‘Sad’; Earlier 1980s Nemesis of the Boston Celtics, 68, Dies Following Cancer Battle…
Robert Reid posed challenges for the Boston Celtics during their appearances in two NBA Finals series in the 1980s.
The Boston Celtics made it to the NBA Finals on five occasions throughout the 1980s. While many recall their intense clashes with the Los Angeles Lakers, two of their three championship victories during that decade came against the Houston Rockets.
Robert Reid participated in both the 1981 and 1986 NBA Finals matchups against the Celtics. Known for his robust defensive skills, Reid also displayed offensive prowess, achieving a career-high scoring average of 15.9 points during the 1980-81 season. Sadly, Reid passed away at the age of 68 on Monday, February 19, at his residence in Houston after battling cancer.
The first NBA Finals appearance of the 1980s for the Celtics occurred during the 1980-81 season. Following Larry Bird’s Rookie of the Year win, the Celtics bolstered their roster by acquiring Robert Parish and Kevin McHale in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. In their inaugural season together, Boston’s formidable trio secured their first championship title.
Despite the dominance of the Rockets’ center, Moses Malone, they made the series competitive by claiming a victory in Game 2 in Boston with a narrow 92-90 triumph. The following games in Houston resulted in a split, setting up a tied series at two games each upon returning to Boston.
During the Houston games, Bird struggled, only managing eight points per game while being primarily defended by Reid. Bird’s shooting percentage suffered, going 3-for-11 from the field in both encounters. Although Reid’s defensive prowess was widely acknowledged by NBA fans, Bird, in his characteristic fashion, offered a different perspective.
“Robert is a solid defensive player, but he’s not on the level of Michael Cooper,” Bird remarked in his autobiography “Drive: The Story of My Life.” “I couldn’t understand all the hype surrounding it. Despite my shooting struggles, I believed I played well overall. I contributed through passing, solid defense, and grabbed 21 rebounds in each of the first two games. No forward has accomplished that since.”
Reid led all scorers with 27 points in a narrow 98-95 defeat for the Rockets in Game 1.
Magic Johnson recognized Reid’s defensive excellence and hailed him as one of the premier defensive players in the league.
Reid also featured on the Rockets team that faced the Celtics in the 1986 NBA Finals, where they were clearly outmatched. After conceding the first two games in Boston, the 6-foot-8 Reid delivered a stellar performance in Game 3, scoring 20 points and distributing a team-leading nine assists in Houston’s 106-104 victory.
In Game 5, a convincing 111-96 win for Houston that narrowed their series deficit to 3-2, Reid accumulated 17 assists in addition to 13 points.
The Celtics ultimately clinched the series in six games.
Despite Reid’s impressive contributions on the court and his defensive prowess, he was revered as a remarkable individual. Magic Johnson acknowledged his defensive abilities but also highlighted his outstanding character.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Robert Reid’s passing,” Johnson expressed. “Robert was a fierce competitor for the Houston Rockets and one of the most exceptional defensive players in NBA history! He always welcomed me warmly during my visits to Houston, and we shared numerous meals together over the years.
“He was an outstanding individual, and his loss is profoundly felt by his family, our NBA community, and friends like myself. Cookie and I extend our prayers to the entire Reid family, friends, and the NBA community during this challenging period.”
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