouldn’t pay big, big money for those silver satin ref jackets?
@DonnieBuckets: Joey Crawford’s petitioning for the ref intro photo to be re-introduced
@TaylorBojangles: Bird gonna take and swish the worst shot in basketball because he DGAF
@DonnieBuckets: All classic games feature a carrying violation one minute in.
@TaylorBojangles: Bird dribbling around for 20 seconds before hoisting a contested 3. 1 year old JR Smith is #inspired
@DonnieBuckets: If Danny Ainge was GM of this team, he’d have traded himself for a combo guard for sure.
@DonnieBuckets: You cannot stop Jack Sikma out of Illinois Wesleyan you can only hope to contain him!
@bbeebe: I miss hearing about “breaking news” from someone 2,000 miles away from it via a television rather than someone 2,000 miles away from it on Twitter
@bbeebe: It’s almost jarring to see 5 guys with white socks and white shoes play 5 guys with white socks and black shoes. I feel like Paul Lukas would have a weird tingly feeling watching this game right now.
@TaylorBojangles: 70 year old Rob Parish can still dunk
@TaylorBojangles: Moncrief from the high school 3 point line!
@TaylorBojangles: McHale bounding down the floor like a guy whose ankle isn’t fused to his shin
@TaylorBojangles: Moncrief heat check from the high school line!
@TaylorBojangles: Bird seems a bit out of sorts here. Rushed a bad pass when the Bucks brought the double
@bbeebe: I defy any coach to wear a flower on their suit coat in a NBA game in 2015. No, really, I need to see it.
@TaylorBojangles: The one fan you can hear in the arena is super adamant about the lack of lane violation enforcement, it seems
@TaylorBojangles: Do the Bucks know that the longer line is the NBA three-point line?
@wshareNBA: PRE$$EY
@DonnieBuckets: Who’d be the funniest player in these shorts today? Big Baby?
@bbeebe: Celtics switch everything early, but with such a huge front line and a big 2 guard in DJ, they seemed to get away with it.
@wshareNBA: This would be a pretty terrific Mean Tweets reaction meme if Bill went on Kimmel in 1987.
@bbeebe: Paul Mokeski playoff per-game averages–3 rebounds, 2 points, and 1 hellacious mustache.
@DonnieBuckets: I’m not saying Robert Parish if he was still playing at 61 would still be good. But if I could sign him or Greg Stiemsma?
@bbeebe: Simply perfect organ music.
@TaylorBojangles: Sikma with the single worst shot attempt of the entire 1980s
@bbeebe: Bird LIVES on the right side of the floor offensively. Is there a modern – day wing who is so heavy on one side of the floor?
@TaylorBojangles: Each team brings in its goofy-looking big white guys. Celts down a crucial goofy-looking white guy with Walton out injured
@bbeebe: oh my goodness–kite, breuer and sikma on the floor at the same time????? I was hoping this game would get more unathletic!
@DonnieBuckets: Another unforced turnover by Milwaukee. At least it isn’t a close game and this doesn’t come back to haunt them.
@bbeebe: Must quickly Google “Chambers 2 handed dunk”
@wshareNBA: Think I just heard Larry yell “straight cash homie” after coming off that pin-down
@bbeebe: Bird stepback 20 footer. His footwork off screens is amazing.
@DonnieBuckets: The Bucks are stunned that Larry Bird is a good shooter, apparently.
@DonnieBuckets: I wish we still called people wily veterans. Can we go back to that?
@bbeebe: Wait, McHale went into the stands to fight a fan during a playoff game? Why won’t CBS show the footage?
@wshareNBA: McHale’s like that stereotypical high school bully who just waits for freshmen in the senior hallway with his legs extended
@DonnieBuckets: Sidney Moncrief. Underrated Player. Underrated ‘Stache. #respect
@bbeebe: Pace of this game is so fun to watch.
@TaylorBojangles: Kinda crazy how the Celtics are just abandoning the three-point line to double and triple-team guys in the post. You do you, 80s
@DonnieBuckets: Kite not flying high for that rebound #nailedit
@DonnieBuckets: McHale’s footwork though. I tried the things he does against Yi’s chair and fell down
Second quarter
@TaylorBojangles: Not-at-all creepy segment with Isiah Thomas seemingly hitting on basketball with sexy background music
@bbeebe: just got chills from the NBA, it’s FANtastic commercial. I loved those as a kid!
@bbeebe: Maybe it’s me, but the crowd seems really dead. I guess 14 first quarter points from Larry Bird will do that?
@wshareNBA: POINT SIKMA
@DonnieBuckets: Was there clever jokes made about dudes named Kite and Bird being on the same team? Missed opportunity if no
@DonnieBuckets: Paul Pressey probably thrilled his son now plays for Danny Ainge. Opponents loved that guy
@bbeebe: I always wondered if Fred Roberts stole Detlef Schrempf’s haircut or vice versa.
@wshareNBA: Hey 28% from the field seems bad you guys
@TaylorBojangles: Major advantage for the Bucks in the male pattern baldness department
@wshareNBA: Wow, Boston really bring the full-court Pressey on Paul (I’ll show myself out)
@DonnieBuckets: These Pressey free throws are tough to watch.
@DonnieBuckets: Anyone ask McHale how he’s kept the same expression on his face for 30+ years?
@TaylorBojangles: Ricky Pierce’s free throw routine hurts my back
@wshareNBA: Good to see Boston really picking up the pace so they can dump it off to Larry for another high post-up and iso. This is clearly the most creative era in the history of basketball.
@DonnieBuckets: Seriously, James Harden watches this second quarter at least once a week and dreams of that whistle.
@TaylorBojangles: Feels like a video error whenever Bird misses a jumper
@DonnieBuckets: What did people do before the score was up all the time? I’ve lost track like 40 times already
@DonnieBuckets: Everything Paul Mokeski does is glorious. Every. Single. Thing.
@TaylorBojangles: Bucks are giving up too many second chance opps
@DonnieBuckets: If Ainge touched Joey Crawford like that, he’d get three T’s.
@wshareNBA: Spacing is fun
@DonnieBuckets: Seems to me this Bird guy is one of the better players on the Celtics.
@DonnieBuckets: John Lucas outchea taking names! He never hit a stepback on LBJ, though, so his son wins.
@DonnieBuckets: We’ve had like a hundred buddy cop films since the ‘80s and no one even TRIED Lucas and Mokeski?
@DonnieBuckets: Greg Norman near the top of the leaderboard? Bet it ended well for him
@DonnieBuckets: Lol at that foul call. Maybe Joey was reffing this game
@TaylorBojangles: Bird channeling his inner Kevin Love who may not even be alive yet!
@bbeebe: Those Lakers highlights were amazing. Man they played fast.
@bbeebe: Riley. Hair immaculate. Tie perfect. Smile bright.
@bbeebe: Nice of CBS to give Tim Brandt a great seat in Studio 96E for these highlights.
@bbeebe: Was Clyde dying his hair then too?
@bbeebe: Holy crap what an amazing HOF class.
Third quarter
@TaylorBojangles: The Bucks have been hitting at a good clip, but the discrepancy in shot quality is noticeable here. Celtics getting more easy looks
@DonnieBuckets: So appropriate that the only stat shared from the Pistons-Hawks game was that Rick Mahorn had 13 rebounds.
@wshareNBA: Jack Sikma: So much largeness, such sparing confidence
@DonnieBuckets: I refuse to believe Fred Roberts is the best player on this Celtics bench that’s active. This is an all-time team, right?
@DonnieBuckets: LONG TWOS IN STYLE AS MUCH AS SHORT SHORTS
@DonnieBuckets: Pretty good start for the Celts in the 2nd half IMO. 82 percent shooting is solid
@DonnieBuckets: Craig Hodges always did have a solid strut
@wshareNBA: 23 points on 12 shots in the mid-third? #LetLarryBeLarry
@TaylorBojangles: BUCKS AND-ONE PARTY
@TaylorBojangles: Feels like every Celtics bench guy is a 2k create-a-player
@wshareNBA: Who says this isn’t the #pointz era? Players only care about padding their stats, no heart smh
@DonnieBuckets: This game…not so much with the defense.
@wshareNBA: one thing this game needs more of is limited off-ball movement and dribble pull-ups from 16 feet
@TaylorBojangles: The Mecca is alive for the first time. They go bonkers for the foot-on-the-line two
@TaylorBojangles: Hodges #flameemoji
@DonnieBuckets: Craig Hodges has good form. If they had a contest where contestants shot threes, he should enter. Bet he’d do well.
Fourth quarter
@TaylorBojangles: OLD BANGO ALERT #stillpantsless
@wshareNBA: League Pass would come in handy tonight. How am I supposed to miss Hawks-Pistons going down to the wire?
@DonnieBuckets: This is back when men were men, and PUJITs weren’t judged by punks with keyboards
@TaylorBojangles: Moncrief with his 52nd long two attempt of the game. This is Daryl Morey’s nightmare
@DonnieBuckets: Huuuuuuuuuuuuuubie!!
@DonnieBuckets: Rivers hit both free throws but traded one of the points for Jordan Farmar
@TaylorBojangles: This #WaltonFace needs to be a meme
@DonnieBuckets: Bill Walton’s expressions get more hilarious as the game goes on
@TaylorBojangles: Danny Ainge was Teen Wolf and you can’t convince me otherwise
@TaylorBojangles: Pretty sure the Mecca organist knows one song only
@DonnieBuckets: The more I see Don Nelson frustrated, the more I’m convinced Brian Dennehy was cast as the wrong coach
@TaylorBojangles: John Lucas leads the world in jump passes and mustache hairs
@TaylorBojangles: Pressey’s free throw routine is like a TV infomercial about how not to shoot a free throw
@DonnieBuckets: How do you guard Kevin McHale with these rules? Answer: Not well
@DonnieBuckets: Paul Pressey goin’ UP on a (whatever day this is)
@wshareNBA: Paul Pressey starts in Yam City; coming this fall
@DonnieBuckets: Oh, yeah, his replacement is the GOAT #mokeskifever
@wshareNBA: Bucks should go small with Sikma fouling out, McHale and Parish will kill them on the glass regardless
/brings in Paul Mokeski
like, sure
@DonnieBuckets: Just a terrible foul. This is why the Celtics never won anything.
@wshareNBA: just spent 10 minutes waiting for a botched Danny Ainge dribble-drive. 1987 is LIT. Don’t mind free basketball though
@DonnieBuckets: Mokeski’s veins are as cold as Busch Light.
@TaylorBojangles: MoKLUTCHski
@wshareNBA: Nothing says overtime playoff ball like dribbling out three quarters of the shot clock and dishing for a contested long two, John Lucas.
First overtime
@DonnieBuckets: THERE’S THE MOVIE POSTER FOR LUCAS & MOKESKI!!!
@DonnieBuckets: Ainge with a flop that would make Chris Paul blush.
@DonnieBuckets: It’s almost like Mokeski can’t guard Bird
@DonnieBuckets: BUT NO ONE CAN GUARD PAUL KEEN MOKESKI EITHER
@TaylorBojangles: B3RD
@DonnieBuckets: Larry plays like a Legend of sorts
@DonnieBuckets: Mokeski SWAT! #clutchdontlie
@TaylorBojangles: Don’t think that’s a clear path
@DonnieBuckets: Probably the most graceful moment of Mokeski’s career. And then he wipes out
@TaylorBojangles: Great defense to force the tough shot for Cummings
@DonnieBuckets: Dennis Johnson may have just committed a flagrant on a teammate
@DonnieBuckets: Larry Bird’s fistpump was so Indiana.
@TaylorBojangles: BIRD ONIONS
@wshareNBA: Larry Bird: good at making jump shots. Meanwhile, poor Bill Walton’s like “put me in coach”
@DonnieBuckets: That quick release at that height made Bird who he was
@DonnieBuckets: I haven’t mentioned Terry Cummings yet, but, what a game from him. Roasting this Boston frontline is no easy task
Second overtime
@TaylorBojangles: Kinda surprised Boston has gone away from McHale of late. Wonder if they’ll explore that here
@DonnieBuckets: I love how Johnson sprinted after that ball to try and save it, then pointed like it was out on Milwaukee
@TaylorBojangles: Terry Cummings MAN MOVE
@DonnieBuckets: Terry Cummings again! What a finish!
@DonnieBuckets: The reason I don’t mention Cummings more is he reminds me that Depaul Basketball was good at one time and that makes me sad.
@DonnieBuckets: Aing333333
@TaylorBojangles: OH MY AING3
@DonnieBuckets: THEY FOULED MY MAN OUT ON THAT???!!! #Mokeskimoproblems
@TaylorBojangles: And now Mokeski is gone. Gotta feed McHale, right?
@DonnieBuckets: YGTMYFTEI2OT
@TaylorBojangles: Kinda starting to think neither team is going to win this game
@DonnieBuckets: We all knew this was coming down to Darren Daye
@TaylorBojangles: MCHALE SWAT
@DonnieBuckets: THAT LAST POSSESSION BY MILWAUKEE<<<<<<<<<<<
@TaylorBojangles: Oh no, John Lucas. Don’t jump pass!
@DonnieBuckets: Don Nelson losing because his team couldn’t execute in transition must have almost killed him
@DonnieBuckets: Milwaukee didn’t lose this in 7 games after losing this, did they? OKAY TIME TO GO NOW BYE
@wshareNBA: Yikes. That one sucks for Milwaukee, they had a real good shot at that. Pressey and Moncrief combined for 42, but only so much you can do when Larry scores 42 on his own.