The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. 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. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. Larry Bird was a star. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? He held this role for five seasons before being offered the Indiana Pacers head coach role. Teaming with players like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Maxwell was an essential player on Boston teams that won NBA championships in both 1981 and 1984. 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!). he was voted the NBA Finals MVP. It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. Bird had a good series in other categories, but did not score at his normal rate. Larry Bird Championship #1: 1981 Boston Celtics, 1981 Conference Semis: Celtics def. The Celtics ended the series shooting 52% from the field while holding the Bucks to 44% shooting. The American greatest basketball still worked as a coach and executive in the NBA, which had indeed led him to get over the low . Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. That NCAA tournament final is one of the most iconic games in college basketball history. home/away, monthly, etc More Larry Bird Basketball Reference pages, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:46PM. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. 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. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Bird scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers, which broke Sam Jones' record set in 1965. talent just don't get it. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. Larry Bird's continuing influence on the game of basketball crossed a new threshold . . Being the reigning MVP, there were big expectations for Bird in the 1984-85 season. Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. So as it seems unlikely for Bird to ever coach again, Larry Bird has never won a championship as a coach. Bird has four siblings' all brothers named Mike . Even when he found fame and fortune, the NBA star never forgot his humble roots. This cost the Lakers valuable depth, as James Worthy, a key contributor off the bench, would now have to start in Wilkes' place. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. James has as many series losses in the Finals as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird combined. 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). The following year, the NBA Finals format was changed to 232 after Red Auerbach complained about the constant travelling during the Finals. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. 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. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. He averaged 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the series. 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. No stats available. 0:00. Seriously, check out his Basketball Reference page. The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson helped define the modern NBA with their individual brilliance and team success in the 1980s. Larry Bird: Biography. The Celtics star received 52 first placed votes, with second place Bernard King only getting eleven. Bird was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the series. Carr stole James Worthy's inbounds pass followed by a dunk to seal the win. Your email address will not be published. The Bucks now featured a young Terry Cummings along with Paul Pressey and Sidney Moncrief. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. Meanwhile, the Clydesdales, AKA the Celtics, were coming off a season where they went 56-26 and were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in round 2 of the playoffs. In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. With a new head coach in KC Jones and plenty of uncertainties, Carr said their motto for the season was Dont be denied. The big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. 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 made short work of the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning in five games. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. Larry averaged 27-10-6. Trailing in game 4, Kevin McHale clothes lined Kurt Rambis to spark the Cs to victory. Milwaukee Bucks 4-0, 1986 NBA Finals: Celtics def. [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. What is Larry Birds Record in the NBA Finals? Same ammount of titles, Lebron has more MVP's and FMVP's, played longer etc. Take a look below. Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. Hakeem was no slouch, averaging the most points and rebounds in the NBA playoffs. Unfortunately for the Pacers and Larry Bird, the Lakers were just too much for the Pacers. 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. The Conference Semifinals was a seven-game series against the Knicks, which ended with Boston winning 4-3. In the Finals, Bird dropped a triple-double on the Rockets in a series-clinching Game 6, giving the Celtics another ring. The Celtics took four games to get by the Bullets in the first round best-of-five series. 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. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. 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. In 1980, 1982, 1985 and 1988, Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to championships, winning three Finals MVPs along the way. The Cs closed it out with a lopsided victory in game 5. During a mid-1980's game vs. Utah when Bird was torching the Jazz, Larry looked over at . Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. However, despite sweeping the Bulls in the first round again, they had serious issues the next few. 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 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 . 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 Pacers got their revenge on the Knicks, winning the eastern conference finals in six games to go up against the Lakers. Answer (1 of 43): To start by answering the question, I'd say - yes. I wrote about his underrated defense here. 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 Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. Bird averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cs. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . 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. Data Provided By 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. Those same Lakers defeated Bird in both his finals losses. Bird was very honest when taking up the role saying he would only coach the team for three years. However, this was not the case. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. more information Accept. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA . Larry Birds finals record was 3-2. Celtics Starters: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Navigation Toggle NBA. Peak, Bird was better imo All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. On May 16, 1985 the off-day between Games 2 and 3 of . His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Born in Indiana in 1956, Larry Bird began playing basketball at a young age. Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! . Certain completely unbiased fans, like myself, rank him very highly in that top ten. 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. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. 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. Bird and the Celtics lined up against the Los Angeles Lakers who took them to seven games. 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 could do it all on the basketball court. Boston won two close ones to start the series before Washington stole game three by 3 points. Amazing! One of the ongoing debates within the world of sports centers around how you define greatness. Your default site has been set for 7 days, Scoring the rivalry: How Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played in their legendary head-to-head matchups. Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. I am fully convinced that anyone under the age of 40 will never admit Larry Bird was a better player than Stephen Curry. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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 Cs shut the door at home in game 5 winning 115-108. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. 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. That went to Birds teammate. Fast forward a couple of seasons and Bird marched his team back into the 1984 postseason. 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. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. The last four games all came down to the last shot, with all the games being decided by two points or less. Sadly for Bird, Michigan State were just too much for him as the Spartans ran out 75-64 winners. We had Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson on the Celtics. 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. The game after setting an NBA finals record for made threes with eight in game 2 against the Lakers in 2010, Ray Allen . The Knicks were led by the explosive scorer Bernard King, who averaged 29-5-3 in the series. Please check your email for a confirmation. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. 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. Game 4 of the 1984 Finals marked the last Finals game to go into overtime until Game 2 of the 1990 NBA Finals. 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. This Rockets team still had Robert Reid but now also featured Rodney McCray. These Knicks really were Bernard Kings team. The Celtics had Larry Bird as their centerpiece and posted a record of 67-15, including an NBA record 40 wins at home. 9 John Vanak (alternate, replaced Evans), This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:16. It went back and forth but the Celtics were able to walk away with a massive victory to seal the series. The Houston Rockets were mostly a completely different team from the Moses Malone-led Rockets of the 1981 Finals. Or maybe youre a younger fan wondering if Bird really deserves his place in the Pantheon of basketball greats. In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. Check out stats on every National Basketball Association Finals MVP winner on ESPN.com. It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. The kick-off of one of the greatest rivalries of all time. Those other two times? 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. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. The Sixers had an incredible roster featuring three Hall of Famers in Julius Dr. Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. 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. This Finals had everything. Only the strong survive. James Posey shared the culture that made the 2008 Boston Celtics experience so unique. He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. You can read up on all three of Larry Birds incredible championships below. This was Birds last finals appearance, meaning that he went to five NBA finals overall, winning 3. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Lakers in 1983 and the Detroit Pistons snuck by the Lakers in 1989. Some notable games between the two of them: At least when it comes to how they fared in theirhead-to-head matchups. Bird picked up his first Finals MVP honurs. 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 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 198384 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. They were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. Boston also had to deal with the impending free agency of Kevin McHale and Larry Bird. There are so many different titles that Bird has. Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. Despite getting swept in the 1983 NBA Finals by the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers entered the season among the favorites to win the title. She reported on the Celtics' sideline while Pat O'Brien reported on the Lakers' sideline. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right. That might seem unbelievable this is coming from a man who famously asked his Three-Point Contest peers who was coming in second but it largely fits within Birds character. J Erving, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the similarities, the Lakers won the series in six games. In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists, an NBA Finals record. New York also featured Bill Cartwright and Rory Sparrow. 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. Aside from the two stars, the teams were among the most stacked in history. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are interested in Larry Bird Championships, you might be interested in checking out some of these posts I have written about Larry Legend.
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