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Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs (USA)

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Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs on Genesis

SEGA Genesis
Sports
5· 0 votes

Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs is an official basketball simulation released for the Sega Genesis in 1990, following its initial 1989 debut on MS-DOS. Developed and published by Electronic Arts, this game was a landmark title - it earned the first-ever NBA license and brought real teams and multiple star players into a single cartridge. The name taps directly into the legendary rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers that defined the 1980s, and it kicked off the NBA Playoffs series on home consoles. The core gameplay puts you in control of any NBA franchise from the era, with the primary mode being a single-elimination playoff bracket as implied by the title. You pick plays, manage substitutions, and control a single player at a time with the ball, passing, shooting, and defending through button presses. The action is viewed from a side-on perspective, and the computer opponent provides a decent challenge that forces you to think about shot selection and defensive positioning. There is also a two-player head-to-head mode for local competition. Today, this title holds up as a piece of sports gaming history more than a deep simulation. Its value lies in seeing how far licensed basketball games have come and in experiencing the early efforts to capture NBA team identities and player abilities on 16-bit hardware. If you enjoy retro sports titles or want to see the foundations of the EA Sports basketball line, it is worth a few quarters of your time. Just do not expect the polish or depth of modern NBA games - this is a product of its era, and that is exactly its charm.

GAME INFO

Platform: SEGA Genesis
Genre: Sports
Released: 1989
Players: 1-2
Region: USA

How to play Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs online

Getting Started
When you boot up Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, the first thing you do is select your team and then choose whether to play a single playoff game or a full bracket. If you pick a single game, you immediately jump into the tip-off. The object is straightforward: outscore your opponent by making baskets. You control the player with the ball using the D-Pad to move, press X to jump for rebounds or blocks, and use S to pass or steal. On offense, try to set up open shots by passing around; on defense, stay between your man and the basket.

The core loop alternates between offense and defense each possession. You get four quarters of play with a standard NBA shot clock. Important mechanics include using the turbo run (hold S while moving) to sprint, and pressing jump at the right moment for a clean shot release. There is no complex playbook - just basic picks and drives. If you are playing the full playoff mode, you must win series to advance. The game offers a solid arcade-style basketball experience that emphasizes timing over deep strategy.

For newcomers, the biggest tip is to learn the shoot timing: hold the pass button to set up a pass, then press jump to shoot when you are in range. On defense, stay patient and try to block shots rather than stealing too often. The AI is fairly predictable, so once you learn its patterns, you can exploit them. And if you have a friend, two-player mode is where the game really shines.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button
S: B button
Z: C button
A: X button (6-button pad)
Q: Y button (6-button pad)
E: Z button (6-button pad)
Enter: Start / Mode

Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs FAQ

Roughly how long does it take to finish Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs?

A single game takes about 15 - 20 minutes, but playing through an entire playoff bracket can take around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the number of rounds and your performance. There is no story mode, so replay time is up to how many tournaments you want to run.

In what year was Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs originally released?

The game first came out in 1989 for MS-DOS computers, and the Sega Genesis port followed in 1990. Both versions were published by Electronic Arts under the same title.

Is Lakers Versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs exclusive to SEGA Genesis or did it appear on other systems?

It was not exclusive to the Genesis. The game debuted on IBM PC compatibles (MS-DOS) in 1989 and later saw ports to the Sega Genesis and the Sega Master System. A version for the Nintendo Entertainment System was also planned but never released.

All SEGA Genesis games