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The Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. Stephen Curry is now a career 21-4 (.840) in playoff series - Reddit Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. 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. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After 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. The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. Birds 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). Home; Tickets; Schedule. Cedric Maxwell, Larry Birds teammate, was awarded Finals MVP with 18-9-3. Larry Bird | Bio-married, divorce, affair, children - Playerswiki Big Names Off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. 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. Julius Erving | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica Also, Bird pushed Michael Cooper to the baseline following the inbound play during the second quarter. 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. 0:49. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. Larry Bird Had a Perfectly Understated Response While Discussing His 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 Cs closed it out winning game four by 3 points. 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. Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. 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 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. Johnson won 11 of those games, posting averages of 19.4 points, 11.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds in their head-to-head matchups compared to 21.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game for Bird. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. While the 22111 format remained intact for the remainder of the playoff rounds, the 232 format would be used until 2013. However, this was not the case. 9 John Vanak (alternate, replaced Evans), This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:16. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. Bird became only the third player in NBA history to win three titles in a row. Another book that demonstrated the competitive drive amongst athletes was, Magic/ Bird written by Eric Simonson. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. Get the latest news on Larry Bird, biographical info . Adding one more hall of famer, Bill Walton, put this team over the top. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: While that body of work would give anyone the right to too their own horn, Larry Legend took a different course of action. His first MVP award was in 1984. 1981 was against the Houston Rockets where Cedric Maxwell was the NBA Finals MVP. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. You can only imagine how fiery this rivalry was, with two consecutive seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals. Reflecting back on the series, Magic Johnson said ". 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. Answer (1 of 43): To start by answering the question, I'd say - yes. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. 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. 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. A superstar. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? In MVP voting, Bird dominated the competition as he took home his third straight MVP award. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? New York also featured Bill Cartwright and Rory Sparrow. The Larry Bird Finals Record was first recorded by Bill Simmons in his book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Larry led the way with an average of 25 points per game. This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. The Celtics won the Finals convincingly 4-2. What is Larry Birds Record in the NBA Finals? In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. Maybe you lived through the glory days of the 1980s Celtics but you cant quite remember how Bird got his rings. Karl Malone believes LeBrons greatness is there to appreciate, not to hate. Bird's 2 Finals losses both came against the Lakers and Magic Johnson , 1985 & 1987. Which Player has Played in the Most NBA Finals Games? Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. Magic Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird sparked greatest NBA Finals 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. Bird did not technically average a triple double for the series because both his rebounds and assists were slightly below 10 and Ive rounded them, but, still, those stats are unreal. Legends profile: Larry Bird | NBA.com Jayson Tatum's 25th birthday | ksdk.com [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. The Bucks were no match for the Celtics, and this spelled the end of a competitive Bucks team that fizzled out after this season. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. Take a look below. The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The Celtics then knocked the 76ers off once again, this time in five games and advanced to the Finals for the second time in as many years. Bird averaged 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists across the regular season as the Celtics once again topped the eastern conference. Larry Bird of the Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Malcolm Emmons and MPS - USA TODAY Sports. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. 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. Remember, Boston selected Larry in the 1978 draft but decided to return to Indiana State for his senior season. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. 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. 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. 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. Hey, it's enough to make Allen Iverson burn his Celtics throwbacks. (the Lakers) learned a valuable lesson. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. Is it tied to championships? The Celtics made short work of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning in five games. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. Sadly for Bird, the Pacers lost the series in six games. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. NBA Finals: Ranking the top Finals performers in NBA history - HoopsHype Find out more. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. 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. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. Bird averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cs. FTA complete back to 1948-49. 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. Despite the similarities, the Lakers won the series in six games. Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. By: HoopsHype. He scored 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 3.6 assists and had 2.1 steals per game. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. NBA unveils two new postseason awards named after Larry Bird, Magic 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. . In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. Despite good performances from Bird, Magic Johnson outplayed him as the jumbo sized Lakers guard won finals MVP. These performances earned Bird his second MVP award. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log | Basketball-Reference.com We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. 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. After . Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) . He tied it up with two free throws with 3 minutes to go. Games. Larry Bird is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. Bird averaged 24 points per game as Boston won the series in six to net him his THIRD ring. 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. Three seasons later, the Celtics were in the finals again and this time they faced the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson for the first time. Learn more and register, International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Bird vs. Magic: Stats, Rings & Head-to-Head Record | Heavy.com 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. When Larry Bird Began His Coaching Career, He Revealed - Sportscasting Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. Bird was Finals MVP in the teams victories over the Houston Rockets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. Big Names Off the Bench: Jerry Sichting, Bill Walton and Scott Wedman. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. No one thought we could beat the Lakers. Larry Bird News, Biography, NBA Records, Stats & Facts - Sportskeeda The Celtics took four games to get by the Bullets in the first round best-of-five series. It must have lit a fire underneath Larry because he didnt let anything get in his way during his sophomore season. . The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. Furthermore, Johnson and Bird earned five of the 10 MVP awards handed out during the 1980s. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. And, as if that wasnt enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. Small Forward and Power Forward The Knicks were led by the explosive scorer Bernard King, who averaged 29-5-3 in the series. Magic led the Lakers to victory at home in game 6, setting the stage for a Boston Garden Game 7. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. Shoots: They snuck into the playoffs because of a weak Central division. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. Nobody thought that the Celtics would beat the Lakers in 1984. The Lakers took game 1 in Boston and looked like they made take a commanding 2-0 lead when Gerald Henderson stole the ball and the series. Bird's Pacers fell in the East finals in '98 and '99, then came up short in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. Magics Michigan State team won the game 75-64, preventing Bird from winning a title for Indiana State. The 10 Best NBA Players That Larry Bird Beat In The NBA Finals - MSN 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. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. Some notable games between the two of them: At least when it comes to how they fared in theirhead-to-head matchups. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. It gave Bird his first finals loss in his third appearance. Aside from stats, Larry Bird was a winner, bringing home multiple championship rings during his time with the Celtics. . Hall of Fame. It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. 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. Amazing! Chicago Bulls 3-0, 1986 Conference Semis: Celtics def. How Did The Legendary Rivalry of Magic Johnson And Larry Bird Turned He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. They were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. As of 2023, Larry Bird's net worth is around $80 million; he has different income sources. Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. * 1981: Boston Celtics def. 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. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. 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. Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana us College: Indiana State University High School: Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana The Detroit Pistons took two games off them in the second round but it didnt matter, Bird averaged 28 points per game as they won in six. Bird was very honest when taking up the role saying he would only coach the team for three years. In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball at Indiana University but struggled to adapt to the large student population. His performances helped to take the Celtics to 62 wins in the regular season, topping the NBA. While everyone has their own favorite NBA players, its impossible to argue with Larry Birds position in the all-time basketball pantheon. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . Houston Rockets 4-2, who would briefly play with Bird later in his career, the greatest non-final series in NBA history, Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Fast forward a couple of seasons and Bird marched his team back into the 1984 postseason. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. That's the first time the (80's) Lakers ever encountered that, someone stronger minded. The Celtics had Larry Bird as their centerpiece and posted a record of 67-15, including an NBA record 40 wins at home. Which player is ultimately better all-time is a different conversationbecause that includes a lot more than their individual matchups. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. 1981 NBA Finals - Wikipedia What is Larry Bird's Record in the NBA Finals? Larry Bird's Finals Record: An All-Time Great! - Sports Nostalgia HQ He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. In Birds career with Indiana State he did not ever win a championship. Bird's Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Join our linker program. So for an entire decade, the NBA Finals included one of the two marquee franchises. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. The Bucks were led in the series, as they had been in the regular season, by wing Marques Johnson and Hall of Fame guard Sidney Moncrief. He was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. Known as "Larry Legend," Bird has achieved incredible success in his career, earning multiple awards and holding numerous records. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. Larry pushed the Celtics out of the second round with an easy 4-1 series win over the Atlanta Hawks, led at the time by Dominique Wilkins. It's an era thing. Larry Bird's 1986 Playoff Stats . According to Basketball Reference, Johnson and Bird played against each other 18 times in the regular season throughout their careers. 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. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Is LeBron James better than Larry Bird? - Quora Thanks for signing up. My favorite quotes about Larry Bird - CelticsBlog As it turned out, Chauncey Billups was right about KG getting in trouble for being too vocal. Washington Bullets 3-1, 1984 Conference Semis: Celtics def. After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? 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. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. The expected CelticsLakers finals, however, never happened. No stats available. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. . He worked the first half, but was replaced by John Vanak for the second half. Larry averaged 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in this series. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. The first series matched Boston up with the Chicago Bulls. Bird averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the series. 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. Larry Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 & 1986, the trophy would go to his teammate Cedric Maxwell in 1981. Julius Erving, in full Julius Winfield Erving II, byname Doctor J, (born February 22, 1950, Roosevelt, New York, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who was one of the most colourful and exciting figures in the game during the 1970s and '80s. 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. Fans gave Bird a standing ovation when he was introduced. Safe to say he absolutely dominated in every facet of the game for that second ring. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Sadly, after that Finals loss, Bird never made it into another Finals series. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times.