Cavs vs. Warriors: A History of NBA Finals Rematches

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to meet in the 2016 NBA Finals in a rematch of last year’s championship series. The Warriors topped the Cavs 4-2 in 2015, and won their first title since 1975.

Behind the shooting of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and the stout defense and clutch play of series MVP Andre Igoudala, the Warriors were able to top the Cavs in 2015. Cleveland was missing Kevin Love for the entire series, and Kyrie Irving left Game 1 and never returned thanks to a fractured kneecap. Try as he might, LeBron James couldn’t will the Cavs to a win in the series.

On Thursday the two teams will tip-off in the 13th rematch in NBA Finals history. In the previous 13 NBA Finals rematches, the defending champions are just 6-7. Meanwhile, the defending champion has lost six out of the last seven NBA Finals rematches. That’s a trend the Warriors will be looking to reverse.

It’s time to do a little NBA history lesson to get you prepared for tonight. What follows is a look at each NBA Finals rematch since the league crowned its first champion in 1947.

2014: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Heat went back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 and were looking to three-peat in 2014. During the 2013 finals, it appeared the Spurs had the series won. They were up 3-2 and led Game 6 94-89 with just 28 seconds remaining. Then this happened:

Miami wound up winning Games 6 and 7 at home to clinch the series, leaving the Spurs with a bitter taste in their mouths. LeBron James took home the MVP award.

The two teams locked horns again in the 2014 finals in desperate search of revenge. They got it with a dominating performance.

The Spurs won the first game at home, but surrendered home-court advantage by dropping Game 2 98-96. It didn’t matter. They dominated the final three games, winning by an average of 19 points. Kawhi Leonard was named the MVP as the Spurs secured the fifth championship of the Tim Duncan/Gregg Poppovich era.

1998: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz just couldn’t catch a break during the John Stockton/Karl Malone era. Despite two excellent seasons in 1996-97 and 1997-98, the Jazz ran into the buzzsaw that was Michael Jordan’s Bulls in each year.

In 1997, Malone won the MVP Award and Utah appeared to finally be poised for a breakthrough. It didn’t happen. The championship series was tied 2-2 and headed back to Utah for Game 5, but the Bulls pulled out a 90-88 win, then clinched at home in Game 6. Jordan took home Finals MVP honors.

Despite another valiant effort in 1998, there was no stopping Jordan and his Bulls. The Jazz were just no match for Chicago, as evidenced by an insane 42-point blowout loss in Game 3. Still Utah pushed the series to a sixth game and led 86-85 at home with 10 seconds left. Then Jordan did this to Bryon Russell:

That was Jordan’s final shot as a member of the Bulls and gave him 45 points on the night. He was obviously the Finals MVP and Chicago completed its second three-peat.

1989: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The 1989 NBA Finals qualify as one of the biggest disappointments in sports history. After an amazing seven-game series in 1988 in which the Lakers prevailed at home, Los Angeles and Detroit were on a collision course for a rematch during the entire 1988-89 season. Unfortunately, not everyone made it to the series.

After opening the playoffs by sweeping the first three rounds 11-0, the “Showtime” Lakers appeared well-rested and ready to battle the rough-and-tumble “Bad Boys” from Detroit. Then, during practice before Game 1, starting guard Byron Scott suffered a major hamstring injury and was ruled out for the series. After the Pistons took Game 1 at home 109-97, the Lakers appeared to have bounced back in Detroit during Game 2. Then with just four minutes left in the third quarter of that game, Magic Johnson also suffered a pulled hamstring and was ruled out for the rest of the series.

With their starting backcourt done for the series, the Lakers had nothing left to fight off the Pistons’ assault and wound up being swept. Joe Dumars was named the series MVP and Game 4 was the final contest of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA career.

1985: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

In 1984 the Celtics topped their long-time rivals in a stunning seven-game series that saw Larry Bird best Magic Johnson and win Finals MVP honors. That series included nine Hall of Fame players and was one of the best in NBA history. The two teams were destined to meet again in the 1985 finals, but this time the Lakers got their revenge.

The Celtics took advantage of their home court edge and blew the Lakers out 148-114 in Game 1, but Los Angeles answered back by winning the next two. The Series was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5, and the Lakers pulled out a home win, then managed to clinch at the Boston Garden in Game 6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the way for the Lakers with 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game and was named Finals MVP for the second time.

1983: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

In 1982, the Lakers and 76ers met in the NBA Finals in a series that pitted two of the most exciting players in league history against each other. In that edition of the matchup, Magic Johnson got the better of Julius Irving as the Lakers won in six games and Johnson earned his second Finals MVP trophy.

Before the 1983 season, Philadelphia traded for Moses Malone solely to try and slow down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The rest of the roster was reshaped solely for the purposes of matching up better against he Lakers. The Sixers won 65 regular season games, then dominated the postseason, going 8-1 to reach the finals.

The Lakers knew they were in a fight if they wanted to repeat, especially after Rookie of the Year candidate James Worthy broke his leg late in the year. The Lakers cruised to the finals, but wound up not putting up much of a fight against Philadelphia. The 76ers dominated the rematch, sweeping Los Angeles and posting a stellar 12-1 postseason record.

Moses Malone owned the series, averaging 25.8 points and 18.0 rebounds while earning Finals MVP honors. It was Philadelphia’s third and most recent NBA title.

1979: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Washington Bullets

The Washington Bullets topped the SuperSonics in a great seven game series in 1978. They were led by Wes Unseld, who earned Finals MVP honors while averaging just 9.0 points and 11.7 rebounds. The Bullets trailed 3-2 but dominated Game 6 at home 117-82, then were able to take Game 7 in Seattle 105-99.

In 1979, the Bullets finished with the top record in the league, while the Sonics finished second. They were clearly the top two teams in the NBA and everyone knew they were headed for another clash in the finals.

This time the Sonics would not be denied, and they took the series in five games. They finished things off with a 97-93 win at the Capital Centre in Maryland, leaving 19,035 Bullets fans dejected.

Seattle was led by Finals MVP Dennis Johnson, who averaged 22.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Johnson got a ton of help from fellow guard Gus Williams, who chipped in with a series-high of 28.6 points per game.

The Bullets/Wizards have never made it back to the NBA Finals after the loss in 1979, and the Sonics didn’t reach the championship series again until 1996.

1973: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks

After losing eight straight trips to the finals (seven to the Celtics, one to the Knicks) the Lakers finally broke through and won an NBA title in 1972. They ripped the Knicks in a five-game pasting during which they were led by Finals MVP Wilt Chamberlain and his 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds per game.

The 1972-73 season seemed like the last chance for Knicks star Jerry Lucas to earn a title and the team worked incredibly hard to ensure he had that opportunity. They returned to the finals to face the Lakers after defeating the Celtics at the Boston Garden in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Finals series featured 11 players who would one day be in the Basketball Hall of Fame (Phil Jackson and Pat Riley made it as coaches), but as in 1972, it wasn’t close. The Lakers took the opening game 115-112 on their home floor, then dropped four-straight games as the Knicks ran away with the series. New York had avenged a lopsided defeat from the year before with an impressive team-oriented series win. Jerry Lucas finally had his title.

Willis Reed earned Finals MVP honors, and the final points of the series were scored by Wilt Chamberlain on a breakaway dunk. It would be the final play of his NBA career.

1969: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA had to be pretty boring in the 60s, with the Celtics and Lakers dominating the landscape. The Celtics took home nine championships in the decade, and faced the Lakers in the finals six times. The 1968 championship series was no different, as Bill Russell’s Celtics topped the Lakers yet again, 4-2.

Before the 1968-69 season the Lakers traded for Wilt Chamberlain and were determined to shake off the Celtics and finally top them for a title. They earned home-court advantage by winning 55 regular season games and looking impressive in doing so. Meanwhile, the Celtics won 50 regular season games and Bill Russell appeared to be struggling with fatigue in what would be he final season.

The two titanic rivals met up in the finals and it was a doozy of the series. The Lakers took the first two games at home in tight contests, while the Celtics took Games 3 and 4 at home. The Lakers bounced back to take Game 5 by 13 points, while the Celtics answered back with a 99-90 win in Game 6. That set up an enormous Game 7 clash at The Forum in Los Angeles.

In what was one of the most anticipated games in NBA history, Boston somehow eked out a 108-106 win.

While the rest of the victorious Celtics sprinted off the floor gleefully, Russell immediately looked for vanquished foe Jerry West and embraced him as a show of admiration. West had averaged 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists in the series but it wasn’t enough. “The Logo” became the only losing player to ever be awarded Finals MVP.

It was Russell’s last game and the Celtics took a five-year break from winning titles, mercifully giving other teams a chance to do so. The Lakers, led by Chamberlain and West finally secured a title in 1972.

1966: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The Celtics and Lakers met in a rematch once again in 1966, and the series yielded a familiar result. The Celtics had won the 1965 finals by a 4-1 margin. Before the 1966 season, Red Auerbach had announced it would be his final year coaching the Celtics. It gave the Lakers one last chance to take down Auerbach and his Celtics.

Throughout the 1966 season, it was clear the two franchises were headed for a return engagement in the finals. When it was time for the teams to dance again, they did not disappoint.

The Lakers took Game 1 in stunning fashion with a comeback win in overtime at Boston Garden. The Celtics then reeled off three straight wins and it looked as if the series would be a runaway. But the Lakers took Game 5 in Boston 121-117, then secured a home win in Game 6 at home. That set up an all-or-nothing showdown at The Garden in Game 7.

Despite 36 points from Jerry West, the Celtics were able to pull out a 95-93 win thanks to 25 points from Bill Russell and 22 from Sam Jones. They sent Auerbach out a winner and secured the franchise’s ninth title. On top of that, they notched yet another win over their bitter rivals from the other coast.

1963: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers had moved to Los Angeles prior to the 1960 season and quickly built a young core around a 27-year-old Elgin Baylor and a 23-year-old Jerry West. In 1962 they made it all the way to the NBA Finals and faced an absolute juggernaut in the Celtics. Los Angeles took Boston to the brink but finally lost Game 7 110-107 in overtime. It was just the second (and last) time Game 7 of the NBA Finals has gone to overtime.

The Lakers sought revenge in 1963, but we all know how that story went. The Celtics were in the middle of their insane run of eight-straight NBA titles, and were not going to be denied. Boston dispatched the Lakers in six games, closing the series out in Los Angeles with a 112-109 win. It was the fifth title in a row for the Celtics.

1961: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks

Yep, these two franchises did the rematch thing again in 1961, following another classic seven-game series in 1960 that the Celtics won. That year, Boston won the opening game and the team alternated wins until Game 7, where the Celtics won going away 122-103 at home. Pettit and Russell were the dominant players in the 1960 series, with the former averaging 25.7 points, 14.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in the series, while Russell averaged 16.7 points, a whopping 24.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

In 1961, the Hawks hoped to flip the script on the Celtics again and end their two-year run as titlists. Instead, Boston steamrolled St. Louis, dominating the first two games, dropping the third, then owning the last two as well. Once again, Russell (17.6 points, 28.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists) out-dueled Pettit (28.4 points, 16.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists) to lead his team to its third straight title.

1958: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks

After losing to the Celtics in seven games in 1957, the Hawks entered the 1958 NBA Finals looking to avenge that defeat. They did thanks to future Hall of Fame post man Bob Pettit, who averaged 29.3 points, 17.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in a dominant series.

With his team leading the series 3-2, Pettit stepped up with 50 points – including 18 of St. Louis’ final 21 – in Game 6 at home as the Hawks slipped by the Celtics 110-109 and won their only NBA championship. Pettit was an 11-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA First-Team selection and a two-time MVP, but winning that title was the top achievement in his storied career

The Hawks were the first team to get their revenge in finals rematch. A Celtics roster that included a 23-year-old first-time All-Star named Bill Russell was just getting warmed up.

1953: Minneapolis Lakers vs. New York Knicks

The Lakers had beaten the Knicks in an instant-classic of a series in 1952. The teams played incredibly close games until Minneapolis exploited its home court advantage in Game 7 and won the decisive game in a 17-point blowout. George Mikan led the way for the Lakers, averaging 21.7 points and 17.4 rebounds in the series.

In 1953 the Knicks entered the finals against the Lakers looking for revenge for their heart-breaking seven-game loss the year before. Unfortunately, Mikan was still on the Lakers in the midst of his prime.

Minneapolis dropped Game 1 at home 96-88 and the Knicks looked like they had the formula to defeat the defending champs. Not so fast. Mikan and the Lakers swept the next four games, taking the series with a demoralizing 91-84 win at Madison Square Garden.

Minneapolis had secured back-to-back titles for the second time in franchise history. The Lakers would go on to win a seven-game series over the Syracuse Nationals in 1954, giving the NBA its first three-peat. Meanwhile, the Knicks would have to wait 17 years before returning to the finals.