How They Got Here
After being upset in the 1981 NBA Playoffs by the surprising Houston Rockets in a 3-game mini-series, the Lakers were back in championship form. Led by new coach Pat Riley, along with the return to championship form of Magic Johnson, and new Laker Bob McAdoo, the Lakers swept the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
The 76ers had to play a mini-series since they finished second to the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia swept the Atlanta Hawks 2-0, and then ousted the Central Division champion Milwaukee Bucks (the 76ers had home-court advantage due to a better overall record) 4-2. In the Eastern Conference finals, the 76ers blew out the Celtics twice at The Spectrum to take a 3-1 lead, only to lose the next two games in a harrowing replay of the 1981 playoffs, which saw Boston overcome a 3-1 deficit in the same round vs. Philadelphia en route to the world championship, winning Game 7 at the Boston Garden 91-90.
The 76ers exorcised the demons of 1981 by blowing out the Celtics 120-106 in Game 7. As time wound down, the Boston Garden crowd began to chant "Beat L.A.!", encouraging the 76ers to defeat the hated Lakers in the championship round.
Read more about this topic: 1982 NBA Finals
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