The 1974 Title: Beating Milwaukee in Seven, Cowens’ Repeat Run

A year after his Finals MVP, Cowens won another title with Boston in 1974. That Finals opponent was the Milwaukee Bucks led by a prime Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Boston and Milwaukee went seven games, and the Celtics prevailed 4-3, capturing the championship after a five-year gap.

For Cowens, this was a "short-over-tall" victory. Against Kareem's skyhook, he did not bang bodies; instead he fronted, helped and disrupted the timing of the giant's catches and turns. Across the series Cowens' rebounding and transition offense were the foundation that let Boston survive the tall-man battle.

This title also marked Boston's generational handoff: Havlicek remained the wing banner, Cowens the settled interior core. The two, inside and out, carried Boston from its 1960s glory into a new 1970s throne. For Cowens, standing on the podium two years running was the finest reward for his blue-collar basketball.

Related Reading

• 1973 NBA MVP: Dave Cowens (Boston Celtics)
• Dave Cowens: Auerbach’s "Stolen" Small-Center, the Blue-Collar Core of the Celtics
• Historical Standing: Why Cowens Is the Best Value Championship Big
• The Twin Core With Havlicek: Boston’s Handoff
• After Retirement: Cowens the Coach