Sadly for Bird, the Pacers lost the series in six games. Larry Bird is 6-9. more information Accept. On May 16, 1985 the off-day between Games 2 and 3 of . Required fields are marked *. Larry Bird stats . 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. The games were not much closer than the series itself. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. . The Lakers fell in the Western Conference finals to a new team that sprung up seemingly out of nowhere. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. The Lakers defeated the Celtics in the finals twice, preventing Bird from having any more NBA titles. 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. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. The NBA Playoffs saw some change this year, with the tournament expanding to 16-teams and the four-round knockout we see today. The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. 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. Stephen Curry is now a career 21-4 (.840) in playoff series. The Cs closed it out with a lopsided victory in game 5. Despite the changes, it did not stop the Lakers from finishing with the best record (5428) in the Western Conference, powered by their one-two punch of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Despite this, Bird did not win any championships during his college career. Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. Find out more. 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. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. SI examines the rivalry between the basketball hall of famers and how they changed the landscape of the NBA. 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. Fast forward a couple of seasons and Bird marched his team back into the 1984 postseason. This series was an eye-opener into how good the Celtics were this season. The Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. 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. Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? 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. In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It brought Bird his third and final NBA Championship. Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games (4 wins, 3 losses) * 1985: Los Angeles Lak. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. Keep reading to learn more about each championship win, the series leading up to the finals, and each Larry Bird championship season. The series was not a close one: the Cs took a 3-0 lead before Milwaukee won their second home game to stay alive. The Celtics won the first three games by an average of 6 points before the Hawks got their only win at home. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. What are the abbreviations on the NBA table. The Knicks were led by the explosive scorer Bernard King, who averaged 29-5-3 in the series. Throughout the season, he showed that he was the reigning MVP and had an excellent statistical season. Which Player has Played in the Most NBA Finals Games? Larry Legend also sank 42 of 47 foul shots in the pressure-packed series (89.4 . Carr stole James Worthy's inbounds pass followed by a dunk to seal the win. As of 2023, Larry Bird's net worth is around $80 million; he has different income sources. Bill Walton needed a change of scenery when he was in San Diego and Red Auerbach provided that for him in Boston. Nobody thought that the Celtics would beat the Lakers in 1984. The teams traded games throughout the series. Instead of battling fatigue and exhaustion from their grueling Semi-Finals series, they went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. The game after setting an NBA finals record for made threes with eight in game 2 against the Lakers in 2010, Ray Allen . Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! Bird averaged 24 points per game as Boston won the series in six to net him his THIRD ring. Data Provided By The 1987 NBA Finals again saw the Los Angeles Lakers up against Birds Celtics. The Cs took game 5 at home behind Larry Birds 34 points and 17 boards. That's the first time the (80's) Lakers ever encountered that, someone stronger minded. Bird's Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. October 9, 2019. How Many Finals MVPs Does Larry Bird Have? Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. These Knicks really were Bernard Kings team. Michael Cooper Explains What Made Larry Bird 'Larger Than Life' - MSN It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. * Larry Bird was injured and missed the playoffs in 1989. Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News. Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals . 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. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. Larry Bird [2023 Update]: Wife, Net worth & Family - Players Bio The Lakers were coming off a four-game sweep by the Philadelphia 76ers in the previous year's finals. 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. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. His performances helped to take the Celtics to 62 wins in the regular season, topping the NBA. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 1979-80 season with high . Do you have a sports website? Despite playing for another five seasons after his last title, Bird would retire with three NBA championships. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. His team mate Cedric Maxwell won MVP. They were the thoroughbreds, we were the Clydesdales., It was a very physical series, and thats exactly what we wanted because we knew thats the only way we could beat those guys. He banked in a shot with a minute to go to put the Cs ahead for good and they won 91-90. Two superstars, Magic and Larry, and the two most iconic teams in the leagues history, the Lakers and the Celtics. 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 won the third and final title of the Bird era with a victory over the twin towers of the Houston Rockets. Bird scored almost 26 points per game in winning his third-straight MVP award. In the playoffs, the team went 15-3 en route to winning the championship. 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. The Celtics won game 2 at home but lost two games in Philly to fall behind 3-1. 1984 was against the Los Ange. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. 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. Finally, lets discuss the NBA Finals. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. Pretty good matchup between he and MJ. Before the season began, the Lakers traded long-time guard Norm Nixon to the San Diego Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Byron Scott. What is Larry Bird's Record in the NBA Finals? BIrd averaged 27.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assist per game for the series. Larry Bird - College Basketball At Sports-Reference The Cs won a couple home games to start the series then lost a close one on the road. They easily won their first round series against the Washington Bullets as they were named at that time, then advanced and knocked off the New York Knicks in a seven-game series. Paul George: 'I still believe we're gonna be a tough team to beat in seven games', Gilbert Arenas on Ja Morant: 'When we young, we do stupid sh**', Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not on injury report, Erik Spoelstra refuses to comment on when Kyle Lowry will return, Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala probable for Sunday against Lakers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. 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 1984 NBA Finals was the first championship meeting between old rivals Boston and Los Angeles since 1969. The Celtics star received 52 first placed votes, with second place Bernard King only getting eleven. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. . Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. After going 33-0, Bird led his team to the final of the tournament where he faced off against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. 2022-23 Season Schedule; At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Erving played forward and was noted for his fast breaks, balletic leaps toward the basket . Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. Cedric Maxwell, Larry Birds teammate, was awarded Finals MVP with 18-9-3. In 1981, 1984 and 1986, it was Bird who led the Boston Celtics to championships, with him taking home two Finals MVP awards. Larry Bird age, height, weight, net worth 2023, wife, kids, gay Larry Bird's Career Record vs. NBA Legends: He Beat Michael Jordan 23 Times, But Magic Johnson Won The Head-To-Head Matchups . He finished 1986 with averages of 25-10-7. 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 . Seriously, check out his Basketball Reference page. Simmons says that he got the idea from watching basketball and looking at player statistics. In the Western Conference Finals the Rockets handled the defending champion Lakers in five games. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, 1984 NBA Finals: Celtics def. NY Knicks 4-3, 1984 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. 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). Larry Bird is one of the ten greatest players in the history of the NBA. Larry Bird of the Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Malcolm Emmons and MPS - USA TODAY Sports. Bird did not technically average a triple double for the series because both his rebounds and assists were slightly below 10 and Ive rounded them, but, still, those stats are unreal. Answer (1 of 43): To start by answering the question, I'd say - yes. Isn't 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists per game one of the coolest statlines for an NBA playoff series ever?A quote from Larry Bird's book "Drive" co. Both these players were representing teams from their home States, adding extra spice to the whole thing. Boston entered the new decade by winning the 1981 NBA Finals. Larry Bird's career NBA stats. The last four games all came down to the last shot, with all the games being decided by two points or less. The Bullets featured Jeff Ruland a really good, likely underrated, player who was at his peak. Those same Lakers defeated Bird in both his finals losses. 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, "Here Are Some Final Facts on NBA Playoffs", Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1984_NBA_Finals&oldid=1141615206, 20th century in Los Angeles County, California, Basketball competitions in Inglewood, California, May 1984 sports events in the United States, June 1984 sports events in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, No. 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. Magic Johnson Finals Record Vs Larry Bird | StatMuse The Celtics had lost to the Lakers in the finals the previous year, but this time their opposition was the Houston Rockets. Bird is a universally known NBA legend and is often credited with the NBAs explosion of popularity in the 1980s. The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. Larry Bird was a star. AP Was There: Bird beats Magic in 1st Finals showdown - USA Today Chicago Bulls 3-0, 1986 Conference Semis: Celtics def. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? They were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. Larry Bird's continuing influence on the game of basketball crossed a new threshold . 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Bird: "So you're overpaid.". Bird and the Celtics lined up against the Los Angeles Lakers who took them to seven games. The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The Bucks, coached by Celtics legend Don Nelson, won the Central Division title in 1984. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. LeBron James' teams have met or exceeded expectations in NBA Finals In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Larry Bird's Stats For Each Season: Consistency Was The Key, He Celtics-Lakers Rivalry | Basketball Wiki | Fandom Larry Bird: Career retrospective | Yardbarker Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. The Cs won games five and six by two points each to reach game 7. The NBA unveiled two new postseason awards on Thursday morning: the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP. Bird created a very good team. And after watching the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers twice during the 1982 and 1983 Finals, they were determined to win in 84. 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. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. (Larry Legend, The Hick from French Lick, Kodak, The Great White Hope), Position: Bird had a good series in other categories, but did not score at his normal rate. Birds great performances in games one and six helped lead the Celtics to the title and Bird claimed his first NBA Championship in 1981. 2 NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) 3 NBA Most Valuable Player (1984-1986) . Larry averaged 27-10-6. Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. What is Larry Bird's record in the NBA finals? - Quora While everyone has their own favorite NBA players, its impossible to argue with Larry Birds position in the all-time basketball pantheon. The Lakers drew first blood but Boston evened the series in Game 2. The Sixers had an incredible roster featuring three Hall of Famers in Julius Dr. With Kareem ageing, the Celtics hoped that they could win the finals. Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points . He shone as a head coach and executive for the Indiana Pacers; in fact, hes the only man in history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. . Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. He joined the Celtics a year later. However, despite sweeping the Bulls in the first round again, they had serious issues the next few. 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. Washington Bullets 3-1, 1984 Conference Semis: Celtics def. Fans gave Bird a standing ovation when he was introduced. 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 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. The Celtics won the Finals in six games to cap off a season that . 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. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. The first happened in 1985, a year after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals. Julius Erving, in full Julius Winfield Erving II, byname Doctor J, (born February 22, 1950, Roosevelt, New York, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player who was one of the most colourful and exciting figures in the game during the 1970s and '80s. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . The Celtics took seven games to defeat Bernard Kings Knicks in the conference semifinals. Larry Bird Boston Celtics Autographed Wilson Replica - Walmart Being the reigning MVP, there were big expectations for Bird in the 1984-85 season. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. 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. NBA Awards - Finals MVP - National Basketball Association - ESPN Here's when Larry Bird, Magic Johnson learned they have a lot - Yahoo The Cs won in a blowout in game 3 in Houston before Houston tied it up with a tight win in game 4. With a new head coach in KC Jones and plenty of uncertainties, Carr said their motto for the season was Dont be denied. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. Another book that demonstrated the competitive drive amongst athletes was, Magic/ Bird written by Eric Simonson. 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. Both teams could have easily succeeded in taking the Eastern Conference Finals. "Wilt . 1956 So lets look at the 1984 NBA season. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . . Referee Hugh Evans became dehydrated and fainted at one point in the first half. The Bullets were the 8th seed in the East winning only 35 regular season games and finishing last in the Atlantic division. Bird won three in a row between 1983 and 1986, whereas Johnson closedthe decade out with a pair ofMVP awards. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. 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. The Celtics next opponent was the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that swept them the year earlier. 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 . Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In other words, he noticed that some . Milwaukee Bucks 4-0, 1986 NBA Finals: Celtics def. The Lakers then inbounded the ball and Magic Johnson inexplicably dribbled the clock out during regulation time. 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. Some of the greats Bird defeated in the playoffs include Moses Malone, Julius Dr. Bird won the first Finals meeting between them in 1984 and Johnson won the two others; one in 1985, the other in 1987. 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. Featuring prime Larry Legend, apex Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war.". Things werent as cheerful from this point forward for Boston though. The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Atlanta Hawks 4-1, 1986 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. 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. In the Celtics 1981 Championship, Bird did not win Finals MVP. 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. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. One of the most feared competitors during the 1980s was Larry Bird, who won three championships with the Celtics during the decade, destroying teams through his versatile style and killer, lights-out shooting. It went back and forth but the Celtics were able to walk away with a massive victory to seal the series. 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. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. The NBA Finals series was closer than either of the Conference Finals. 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. NAME. 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. 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 . Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. FTA complete back to 1948-49. Its surprising that he wasnt able to win at least one more, though three championships nowadays is something that is wildly difficult to do, its no feat to be taken lightly. There's always a mystique about players that played before the 90's because we don't have all the data, stats etc as we have to. At the risk of boring you with a list of his all-time accomplishments, well run through an abbreviated version of Birds body of work. The famous forward might not have been the most athletic man ever to hit the hardwood, but that wasnt a problem. Traditional Larry led the way and averaged 27-14-4 to lead the team to the championship, along with his first Finals MVP. Bostons setbacks didnt end on the basketball court. As one of the greatest players to ever step foot in the . Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. 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. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The expected CelticsLakers finals, however, never happened. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? However, this was not the case. He averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 boards and 3.6 assists per game for the series. Furthermore, Johnson and Bird earned five of the 10 MVP awards handed out during the 1980s. Hey, it's enough to make Allen Iverson burn his Celtics throwbacks. 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.