Magic Johnson's Airball Ends Lakers Season (1981 Playoffs vs. Rockets)
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- April 5, 1981 - One year removed from leading his team to an NBA championship as a rookie with a 42-point, 15-rebound and 7-assist Finals-clinching performance, Los Angeles Lakers guard Magic Johnson faced extraordinary expectations heading into his second season. Alas, a left knee injury just 20 games into the 1980-81 season threw Johnson's season for an immediate loop. While the Lakers continued to produce, both in Magic's absence and upon his return in late February, a schism had redeveloped beneath the surface, with questions abounding regarding the feasibility of a Magic Johnson-Norm Nixon backcourt alongside the degree with which the Lakers offense should appease the more methodic pace of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Questions regarding the future direction of the franchise would soon only amplify once the No. 6 seeded Houston Rockets took a one-point lead in a do-or-die Game 3 with 15 seconds remaining. With the Lakers' season in the balance, Magic Johnson's subsequent floater attempt came up well short, all but securing Houston's first round upset. Johnson finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in the loss but shot just 2-of-14 from the field.
Abdul-Jabbar, meanwhile, was outplayed throughout much of the abridged series by Moses Malone. Malone averaged 31.3 points, 17.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, using his brute force inside to ultimately will the Rockets to a surprising appearance in the 1981 Finals, where they'd fall to the Boston Celtics.
The shot above is referenced in Season 2 Episode 2 of the HBO series "Winning Time".
The Mike Dunleavy go-ahead shot prior to Johnson's airball can be seen here at the 30 second mark: • 1981 NBA Playoffs: Hou...
Game 3 Box Score: www.basketball...
So, who's enjoying Winning Time so far this season?
The more I watch it the more I’m reminded how overrated magic is and how better isiah Thomas is
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣😂
😂😂😂😂
@@andresdelportillo9917you are basing your judgement on a TV show.
What’s next? You are going to say that Will Farrell’s Flint Tropics should have made it to NBA?
@@CrayCray9 no I’m not , I’m judging magic off of his choke job against the C’s and the fact that he had to have the league and refs bail his ass out in 88 against an injured isiah thomas , skill wise magic had no range let alone a pull up jumper , he was a poor perimeter defender and he had the most help out of anyone in the 80’s playing with two finals mvp’s (James worthy and Kareem) if magic was zeeks height he’d be a role player
Who else was curious to know if winning time season 2 was cap after seeing the air ball
I knew about the play, but a while back I read Magic's book called "My Life", he talked about it in there, from what he said, he saw something in the defense that he felt the play would not work and called a change on court. Obviously his did not work also, but I am not sure about Riley lying to Westhead and such. I know this will lead to Westhead getting canned and Nixon getting traded. Not sure how the series will play that, but from his book he said that Buss had already made the decision to can Westhead way before this.
That airball and that series against the rockets is true but what really happened was Westhead after they won the title in 1980 implemented his own offensive system for 1981. Magic and the whole team didnt like it and they struggled to start the season and then after a game in November in Utah Magic went to the media and requested a trade so the Lakers fired Westhead and then Pat Riley took over for the rest of the season
EVERYONE 😂😂😂
that was the next season, 1981/82@@greggruenwald7577
Yep
Ok so Winning Time got Magic's air ball right. Just had to confirm lol
Yeah but they had another chance lol
Same lmao
Adrien Brody is magnificent as Pat Riley!
It’s god tier casting
Nah fr him and Jerry West my favorite characters
He's the true star of the show.
@@RConn55facts! 💯
I wouldn’t say that. Adrien’s screen time as Pat has been minuscule. There’s far better acting goin on.
Enjoying winning time 🏀 Dang Magic 😫
We need to give credit for just how historically accurate Winning Time has been since its started! Same exact time, score, and situation. Even the small details like Magic going behind-the-back was included in the episode! Definitely one of my favorite current shows 🔥
Accept all the real people say it's not even close to true. There is zero chance Jerry West is close to the truth.
seriously buddy loves winning time a lil too much lol @@Nikkithedog-t6b
Magic jumps while going behind the back, which is peculiar. Not sure why that move has me so focused on it
It was Nixon inbounding the ball not Wilkes, wasn't it?
@@Nikkithedog-t6bwrong on west. Man had real demons
He also outplayed him in the 83 finals as a first year member of the Sixers. Safe to say that Moses had Kareem's number. Most underrated center in NBA history
He didn't outplay Jabbar in either 1981 or 1983.
He won in 1981 because Magic Johnson tried living up to his 1980 Game 6 performance and feel short.
In 1983, Moses Malone was great in the finals, and so was Jabbar.
The Lakers lost because they couldn't stop Philly's bench late in games and it didn't help that Norm Nixon got hurt during the series.
But to say Jabbar got outplayed is totally false.
@@123slasher.16 Moses Avg. 27 and almost 18 rebounds with 6-1 record against Kareem and the Lakers in combined 81 and 83 series with Houston and Lakers.
Moses controlled the paint and the boards against Kareem. Kareem got his but Moses impact on the game was the difference in both series.
@@Riles3152 for the record, in the 3 game mini series in 1981, Jabbar average 27 points and 17 rebounds that series.
In the 1983 NBA Finals, Jabbar averaged 26 points and 7.5 rebounds that series
Moses Malone averaged 26 points but did have 18; rebounds that series.
The difference was in 1981, Magic took it upon himself to try to live up to his rep from the 1980 Finals and came up short.
In 1983, Philly was a better team with a better bench and with Worthy missing the playoffs and Nixon getting hurt, they weren't as deep.
Dude, he is widely considered top 20-25 all time, I’d say he is rated well
@@123slasher.16who argues over googled stats from games neither of you watched?
I’m here to fact check Winning Time…loving this season.
Me too
The Rockets actually beat Magic's Lakers teams 3 times out of 5 meetings in the playoffs - I believe the only Western Conference team to have a winning record against his teams in the postseason.
The 1990 Suns were the only other team to even win a series, no other West franchises even have a good record against Magic Johnson let alone a winning record. The '88 Jazz and Mavericks were the only other teams that put up a real fight
The Rockets beat the Lakers in 81’ and 86’. Where is the third Rockets victory coming from?
@@ryankenealy4837 1996. They ended Magic's career.
96 after Magic attempted a comeback when he was way past his prime. Was playing with the new era of the Lakers with Van Exel and Caballos, right before Shaq and Kobe came.
Good Walter! My basketball encyclopedia brother got stomped for a minute too - before he figured it out without me telling him!!
@@walterlv01
That lovely funky music.
Damn. Magic did air all😳
Fun facts: During the 80’s, the ‘Showtime Lakers’ only missed the Finals 2 times (‘81 and ‘86). Coincidentally, the Celtics won both of those titles against the Rockets (who eliminated the Lakers both times)
I don’t believe that’s coincidence, I believe it’s sports betting
The 86 Celtics would have destroyed the 86 Lakers (that was the best Celtics team of my lifetime) who needed a Michael Thompson trade to get younger in the Bigs… I think both the 81 and 86 Lakers were really flawed
@@andu1854 as a Laker fan I think they would've lost in 86 too, but still curious how the matchup would've went. In many ways, that 86 Lakers team was tooled to deal with physical teams like the Celtics as the has Lucas, Kupchak, Rambis, Spriggs, and the rookie AC Green to bang in the paint.
As history would have it, that 86 loss was the best thing to happen to the Lakers as Riley decided to go back to a run and gun style. They didn't re-sign Lucas, Kupchak retired, and Green emerging, they had a lineup that can really run. Thompson being added like you said give them a center who can fill the lane.
@eddieG667 But mainly the offensive burden was off Kareem, and put on the younger Magic to have the all around game of scoring and still passing, and his usual of running the break, and picking up Mychal Thompson to backup Kareem, those is what got the Lakers back on track, and yes that Rockets loss turned out to be the best thing for them, it allowed them to break the 19 yr repeat drought.
@@rumarspencer7302 yes, the burden was off Kareem. When I watch clips of that 1986 team, their half court offense became VERY predictable and seemed to even force the ball into the post. Many players didn't have the confidence with their own offense too as a result.
On a side note, back to the 86 team, that really could've been a good defensive team especially with that back court of McGee, Cooper, and a younger, quicker Byron Scott. Magic's legs also still had life in them prior to all the tendonitis.
But in the end, it was a team with some holes like you said.
Magic Shoots An Air Ball 😢
Winning time brought most us of here
I really do enjoy winning Time. But, y’all coming to fact check it like it’s a documentary or an autobiography is funny. 😂 it’s a screenplay based on a book based on the time. It’s not completely factual. Some sequences of how some games played out different even in the first season. Just said that the Laker players were all in a huff
about it like it’s supposed to be 100% accurate.
nice seeing all of you here
Same to you 😊
Well I’m at least enjoying Winning Time after all I’m proud to be in this season as a extra actor for the audience 👍🏻
Thank you for your work!
A lot of people don't remember but some of the games of the finals that year between the Celtics and the rockets were on tape delay.
Even some of the '82 Finals games we're on tape delay except in L.A. and Philly. That stupid tape delay CBS had for playoff games lasted unbelievably until 1986 when Magic and Bird by then had singlehandedly boosted the NBA's market appeal. You'd have to be over 45 to remember the old CBS tape delay games 😂
Love winning time!
Winning time brought me here
As a native Houstonian, I was in HS in ‘81 & remember this series. Moses Malone (RIP) dominated Kareem Abdul Jabar in leading the Rockets to victory. 5 years later, Malone’s protege, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, would do the same in the ‘86 Western conference finals. Ironically after dethroning the Lakers in both series the Rockets would lose twice to Larry Bird’s Celtics in the Finals. Thanks “Winning Time” for the reminder. 🏀
Kareem was never dominated by no one. You just a Houston fan. Did Moses win a Championship with Houston? NO!
@@MartinWingfield-zv3fq , sorry ur so “butt hurt” about my comment…😂🤣😂
Have a nice life…😎
It's weird seeing Del Harris here in 1981 coaching the Rockets when 14 years later, he would coach the Lakers, and a year
later, coach Magic Johnson's final game as a Laker.
Against the Rockets no less.
Can we all take a moment to appreciate the groovy vintage tune at the end of this clip?
What people fail to mention is that Kareem outscored and outrebounded Moses in that game 32 pts to 23 and 18 rebs. to 15.He also outrebounded him 17 to 15 in the previous game
83 was when moses was at his absolute best and that 76ers team was not losing (more than one game) in playoffs…
episode 3 i’m ready
Winning Time had it down!
I aint believe he really did that 😭
Is this when the newspapers called him Tragic Johnson? Lol I love Magic but that’s funny
Three yrs later
@@rumarspencer7302 oh okay 👍🏻
Magic is only human, after all.
Don’t put the blame on him
TRAGIC Johnson strikes again.
happy birthday to Magic! 🥳
Todos hemos venido por HBO
winning time brought me here
Who else is here for Winning Times?
Like the accuracy
You know you're old when you remember watching this game in '81 😒
I had to see this because of “Winning Time”
Winning Time!! I hope they do 20 seasons!! LOL
Def need to see Kobe and Shaq lol
@@marcusbarvey7416oh they could get a whole season of Kobe vs Shaq and how their egos meant one had to go, and they went with the younger player who did work harder than Shaq. (Best description of Shaq is he is a student who could have gotten a 4.0, but was happier with a 3.7)
Unfortunately, they decided to stop at season 2.
The Lakers back in the 80's only lose to Houston twice in the decade.
Only team to defeat them twice in the decade.
I guess we’re all here because of Winning Time.
Defiantly came from watching winning time lol
Wow. I guess they didn’t exaggerate that one. Magic was the first LeBron
Not really, remember Magic won two titles in his first three seasons, and he was MVP of 80 and 82 Playoffs, Lebron is more like it was Lebron vs 5 Luther guys and his supporting team sucks (those Cavs teams were a one man team and it wasn’t even funny how bad Lebron is at building a team
2/14 in an elimination game. Yikes magic!
Lmaoo they wasn’t lying
The disco transition music 😊
Imagine if social media was around back then
Yo desde que vi la segunda temporada segundo capítulo TIEMPO DE VICTORIA. quién más?
The Rockets upset the Lakers twice in the playoffs in the 80’s.
Down to the wire second time was a 1 in a million shot.
@@Freelancer2311old Kareem couldn’t handle the Twin Towers. Rockets beat the Lakers 4-1.
Both situations, where they had a chance to make something happen, both in 15 seconds.
Was watching winning time and wanted to see if this was real. All i typed was "lakers vs " and the first suggestion brought me here 😂😮
Omg like it actually happened like that is what’s crazy
Winning time brought me here....magic was tripping 😂
Love Winning Time.
And WTF was that Magic?
The rockets are the only team to beat magic Johnson’s La lakers teams in the western conference playoffs series on multiple occasions
1981
1986
1996
Did Winning Time bring you here???
In the show it looks like kareem didn't like magic all too much ..at least in the beginning .. if anyone knows more ..would appreciate
55 seconds in the owner looking down all sad $$$ will be lesser this Christmas 😂
it’s true they had beef magics 2nd year
Well when you're an all time great and a new star comes in and is now the media focal point .... Just saying.
Takes some getting used to.
Winning Time feels
Winning times
It's the best TV since Arnold the pig.
Meeeeee!! That's why I'm here
Damn, no foul....
Winning time got it wrong with the behind the back dribble it was with the wrong hand but everything else was accurate..
I believe everything in winning time
Tragic Johnson
He really airball 😂 , winning time really made this so dramatic
Actually Magic made the right play. One on one and he made it close to the basket, but the defender undercut him and limited his follow through motion n the shot. You can see the defender go down. Today, with better refereeing, pretty good chance that gets called a body foul.
Thought kareem was doubled, look like he was open
Tragic Johnson 😂
Lakers sire enjoyed looking past the rockets
Wow
Did he throw the game?
Imagine how Kobe felt when he was air balling….Kobe (no problem not me again)💯
How disrespectful Swove 😆😆. U gonna do this on the man birthday 💥👀💢😆🤔
Quite the unfortunate coincidence there 🤦♂️
But did the Rockets win the title that season?
The Celtics defeated the Rockets that year to win the championship
No, but it was an upset that Houston won over the Lakers.
@KWCline91 What upset that Rockets lineup was stack and tall...
Kobe did this against Utah in the playoffs
He’s no MJ
There is only one Magic. His name is Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Stop calling Luka Magic!
Noooooooo
Tragic Johnson choking as usual
I think he’s a fraud. Lucky first championship last year, but I’m afraid he won’t be the same after that knee injury. He needs to get traded
Lol 5-4 in championships. Sound crazy.
Jordumb choked even more than Magic. Couldn't take the wizards to the playoffs in the easy east. Losing record to Isaiah and Bird and lost to Sidney Moncrief!!!! LMAOOOOO and got destroyed by Nick Anderson!!!! Lmaooooo
@@kamfisher1714Just like LeBron I find it more impressive making that many finals (despite the losses) than making it to the finals fewer times but winning a majority of them
@@Didyourmomtwice good thing I’m a pistons fan and don’t like jordan
Rigged
Magic missed on purpose so he could get Paul Westhead fired because he did not like his style. Magic Johnson behind closed doors is a very evil person. Magic is extremely selfish teammate. It always has to be the way Magic says or he well ruin the team within.
I thought he was a nice guy
Probably at least some truth in that. Still, to say he missed on purpose is a bit deep. Especially one so competitive as Magic.
Firing and not liking his style talk took place the following season.
If Magic's ego is that big....which it may well be because he's Magic freaking Johnson...there's no way in hell he'd want to be seen air balling a big shot like that in the playoffs.
IF Y’all think any of these old teams could beat even the worst NBA team today Yall krazy look at how they dribble and shoot the ball come on now LOL
You gotta start somewhere. It's called evolution. The NBA (and basketball in general) of yesterday crawled, so the NBA of today can flourish.
Moses owned Kareem.
this the guy whos supposed to be better than steph???
Yeah definitely better than Steph curry 😂😂