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. He joined the Celtics a year later. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. Magics Michigan State team won the game 75-64, preventing Bird from winning a title for Indiana State. During a mid-1980's game vs. Utah when Bird was torching the Jazz, Larry looked over at . We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. 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. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. While that body of work would give anyone the right to too their own horn, Larry Legend took a different course of action. This included a Game six victory where a hostile Boston crowd booed Ralph Sampson, sapping his confidence to the point he only had 8 points on 3-12 shooting. Bird has four siblings' all brothers named Mike . J Erving, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Pacers had two pretty comfortable series to begin the 1998 post season with wins over the Cavaliers and the Knicks. Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. more information Accept. Larry Bird stats . One of the most exciting 3-0 series in league history, the Celtics made quick work of the up-and-coming Bulls featuring a young Michael Jordan. Between 1980 and 1989, there were only two seasons that ended with someone other than Johnson or Bird winning the title. Simmons says that he got the idea from watching basketball and looking at player statistics. He worked the first half, but was replaced by John Vanak for the second half. Larry Joe Bird. After that the series was all Lakers, they won four of the next five games to end the series in six and hand Larry his first Finals loss. I wrote about his underrated defense here. It was also the first of three NBA Finals meetings between the Celtics and Lakers during the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson era. What is Larry Birds Record in the NBA Finals? 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. 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 averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . It didnt take the Lakers long to learn, but in that series, it was the element of surprise that we needed. More player info The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. 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 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. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. The Celtics got the better of their Showtime Lakers rivales in a heated seven game series to claim the 1984 NBA Title. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97F (36C) heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. Do you have a sports website? The Sixers had an incredible roster featuring three Hall of Famers in Julius Dr. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-3, winning by nine points in the deciding Game 7. Larry Bird said there were 'obvious' differences between himself and Magic Johnson. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? 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. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. Im kind of country, she explained. The 1984 NBA Finals was the first championship meeting between old rivals Boston and Los Angeles since 1969. In 1979, Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird faced off for the first time in the NBA. In their professional careers, Bird played for the Boston Celtics and Magic played for the Los Angeles . 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). In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. And, as if that wasnt enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. Game 4 of the 1984 Finals marked the last Finals game to go into overtime until Game 2 of the 1990 NBA Finals. Required fields are marked *. Larry Bird's 1986 Playoff Stats . 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. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics. This Finals had everything. Larry averaged 27-10-6. It brought Bird his third and final NBA Championship. Birds third and final NBA championship came in 1986. Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. Some of the greats Bird defeated in the playoffs include Moses Malone, Julius Dr. Then came the championship series. A year later, the Pacers would not have to worry about Michael Jordan as they returned to the playoffs, this time as the second seed in the east. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. How to say Basketball in different languages? 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. His back suffered major issues, as he injured it building on his farm. Bird averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game for the series. 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. Michael Cooper Backs Larry Bird and Blasts JJ Redick, Calling Him a Poor Mans Danny Ainge. 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. The NBA Playoffs saw some change this year, with the tournament expanding to 16-teams and the four-round knockout we see today. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. But it is also quite possible even probable that Larry Bird cost the Celtics the 1985 NBA championship.". He led the Cs to a Conference Finals appearance once or twice in the ensuing years but the team just wasnt nearly as competitive anymore and it was obvious that Larry was getting up there in age. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. Big Names Off the Bench: Jerry Sichting, Bill Walton and Scott Wedman. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had Larry Bird as their centerpiece and posted a record of 67-15, including an NBA record 40 wins at home. 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. Johnson evened the series after helping the LA . One of the ongoing debates within the world of sports centers around how you define greatness. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. Isn't 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game one of the coolest statlines for an NBA playoff series ever?A quote from Larry Bird's book "Drive" co. Karl Malone believes LeBrons greatness is there to appreciate, not to hate. 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. All the playoff action was documented on the 1984 NBA Season documentary Pride and Passion, narrated by Dick Stockton. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. The series was full of things like that., We knew that we had to physically beat them because they had never played that kind of game. The Bullets were the 8th seed in the East winning only 35 regular season games and finishing last in the Atlantic division. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . The Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. 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 was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. Sadly for Bird, Michigan State were just too much for him as the Spartans ran out 75-64 winners. Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 and immediately took up an advisory role with the Boston Celtics. All rights reserved. In MVP voting, Bird dominated the competition as he took home his third straight MVP award. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? Bird outscored Dr. J 26.7 to 19.9 ppg in the series, led all players in rebounds and was second on Boston in assists. It was an offensive and defensive clinic. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. This was a fantastic series overall. Things werent as cheerful from this point forward for Boston though. Houston Rockets 4-2, Larry Bird Championship #2: 1984 Boston Celtics, 1984 First Round: Celtics def. The Celtics made short work of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning in five games. The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Paul George: 'I still believe we're gonna be a tough team to beat in seven games', Gilbert Arenas on Ja Morant: 'When we young, we do stupid sh**', Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not on injury report, Erik Spoelstra refuses to comment on when Kyle Lowry will return, Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala probable for Sunday against Lakers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. 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. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war.". "Wilt . Or write about sports? Birds 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). . His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. Magic led the Lakers to victory at home in game 6, setting the stage for a Boston Garden Game 7. The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. Featuring prime Larry Legend, apex Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson. Bird picked up his first Finals MVP honurs. Which NBA Team had the Most Hall of Famers for one Season. It gave Bird his first finals loss in his third appearance. This Rockets team still had Robert Reid but now also featured Rodney McCray. He held this role for five seasons before being offered the Indiana Pacers head coach role. Referee Hugh Evans became dehydrated and fainted at one point in the first half. Background. Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. While the 22111 format remained intact for the remainder of the playoff rounds, the 232 format would be used until 2013. . However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. By: HoopsHype. Is it tied to championships? us, College: From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. he was voted the NBA Finals MVP. The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. James Posey shared the culture that made the 2008 Boston Celtics experience so unique. Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. Houston Rockets in 6 games (4 wins, 2 losses) * 1984: Boston Celtics def. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. If you were wondering about his career numbers while we wrap this up, he averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. So as it seems unlikely for Bird to ever coach again, Larry Bird has never won a championship as a coach. Despite a back injury in the 1985 offseason, Bird averaged 25.8 points, 9.8 rebound and 6.8 assists per game and for the third straight season, the Celtics finished top of the Eastern Conference. His individual performance was recognised all across the NBA as he helped Boston to a then record breaking 67-15 regular season record. "[3] The teams met again in the 1985 finals, which the Lakers won 42. Bird was Finals MVP in the teams victories over the Houston Rockets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. October 9, 2019. Finally, lets discuss the NBA Finals. . 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. Chicago Bulls 4-1, 1981 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. He shone as a head coach and executive for the Indiana Pacers; in fact, hes the only man in history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Despite excellent performances in his first two seasons, Indiana State had very little success. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? 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 is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. Head-to-Head Regular Season Stats. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. As someone who watched Bird play and has now researched and written more than a half dozen articles about his career, I can help you out. May 12, 2022. These performances earned Bird his second MVP award. That's the first time the (80's) Lakers ever encountered that, someone stronger minded. Those other two times? Here are some of the records and historical rankings that Larry Bird achieved at Indiana State: A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club: 2,850 points and 1,247 rebounds Indiana State's all . All-NBA First-Teamers NOT in the Hall of Fame, Basketball Positions 101: Understanding the Different Roles on the Court, The Best NBA Players to NOT Make the Hall of Fame, The Best All-Defensive Team in NBA History, The All-Time Worst NBA Finals Performances by a Superstar by Position. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. The Celtics ended the series shooting 52% from the field while holding the Bucks to 44% shooting. Some of Johnson's notable performances against Bird: As for some of Bird's notable performances against Johnson: Johnson and Bird played against each other 19 times in the playoffs over the course of three NBA Finals. Even from his first season with Indiana State, Birds performances were exceptional. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. These Knicks really were Bernard Kings team. 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 . 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 . We had Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson on the Celtics. Larry Bird won three championships as a player, but did not win any as a coach. The games were closer than youd expect for a 1 seed vs 8 seed series. Home; Tickets; Schedule. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. In the 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. He swept through the Bulls the next year, then beat the Atlanta Hawks in five games, then swept the Bucks. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. NY Knicks 4-3, 1984 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. They snuck into the playoffs because of a weak Central division. Keep reading to learn more about each championship win, the series leading up to the finals, and each Larry Bird championship season. Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . Larry Joe Bird (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) . The East's award is named after Larry Bird and the West's after Magic Johnson. Dominique was an offensive force, but, unlike MJ, he was not noted for doing much else . Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Larry Bird won his first NBA Finals MVP. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. As for their averages, Johnson posted 20.7 points, 13.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game in their head-to-head matchups in the Finals compared to Bird's 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
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