Just In:”Friday night, he’ll probably get 50″ – Julius Erving struggling in 1981 ECF Game 2 didn’t ease Marques Johnson…..

The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics was one of the most intense and closely watched playoff series in NBA history. The two teams, each with their own star power and ambitions, faced off in a brutal battle for supremacy. However, it was Game 2 of the series that stood out for its drama, particularly regarding the performance of Julius “Dr. J” Erving, and a comment made by Marques Johnson that would later become part of NBA lore.

Setting the Stage: The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals

The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals was a clash between two of the NBA’s most iconic teams. The Philadelphia 76ers, led by the legendary Julius Erving, were a team of skill and athleticism, with Erving representing the pinnacle of basketball grace and athletic ability. The Boston Celtics, on the other hand, boasted an elite roster anchored by the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale. This series, featuring two of the league’s most dominant players in Erving and Bird, was expected to be a showdown between two titans.

The Celtics had already taken Game 1 in Boston, and Game 2, played on May 6, 1981, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, was a must-win for the 76ers. As expected, the matchup was competitive, and the pressure was on the 76ers, who hoped to bounce back after their loss in Game 1. But for Julius Erving, the game did not unfold as he or his team had hoped.

Erving’s Struggles in Game 2

Julius Erving was no stranger to high-pressure situations. With a career that spanned the ABA and NBA, he had established himself as one of the most dominant and charismatic players in basketball history. In the 1981 playoffs, Erving had averaged 28.8 points and 7.2 rebounds during the regular season. But in Game 2 of the ECF, Erving found himself struggling. Despite his usual flair, he couldn’t find his rhythm, and his shooting was off.

Erving finished the game with just 13 points, shooting 5-of-17 from the field, a stark contrast to his typical dominance. The Celtics’ defense, led by the tenacious play of Tiny Archibald and the physicality of Dennis Johnson, was particularly effective in keeping Dr. J in check. As the game progressed, it became clear that Erving was not his usual self.

The 76ers, already down 1-0 in the series, needed Erving to carry them. However, the Celtics’ defense stifled him, and his frustration grew. The Philadelphia crowd, who had been expecting a bounce-back performance from their star, began to grow restless. As the game wore on, the 76ers fell further behind, eventually losing the game 96-88 and facing a daunting 2-0 deficit.

Marques Johnson’s Prophetic Comment

As Julius Erving’s struggles mounted, another interesting dynamic emerged from the Celtics’ camp. Marques Johnson, a star forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, was not involved in the series but was still very much a part of the NBA narrative. Johnson, a player who had been through his own share of playoff battles, reportedly made a bold statement during this period: “Friday night, he’ll probably get 50.”

This comment, directed at Erving’s potential performance in the following game, was widely interpreted as a statement of confidence—perhaps even a warning—to the Celtics. Johnson, known for his sharp basketball IQ and leadership on the floor, was essentially predicting that Erving, despite his struggles in Game 2, would rebound and put on a spectacular performance in Game 3.

At the time, this remark generated a lot of buzz. While it may have been meant as a testament to Erving’s ability to bounce back, it also underscored the pressure Erving faced in that series. For someone like Erving, who had carried his teams on his back in the past, a subpar performance in a high-stakes game was rare, and Johnson’s prediction seemed to reflect the universal belief that the legendary forward would not remain silent for long.

The Impact of Erving’s Struggles on the 76ers

Erving’s subpar performance in Game 2 of the 1981 ECF not only had individual consequences but also cast a shadow over the entire 76ers’ campaign. Philadelphia was relying heavily on Erving to lead the charge, and with the team down by two games, their championship hopes were hanging by a thread. The loss was a tough pill to swallow, as it put the 76ers in an uphill battle against a Celtics team that was playing some of the best basketball of its era.

The 76ers’ struggle in Game 2 highlighted a critical issue: their reliance on one star player to carry the team. While Philadelphia had other talented players like Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney, Erving’s struggles made it clear that they lacked the kind of balanced scoring and team-oriented play that could match the Celtics.