Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? Larry Birds NBA Finals record is 3-2. If you remember, there was Kevin McHales hit on Kurt Rambis, and there was Larry Bird bumping Michael Cooper out of bounds. Stephen Curry is now a career 21-4 (.840) in playoff series. . NAME DATE SEASON SERIES TM OPP REC W% MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% PF +/-Magic Johnson: 5/27/1984: 1983-84 . The Celtics had lost to the Lakers in the finals the previous year, but this time their opposition was the Houston Rockets. Hakeem was no slouch, averaging the most points and rebounds in the NBA playoffs. Johnson evened the series after helping the LA . Karl Malone believes LeBrons greatness is there to appreciate, not to hate. The Cs shut the door at home in game 5 winning 115-108. Who Did Larry Bird Defeat in the NBA Finals? He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 boards and 3.6 assists per game for the series. The NBA Playoffs saw some change this year, with the tournament expanding to 16-teams and the four-round knockout we see today. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The 1984 NBA Finals was the first championship meeting between old rivals Boston and Los Angeles since 1969. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? Birds third and final NBA championship came in 1986. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. The Lakers destroyed the Cs in their first home game 137-104 in game 3. By the end of the 1984 season Bird had won his second NBA title, both with the Celtics. Among his accomplishments, Bird set the new single-game franchise record for points. In 1981, 1984 and 1986, it was Bird who led the Boston Celtics to championships, with him taking home two Finals MVP awards. The Lakers then inbounded the ball and Magic Johnson inexplicably dribbled the clock out during regulation time. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. Those other two times? Why did the Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns? What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? In addition to Nique, the Hawks starred Kevin Willis. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. 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 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. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. While the 22111 format remained intact for the remainder of the playoff rounds, the 232 format would be used until 2013. 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. 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. Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson helped define the modern NBA with their individual brilliance and team success in the 1980s. He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. Houston Rockets 4-2, Larry Bird Championship #2: 1984 Boston Celtics, 1984 First Round: Celtics def. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. At the macro level, the famous won three titles with the Boston Celtics. Coopers. 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. This struggle did not deter Bird. He was one member of the greatest rivalry in the leagues history between himself and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Magic Johnson. I wrote about his record in the NBA Finals here. * 1981: Boston Celtics def. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. The Cs won a couple home games to start the series then lost a close one on the road. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 1981, and the . talent just don't get it. And, to be clear, he came by it honestly. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Milwaukee Bucks 4-0, 1986 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Birds great performances in games one and six helped lead the Celtics to the title and Bird claimed his first NBA Championship in 1981. As of 2023, Larry Bird's net worth is around $80 million; he has different income sources. Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? the Celtics posted a 61-21 record and defeated the Houston Rockets to take the first NBA . Traditional Join our linker program. Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. One of the ongoing debates within the world of sports centers around how you define greatness. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. In Game 7, the heat that was an issue in Game 5 was not as bad (indoor temperatures hovered around 91F (33C) during the game, due to additional fans being brought in to try to cool the air). Bill Walton needed a change of scenery when he was in San Diego and Red Auerbach provided that for him in Boston. However, this was not the case. 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. Larry Legend also sank 42 of 47 foul shots in the pressure-packed series (89.4 . Larry Bird starred at Indiana State University before joining the NBA's Boston Celtics in 1979. . The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97F (36C) heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. Despite good performances from Bird, Magic Johnson outplayed him as the jumbo sized Lakers guard won finals MVP. Take a look below. Birds Celtics beat three pretty different teams in their Finals victories despite two of them being the Houston Rockets. 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. 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 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. Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups . Furthermore, Johnson and Bird earned five of the 10 MVP awards handed out during the 1980s. 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 7564. 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 Cs won in a blowout in game 3 in Houston before Houston tied it up with a tight win in game 4. Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 and immediately took up an advisory role with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics swept the Bulls after getting a bye in the first round for winning the Atlantic Division. 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. Here are some of the records and historical rankings that Larry Bird achieved at Indiana State: A member of the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club: 2,850 points and 1,247 rebounds Indiana State's all . The first round was a 3-1 victory over the Washington Bullets. [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. Larry Bird, the former basketball player for NBA's Boston Celtics, is a true icon in the world of basketball. Larry Birds finals record was 3-2. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. That went to Birds teammate. Right, Born: The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. Which NBA Team had the Most Hall of Famers for one Season. . Things werent as cheerful from this point forward for Boston though. . Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. Bird finished second in the MVP voting to Malone and was unable to lead the Celtics back to the Conference Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers won both games in the regular season series: The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden. Boston also had to deal with the impending free agency of Kevin McHale and Larry Bird. All the playoff action was documented on the 1984 NBA Season documentary Pride and Passion, narrated by Dick Stockton. 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. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bucks now featured a young Terry Cummings along with Paul Pressey and Sidney Moncrief. 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. Big Names Off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. Thanks in main to two close overtime wins, Boston won the series in seven games despite Bird struggling in the deciding game. The NBA Finals series was closer than either of the Conference Finals. Boston entered the new decade by winning the 1981 NBA Finals. And, as if that wasnt enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. 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. 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. The league had changed the Finals homecourt schedule to the 2-3-2 format that year, allowing the team with the lesser record (LA) to host the middle three games. 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. Despite just reaching the finals, Bird stuck to his word and resigned shortly after the finals, taking up the role of Pacers president of basketball operations in 2003. The Bucks took them to seven games before they were able to advance and the Pistons took them to seven in the Conference Finals. In Birds rookie season in the league, he helped lead the Boston Celtics all the way into the Eastern Conference Finals. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, 1984 NBA Finals: Celtics def. 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!). Game 7 at the Boston Garden was one for the ages! How to say Basketball in different languages? The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. NY Knicks 4-3, 1984 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. Unfortunately for the Pacers and Larry Bird, the Lakers were just too much for the Pacers. The Celtics swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. In their professional careers, Bird played for the Boston Celtics and Magic played for the Los Angeles . In 1987-88, Bird was the first Celtic ever to record a 40-20 game, with a 42-point, 20-rebound effort against Indiana. Ruland, a center, averaged 22 points and 12 boards for the season. The Larry Bird Finals Record was first recorded by Bill Simmons in his book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. (the Lakers) learned a valuable lesson. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. 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. They did make the playoffs the year after and many thought that they would easily repeat at first. Larry Bird beat iconic NBA players on his way to three NBA championships including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon. During that year Lesley Visser, Stockton's wife, became the first woman to cover the NBA Finals for CBS. 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. 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 In the Finals, Bird dropped a triple-double on the Rockets in a series-clinching Game 6, giving the Celtics another ring. Please check your email for a confirmation. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Not that there was anything to really worry about for him, it really just added a chip on his shoulder to come back and perform to a high standard. Larry Bird won three championships as a player, but did not win any as a coach. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. Required fields are marked *. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. FTA complete back to 1948-49. 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. Birds 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). In this first iconic matchup, eight Hall of Famers saw play. 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. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. 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. All rights reserved. The following year, the NBA Finals format was changed to 232 after Red Auerbach complained about the constant travelling during the Finals. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Larry Bird won three NBA championships in his basketball career. 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. Maybe you lived through the glory days of the 1980s Celtics but you cant quite remember how Bird got his rings. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: Shoots: Fast forward a couple of seasons and Bird marched his team back into the 1984 postseason. 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 . We had Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson on the Celtics. 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. Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. . Thanks for signing up. Bill suffered through injuries for much of his career but appeared in 80 games for the Celtics. The 1987 NBA Finals again saw the Los Angeles Lakers up against Birds Celtics. The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. Being the reigning MVP, there were big expectations for Bird in the 1984-85 season. Some of the greats Bird defeated in the playoffs include Moses Malone, Julius Dr. The Celtics got the better of their Showtime Lakers rivales in a heated seven game series to claim the 1984 NBA Title. His performances helped to take the Celtics to 62 wins in the regular season, topping the NBA. Since then Bird won a championship in 1981, then Magic led the Lakers to the finals in 1982 and 1983, winning in the former. 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. Chicago Bulls 3-0, 1986 Conference Semis: Celtics def. He has been an NBA champion in 1981, 1984 and 1986 out of which he was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986. Why did David Stern Veto the Chris Paul to the Lakers Trade? 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. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. 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. Birds missed game winner in game four turned out to be vital in the series as the Lakers did not let their 3-1 lead slip, winning the series in six games. It was yet again against the Lakers and they split the first two games 1-1. Michael Cooper Backs Larry Bird and Blasts JJ Redick, Calling Him a Poor Mans Danny Ainge. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. This was a fantastic series overall. us, College: Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. 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. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. It must have lit a fire underneath Larry because he didnt let anything get in his way during his sophomore season. Two years after his first finals loss to the Lakers, the re-match was on. It's clear the two dominated the decade, but who got the better of who? He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . . How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? In Birds career with Indiana State he did not ever win a championship. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. Houston had a tough road to the Finals: they beat the defending champion Lakers featuring both. There are so many different titles that Bird has. Larry Bird of the Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Malcolm Emmons and MPS - USA TODAY Sports. Home; Tickets; Schedule. It was a tough six game slugfest with the Houston Rockets but Bird and company were just too good. 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. 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 . The Cs closed it out with a lopsided victory in game 5. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. NAME. 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. Bird won three in a row between 1983 and 1986, whereas Johnson closedthe decade out with a pair ofMVP awards. The Bucks were no match for the Celtics, and this spelled the end of a competitive Bucks team that fizzled out after this season. Larry Bird is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. As one of the greatest players to ever step foot in the . Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. . The Celtics won the Finals convincingly 4-2. 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. inWest Baden,Indiana Now, the explanation. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. 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. Between 1980 and 1989, there were only two seasons that ended with someone other than Johnson or Bird winning the title. Bird averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cs. Or maybe youre a younger fan wondering if Bird really deserves his place in the Pantheon of basketball greats. The Boston Celtics won the 1981 NBA Championship in six games giving Larry Bird his first NBA title. He tied it up with two free throws with 3 minutes to go. Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. 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) . Born in Indiana in 1956, Larry Bird began playing basketball at a young age. Bird averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game for the series. 1983: Moses Malone: C: So for an entire decade, the NBA Finals included one of the two marquee franchises. Larry Bird. Jelani Scott. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. Answer (1 of 43): To start by answering the question, I'd say - yes. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. The Bullets were the 8th seed in the East winning only 35 regular season games and finishing last in the Atlantic division. 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. 1956 Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. Who Did Larry Bird Lose To In the NBA Finals? According to Basketball Reference, Johnson and Bird played against each other 18 times in the regular season throughout their careers. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Larry led the way with an average of 25 points per game. Bird outscored Dr. J 26.7 to 19.9 ppg in the series, led all players in rebounds and was second on Boston in assists. A superstar. The Larry Bird Finals Record is a statistic of the player who most often wins the NBA Finals. In his career, Larry Bird won three NBA regular season MVP awards. He was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. J Erving, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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larry bird finals record