Search - Los Angeles Lakers 1985 NBA Champions - Return to Glory on DVD

Description

Jason Burke | 12/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Game 1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar personally apologizes to his Lakers teammates following the Game One loss for his sub-par performance in what is dubbed "The Memorial Day Massacre." - 1
Game 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar bounces back big time with 30 points and 17 rebounds to help the Lakers steal Game Two on the parquet floors of Boston Garden. - 2
Game 3 The Lakers return to the fabulous Forum and hand the fans a victory. With 26 points, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar makes history by becoming the NBA's all-time leading playoff scorer. - 3
Game 4 After a second half surge, Lakers fans go wild when Magic Johnson grabs a clutch rebound and sinks a jumper to tie the game at 105 with 19 seconds remaining. Boston pulls it out in a squeaker. - 4
Game 5 In the second quarter, Coach Pat Riley makes a bold defensive switch, putting Kurt Rambis on Boston's Robert Parish. The Lakers immediately go on a 14-3 run before halftime and emerge victorious. - 5
Game 6 The Lakers win their ninth NBA title and become the first opposing team to win an NBA championship at the Boston Garden. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is named MVP. - 6
YEAR ENDER SYNOPSIS It was the rematch of the decade, and a rivalry for the ages. By 1985 the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers had established themselves as the NBA's finest. Now for a second straight season, these perennial powerhouses were set to do battle once again for the NBA Championship. Determined to avenge their heartbreaking NBA Finals loss to Boston just one year earlier, the Lakers refused to be denied in this ultimate clash of the titans. - 7"

Caveat Emptor...

Eric Mayforth | Houston, Texas | 03/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Almost all of the first half of Game 1 is not included. This is not the series in its entirety."

Make no mistake, the 1985 Lakers team was the BEST of the 5

Jack Ace Rothstein | USA | 09/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a Celtics fan, I feel that the 1984-85 Lakers squad gets LITTLE TO NO RESPECT (and the 1986-87 Lakers get TOO MUCH RESPECT) in the annals of NBA history. Just looking at the stellar roster isn't enough to judge this team. This team played with heart and determination when most teams would've folded after the Memorial Day Massacre. You have to respect a team that eventually won the decisive game on the parquet floor in front of a hostile Boston crowd in Game 6. Sure, maybe Bird injured his hand and maybe both McHale and Parish battled injuries but that shouldn't take away from what the Lakers did. What they showed in 1985's Game 6 is what they didn't show in 1987 which was the ability to close out a tough opponent on the ropes.

Two things of note:

1) This series was not only a redemption for the Lakers (who were seen as soft and easily rattled) but also for the captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (if I had to start an NBA team tomorrow and I had the first pick, I'd take Kareem) culminating in his winning the Finals MVP. It also ushered out the great NBA legends Jamaal Wilkes and Bob McAdoo.

2) As a result of the 1985 Lakers winning, Boston management reshuffled its lineup to created the greatest single season team ever assembled in the 1985-86 Boston Celtics with the greatest frontcourt to ever play the game. I'd pay $100 for a DVD set with this team.

and a Postscript: even if you are neither a Laker nor a Celtic fan, you can still appreciate the pure beauty of how the game was played in the 1980s especially by a team that ran the fast-break better than any other. It's bittersweet to watch these videos knowing how far the NBA game has degraded to boring one-on-one matchup play and slowed tempos. In the 80s, teams played as if it were a 12 second shot clock, not anymore."

Where is game 1?

Marcus Jimenez | Houston, TX United States | 03/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This championship series along with '84 is basketball at its best. Bird, Magic, Kareem, Mchale, Worthy etc, etc. My problem along with many other purchasers I'm sure is game 1. Yes I know this is a Laker dvd and Boston embaressed them but that does not mean you can't show it. Actually I believe that blowout was a blessing for the Lakers, it woke them up. Most teams would have thrown in the towel after that beatdown but not these guys. You could see the fire in their eyes and the determanation from game 2 on to winning the title in 6 on Boston's home court. All six games have the opening music and credits with Musburger narrating key points of prior games. All in all a must have set for anyone who loves pure basketball. I just wish that game 1 was shown in it's entirety!!!"