larry bird finals record larry bird finals record

Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? Despite getting swept in the 1983 NBA Finals by the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers entered the season among the favorites to win the title. In the 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. 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. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. 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. In 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. "[3] The teams met again in the 1985 finals, which the Lakers won 42. He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Background. The Lakers, no slouch themselves, had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthey, and Bob McAdoo. 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. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. This was Birds last season with Indiana State as he had been drafted by the Celtics in 1978, but chose to play out one final year with his college instead of going straight to the NBA. 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 took them to seven games before they were able to advance and the Pistons took them to seven in the Conference Finals. 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. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. Despite this, Bird did not win any championships during his college career. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. As weve mentioned, all these players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Both teams could have easily succeeded in taking the Eastern Conference Finals. The type of player who didnt even care about stats but always seemed to put up the most absurd statlines ever seen. 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. Allen Iverson Jersey Mitchell and Ness: A Complete Guide. His individual performance was recognised all across the NBA as he helped Boston to a then record breaking 67-15 regular season record. 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. Cedric Maxwell averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists to win Finals MVP. 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. It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. Bird's 2 Finals losses both came against the Lakers and Magic Johnson , 1985 & 1987. In 1981, 1984 and 1986, it was Bird who led the Boston Celtics to championships, with him taking home two Finals MVP awards. Hall of Fame. Big Names Off the Bench: Jerry Sichting, Bill Walton and Scott Wedman. The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. Bird's 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. This was the last NBA Finals to use the 22111 format until 2014. With a new head coach in KC Jones and plenty of uncertainties, Carr said their motto for the season was Dont be denied. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The number two-seeded Bucks went down in a series sweep, with all five Celtics starters averaging double-digit points. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. It was a tough six game slugfest with the Houston Rockets but Bird and company were just too good. Bird: "So you're overpaid.". In his first season as Pacers coach, Indiana finished third in the east, having finished tenth the prior season. Larry averaged 27-10-6. FTA complete back to 1948-49. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. 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. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope) Position: Small Forward and Power Forward Shoots: Right. The Knicks were led by the explosive scorer Bernard King, who averaged 29-5-3 in the series. This series was a rematch of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after their rivalry was revived in 1979 with the Magic JohnsonLarry Bird pair entering the league. This Finals had everything. Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. The Lakers took an early lead in overtime, but a controversial foul call foul on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, had been his 6th foul, and he was out of the game. Do you have a sports website? Im kind of country, she explained. Now, the explanation. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. Larry averaged 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in this series. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. Head-to-Head Regular Season Stats. 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. If you remember, there was Kevin McHales hit on Kurt Rambis, and there was Larry Bird bumping Michael Cooper out of bounds. The series was not a close one: the Cs took a 3-0 lead before Milwaukee won their second home game to stay alive. 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 was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. 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 wrote about his record in the NBA Finals here. . Larry led the way and averaged 27-14-4 to lead the team to the championship, along with his first Finals MVP. Right, Born: Two years after his first finals loss to the Lakers, the re-match was on. It's an era thing. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, 1984 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Larry Bird's Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Houston had gone 40-42 in the 1980-81 regular season compared to Boston's 62-20 season under second-year Celtics sensation Larry Bird you may have heard of him. The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. During the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in three, the Dallas Mavericks in five, and the Phoenix Suns in six. In his career, Larry Bird won three NBA regular season MVP awards. In the playoffs, the team went 15-3 en route to winning the championship. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. 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. Im not a guy that talks about my past because I always look to the future, but you really sit down and look at it, Ive been involved in a lot, its pretty nice, the forward simply explained. The Bucks were no match for the Celtics, and this spelled the end of a competitive Bucks team that fizzled out after this season. 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. Fans gave Bird a standing ovation when he was introduced. 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. All rights reserved. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. The 1986 team is among the greatest teams to ever take the hardwood. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first two NBA matchups between Bird and Magic . 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. Larry Bird Net Worth. Instead of battling fatigue and exhaustion from their grueling Semi-Finals series, they went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. 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. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.In the final game of the tournament, Larry Bird and his erstwhile unbeaten Indiana State Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson and his Michigan State Spartans by the score of 75-64. The Celtics snuck past the Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games after the Sixers had taken a 3-1 lead to open the series. His career was cut dramatically short by injury. Trailing in game 4, Kevin McHale clothes lined Kurt Rambis to spark the Cs to victory. Bird averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the series. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Between 1980 and 1989, there were only two seasons that ended with someone other than Johnson or Bird winning the title. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. 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. 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. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. The game after setting an NBA finals record for made threes with eight in game 2 against the Lakers in 2010, Ray Allen . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. That went to Birds teammate. In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. 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. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. 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. . Find out more. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. Birds 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). The Cs won a couple home games to start the series then lost a close one on the road. The Celtics again saw their Eastern Conference rivals matching up against the Milwaukee Bucks. We had Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson on the Celtics. Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson. Known as "Larry Legend," Bird has achieved incredible success in his career, earning multiple awards and holding numerous records. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Larry Bird in 2023. Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. . Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. Larry Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 & 1986, the trophy would go to his teammate Cedric Maxwell in 1981. How to say Basketball in different languages? 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 Despite the similarities, the Lakers won the series in six games. After a tough seven game series in the conference finals against the Sixers, Boston advanced to the finals to face the Rockets. After altering wins with the Lakers, the Celtics won Game 7 and the series with a score of 111102. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. Required fields are marked *. When asked about what he remembers most about beating the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals, Carrs reply was: The final seconds of Game 7. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. In 1979, Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird faced off for the first time in the NBA. 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. Former Celtics player M.L. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. 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. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Navigation Toggle NBA. Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) . 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. The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. Only game 3 finished within ten points with the Cs winning 111-107. Bird and the Celtics lined up against the Los Angeles Lakers who took them to seven games. 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. Maybe you lived through the glory days of the 1980s Celtics but you cant quite remember how Bird got his rings. Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. Boston won two close ones to start the series before Washington stole game three by 3 points. It gave Bird his first finals loss in his third appearance. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. This was Birds last finals appearance, meaning that he went to five NBA finals overall, winning 3. The Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. 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. Game 4 of the 1984 Finals marked the last Finals game to go into overtime until Game 2 of the 1990 NBA Finals. Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. In their professional careers, Bird played for the Boston Celtics and Magic played for the Los Angeles . 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. Tatum and the rest of his team are eager to avenge the loss in the Finals . Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. The Celtics won the Finals in six games to cap off a season that . After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. These performances earned Bird his second MVP award. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. 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. This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. The East's award is named after Larry Bird and the West's after Magic Johnson. Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. It was also the first of three NBA Finals meetings between the Celtics and Lakers during the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson era. The following year, the NBA Finals format was changed to 232 after Red Auerbach complained about the constant travelling during the Finals. he guided the Pacers to a 58-24 record, which was the best in franchise history at the time. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-3, winning by nine points in the deciding Game 7. 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. The Lakers drew first blood but Boston evened the series in Game 2. As the reigning rookie of the year, Bird led the Celtics to the finals, beginning with a sweep of the Bulls. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. During a mid-1980's game vs. Utah when Bird was torching the Jazz, Larry looked over at . But does that record provide a fair verdict on James' performance in the NBA Finals? Bird won the first Finals meeting between them in 1984 and Johnson won the two others; one in 1985, the other in 1987. Bird averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game for the series. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? May 12, 2022. Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Larry Legend also sank 42 of 47 foul shots in the pressure-packed series (89.4 . The NBA Playoffs saw some change this year, with the tournament expanding to 16-teams and the four-round knockout we see today. Sadly for Bird, the Pacers lost the series in six games. Safe to say he absolutely dominated in every facet of the game for that second ring. On May 16, 1985 the off-day between Games 2 and 3 of . So lets look at the 1984 NBA season. Celtics Starters: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Certain completely unbiased fans, like myself, rank him very highly in that top ten. Larry led the way with an average of 25 points per game. However, despite sweeping the Bulls in the first round again, they had serious issues the next few. Atlanta Hawks 4-1, 1986 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. After going 33-0, Bird led his team to the final of the tournament where he faced off against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. The Boston Celtics won the 1981 NBA Championship in six games giving Larry Bird his first NBA title. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 1983: Moses Malone: C: [1] The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. The #1 and #2 seeds were set to face off in the Conference Finals. 1984: Larry Bird: Boston Celtics: No stats available. 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. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most.