If you could ever pinpoint a precise night when one of the preeminent franchises in all of sports began its demise, falling from its lofty pedestal only to become mired in mediocrity, the date is June 18th and the year is 1986. That team is the Boston Celtics.
Fresh off securing their 16th NBA title in 30 years just days earlier, then lucking out on the #2 draft pick in the 86 lottery, the future couldn't be much brighter. But you know the story: Len Bias died the next morning.
I’m not definitively saying the titles would’ve kept coming at such a fast and feverish pace.