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Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. J Erving, The Sixers swept a weak Indiana Pacers team in round 1 (2-0) then went seven games to defeat a tough Milwaukee Bucks team starring Bob Lanier, Marques Johnson and. Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. In Game 5, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead with a 121-103 victory, as Larry Bird scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Bird does not have any titles outside of the NBA, despite making the NCAA tournament final in 1979. Get the latest news on Larry Bird, biographical info . Small Forward and Power Forward The Celtics won the series, with Bird getting a triple double in the deciding game six. Milwaukee Bucks 4-0, 1986 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Bird's 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). They did make the playoffs the year after and many thought that they would easily repeat at first. The Cs won a couple home games to start the series then lost a close one on the road. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. We have seen some teams lose in the NBA Finals off of some injuries and other situations leading up to it that the box score doesnt show, so lets dive into Birds record. Boston's most crucial addition was Dennis Johnson, whom they acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the offseason in hopes of addressing their porous back-court defense. This Finals had everything. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. The big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. Birds 2 Finals losses both came against the Lakers and Magic Johnson, 1985 & 1987. 0:00. The Celtics made short work of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning in five games. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Bird averaged 24 points per game as Boston won the series in six to net him his THIRD ring. It featured the first time that Larry Bird met Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals, their first head-to-head championship meeting since the 1979 NCAA title game. Safe to say he absolutely dominated in every facet of the game for that second ring. There are so many different titles that Bird has. As one of the greatest players to ever step foot in the . Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. (the Lakers) learned a valuable lesson. The Los Angeles Lakers won both games in the regular season series: The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden. She reported on the Celtics' sideline while Pat O'Brien reported on the Lakers' sideline. Shoots: Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. They snuck into the playoffs because of a weak Central division. The games were closer than youd expect for a 1 seed vs 8 seed series. When asked about what he remembers most about beating the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals, Carrs reply was: The final seconds of Game 7. MUMBAI, India Twenty-seven years after Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and the "Dream Team" made the world fall in love with the game of basketball in 1992, India showed its adoration for the Boston Celtics great during the first NBA India Games last week. Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. * 1981: Boston Celtics def. And, to be clear, he came by it honestly. But it is also quite possible even probable that Larry Bird cost the Celtics the 1985 NBA championship.". The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. The #1 and #2 seeds were set to face off in the Conference Finals. The league had changed the Finals homecourt schedule to the 2-3-2 format that year, allowing the team with the lesser record (LA) to host the middle three games. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. The Laker momentum was stalled, and Larry Bird came up with a crucial jumper over Magic Johnson with 16 seconds remaining in overtime, then M.L. Johnson had the winning record in the regular season and playoffs, and he took down Bird twice in their three Finals showdowns although Johnson having the better team had something to do with that. Those other two times? Fox believes the Westbrook is the most scrutinized player in the NBA, while also stating that everyone inside the league loves Westbrook, regardless of what the outside perception may be, Arenas believes that the Grizzlies should ignore Morant's actions because every other team would and he's a productive player for them, Tim Hardaway told his favorite Run TMC story involving Don Nelson which resulted to an unforgettable moment for the group. Sadly for Bird, the Pacers lost the series in six games. His individual performance was recognised all across the NBA as he helped Boston to a then record breaking 67-15 regular season record. Bird poured in 39 in game 7 to lead the Cs to 30.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the series. Even when he found fame and fortune, the NBA star never forgot his humble roots. The following season, the Celtics did end up losing to the Philadelphia 76ers after winning their first-round series against the Washington Bullets (what a team name!). Cedric Maxwell, Larry Birds teammate, was awarded Finals MVP with 18-9-3. The American greatest basketball still worked as a coach and executive in the NBA, which had indeed led him to get over the low . . Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. The Bucks took them to seven games before they were able to advance and the Pistons took them to seven in the Conference Finals. SI examines the rivalry between the basketball hall of famers and how they changed the landscape of the NBA. Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson helped define the modern NBA with their individual brilliance and team success in the 1980s. The Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. Navigation Toggle NBA. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. The Celtics took four games to get by the Bullets in the first round best-of-five series. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. The Bucks won a five-game series over the Hawks to start the playoffs and got by Darryl Dawkins and his NJ Nets in round 2. The Celtics then took the series lead for the first time by winning Game 5 but the thoroughbred Lakers sent the series to a Game 7 with their own double-digit win. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. The Bucks, coached by Celtics legend Don Nelson, won the Central Division title in 1984. In his first trip to the NBA Finals, Tatum averaged 21.5 points, seven assists and 6.8 rebounds, but the Celtics came up short. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war.". Carr stole James Worthy's inbounds pass followed by a dunk to seal the win. He was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. Or maybe youre a younger fan wondering if Bird really deserves his place in the Pantheon of basketball greats. The Houston Rockets have long been a sneakily dangerous team even when they were losing, dating from when the Rockets faced the Boston Celtics in the 1981 NBA Finals with a losing record. Im kind of country, she explained. It gave Bird his first finals loss in his third appearance. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Western Conference Finals also led to one of the greatest game-winners ever. That might seem unbelievable this is coming from a man who famously asked his Three-Point Contest peers who was coming in second but it largely fits within Birds character. Hall of Fame. The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. Larry Bird Net Worth. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. However, this changed in the 1979 season when Birds Indiana State qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Bird was Finals MVP in the teams victories over the Houston Rockets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. He averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across his three seasons, winning Naismith College Player of the Year in 1979. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. Before the season began, the Lakers traded long-time guard Norm Nixon to the San Diego Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Byron Scott. Then came the championship series. Then head coach Bill Fitch resigned as head coach despite having the second-best coaching record in the NBA during his four-year stint in Boston. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. They easily won their first round series against the Washington Bullets as they were named at that time, then advanced and knocked off the New York Knicks in a seven-game series. Bostons setbacks didnt end on the basketball court. The Celtics did not warm up with their sweat pants on because of extreme heat, and an oxygen tank was provided to give air to an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Its pretty easy to forget how many times Bird has been in the NBA Finals with all of the many accolades and unbelievably, but true, stories about him. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. By: HoopsHype. Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. Despite this, Bird did not win any championships during his college career. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Houston lost a close game 1 then won a tight game 2 in Boston. Furthermore, Johnson and Bird earned five of the 10 MVP awards handed out during the 1980s. Bird only averaged 15 points per game throughout the series but he did drop a series high 27 points in Game 6 to officially send the Rockets packing, as Bird won his first chip. Larry Bird was a star. The Celtics got the better of their Showtime Lakers rivales in a heated seven game series to claim the 1984 NBA Title. This site is a participant in the Impact Affiliate Platform which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Fanatics.com . Bird picked up his first Finals MVP honurs. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. Chicago Bulls 4-1, 1981 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. The Knicks had slipped past a young Detroit Pistons team featuring Kelly Tripucka, Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer in five games in the first round. In this first iconic matchup, eight Hall of Famers saw play. Even from his first season with Indiana State, Birds performances were exceptional. Celtics Starters: Tiny Archibald, Chris Ford, Larry Bird, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell and Robert Parish. Carr revealed that the motto of the 1983-84 Celtics was Dont be denied, and the team ended up winning the championship that no one thought they would win. His career was cut dramatically short by injury. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. Bird had a good series in other categories, but did not score at his normal rate. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Tatum and the rest of his team are eager to avenge the loss in the Finals . When discussing his legacy with Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press (h/t the Daily Hampshire Gazette), Bird didnt take much time to sing his own praises. Or write about sports? Bird's Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. Coming off the back of a disappointing loss to the Lakers in the finals, many people saw Bird taking a step back going into the 1985-86 season. With Kareem ageing, the Celtics hoped that they could win the finals. The Celtics blew out Houston in game 5 behind a big effort from Cedric Maxwell and then took a big lead and held on to win in game 6. The Celtics swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. Fitch went on to say that Mangurians decision to sell the team was the backbreaker and that he would have reconsidered his resignation had the team not been put up for sale. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Larry Bird's 1986 Playoff Stats . The Celtics stayed unbeaten all-time in home Game 7s with a clear cut 111-102 victory. The 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell led the team in scoring after saying something like Get on my back boys before the game. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Larry averaged 27-10-7 and led the Celtics with 36 points in a game-five win that saw the Celtics beat the Hawks by 33 points. Birds Pacers swept the Bucks and the Sixers in the first two rounds of the playoffs and looked likely to make it to the finals as they came up against the eight seed New York Knicks in the conference finals. The type of player who didnt even care about stats but always seemed to put up the most absurd statlines ever seen. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. Bird won three in a row between 1983 and 1986, whereas Johnson closedthe decade out with a pair ofMVP awards. . Larry averaged 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in this series. The Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987 with Bird and Cooper going at it. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Celtics in the conference finals before losing to the Lakers in the 1980 NBA Finals, with Johnson earning Finals MVP honors for his Game 6 performance. Despite good performances from Bird, Magic Johnson outplayed him as the jumbo sized Lakers guard won finals MVP. L.A. went on to blow out the Celtics in Game 3 but the resilient Celtics responded with a 129-125 OT win in Game 4 which was sealed by Carrs steal at the buzzer. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:46PM. . Below you can see the playoff results for all of Birds Celtics teams. You have to really understand the circumstances in each Finals run and see how he ended up with the record that he has right now. It was one of the most dominant playoff runs that we had ever seen in basketball at this time and it was hard to imagine them as anything other than favorites entering that series against the Rockets, a team that they already beat in the championship before. Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This was Birds last season with Indiana State as he had been drafted by the Celtics in 1978, but chose to play out one final year with his college instead of going straight to the NBA. The first series matched Boston up with the Chicago Bulls. What surprises me more, though, is that former NBA player, 38-year-old JJ Redick, can't admit that the NBA of the 1980s was more physical than the game played today.. Nearly two weeks ago, Redick caused a stir by saying Bird shouldn't be considered . The Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. 1984 was against the Los Ange. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. And after watching the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers twice during the 1982 and 1983 Finals, they were determined to win in 84. In the game, the Lakers rallied to cut a 14-point-deficit to three with one minute remaining when Cedric Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson. The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Karl Malone believes LeBrons greatness is there to appreciate, not to hate. The Lakers destroyed the Cs in their first home game 137-104 in game 3. Los Angeles Lakers 4-3, Larry Bird Championship #3: 1986 Boston Celtics, 1986 First Round: Celtics def. 1984: Larry Bird: Boston Celtics: No stats available. This site is a participant in the Impact Affiliate Platform which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Fanatics.com . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Johnson was called "Tragic Johnson" by Celtics fans due to the two crucial errors he committed in Game 4 (the Parish steal, followed by two botched free throws in OT). . The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. December 7, Larry wouldnt have been a controversial choice, but Cedric Maxwell was the emotional center of the Celtics and meant so much to the teams culture. He banked in a shot with a minute to go to put the Cs ahead for good and they won 91-90. The Boston Celtics legend is one of three players in NBA history to win three straight MVPs, and he helped the C's win three championships in the 1980s.. Bird, along with Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson, helped take the NBA to another level. talent just don't get it. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. Larry Bird had a winning record in NBA Finals games and series. It featured the first time that Larry Bird met Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals, their first head-to-head championship meeting since the 1979 NCAA title game. The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere.