Magic Johnson's last-second showdown with Larry Bird needs a deep rewind

Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals was a crucial juncture in multiple rivalries: the Celtics-Lakers rivalry dating back to the 1950s, and the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird rivalry that had captivated fans since their college days.

Down 1 in the closing seconds, the Lakers just needed a bucket and a stop to steal a win at Boston Garden and take a commanding 3-1 series lead. We'll see what happened in their final possession, and the Celtics play that followed, but to really understand those moments we need to go back. We need to understand the options available to the '87 Lakers, including the legendary but aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the increasingly dominant Magic Johnson. We need to understand the Celtics' recent history, including that tragic '86-'87 season.

This is one of the greatest moments in NBA Finals history, and to really understand why, you've gotta rewind.