1968 NBA Playoffs

The 1968 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1967-68 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.

The Celtics won their 10th NBA title, first under player/coach Bill Russell after Red Auerbach's retirement.

In the Eastern Division Finals, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win, as they knocked off the defending champion 76ers in 7. In the West, the Lakers swept the Warriors in 4 games.

It was the first time since 1954 that the top team in a division failed to make the Division Finals; from 19551966 the league gave the regular-season division champion a first-round bye.

  Division Semifinals Division Finals NBA Finals
                           
  1  St. Louis 2  
3  San Francisco 4  
  3  San Francisco 0  
Western Division
    2  L.A. Lakers 4  
4  Chicago 1
  2  L.A. Lakers 4  
    W2  L.A. Lakers 2
  E2  Boston 4
  1  Philadelphia 4  
3  New York 2  
1  Philadelphia 3
Eastern Division
    2  Boston 4  
4  Detroit 2
  2  Boston 4  

Western Division

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Division Semifinals

(1) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) San Francisco Warriors: Warriors win series 4-2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1967 Western Division Finals (San Francisco won 4-2)

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Chicago Bulls: Lakers win series 4-1

This is the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and Bulls.

Division Finals

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) San Francisco Warriors: Lakers win series 4-0

Last Playoff Meeting: 1967 Western Division Semifinals (San Francisco won 3-0)

Eastern Division

Champion: Boston Celtics

Division Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) New York Knicks: 76ers win series 4-2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1959 Eastern Division Semifinals (Syracuse, the predecessor to Philadelphia, won 3-2)

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Detroit Pistons: Celtics win series 4-2

This is the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and the Pistons.

Division Finals

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (2) Boston Celtics: Celtics win series 4-3

Last Playoff Meeting: 1967 Eastern Division Finals (Philadelphia won 4-1)

NBA Finals

Main article: 1968 NBA Finals

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Celtics win series 4-2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1966 NBA Finals (Boston won 4-3)

External links

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