NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS, 1987: GAME FIVE {DETROIT PISTONS VS. BOSTON CELTICS} (TV)
Summary
This program consists of Game Five of the 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. Announcer Bob Neal and Chicago Bulls coach Doug Collins call the action. With the series even after four games, the Pistons visit Boston Garden, where they haven't won since 1982. The two teams play a close, physical half of roundball, with Boston maintaining a 58-56 edge at the break. Celtics forward Kevin McHale gets into foul trouble early in the second half but the score remains close. The third period concludes with Boston leading 86-85. Charlie Neal conducts pregame and halftime interviews with Boston trainer Ray Melchiorre, Celtics fan Ike Darden, WBC light heavyweight champion Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns and Celtics President Red Auerbach. The fourth quarter begins with the Celtics leading 86-85. Their efforts are hampered, though, when center Robert Parish sprains his ankle, Kevin McHale gets into foul trouble and Darren Daye fouls out of the game. The Pistons, however, maintain only a one-point lead with seventeen seconds remaining in the game. Boston has possession of the ball but appears about to lose the game when forward Larry Bird's shot is blocked out of bounds off a Celtic with five seconds remaining. However, Bird dramatically steals Piston Isiah Thomas' inbounds pass and accurately feeds guard Dennis Johnson cutting to the basket to seal an improbable playoff victory for the hometown Celts. Charlie Neal offers post-game commentary. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: TBS
- DATE: May 26, 1987 Tuesday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:19:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:32624
- GENRE: Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: Basketball; Sports
- SERIES RUN: TBS - TV, 1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Don McGuire … Executive Producer
- Kimberly Belton … Coordinating Producer
- Rohan Backfisch … Producer
- Glenn Diamond … Producer
- Joel Westbrook … Producer
- Tim Rockwood … Studio Producer
- Terry Rhodes … Studio Producer
- Tom Smith … Director
- Skip Ellison … Director
- Mark Goldsmith … Director
- Mark Reardon … Director
- Charlie Neal … Interviewer
- Bob Neal … Announcer
- Doug Collins … Announcer
- Ray Melchiorre … Guest
- Ike Darden … Guest
- Hearns, Thomas "Hit Man" … Guest
- Red Auerbach … Guest
- Kevin McHale
- Larry Bird
- Darren Daye
- Dennis Johnson
- Robert Parish
- Boston Celtics (basketball team)
- Detroit Pistons (basketball team)