Why did David Stern Veto the Chris Paul to the Lakers Trade? My favorite quotes about Larry Bird - CelticsBlog NAME. The next year, the NBA Finals switched to the 2-3-2 format with Game 5 going to the team without home-court advantage, which continued through 2013. During the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in three, the Dallas Mavericks in five, and the Phoenix Suns in six. Larry Bird Q&A: Being a white player in the NBA, trash - Andscape Celtics-Lakers Rivalry | Basketball Wiki | Fandom The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. Right, Born: Los Angeles Lakers 4-3, Larry Bird Championship #3: 1986 Boston Celtics, 1986 First Round: Celtics def. Please check your email for a confirmation. They quickly swept the Chicago Bulls, then marched down and knocked off the 76ers in a revenge series that wound up going into seven games. Despite playing for another five seasons after his last title, Bird would retire with three NBA championships. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. Larry Bird age, height, weight, net worth 2023, wife, kids, gay Bird set a career-high with 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks during the 1984-85 season. He was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. In 1980, 1982, 1985 and 1988, Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to championships, winning three Finals MVPs along the way. Larry Bird Had a Perfectly Understated Response While Discussing His Whether he makes an All-Defense team this season remains to be seen, but few wings in the association deserve more recognition than McDaniels this campaign. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. The series was the eighth time in NBA history that the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA finals, with Boston winning each time, and the first championship that the Celtics claimed at home since 1966. The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. Larry Bird Owns Many Records, But Only One Unique One Bird owns a unique NBA record. All rights reserved. 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. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. Your email address will not be published. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? - Basketball Noise * 1981: Boston Celtics def. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? 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. In Game 4, the Lakers had a five-point game lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors, including Magic Johnson's bad pass to Robert Parish late in the fourth quarter, and missing two crucial free throws in OT as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The first two meetings of the season between Cleveland and Boston took OT, but the Celtics were able to sneak a 117-113 win at home. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James' teams have met or exceeded expectations in NBA Finals It did not slow Bird down as he won a title the next season with the now legendary 86 Celtics. The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. In 1986, they failed a third straight NBA Finals meeting (it was later accomplished 31 years later by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors), as the Lakers were eliminated in the Conference Finals by the Houston Rockets. 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. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. Magic gets the edge because he finished his career stronger, he was able to get/maybe steal from Charles Barkley the 1990 MVP, and he got the Lakers to another finals in 91, after 88 and the injuries Boston was done being any kind of serious contender they never got past the second round again for the rest of Larry Bird's time but if you're talkin Peak vs. The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. What is Larry Bird's record in the NBA finals? - Quora Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. But does that record provide a fair verdict on James' performance in the NBA Finals? Magic vs. Bird: Reliving rivalry 40 Years after first NBA matchup At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Erving played forward and was noted for his fast breaks, balletic leaps toward the basket . The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. Everything you wanted to know about Indiana legend Larry Bird How to say Basketball in different languages? Regardless, Johnson and Bird are widelyregarded as beingtwo of thegreatest players to have ever played the gameand they made for one of the greatest rivalries, one that will never be forgotten. NAME DATE SEASON SERIES TM OPP REC W% MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% PF +/-Magic Johnson: 5/27/1984: 1983-84 . Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA Draft, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1998 (Full List), More Larry Bird pages at Sports Reference. Larry Bird - Wikipedia I wrote about his underrated defense here. One of the most feared competitors during the 1980s was Larry Bird, who won three championships with the Celtics during the decade, destroying teams through his versatile style and killer, lights-out shooting. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. While Bird did not have the finals success of a Jordan or Russell, he still had a better record than greats including LeBron and Wilt. (the Lakers) learned a valuable lesson. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. It was the beginning of one of the most legendary basketball rivalries in the history of the NBA, with Bird and Magic Johnson facing off against each other for the first time. Or write about sports? The Cs took game 5 at home behind Larry Birds 34 points and 17 boards. Im kind of country, she explained. In Birds career with Indiana State he did not ever win a championship. He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points . Milwaukee Bucks 4-0, 1986 NBA Finals: Celtics def. We present them here for purely educational purposes. While that body of work would give anyone the right to too their own horn, Larry Legend took a different course of action. But it is also quite possible even probable that Larry Bird cost the Celtics the 1985 NBA championship.". As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. His first run to the NBA Finals came in his second season, averaging 21-11-5 with 2 steals a game. As weve mentioned, all these players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Instead of battling fatigue and exhaustion from their grueling Semi-Finals series, they went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. He has been an NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986 out of which he was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. NBA unveils two new postseason awards named after Larry Bird, Magic It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 boards and 3.6 assists per game for the series. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Chicago Bulls 3-0, 1986 Conference Semis: Celtics def. 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 career was cut dramatically short by injury. Bird does not have any titles outside of the NBA, despite making the NCAA tournament final in 1979. Larry Bird News, Biography, NBA Records, Stats & Facts - Sportskeeda Karl Malone believes LeBrons greatness is there to appreciate, not to hate. Larry Bird is 6-9. . home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:46PM. The Lakers were coming off a four-game sweep by the Philadelphia 76ers in the previous year's finals. While everyone has their own favorite NBA players, its impossible to argue with Larry Birds position in the all-time basketball pantheon. Larry Joe Bird. This was Birds last finals appearance, meaning that he went to five NBA finals overall, winning 3. The Bullets featured Jeff Ruland a really good, likely underrated, player who was at his peak. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. And after watching the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers twice during the 1982 and 1983 Finals, they were determined to win in 84. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? In Game 7, the Celtics got 24 points from Cedric Maxwell and 22 from DJ with Bird scoring 20 as they won the game 111-102 and the series for Bostons 15th NBA title. The Lakers then inbounded the ball and Magic Johnson inexplicably dribbled the clock out during regulation time. After . The Celtics again saw their Eastern Conference rivals matching up against the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. Larry Bird Net Worth. Two superstars, Magic and Larry, and the two most iconic teams in the leagues history, the Lakers and the Celtics. The Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987 with Bird and Cooper going at it. 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. Tatum and the rest of his team are eager to avenge the loss in the Finals . As with many teams in the 1990s, the Pacers were stopped by the Chicago Bulls, losing the series in seven games as the Bulls did not lose a home game in the series. Two-time National Basketball Association champion Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell points to the pillars of the game when it comes to the question, "Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?" "I measure it by those who changed the game," said the former Boston Celtics standout on Sunday afternoon while taking part in the Legends & Stars Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming. After dispatching MJ, the Cs cruised by Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semis. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. In terms of individual honors, he won the 1979-80 Rookie of the Year title, claimed three MVP crowns, and earned two NBA Finals MVP nods. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. The first round was a 3-1 victory over the Washington Bullets. 1983: Moses Malone: C: How many games did Larry Bird field goal miss a season due to injury? Fans gave Bird a standing ovation when he was introduced. Certain completely unbiased fans, like myself, rank him very highly in that top ten. The Celtics had Larry Bird as their centerpiece and posted a record of 67-15, including an NBA record 40 wins at home. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. 0:00. Get to know Larry Bird: Stats, records and more - RSN All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right. He tied it up with two free throws with 3 minutes to go. Maybe you lived through the glory days of the 1980s Celtics but you cant quite remember how Bird got his rings. Its surprising that he wasnt able to win at least one more, though three championships nowadays is something that is wildly difficult to do, its no feat to be taken lightly. The Cs won in a blowout in game 3 in Houston before Houston tied it up with a tight win in game 4. Cedric 'Cornbread' Maxwell speaks out on GOAT, today's NBA, Larry Bird The Bucks, coached by Celtics legend Don Nelson, won the Central Division title in 1984. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. Birds third and final NBA championship came in 1986. At that time, Bird also expressed unhappiness over Mangurians decision to sell the team, and he was one of the players who defended Fitch after they were swept by the Bucks. Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. 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!). Larry Bird | Net Worth, Salary, And Career Earnings The Indiana-born was the highest-paid rookie of the year, with $3.25 million an average of $650,000 a year in a 5-year contract with the Celtics.Bird had played 879 games in his career until his retirement in 1992.. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. Regular Season Record: 62-20 (The Celtics tied with 76ers for 1st in the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and the NBA but the Cs got the #1 seed in a tiebreaker by winning the last game of the season vs the Sixers). If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup. He stayed loyal to the Celtics throughout his entire career and they were the team that reaped the benefits of his five NBA Finals appearances and three NBAchampionships. Which player is ultimately better all-time is a different conversationbecause that includes a lot more than their individual matchups. Larry led the way with an average of 25 points per game. Im not a guy that talks about my past because I always look to the future, but you really sit down and look at it, Ive been involved in a lot, its pretty nice, the forward simply explained. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana us College: Indiana State University High School: Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, though, Larry Bird has you covered. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. "Wilt . In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists, an NBA Finals record. Bill Walton needed a change of scenery when he was in San Diego and Red Auerbach provided that for him in Boston. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. Michael Cooper Backs Larry Bird and Blasts JJ Redick, Calling Him a Poor Mans Danny Ainge. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Birds college career as a whole was exceptional. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. Which Player has Played in the Most NBA Finals Games? It seemed like it should be an easy series for the Celtics, with game one and two victories by double digits, but the Knicks home crowd helped their team to win all their series home games. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. The Cs closed it out with a lopsided victory in game 5. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. As one of the greatest players to ever step foot in the . The Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings in round 1, then took six games to get by a fun Denver Nuggets team starring Alex English and Fat Lever. 1984: Larry Bird: Boston Celtics: No stats available. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Houston Rockets 4-2, Larry Bird Championship #2: 1984 Boston Celtics, 1984 First Round: Celtics def. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. All the playoff action was documented on the 1984 NBA Season documentary Pride and Passion, narrated by Dick Stockton. The Lakers drew first blood but Boston evened the series in Game 2. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. By: HoopsHype. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. Larry Bird's Stats For Each Season: Consistency Was The Key, He Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. Larry Bird was a star. Larry Bird - College Basketball At Sports-Reference The Lakers destroyed the Cs in their first home game 137-104 in game 3. The Rockets fought back to win handily in game 5 at home but the Celtics closed out the series in game 6 in the Boston Garden to take their third title of the Bird era. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? Despite good performances from Bird, Magic Johnson outplayed him as the jumbo sized Lakers guard won finals MVP. The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. Celtics Starters: Tiny Archibald, Chris Ford, Larry Bird, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell and Robert Parish. [2] It was also the last time that a team with home court advantage in the NBA finals played Game 5 on its own floor until 2014. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. The number two-seeded Bucks went down in a series sweep, with all five Celtics starters averaging double-digit points. Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Even when he found fame and fortune, the NBA star never forgot his humble roots. Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. In his career, Larry Bird won three NBA regular season MVP awards. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The games were reasonably close if the series was not. The 1985 NBA Finals & Brawling Larry Bird Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. How Many Games Did Larry Bird Miss A Season Due To Injury | StatMuse Birds 2 Finals losses both came against the Lakers and Magic Johnson, 1985 & 1987. In his last season as the teams head coach, Birds Pacers were the number one seed in the east and were not really tested throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Arrives by Wed, Mar 15 Buy Larry Bird Boston Celtics Autographed Wilson Replica Basketball with "HOF 1998" Inscription - Limited Edition of 133 at Walmart.com Then came the championship series. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. Seriously, check out his Basketball Reference page. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. Larry Bird picked up the 1984 MVP award and led his Celtics to the first seed in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 overall record. Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? More player info Birds 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. By the end of the 1984 season Bird had won his second NBA title, both with the Celtics. 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. Background. The 1987 NBA Finals again saw the Los Angeles Lakers up against Birds Celtics. Larry Bird of the Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Malcolm Emmons and MPS - USA TODAY Sports. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with The Lakers were coached by Pat Riley and also featured defensive ace Michael Cooper, a young. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. 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. Better than MJ, LeBron, Kareem, Larry and Magic.If you take out Steph's games with an NBA75 teammate (KD), Steph's Playoff Win% is 48-26 (.649), which is still better than Duncan, Kobe and Larry Bird's with all their NBA75 teammates. The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. They snuck into the playoffs because of a weak Central division. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. Is it tied to championships? The Lakers and the Celtics met again in 1987 where the Lakers won in six games. Sadly for Bird, the Pacers lost the series in six games. However, its the only individual award Cedric Maxwell won in his career. Larry Bird's NBA Finals record is 3-2. Bird averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game for the series. Trailing in game 4, Kevin McHale clothes lined Kurt Rambis to spark the Cs to victory. Bird vs. Magic: Stats, Rings & Head-to-Head Record | Heavy.com Larry Bird is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Washington Bullets in four, the New York Knicks in seven, and the Milwaukee Bucks in five. AP Was There: Bird beats Magic in 1st Finals showdown - USA Today There's always a mystique about players that played before the 90's because we don't have all the data, stats etc as we have to. Bird's Boston Celtics won the NBA championship three times during his career (1981 and '86 vs. the Houston Rockets, '84 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers), and Bird won Finals MVP in '84 and '86. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals . This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. Bird won the first Finals meeting between them in 1984 and Johnson won the two others; one in 1985, the other in 1987. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. Small Forward and Power Forward The Conference Semifinals was a seven-game series against the Knicks, which ended with Boston winning 4-3. The 86 Celts, in the conversation for the greatest team of all time, defeated Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player of all time, in the first round. If you remember, there was Kevin McHales hit on Kurt Rambis, and there was Larry Bird bumping Michael Cooper out of bounds. Birds mother, Georgia, once said that she couldnt fathom he sons NBA salary and, despite his earning power, insisted that she wasnt out buying expensive clothes. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. It was clear that the Celtics were mentally exhausted after playing that many games in such a short span, which resulted in the Lakers beating Bird and the Celtics in six quick games.
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