NBA #7 Final Round History/Notes

Tomorrow night’s Pacers at Thunder #7, will be the 20th such in NBA final round annals in 79 possibilities, (1947-2025).

Starting in 1951, the 5th season, #7’s in the final were “rolled,” in half (10)–(in ’51,’52, ’54,’55, ’57, 60,’62,’66,’69 and ’70–the Celtics going (5-0) in those, the Lakers (2-4) with both wins while in Minneapolis) of the next 20 seasons.

That percentage is in sharp contrast with just the same 10 final round 7th games occurring in the next 55 seasons, counting this one, which was deemed unlikely before it began, from (1971-2025).

Home teams won the first eight before the Celtics in what was Bill Russell and Sam Jones’ last tilt, won at L.A. despite 42 by Jerry (West) in ’69.

Overall, the home team is (15-4) with the ’74 Celtics (at Milwaukee Bucks), ’78 Washington Bullets at Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder and also routed in a road 6th, as the Thunder were, forcing the upcoming 7th) and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ky Irving’s “3” “el” most important play, winning at the record breaking (73-9) Golden State Warriors, in 2016.

These Thunder had a stellar (68-14) “reg” and are (15-7) in the ‘offs while (50-32) Indiana (Pacers) are also (15-7), (7-4) on the road. The Thunder are (10-2) at home and pretty big #7 favorites.

Finally, the Thunder hope to “play the pattern part of the ’84 Celtics with “Indy” as L.A.–then a la the 2025 Thunder, the Celts lost games 1, 3 and 6. They won the crown with wins in games 2 (Gerald Henderson’s steal and tying driving lay in an NBA all-time play) 4, 5 and 7.

“Indy” opts for ’94 as the Houston Rockets with “Ok City” as the New York Knicks. Then as with 2025 Indy, the Rockets won games 1, 3 and 6. Houston, at home, won #7, while Indy, unlike ’84 title winning Boston, cited above, is on the road, for this highly anticipated, “all the proverbial marbles” game.

That’s correct, Gerald as that is the one and only Celts legendary broadcaster, Johnny Most, who once worked with NBA broadcasting pioneer, along with the largely forgotten Hilliard Gates, Marty Glickman, on the call.