larry bird finals record larry bird finals record

Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana us College: Indiana State University High School: Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana The Celtics won the Finals convincingly 4-2. Philadelphia 76ers 4-3, 1981 NBA Finals: Celtics def. The series was not a close one: the Cs took a 3-0 lead before Milwaukee won their second home game to stay alive. Larry Birds Celtics made the Finals in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Atlanta Hawks 4-1, 1986 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. The Lakers drew first blood but Boston evened the series in Game 2. The Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121, thanks to Scott Wedman's game-winning shot from the baseline with 14 ticks left. In the Finals, Bird dropped a triple-double on the Rockets in a series-clinching Game 6, giving the Celtics another ring. That's the first time the (80's) Lakers ever encountered that, someone stronger minded. Larry Bird is one of the ten greatest players in the history of the NBA. 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. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. 0:00. The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Lakers in 1983 and the Detroit Pistons snuck by the Lakers in 1989. Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Washington Bullets 3-1, 1984 Conference Semis: Celtics def. It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. Larry Birds Finals record is in the lower half of the list of all-time greats below. The Cs closed it out with a lopsided victory in game 5. The type of player who didnt even care about stats but always seemed to put up the most absurd statlines ever seen. . He was pre-knee injury at this point and averaged 26 per game in the regular season and 29 per game in this series. Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. This was brought on after Ralph had an altercation with a Boston player in game five. The rules shift was a big factor . The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. 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. 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 Larry Bird Finals Record is a statistic of the player who most often wins the 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. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. 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. He was a monster, averaging 22-16 in this Finals series. Finally, lets discuss the NBA Finals. The Lakers destroyed the Cs in their first home game 137-104 in game 3. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. However, this was not the case. However, the Lakers suffered a key injury when their 3rd leading scorer, Jamaal Wilkes (17 PPG) was ruled out of the finals. 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. If you are thinking of buy an NBA jersey then check out the official retailers of the NBA below. 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. With a new head coach in KC Jones and plenty of uncertainties, Carr said their motto for the season was Dont be denied. 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. Larry Bird was one of the most polished rookies to enter the league and was great for the Celtics right from game one. Celtics Starters: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. 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. In the first two NBA matchups between Bird and Magic . The Celtics again saw their Eastern Conference rivals matching up against the Milwaukee Bucks. Thanks in main to two close overtime wins, Boston won the series in seven games despite Bird struggling in the deciding game. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97F (36C) heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. 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. In his first season as Pacers coach, Indiana finished third in the east, having finished tenth the prior season. 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. There were three Larry Bird championships with the Boston Celtics: in 1981, 1984 and 1986. Answer (1 of 6): Larry Bird (basketball player) was 3-2 in the NBA Finals. How Many Championships did Larry Bird win? Should individual honors and scoring records take precedence? 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 the series shooting 52% from the field while holding the Bucks to 44% shooting. Larry Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 & 1986, the trophy would go to his teammate Cedric Maxwell in 1981. Do you have a blog? . Larry Bird Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Boston Celtics Forward Larry Bird. Having finished second in MVP voting the prior year, Bird dominated the season and the voting. The Hawks also still had good rebounder Tree Rollis. The Bucks were led in the series, as they had been in the regular season, by wing Marques Johnson and Hall of Fame guard Sidney Moncrief. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Johnson was called "Tragic Johnson" by Celtics fans due to the two crucial errors he committed in Game 4 (the Parish steal, followed by two botched free throws in OT). I wrote about his underrated defense here. 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). The Celtics entered the next season off a high, cruising into the NBA playoffs and sweeping Cleveland in the opening series. 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. Though just looking at his record can get a bit confusing. "[3] The teams met again in the 1985 finals, which the Lakers won 42. The games were not much closer than the series itself. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. 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. Navigation Toggle NBA. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. The Lakers were indeed the thoroughbreds that year. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Bird scored almost 26 points per game in winning his third-straight MVP award. It didnt take the Lakers long to learn, but in that series, it was the element of surprise that we needed. Sadly for Bird, Michigan State were just too much for him as the Spartans ran out 75-64 winners. 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. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? The 86 Celtics are in the conversation for best team ever with Bill Walton joining Bird, Robert Parish and. Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. Required fields are marked *. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. The Lakers and the Celtics met again in 1987 where the Lakers won in six games. The Houston Rockets have long been a sneakily dangerous team even when they were losing, dating from when the Rockets faced the Boston Celtics in the 1981 NBA Finals with a losing record. 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 Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Former Celtics player M.L. In 1985, the Lakers beat the Celtics behind FInals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. You can only imagine how fiery this rivalry was, with two consecutive seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Bird won his first NBA Finals MVP. The Sixers took an 89-82 lead with five+ minutes to go. Bird finished second in the MVP voting to Malone and was unable to lead the Celtics back to the Conference Finals. 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. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. 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. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . 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. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. The East's award is named after Larry Bird and the West's after Magic Johnson. Head-to-Head Regular Season Stats. 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. Larry Bird always showed up at the highest level when the Celtics needed him most. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 9 John Vanak (alternate, replaced Evans), This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:16. He was named NBA Head Coach of the Year in 1998. Los Angeles Lakers 4-3, Larry Bird Championship #3: 1986 Boston Celtics, 1986 First Round: Celtics def. 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) . Larry Bird stats . Larry Bird went 3-2 in his five NBA Finals appearances. So as it seems unlikely for Bird to ever coach again, Larry Bird has never won a championship as a coach. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? The Houston Rockets were led by their Twin Towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. . 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. 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. Summary: Larry Bird's Finals Record. It was the same matchup with pretty much the same teams. he guided the Pacers to a 58-24 record, which was the best in franchise history at the time. His back suffered major issues, as he injured it building on his farm. 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 games were closer than youd expect for a 1 seed vs 8 seed series. In Birds rookie season in the league, he helped lead the Boston Celtics all the way into the Eastern Conference Finals. While everyone has their own favorite NBA players, its impossible to argue with Larry Birds position in the all-time basketball pantheon. They were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. Aside from stats, Larry Bird was a winner, bringing home multiple championship rings during his time with the Celtics. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Larry Birds NBA Finals record is 3-2. The 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell led the team in scoring after saying something like Get on my back boys before the game. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Tatum and the rest of his team are eager to avenge the loss in the Finals . Bird averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the series. They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. Those other two times? Despite this, Bird did not win any championships during his college career. He and Chauncey Billups are the only two retired players to win Finals MVP but not to make the Hall of Fame. Remember, Boston selected Larry in the 1978 draft but decided to return to Indiana State for his senior season. In 1987 the Lakers once again beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Sadly, after that Finals loss, Bird never made it into another Finals series. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Larry Bird Owns Many Records, But Only One Unique One Bird owns a unique NBA record. But does that record provide a fair verdict on James' performance in the NBA Finals? It's an era thing. Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. 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. At the end of the season, Bird was named Coach of the Year. The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Below you can see the playoff results for all of Birds Celtics teams. The Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987 with Bird and Cooper going at it. . After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Fanatics.com and other companies linked to on this site. His career was cut dramatically short by injury. It's clear the two dominated the decade, but who got the better of who? Since then Bird won a championship in 1981, then Magic led the Lakers to the finals in 1982 and 1983, winning in the former. The Cs turned up the D and Bird was everywhere. Larry Bird. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. BIrd averaged 27.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assist per game for the series. After going 33-0, Bird led his team to the final of the tournament where he faced off against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Birds great performances in games one and six helped lead the Celtics to the title and Bird claimed his first NBA Championship in 1981. Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) . Im kind of country, she explained. 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. It did not slow Bird down as he won a title the next season with the now legendary 86 Celtics. "Wilt . Bird won two finals against very different Houston Rockets teams and one against the Showtime Lakers featuring Kareem and Magic. Larry Bird won three championships as a player, but did not win any as a coach. 1956 NAME. The NBA unveiled two new postseason awards on Thursday morning: the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP. So, for me, being back in the old Boston Garden for Game 7, with twelve seconds left on the clock, and knowing that we were going to be world champions when absolutely no one gave us a chance but usthat is the thing that I remember the most.. Bird's Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. The Bullets featured Jeff Ruland a really good, likely underrated, player who was at his peak. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . 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. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? It was also the first of three NBA Finals meetings between the Celtics and Lakers during the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson era. Bird's 3 wins came against the Rockets (1981 & 1986) and the Lakers (1984). Big Names Off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. The Celtics got the better of their Showtime Lakers rivales in a heated seven game series to claim the 1984 NBA Title. And they werent. In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball at Indiana University but struggled to adapt to the large student population. Maxwell later claimed he said something like that but not quite so family friendly. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from:Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. FlynnbyBoston City Archivesis licensed underCC BY 2.0. Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. Reflecting back on the series, Magic Johnson said ". Which player is ultimately better all-time is a different conversationbecause that includes a lot more than their individual matchups. Averaging 30-10-7 with 3 steals. Born in Indiana in 1956, Larry Bird began playing basketball at a young age. Bird was Finals MVP in the teams victories over the Houston Rockets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. FTA complete back to 1948-49. That NCAA tournament final is one of the most iconic games in college basketball history. MUMBAI, India Twenty-seven years after Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and the "Dream Team" made the world fall in love with the game of basketball in 1992, India showed its adoration for the Boston Celtics great during the first NBA India Games last week. From a statistical perspective, he also averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across his career. Larry Bird Net Worth. Bird only averaged 15 points per game throughout the series but he did drop a series high 27 points in Game 6 to officially send the Rockets packing, as Bird won his first chip. Birds Boston Celtics finished 16-15 in NBA Finals games and 3-2 in NBA Finals series. Larry Bird would go after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. Bird picked up his first Finals MVP honurs. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! 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. It was an offensive and defensive clinic. Larry Bird Championship #1: 1981 Boston Celtics, 1981 Conference Semis: Celtics def. Instead of battling fatigue and exhaustion from their grueling Semi-Finals series, they went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, 1984 NBA Finals: Celtics def. She reported on the Celtics' sideline while Pat O'Brien reported on the Lakers' sideline. All three broke into laughter, led by Russell's infamous cackle. Then head coach Bill Fitch resigned as head coach despite having the second-best coaching record in the NBA during his four-year stint in Boston. 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. Celtics Starters: Gerald Henderson, Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell and Robert Parish. Coopers. 1984 was against the Los Ange. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. It brought Bird his third and final NBA Championship. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. 2 NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986) 3 NBA Most Valuable Player (1984-1986) . Larry Birds finals record was 3-2. . He instead enrolled at the smaller Indiana State University. 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. The Western Conference Finals also led to one of the greatest game-winners ever. The seeds of the 1984 Finals were first sown five years earlier, during the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. 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. 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. Who is the highest paid NBA player in the 2021-2022 Season? The series was the eighth time in NBA history that the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA finals, with Boston winning each time, and the first championship that the Celtics claimed at home since 1966. Birds college career as a whole was exceptional. The Celtics won the third and final title of the Bird era with a victory over the twin towers of the Houston Rockets. In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup. 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. 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. Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum were carrying their teams on the offensive [] 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. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. He was the only NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the . The top 31 players and coaches, In 1981, the Celtics beat a Houston Rockets team featuring, In 1984, Birds Celtics beat the Showtime Lakers featuring, In 1986 the Celtics defeated a pretty different Houston Rockets squad. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . 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 . We have seen some teams lose in the NBA Finals off of some injuries and other situations leading up to it that the box score doesnt show, so lets dive into Birds record. Keep reading to learn more about each championship win, the series leading up to the finals, and each Larry Bird championship season. Larry Bird then married Dinah Mattingly on September 30, 1989, who he met while studying at the Indiana State University. Or write about sports? After altering wins with the Lakers, the Celtics won Game 7 and the series with a score of 111102. After dispatching MJ, the Cs cruised by Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semis.