[The Lakers and the Celtics were destined to meet again.]
The story of the 76ers and the Lakers reaching the finals three times in four years had become tiresome, and the viewership plummeted to an all-time low during the 1981 finals between the Rockets and the Celtics.
However, the finals between the Lakers and the Celtics were everything people wanted.
The Celtics breezed into the finals, losing only two games in the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers likewise lost only two games, but their Western Conference finals struggle against the Trail Blazers left a deep impression. The tenacity and resilience of the Portland people shone brightly, yet their moment had not yet arrived.
The Celtics hoped to establish themselves as a dynasty, not just as one of the best teams of an era.
