The Houston Rockets were mostly a completely different team from the Moses Malone-led Rockets of the 1981 Finals. In 1979, Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird faced off for the first time in the NBA. . After a tough seven game series in the conference finals against the Sixers, Boston advanced to the finals to face the Rockets. The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. 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. 0:49. 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. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. The games were not much closer than the series itself. His career was cut dramatically short by injury. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. The teams traded games throughout the series. 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. How Many Games Did Larry Bird Miss A Season Due To Injury | StatMuse 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. Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. 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. Known as "Larry Legend," Bird has achieved incredible success in his career, earning multiple awards and holding numerous records. The Sixers took an 89-82 lead with five+ minutes to go. You can only imagine how fiery this rivalry was, with two consecutive seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals. Two years after his first finals loss to the Lakers, the re-match was on. 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. LeBron James' teams have met or exceeded expectations in NBA Finals Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. 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. The Cs were heavily favored and had won 10 straight vs the Rockets, but Houston put up more of a fight than expected. The Celtics were led by Bird, who won his first MVP award, and was complemented by 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, first-time all-star and Sixth Man Award winner Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Gerald Henderson and Danny Ainge. Larry Legend also sank 42 of 47 foul shots in the pressure-packed series (89.4 . Those other two times? We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. 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. Indiana State University, High School: The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! Larry Bird's continuing influence on the game of basketball crossed a new threshold . 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. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. Despite playing for another five seasons after his last title, Bird would retire with three NBA championships. 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. Background. Required fields are marked *. Bird averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the series. 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. Stephen Curry is now a career 21-4 (.840) in playoff series. 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. 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. This book highlighted the rivalry between Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson throughout their respected basketball careers. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. Please check your email for a confirmation. December 7, Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson | Stathead.com Another book that demonstrated the competitive drive amongst athletes was, Magic/ Bird written by Eric Simonson. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Allen Iverson Jersey Mitchell and Ness: A Complete Guide. Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. The NBA unveiled two new postseason awards on Thursday morning: the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP. He was still one to wear what he wanted, enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and, in this case, refuse to hype up his own accomplishments. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Adding one more hall of famer, Bill Walton, put this team over the top. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. The #1 and #2 seeds were set to face off in the Conference Finals. 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. 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. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. 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. FGA, TRB, AST, PF, GS over 99% complete back to 1975-76. Boston won two close ones to start the series before Washington stole game three by 3 points. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. Or write about sports? He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. The first series matched Boston up with the Chicago Bulls. . Between 1980 and 1989, there were only two seasons that ended with someone other than Johnson or Bird winning the title. the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA . Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Celtics Starters: Gerald Henderson, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell and Robert Parish. Both teams could have easily succeeded in taking the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Bird's Stats For Each Season: Consistency Was The Key, He What is Larry Bird's record in the NBA finals? - Quora Los Angeles Lakers 4-3, Larry Bird Championship #3: 1986 Boston Celtics, 1986 First Round: Celtics def. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. 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. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? 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. 1981 NBA Finals - Wikipedia The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. Aside from stats, Larry Bird was a winner, bringing home multiple championship rings during his time with the Celtics. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. 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. BIrd averaged 27.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assist per game for the series. I am fully convinced that anyone under the age of 40 will never admit Larry Bird was a better player than Stephen Curry. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Erving played forward and was noted for his fast breaks, balletic leaps toward the basket . She reported on the Celtics' sideline while Pat O'Brien reported on the Lakers' sideline. Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. Bird, who was selected 6th in the 1978 NBA draft but committed back to Indiana State for his senior season, was named Rookie of the Year after leading the Celtics to a 32-game turnaround from the previous year, going from 29 to 61 wins. Boston also had to deal with the impending free agency of Kevin McHale and Larry Bird. BOSTON (AP) June 12, 1984: The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-102 in Game 7 in the first NBA Finals between Boston's Larry Bird and Los Angeles' Magic Johnson . 1984 NBA Finals - Wikipedia How to say Basketball in different languages? We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). The Cs closed it out winning game four by 3 points. Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. Larry Bird [2023 Update]: Wife, Net worth & Family - Players Bio How to say Basketball in different languages? The 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell led the team in scoring after saying something like Get on my back boys before the game. Jayson Tatum passed Larry Bird for the most 30 point games 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 . The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. The first round was a 3-1 victory over the Washington Bullets. 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. The Bullets also had rookie Jeff Malone, who was a backup at this point but would go on to be a star, and future Piston Bad Boy Rick Mahorn. Which Player has Played in the Most NBA Finals Games? 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. The Celtics took seven games to defeat Bernard Kings Knicks in the conference semifinals. Julius Erving | Biography, Stats, & Facts | Britannica Larry Bird would go after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. 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 vs. Bird: Reliving rivalry 40 Years after first NBA matchup Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. But it is also quite possible even probable that Larry Bird cost the Celtics the 1985 NBA championship.". His performances helped to take the Celtics to 62 wins in the regular season, topping the NBA. Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. The Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. He has been an NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986 out of which he was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. 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. In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball at Indiana University but struggled to adapt to the large student population. By the end of the 1984 season Bird had won his second NBA title, both with the Celtics. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. 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 Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird sparked greatest NBA Finals Bird's 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). 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 Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bird averaged 24.2 points,10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 1983-84 season. This series prompted Bird to quote, Thats God disguised as Michael Jordan. Michael averaged 43 points through the three-game series. 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. 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. Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. Things werent as cheerful from this point forward for Boston though. New York also featured Bill Cartwright and Rory Sparrow. 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. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. 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 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. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. 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. 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. Cedric Maxwell, Larry Birds teammate, was awarded Finals MVP with 18-9-3. What is Larry Bird's Record in the NBA Finals? He was the only NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the . 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. The Boston Celtics won the 1981 NBA Championship in six games giving Larry Bird his first NBA title. In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. 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. Bird was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. The Celtics made short work of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning in five games. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. The Philidelphia 76ers were led by NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, and Darryl Dawkins. Thanks in main to two close overtime wins, Boston won the series in seven games despite Bird struggling in the deciding game. Cedric 'Cornbread' Maxwell speaks out on GOAT, today's NBA, Larry Bird 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 Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? However, its the only individual award Cedric Maxwell won in his career. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Larry Bird - College Basketball At Sports-Reference Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. And, to be clear, he came by it honestly. WATCH: Every play by Larry Bird in the 1981 NBA Finals vs. the Rockets The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Larry Bird | Bio-married, divorce, affair, children - Playerswiki NAME. During the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in three, the Dallas Mavericks in five, and the Phoenix Suns in six. Amazing! Celtics Starters: Tiny Archibald, Chris Ford, Larry Bird, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell and Robert Parish. Larry Bird was a star. 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.
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