Background
The Milwaukee Bucks returned to the NBA Finals after a three-year absence. Some of the cast from the 1971 championship team, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor), Jon McGlocklin, Bob Dandridge and the retiring Oscar Robertson, return for another title run. However Lucius Allen, a key bench player from that team, was injured and couldn't play in the series. The Bucks eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls in five and four games, respectively, to advance to the Finals. The Lakers series marked the final games of Jerry West's career.
The Boston Celtics won a franchise record 68 games in the 1972–73 season, but a shoulder injury to John Havlicek quashed their title hopes, as they lost in seven games to the New York Knicks in the conference finals. Havlicek returned healthier for the 1973–74 season, and with Dave Cowens, Paul Silas and Jo Jo White entering the prime of their careers, the Celtics appear poised for another title run. The Celtics, though winning 12 games less than the previous season, still made the Finals, defeating the Buffalo Braves in six games before ousting the defending champion Knicks in five games.
Read more about this topic: 1974 NBA Finals
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