Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball at Indiana University but struggled to adapt to the large student population. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. Magic led the Lakers to victory at home in game 6, setting the stage for a Boston Garden Game 7. Between 1980 and 1989, there were only two seasons that ended with someone other than Johnson or Bird winning the title. Larry Bird had a winning record in NBA Finals games and series. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? - Basketball Noise Hey, it's enough to make Allen Iverson burn his Celtics throwbacks. Nevertheless, it is rare to see a player dominate in so many areas of the game, theres no wonder why the Celtics made multiple deep playoff runs. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. The games were close enough but never really in doubt. 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. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . Certain completely unbiased fans, like myself, rank him very highly in that top ten. The Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121, thanks to Scott Wedman's game-winning shot from the baseline with 14 ticks left. 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. 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. Bird averaged 24 points per game as Boston won the series in six to net him his THIRD ring. Larry averaged 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in this series. By the end of the 1984 season Bird had won his second NBA title, both with the Celtics. . 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 . Bird created a very good team. As it turned out, Chauncey Billups was right about KG getting in trouble for being too vocal. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. 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. Larry Bird's continuing influence on the game of basketball crossed a new threshold . Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. No stats available. More player info Houston Rockets in 6 games (4 wins, 2 losses) * 1984: Boston Celtics def. Answer (1 of 6): Larry Bird (basketball player) was 3-2 in the NBA Finals. 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. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Bucks now featured a young Terry Cummings along with Paul Pressey and Sidney Moncrief. Right, Born: 9 John Vanak (alternate, replaced Evans), This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:16. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 2022-23 Season Schedule; Answer (1 of 2): Larry Bird has been in the NBA Finals 5 times as a player, all while playing with the Boston Celtics. . Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's clothesline take-down of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. In the Western Conference Finals the Rockets handled the defending champion Lakers in five games. Larry Bird was born on as Larry Joe Bird to parents: Georgia and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird, a veteran of the Korean War.He attended Springs Valley High School. 1956 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. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. One of the ongoing debates within the world of sports centers around how you define greatness. . James has as many series losses in the Finals as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird combined. The Bulls lost Michael Jordan for most of this season to a foot injury and they were mostly terrible, finishing 4th in the Central Division. . Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. Larry Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 & 1986, the trophy would go to his teammate Cedric Maxwell in 1981. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. 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. inWest Baden,Indiana Bird averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the series. The trade signaled a transition period, as some of the key players from the first two championships gave way to younger talent. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. It must have lit a fire underneath Larry because he didnt let anything get in his way during his sophomore season. How to say Basketball in different languages? Two superstars, Magic and Larry, and the two most iconic teams in the leagues history, the Lakers and the Celtics. Celtics-Lakers Rivalry | Basketball Wiki | Fandom Cedric Maxwell averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists to win Finals MVP. Only the strong survive. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. During a mid-1980's game vs. Utah when Bird was torching the Jazz, Larry looked over at . Larry Bird's 1986 Playoff Stats . After a tough seven game series in the conference finals against the Sixers, Boston advanced to the finals to face the Rockets. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. 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. Larry Bird Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. Dominique was an offensive force, but, unlike MJ, he was not noted for doing much else . Larry Bird could do it all on the basketball court. Bird has four siblings' all brothers named Mike . He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Despite home wins in games three and five, the Pacers lost the series in six games, with Shaq and Kobe just being too much for Indianas stars. Larry Bird Had a Perfectly Understated Response While Discussing His Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. 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 teams traded games throughout the series. Carr stole James Worthy's inbounds pass followed by a dunk to seal the win. The East's award is named after Larry Bird and the West's after Magic Johnson. Bird also won Finals MVP in 1986 when he scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 10 assists and had 2.7 steals per game. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 and immediately took up an advisory role with the Boston Celtics. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97F (36C) heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. As the reigning rookie of the year, Bird led the Celtics to the finals, beginning with a sweep of the Bulls. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. Larry Bird age, height, weight, net worth 2023, wife, kids, gay Funny story about that series, Boston was actually down 3-1 entering Game 5, and Bird ended up dropping 32, 25 and 23 points in each of those games to rally off three straight wins and advance his team to the Finals. As weve mentioned, all these players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Julius Erving | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica If you remember, there was Kevin McHales hit on Kurt Rambis, and there was Larry Bird bumping Michael Cooper out of bounds. Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. Larry Bird is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. Larry Bird | Boston Celtics | NBA.com 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. He has been an NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986 out of which he was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. 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. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. Los Angeles Lakers 4-3, Larry Bird Championship #3: 1986 Boston Celtics, 1986 First Round: Celtics def. The Lakers, no slouch themselves, had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthey, and Bob McAdoo. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. He joined the Celtics a year later. Birds great performances in games one and six helped lead the Celtics to the title and Bird claimed his first NBA Championship in 1981. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. The Sixers took an 89-82 lead with five+ minutes to go. SI examines the rivalry between the basketball hall of famers and how they changed the landscape of the NBA. 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. JJ Redick Tried to Clarify His Stance on Larry Bird and '80s Basketball Larry Bird Q&A: Being a white player in the NBA, trash - Andscape No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, though, Larry Bird has you covered. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: This cost the Lakers valuable depth, as James Worthy, a key contributor off the bench, would now have to start in Wilkes' place. While the 22111 format remained intact for the remainder of the playoff rounds, the 232 format would be used until 2013. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Boston finished with a 62-20 regular season record and got their revenge on the Bucks, whom they beat 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. Bird: "So you're overpaid.". 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. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war.". 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. The top 31 players and coaches, The Bulls featured Reggie Theus and Artis Gilmore (. 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. Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 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. 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 big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. 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. Bird and the Celtics lined up against the Los Angeles Lakers who took them to seven games. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. Fans gave Bird a standing ovation when he was introduced. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. 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. The Western Conference Finals also led to one of the greatest game-winners ever. 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. Bird vs. Magic: Stats, Rings & Head-to-Head Record | Heavy.com Larry Bird won three NBA championships in his basketball career. After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates. Find out more. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. 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 to say Basketball in different languages? Michael Cooper Explains What Made Larry Bird 'Larger Than Life' - MSN 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 was Finals MVP in the teams victories over the Houston Rockets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. In his second season with the Celtics, Boston finished first in the East as they had done the previous year. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Being the reigning MVP, there were big expectations for Bird in the 1984-85 season. Then came the championship series. Thanks in main to two close overtime wins, Boston won the series in seven games despite Bird struggling in the deciding game. What is Larry Bird's Record in the NBA Finals? Stockton, the play-by-play announcer for the series, was joined by Tom Heinsohn, and the duo would call the next four NBA Finals until 1987.