When the Warriors and Celtics met in the 1964 Finals

A Finals matchup between the Warriors and Celtics is not unheard of. Of course, it is not recent, but it has already happened, once. It was in 1964 and this series is important in the history of the NBA.

For one simple reason. Quite simply, it was the first Finals showdown between the two giants of the 1960s: Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. In addition, ten Hall of Famers walked the floor during those five games. The summer before the 1963/64 season was crucial for both franchises. First for the Celtics, who had won the title every season since 1959 and six trophies in seven years, with the retirement of Bob Cousy.

The legendary Massachusetts point guard will no longer be at Bill Russell’s side for this campaign. The pivot will therefore take on a new dimension during this exercise, becoming the undisputed leader of the group.

The two best pivots and defenses in the league

On the side of the Warriors, who evolve in San Francisco since 1962, it is the draft of Nate Thurmond that changes the face of the team. And for good reason, in 1963, the Californians had not played in the playoffs. With their new pivot, and a Wilt Chamberlain less scoring (36.9 points average anyway, against 50.4 and 44.8 the two previous seasons), the Warriors won 48 games, for 32 losses.

This record is the work of the team’s new coach, Alex Hannum. He wants to build a more defensive team with a Chamberlain who looks more like Russell: passes, defense and fewer points. It is a success, San Francisco has the best defense in the league in front of the Celtics.

In Boston, even if Bill Russell is not in the best shape of his life, with a few extra pounds and knee problems, he leads his team, with John Havlicek, the best scorer, to 59 victories in 80 games. It is then the second best regular season in the history of the Celtic franchise.

In the playoffs, Red Auerbach’s team defeated the Cincinnati Royals, led by season MVP Oscar Robertson, in five games. “The Stilt” and his crew struggled more, against Bob Pettit’s Hawks, as it took seven games to reach the Finals.

Tension rises between Wilt Chamberlain and Red Auerbach

With 56 points from the duo Sam Jones – John Havlicek, the Celtics take the first game (108-96). Game 2, despite 32 points and 25 rebounds from Chamberlain, is even easier for Boston (124-101). This second set is marked by a moment of tension between the Warriors’ pivot and Red Auerbach, the Celtics’ coach.

The two men get closer, and Bill Russell intervenes, taking the arm of his historical rival, then lecturing his coach, asking him to back off, not to aggravate things.

The Warriors react in Game 3, at home, in front of their huge audience. While the Cow Palace can only hold 13,800 people in theory, no less than 14,862 spectators were present to witness this victory (115-91). Once again, Wilt Chamberlain shines with 35 points and 25 rebounds.

The day after this defeat, Bill Russell does not practice. However, he exchanges with several players – Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn – to find a solution for Game 4.

Red Auerbach decides to put Frank Ramsey on defense over Nate Thurmond. The logic is as follows: if the Warriors’ pivot gets closer to the circle, he puts himself at the mercy of Bill Russell. So he tends to get out of the way. So when he tries his luck, Frank Ramsey has to let him go and go on the counter-attack in his back.

This tactic works very well in this fourth set. Nate Thurmond is awkward, he finishes at 2/9 on the shot, and Tom Heinsohn is feasting on the other side with 25 points. Boston wins by a breath (95-98) and makes the break.

Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain’s tormentor year after year

For the Game 5, in Boston, Bill Russell arrives at the room completely dressed in black. ” This is my suit for the funeral,” he says, as if to announce the funeral of the Warriors, April 26, 1964. The legend of the Celtics will not make his prediction wrong. In the final seconds, the C’s lead 101-99 and the pivot takes an offensive rebound and scores in the process, with a dunk. The game is won (105-99) and the public enters the floor to carry the pivot as a hero.

The Celtics win their sixth title in a row and the seventh in eight years! Have they become invincible, ask all the journalists, fans and actors?

“The excitement of winning never leaves us,” confessed Red Auerbach. “Only the reasons change. In the beginning, we were trying to win. Now the idea is to be the best team ever. That can only spur us on.”

The Celtics would go on to win again and again, in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969, while crossing paths with Wilt Chamberlain. The 100-point man was transferred to Philadelphia during the 1964/65 season and that year, as well as in 1966, he would once again run into Bill Russell and the Celtic franchise.

In 1967, finally, he will take his revenge by winning the title, after having beaten his rival. A short parenthesis. In 1968, during the playoffs, with the Sixers, then in the 1969 Finals, with the Lakers, he will lose again, in a Game 7 each time, against Bill Russell.