NBA teams of the 80's would run circles around today's teams. The play making, passing, fast break running style of play of those days would leave today's players in the dust.
What I loved about Larry Bird is he got down and dirty. He went into the trenches to rebound on both sides of the court. Today, a whole lot of players just hang around the periphery and wait for long rebounds but Bird went into the scrum and worked hard to get them.
He said he was taught by like a high school coach that any loose ball could end up making the difference in the game, and therefore every loose ball should be contested as if the game is on the line. So he built that mindset into his game early on and carried it with him throughout his career.
Heck, these days people are being told that 2-point shots are bad shots. It's a different world. In the 80s, it was like watching the octagon, and now it's like watching a bunch of snipers ;)
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers Sage advice. And by the same token, some of the best advice you ever get isn't by the coaches at the highest level. There's no time in a person's development where it's too early to tell them something wise.
I was at that game. One of the most memorable moments I've had of any sporting event I went to when we gave Bird that standing ovation when he passed the ball to Ferston.
A rookie who has his Career High 36 points gives up a layup to his team mate rather than push his personal high ? There is a reason Bird is and should be in contention for GOAT
@@warrenkarmun138 GOAT implies… the singular best of all time, unless you are one of those typEs 🙄 that plays with their pronouns and think that the meaning of “Is” depends on whatever slick Willy can get away with.
Bird had more court awareness than anyone who played. Watch him on the court and you can easily see how he is a step ahead of those around him as each play develops. Throw in his size, his amazing eye-hand coordination, and under-rated athletic ability, and you have a player who can dominate every phase of the game.
Pistol Pete had the most court awareness I've ever seen but him and Bird was so close it's hard to say which one was better. Pistol had better ball control but overall Bird was the better player from top to bottom. His defense was incredible. His passing was amazing and he was so clutch. I grew up watching Pistol playing and he was so great at creating something out of nothing.
@@dalegriffin6768 always had super quick hands and great anticipation. He gives the impression that he's slow and unathletic, but that's deceptive. Fancy dunking is such a meaningless aspect in terms of winning, he couldn't care less about your high-flying finishes. He dunked only for high percentage flushes. He never had a problem running the floor or leading fast breaks. His back eventually took it's toll, but he was still extremely valuable until the end.
@@arthurevans2029 good points,Larry was my favorite player growing up in the 80s,I was called a racist by my White friends,but I didn't care, just because I liked a white player didn't make me a racist,that was when Boston was always in the finals and my friends were Laker fans and I would argue with them about how Bird would kick there ass in the finals, especially the 86 season,,they were so pissed because The Lakers got beat by Houston,I told them it didn't matter who was facing them that year they would win the championship 🏆 and they did,,the greatest Basketball team of all time
Bird basically already has all of the skills he would be known for. Lefty layups, fighting for rebounds and putbacks, the quick 3-pointer release, no-look passes, quick hustle on poke-away plays, the "headfake drive," several mid-range rainbow jumpers. We came to expect these things over time. Imagine seeing this package of skills for the first time as a fan in 1980. Bird didn't have to "work on" his skills during every offseason (though he did). He was already a complete player. He was pretty much already one of the 5 greatest players of all time as a rookie--he just needed longevity and championships to validate this.
+Steve G Great points (no pun intended). Yes, he already had the skills and moves we'd come to see from him in the years to come. Not too many 6-9 guys even now can react to an attempted steal with a LEFT-handed reverse dribble at mid court and then continue on to make a scoring play. I'm blown away by his steals--just plucks the ball from a guy who's holding it overhead three feet away--and no foul.
+Steve G Watching some of his college games is incredible. He was doing it all, offensive-defensive boards - clogging the middle at just the right time to steal a pass, pos up jumper from 15-18ft, and the uncanny knack for quick outlets for a quick 2 points.
You can very much make a case for LeBron James at this point, given the amount of things he can do. And Michael is Michael. But Bird is probably still the most shocking talent to watch, in terms of basketbal IQ for his body type. The 1992 game against Portland, when Bird had 49, 14 ad 12 while barely being able to jog up and down the court due to back pain, is probably the most underrated performance in NBA history.
+Steve G Agreed...that was a "Secretariat" performence at Belmont kind of a game...no one may ever see a game like that again in terms of pure determination and talent.
@@williammorrison6311 - What's really funny about that statement is you say it as if it's a fact instead of just YOUR opinion ... If it were a fact you would be able to prove it but you can't prove it and you know it 😂
I read Bird's book "Bird on Basketball." Short but to the point. It made me a better free throw shooter and rebounder. It also talked about how he would practice, not just his shooting and ball handling, but his mental focus. He would go for a run and then try to remember every detail of everything he saw on the way home. Incredible powers of visualization. I remember the first time playing basketball that the game slowed down for me and I knew what was going to happen next. Bird was like that, only the grandmaster version, seeing several moves ahead.
Watching Bird play, you get the feeling he was a complete player the moment he picked up the basketball. Of course he worked hard and honed his craft, but the total package was there from so early on.
Not these days. Rookies are now 19 years old & certainly not fully developed players fundamentally And physically they aren't as strong because they're only 19. Back in 1980 players coming into the association had played in some big time college basketball games for at least three seasons. That hasn't been the case for years.
@@euroamerican5189 No it's not, it was at the time, but since then it's been surpassed, San Antonio broke it, I think a 45 game turnaround, also the Celtics of 07-08, 42 game improvement.
@@Mrd9960 the cELTICS of Rivers added more players,Garnett and Allen.Duncan broke Larrys record by 3 or 4 games I think.More 32 for Larry and 35 or so for Duncan
Now that is how you play the "game" of "basketball". You get a couple steals/ blocks...4 assists...7 rebounds...36 points and some hard ass hustle. LARRY LEGEND is easily the most fun to watch on a basketball court other than maybe THE PISTOL.
They say Bird was slow but he was looking pretty fast with the ball here. Of course, Bird was always extremely quick for somebody of his size. Add to that his incredible all-around skill set and bball IQ and you have one of the greatest if not the GOAT.
He was definitely slow, but a great player in spite of that. He'd be a great offensive player even in today's NBA. Considering that he'd probably threaten or shoot about three times as many 3-Pointer's, he could step straight out of a time machine without any modern fitness evolution, and be a dominant offensive player. You'd have to have a team that could compensate for him defensively, although he had great spatial awareness, and high IQ on defense.
before his back injury he was a much better athlete than people today remember. he was 6'10" but had the foot speed and ball skills of a guard. not many 6'10" guys even today could match that. he couldn't jump out the gym, but with his height it didn't matter.
@@oldfrend Bird had a 28" vertical which is average and the same as Karl Malone. He definitely had the ball skills of a guard but was a great low post scorer and averaged 10 rebounds a game for his career which is more than Magic and Lebron. His timing for everything and anything that needed to be done on the basketball court was unmatched. Bird was a basketball genius.
Larry Joe played every part of the game supremely. 3 point shooting, moving without the ball, passing(his peripheral vision was incredible), offensive rebounding( often overlooked but he was one of the all time best), and he had innate ability to know what and where to be with the game on the line. And lastly, an otherworldly desire to win. If you went to see him play, you got his very best every single night. He never took a night off. But this probably shortened his career because of the toll it took on his back. There was just something about him, you couldn’t quite explain, at how damn good he was!
This is fascinating to watch. The Clipper players don't know enough about Larry Bird since this is the first time they ever played against him to realize how good he is. As the game progresses, you can see the players are like Dam this guy is good.
@slip satch ,you got that right, no hand checking, you breath near a star player today it's a foul. Larry bird was unreal! If he played in this so called game today, he would destroy the league in every facet, and he would be paid 100 million a year, I don't watch that slop they call basketball today, it's a joke
@slip satch absolutely! Further more, aside from the speacial treatment to stars and so called stars that you can't breath on, the game is unwatchable, they shoot from 10 feet beyond the 3point line, sometimes more, on a 3 on one break they shoot 3 pointers, no cohesiveness, no defense, one on one most of the time, it not the game I grew up playing, watching, loving. Bird epitimized how the game was supposed to be played, and did it better then anyone who ever played, that's just a fact! You can stick all the blown up phoney stats you know where. He played with heart, toughness, and smarts, and with the game on the line, CLUTCH! As Pat Riley said, if the game's on the line, I want Michael Jordan taking the shot, but if my life is on the line, I want Bird taking it!
I remember watching Bird's first game with the C's. He scored 14, I think, but what was more impressive was the way HE was directing seasoned veterans around the court. I figured it was beginner's luck, and to prove it to myself, I said I'd keep watching him play until I was proven correct that he's not much of a player and clearly not worth his $650k rookie contract. That's why I had to keep watching until he retired in 1992. Best passing forward ever...
+leon3 Bad by Bird standards, but understandable. Interesting what RRohan said about the way Bird was directing vets around. His court vision and creative play was apparently instantly recognizable.
newerafrican Yes, because he was naturally gifted. When you combine that with being a hard worker you have an awesome player. Who cares that he is white, the man could play!
Can you imagine being a college coach and losing maybe the greatest all-around player in history? Coach Knight would have loved coaching Larry Bird given his high basketball IQ, toughness, determination, all out hustle, and high level of skill. Indiana probably would've gone undefeated because they would've had Bird, Mike Woodson, Ray Tolbert, Randy Wittman, Landon Turner, Butch Carter, and Glen Grunwald - a MUCH better supporting cast compared to Indiana St in '78 -79. Knowing that must have kept Knight up at nights.
Um, he had a chance. Bird went to IU out of French Lick but was overwhelmed by the bigness of everything and left school as a freshman. Knight has said he didn’t do enough to find out how small-town Bird was and try to help him acclimate to that huge campus and school. Said it’s one of his biggest regrets. Lol You think? He might have won another national title or two. Bird, meanwhile, went back home to French Lick and even worked for a time for the local garbage company. But he gave Indiana State a try and he fit right in at that smaller school. The rest is history
what a fantastic video. Shows you the transition the game was going through and how Larry really changed the game. No one had seen a guy play like this before.
What made this hard knocks dude so amazing wasn't just that he was smarter and was always a play ahead of everyone else but by just gutting things out was all the difference!! Case in point. 1992 game 5 against pacers the famous fracture of the left cheek game!! When he came back out onto the parquet almost midway in the 3rd quarter"" sonn as he stepped on the floor Robert Parish who looked every bit his age throughout the game all of a sudden hit scoop shot in lane in heavy traffic and on next play hits a turnaround fading jump shot from 17 feet then hauled ass back down court on defensd!!! Instanteously elevated and in some cases took years off his fellow teamates!!! Amazing,,,unbelievable and I envy all you guys who have seen him live !!
2:15 to 2:25 in this video says it all!...Who does that?... Who the hell else have you ever seen make that play?...Steals the ball...starts the break...passes to an open teammate 40 feet ahead...guy blows the lay up...who gets the rebound?...Larry!...and the put back?....Bird!....Where the HELL did HE come from????... Who else makes THAT play?... Russell maybe?...Wilt?...Michael?.. That's the kind of hustle and determination and sheer will to win you only see in the Great Ones...The Best Of The Best...whatever the sport... It's also, unfortunately, just exactly the kind of play that...."Newer Fans" don't seem to appreciate... Nobody got "posterized"....so it must be lame...right?...
Unfortunately, it's also the type of playing that will cause your body to break down much quicker than usual. I wouldn't have had Larry Legend any other way, but I sure could have used a few more seasons with him out there!
NewerAfrican no he was unstoppable. He played against 5 of the top ten defenders of all time and not one of them came close to stopping him. That's why mj tries to to tell people all the time that they just don't understand just how good bird really was
You watch this, and you see that Larry was plenty fast. More importantly, he hustled his ass off, and recognized when it was time to run. He reacted a fraction of second before anyone else to start busting ass to the other end of the court, which is all it takes....
I grew up 45 miles from Larry in Southern Indiana and we followed lots of excellent high school stars in the ‘70s. But the name Larry Bird was not well known in the region. In the class of ‘74, he finished third in the voting for Mr. Basketball, the top senior male in the state. The most amazing thing about Larry Bird’s career is that he was a sleeper. Obscure in his own area. Dropped out of two colleges. Was working in a resort hotel. And out of this background, he goes on to be one of very greatest players ever.
Larry Bird played like a long-time seasoned vet at 21 up to 24 years old, as well as college to an extent. He was pretty much NBA ready in 1979. He was a "freak" player, just not quite on the athleticism side. incredible game IQ and creativity, plus seasoned playing right out of college, that sets a gold standard
I do not know where the " lacking athleticism" comes from. He was first down court. His passes were pinpoint accurate, his shots were quick, after using great moves to be open, or shooting in someone's face, moving sideways on jump shots, off balance. He had great timing and could dunk at full speed. He was extremely athletic.
@@robertanderson9375 Yeah he was a great athlete but I wouldn't put him up there with say, MJ. Larry was a freak genius of the game though, the mental part. The toughness. Getting in peoples heads. Playing ahead of the game with remarkable forethought. His passing and court vision was among Gods. Most of those intangibles are not so much physically related talents.
Ofcourse you wouldn’t say he’s mj athletic lol , mj is arguably the most athletic freak ever , I’d say prime Jordan has the best first step ever , biggest hands .
@@teddyhaynes9876 Yeah I was just responding to what you wrote. I never said Bird wasn't a great athlete, but people do occasionally say that. He of course was a great athlete being a top-call NBA player in the 1980's pretty much required it? haha
When people say bird couldnt hang in todays nba, i immediately discount anything they say about basketball after that. Luka doncic just tore through the nba at 19 by putting up the best rookie season since lebron, and not only that, he did it in style and with swagger. And luka is discount bird--bird was taller, tougher, swaggier, and a far better shooter. Not to mention his god mode trash talk would cripple today's feeble minded players. My god, young bird was tailor made to wreck the modern nba.
I mean just look at Nikola Jokic. Jokic is probably one the worst athletic NBA players ever but he is dominating like crazy. Athleticism is overrated, skill is way more important in my opinion.
not bad for a rookie, nate archibald toward the end of his career, i saw nate in his prime, great player too, he played at a faster pace than everyone on the floor, they didn't call him nate the skate for nothing, very exciting player to watch.
@@mikejones9961 April 10 2020 - There is no current product. They should totally do this. Currently we have NBA players playing in NBA 2K to entertain the masses.
At the 5:14 mark, Birdman has no defenders to beat for a dunk or a layup. Instead he gives the ball to benchwarmer Fernsten (spelling?). Previews of coming attractions ..... ZILLIONS of them!!! I feel so PRIVILEGED to have been a Celtics fan all those years from Russell onward ..... almost without exception, the Celts don't care AT ALL who scores the points, but whether someone on team does!
Larry Bird's rolling eyes quickly locate which teammates to assist with, to make easy baskets. Bird is not selfish and he wants all the team members to participate in every games.
@@jamesallen5591 Steve Kerr era Warriors played that way pretty much all the time pre-KD. Even afterward, you could see they took so much pleasure in celebrating each other's contributions.
Lights out! As a die hard Pistons fan, I hated Larry Bird....the hate wasn't against who he was....it was of PURE RESPECT! He was a straight killer and made plenty of fans mad! He's truly one of the best ever!
Thats how I like to see the game played. Selfless, hustle, no ego, silky skills, I mean skills which are the solution to the problem not just flashy skills for the sake of flashiness. His swishes seem more swishy. His timing is more... timely. Just a joy to watch. Is it just me or does he never look 6'10? Maybe its just because his movement was more like a guard of the time.
It’s an absolute clinic honestly. I hated Bird, but he was one hell of a player. A lot of hard fought rebounds by the way, when they actually fought for rebounds back then. If you watch the game today, you will see 8 players standing around, maybe two going for the rebound. What the hell happened?
Awesome greatest player ever In NBA history.. his numbers just watching him play all those years college pros many great player were there but he is in a class of his on
I remember when he was a rookie. He turned the team around immediately. They won 60 games that year. You can kind of tell that the audience was just starting to get used to him.
As a die hard 80's Lakers fan, there was no love lost when i saw the Celtics vs Lakers matchups. At the core of that killer Celtics lineup was this regular guy, who the entire NBA knew had the vertical jump of lead dumbbell. It was obvious was early on that opposition franchises never took Bird serious ... to their own, great detriment. For those who never got to see him play, Live, think of Jokic, but with a wider array of skills, and slightly smaller, but faster. But even as great as Jokic is now, i'm not sure he'd still hold a candle to the absolute phenom that was Larry Bird. Sure, if Jokic can get the Nuggets to 3 NBA Championships in less than a decade, as their core piece? Possibly, but even then he'd have to try emulating all the records Bird set in his injury shortened time at the top of the NBA.
Befor Bird joined the team, the Celtics, were tired, demotivated and always losing, them being in the lowest rung in the NBA. After Bird joined, they saw Bird diving after any loose balls and passing to the open man so they became energized and began diving for loose balls too. From the bottom of the NBA, they were one-win away from the NBA finals when they lost to a close 5th game in the Eastern championship. Now, thats what you call a turn around.
Jz, i put it this way, lets play a pickup game i give you 1st pick, you take mike, i take magic, you take lebron , i take larry, you take.... Wait! I got magic AND larry? GAME OVER!
@shivasirons6159 I'd always pick Larry first because he'd make everyone I picked after him better. And for that very reason, I'd never risk letting the other team get him.
This game was played January 27th, 1980. The reason "we might see a record for 3 pointers today" when Bird was just at 2 is because the 3-point shot was less than 4 months old, having only existed since the start of this season in October (and wouldn't exist in college until the late 80's). It only LOOKS like Bird has been practicing them for 10 years.
Thank you, there was no incentive to shoot from that far out, it was still just 2pts, you were taught to get closer for higher percentage shot. Then after he's 22yrs of life, hey we're gonna make a 3pt shot, ok now he needs to learn something new and he did, he learned it very well. The guys today curry, Durant, whoever have been practicing 3pt shots since middle school. Always enjoy old footage and points of view, have a great day
Jan, with 1980 was my 1st birthday the day this game was played! I was fortunate enough to witness Larry's final 2 seasons my first 2 watching nba. And he could still dominate the games as a shell of himself physically! Because his I.Q. was so much higher than everyone elses
Should have been MVP his rookie season. Who takes a 29 and 53 team to 61 and 21. He did not have any major changes on the team other than him. That is is MVP to me.
Boston fans were about to be treated to the BEST basketball games ever played in the next coming years. Unknowingly, they were witnessing the dawn of a legendary era.
OMG!!! Hard to believe that once upon a time LB was so quick, could actually jump, etc. WHAT A SHAME that he couldn't have remained healthier longer. He might have done exactly that if he had played in Western Conference. Back in his years (late 1979 into early 1990s .... and ESPECIALLY IN MID-1980S .... ), the Eastern Conference was much more physical than the Western. More banging in the pivot area.
What really did him in was his back, which he hurt shoveling gravel in his mother's driveway, and this was after he was in the NBA. People used to go to house in Boston, and watch him now his own lawn....truly a blue collar guy.
Wow, a preview of things to come. I don't believe there is truly just one GOAT in the NBA. There are 8 or 9 guys who belong in that convo. Not only is Larry Legend one of them, if not for the terrible injuries he had suffered there wouldn't even be a need for the conversation. Luv Bird & Magic!!!!
CORRECT!! Those geniuses that come in and talk about how Bird had tremendous help for his rookie season turn-around, fail to realize Parish, McHale & DJ were NOT THERE!
@@NameCallingIsWeak There was a big coaching change though, they hired Bill Fitch who would later be nominated as one of the 10 greatest coaches ever. And it was a talented group, Tiny, Larry, Maxwell, Cowens, Chris Ford, ML Carr.. Maxwell led the league in offensive rating, was 3rd in the league in win shares, and the following season was the finals MVP for this team. Tiny was healthier than the previous year, and a better fit under new coaching.. Not trying to discredit Bird any, but it's not fair to say he was the ONLY reason they improved, and equally not fair to say he didn't still have lot's of "help" or a quality roster around him.
Well u got the memories only wish my parents had money to watch him but ive got plenty of you tube,,,,consider him the best due to not having blazing speed not muscular could out leap you,,he worked hard to master his skills ...and no one matched his desire to win,,!! Hey when u watched the game did they ever chant !! Larry Larry Larry!!
@@cesargalvan4868 know what?...I don't remember....I DO however remember he was doing McDonald's commercials that Spring....for the McChicken.....billboards all around Boston with him smiling as he proudly displayed the then-new product. :)
The crowd might not have chanted Larry Larry Larrry yet since he was new!! I did see him when he came to Oakland when he was coach for the pacers !! But to have seen him play ,omg u are very lucky man!!
Not to sound haughty or anything, but if you grew up playing or watching basketball in the state of Indiana during the same era as Bird, you recognized immediately in him an innate basketball intelligence that personified many Hoosier schoolboy talents we all witnessed every Friday & Saturday night. Yes, Bird was the greatest of us to emerge from the ranks, but just about every school had those types of players who could do it all and elevate their teammates at the same time. It's why we all respect his game so much here.
@@Iceman991 i’m sure he does as do I, and I agree Larry Bird was better than Michael Jordan. All you have to do is watch when bird went up against Michael, was he dominated? No he certainly was not and Jordan was in his prime and bird was about to retire. Imagine if the two of them went up against each other when they were both young. How many of the worlds best players have to admit Larry Bird was the greatest for you to believe? Magic Johnson, Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The list goes on and on and on
Nzinn73 About Larry as a 3 point shooter and the Reddick thing. It's speculation somewhat about how Larry would shoot today, but pointing to the Lower percentages earlier in His career, he wasn't really working on the 3 point shot and he still was shooting a higher percentage than most. Steph is amazing don't get me wrong, if you are a basketball fan I think you have to appreciate him, but all the people saying he is way better than Larry aren't taking into account that Larry was averaging like 2 attempts a game. Get him to focus on the 3 pointer and he shoots North of 40 percent today, imo. He doesn't have Steph's handle to get open off the dribble, but he's also a half a foot taller and one of the craftiest ever. he did shoot 42 percent and if he is taking10 a game, it would be something to see. Shooting is hand eye coordination and Larry has some of the best there is. People say Craig Hodges had a higher percentage or whatever, my response is fair enough, what else did He have to work on other than 3 point shooting? That was his whole game.
The greatest player in the 80s during the best decade of the NBA.
Come on man, MJ was better, get real. Bird though top 5 all time.
@@ic5761 Jordan is #5 BEHIND Bird. Russell, Chamberlain, Bird, Maravich, Jordan. Russell is the GOAT.
@@winst0n888 Now that's just silly. Bird was great but not GOAT.
@@ic5761 Jordan was the top player of the 90's. Bird for the 80's
NBA teams of the 80's would run circles around today's teams. The play making, passing, fast break running style of play of those days would leave today's players in the dust.
There'll never be another Larry Bird.
Larry Bird is one of the few players, who is just simply timeless, I could watch footage of him playing for hours.
He is my all-time favorite athlete. Young guys today do not realize just how great he was. A true basketball legend.
same aith Jordan
@M Go away you tool. This Vid is about one of the greatest athletes of all time.
I totally agree
Wrong. Oh, so wrong. See comment above.
We knew Bird would only get better. I miss this era of basketball. Millions of us do.
European basketball is better now
@@innosanto I don’t see it televised so I’m guessing streaming service?
What I loved about Larry Bird is he got down and dirty. He went into the trenches to rebound on both sides of the court. Today, a whole lot of players just hang around the periphery and wait for long rebounds but Bird went into the scrum and worked hard to get them.
He said he was taught by like a high school coach that any loose ball could end up making the difference in the game, and therefore every loose ball should be contested as if the game is on the line. So he built that mindset into his game early on and carried it with him throughout his career.
Well he's 6'10. So he should be in the trenches fighting for rebounds. But I agree.
Heck, these days people are being told that 2-point shots are bad shots. It's a different world. In the 80s, it was like watching the octagon, and now it's like watching a bunch of snipers ;)
@@meminustherandomgooglenumbers Sage advice. And by the same token, some of the best advice you ever get isn't by the coaches at the highest level. There's no time in a person's development where it's too early to tell them something wise.
He’s got a career high and an easy layup to pad it with, but he gives it up to a benchwarmer instead. Pure class.
My Favorite Bird play EVER!😮
What about the pass to Robey, got Robey a wide open 8 footer and he shoots it 6 feet 😂
I was at that game. One of the most memorable moments I've had of any sporting event I went to when we gave Bird that standing ovation when he passed the ball to Ferston.
LeBronze dunks that unless he's stuck on 9 Assists. In garbage time. Birds the Best SF ever. # 2 in my Goat
A rookie who has his Career High 36 points gives up a layup to his team mate rather than push his personal high ? There is a reason Bird is and should be in contention for GOAT
🤔What do you in contention for G.O.A.T. status,he is one of many G.O.A.T.'s in the N.B.A. 😎
@@warrenkarmun138 GOAT implies… the singular best of all time, unless you are one of those typEs 🙄 that plays with their pronouns and think that the meaning of “Is” depends on whatever slick Willy can get away with.
Bird had more court awareness than anyone who played. Watch him on the court and you can easily see how he is a step ahead of those around him as each play develops. Throw in his size, his amazing eye-hand coordination, and under-rated athletic ability, and you have a player who can dominate every phase of the game.
Pistol Pete had the most court awareness I've ever seen but him and Bird was so close it's hard to say which one was better. Pistol had better ball control but overall Bird was the better player from top to bottom. His defense was incredible. His passing was amazing and he was so clutch. I grew up watching Pistol playing and he was so great at creating something out of nothing.
@@kenmcphail1320Pistol better court sense than Magic? Come on now.
Little did the crowd know the greatness that awaited them. Larry, to me, will always be my favorite player of all time.
Ur on the d
Me too , my favorite athlete .👍
This is before Birds back injury,he was more athletic than people give him credit for
@@dalegriffin6768 always had super quick hands and great anticipation.
He gives the impression that he's slow and unathletic, but that's deceptive.
Fancy dunking is such a meaningless aspect in terms of winning, he couldn't care less about your high-flying finishes. He dunked only for high percentage flushes.
He never had a problem running the floor or leading fast breaks.
His back eventually took it's toll, but he was still extremely valuable until the end.
@@arthurevans2029 good points,Larry was my favorite player growing up in the 80s,I was called a racist by my White friends,but I didn't care, just because I liked a white player didn't make me a racist,that was when Boston was always in the finals and my friends were Laker fans and I would argue with them about how Bird would kick there ass in the finals, especially the 86 season,,they were so pissed because The Lakers got beat by Houston,I told them it didn't matter who was facing them that year they would win the championship 🏆 and they did,,the greatest Basketball team of all time
Greatest play of Bird's career! My favorite at least. Him giving it up to the sub just before he exited the game. BEAUTIFUL!
I was in my 20's living home on Boston then.
It was the best of times.
Larry was the icing on the cake
Bird basically already has all of the skills he would be known for. Lefty layups, fighting for rebounds and putbacks, the quick 3-pointer release, no-look passes, quick hustle on poke-away plays, the "headfake drive," several mid-range rainbow jumpers. We came to expect these things over time. Imagine seeing this package of skills for the first time as a fan in 1980. Bird didn't have to "work on" his skills during every offseason (though he did). He was already a complete player. He was pretty much already one of the 5 greatest players of all time as a rookie--he just needed longevity and championships to validate this.
+Steve G
Great points (no pun intended). Yes, he already had the skills and moves we'd come to see from him in the years to come. Not too many 6-9 guys even now can react to an attempted steal with a LEFT-handed reverse dribble at mid court and then continue on to make a scoring play.
I'm blown away by his steals--just plucks the ball from a guy who's holding it overhead three feet away--and no foul.
+Steve G Watching some of his college games is incredible. He was doing it all, offensive-defensive boards - clogging the middle at just the right time to steal a pass, pos up jumper from 15-18ft, and the uncanny knack for quick outlets for a quick 2 points.
You can very much make a case for LeBron James at this point, given the amount of things he can do. And Michael is Michael. But Bird is probably still the most shocking talent to watch, in terms of basketbal IQ for his body type. The 1992 game against Portland, when Bird had 49, 14 ad 12 while barely being able to jog up and down the court due to back pain, is probably the most underrated performance in NBA history.
+Steve G Agreed...that was a "Secretariat" performence at Belmont kind of a game...no one may ever see a game like that again in terms of pure determination and talent.
It helps here that the Clippers were abysmal defensively.
I never tire of watching videos on Larry Legend!!
I am thankful that I grew up watching these classy players like Bird. They made the game great!
I remember these games as if they were yesterday. So many slick moves.
I’m so impressed with his basketball IQ, its like 3 steps ahead of everyone.
God, its beautiful to watch, isnt it?
great video quality.
I'm blown away how FAST he gets his shot off and so pinpoint accurate. Such a good shooter. Such a great scorer.
Never seen him this fast he could of been even better without injuries later in his career and i consider him top 3 all time
He´s number 4, behind Magic, Kareem and MJ. Collectively, basketball´s Mount Rushmore.
@@williammorrison6311 magic johnson was NOT and i repeat NOT better than larry bird PERIOD!!!!!!
@@williammorrison6311
Wrong. Bird is #1
@@williammorrison6311 - What's really funny about that statement is you say it as if it's a fact instead of just YOUR opinion ... If it were a fact you would be able to prove it but you can't prove it and you know it 😂
Oscar Schmidt and Me considered Bird as the GOAT.
Bird: Unselfish. Humble. Confident. And one of the best ... ever.
Was he humble though? "Who's going to come in second place?" he asked before the 3-point contest....
@@atgdcommish608thats being confident...
@@SonoftheMostHigh11Yipperz.
I read Bird's book "Bird on Basketball." Short but to the point. It made me a better free throw shooter and rebounder. It also talked about how he would practice, not just his shooting and ball handling, but his mental focus. He would go for a run and then try to remember every detail of everything he saw on the way home. Incredible powers of visualization. I remember the first time playing basketball that the game slowed down for me and I knew what was going to happen next. Bird was like that, only the grandmaster version, seeing several moves ahead.
That is a great book. I love where Bird talks about the goal being to be one's personal best.
This real film instead of tape looks incredible, it feels like watching a game now but it’s 44 years old
Watching Bird play, you get the feeling he was a complete player the moment he picked up the basketball. Of course he worked hard and honed his craft, but the total package was there from so early on.
he is my all time favor player from nba.
Bird's last pass. Pure class.
Can you imagine a rookie being the best all around player in todays game! By the middle of the 79-80 season larry was!
Not these days. Rookies are now 19 years old & certainly not fully developed players fundamentally And physically they aren't as strong because they're only 19. Back in 1980 players coming into the association had played in some big time college basketball games for at least three seasons. That hasn't been the case for years.
One of the greatest one year turnarounds by a team in NBA history - driven by a rookie! That alone puts Bird in the top 5 to ever play the game.
Yeah, look at that team on the court with him.......except for Tiny Archibald, mostly a bunch of scrubs lol Shows how great he was 👍
It is the greatest single season turn around of all time. By the numbers anyway and all they added was Bird that year.
Cowens was still capable
@@euroamerican5189 No it's not, it was at the time, but since then it's been surpassed, San Antonio broke it, I think a 45 game turnaround, also the Celtics of 07-08, 42 game improvement.
@@Mrd9960 the cELTICS of Rivers added more players,Garnett and Allen.Duncan broke Larrys record by 3 or 4 games I think.More 32 for Larry and 35 or so for Duncan
Now that is how you play the "game" of "basketball". You get a couple steals/ blocks...4 assists...7 rebounds...36 points and some hard ass hustle. LARRY LEGEND is easily the most fun to watch on a basketball court other than maybe THE PISTOL.
Pistol Pete 👌
They say Bird was slow but he was looking pretty fast with the ball here. Of course, Bird was always extremely quick for somebody of his size. Add to that his incredible all-around skill set and bball IQ and you have one of the greatest if not the GOAT.
Yup, and I do think, all things considered, that he is the GOAT.
He was definitely slow, but a great player in spite of that. He'd be a great offensive player even in today's NBA. Considering that he'd probably threaten or shoot about three times as many 3-Pointer's, he could step straight out of a time machine without any modern fitness evolution, and be a dominant offensive player. You'd have to have a team that could compensate for him defensively, although he had great spatial awareness, and high IQ on defense.
before his back injury he was a much better athlete than people today remember. he was 6'10" but had the foot speed and ball skills of a guard. not many 6'10" guys even today could match that. he couldn't jump out the gym, but with his height it didn't matter.
@@oldfrend Bird had a 28" vertical which is average and the same as Karl Malone. He definitely had the ball skills of a guard but was a great low post scorer and averaged 10 rebounds a game for his career which is more than Magic and Lebron. His timing for everything and anything that needed to be done on the basketball court was unmatched. Bird was a basketball genius.
Good game...let's see how he progresses through his rookie year.
Definitely has potential for the future.
playing great against the Cluppers doesnt mean anything, I say this kid will never amount to much
He's just getting all the hype, because he's white!
@@SniffyPoo Ha Ha Laughing/Funny
@@jameslawson7383 BOWSHIT!
You need to learn how to tell when someone is joking, or being sarcastic.
OMG he was so good and yes very athletic. He was amazing!
yes - don't know why they say not athletic - he did things others could not do.
Larry Joe played every part of the game supremely. 3 point shooting, moving without the ball, passing(his peripheral vision was incredible), offensive rebounding( often overlooked but he was one of the all time best), and he had innate ability to know what and where to be with the game on the line. And lastly, an otherworldly desire to win. If you went to see him play, you got his very best every single night. He never took a night off. But this probably shortened his career because of the toll it took on his back. There was just something about him, you couldn’t quite explain, at how damn good he was!
This is fascinating to watch. The Clipper players don't know enough about Larry Bird since this is the first time they ever played against him to realize how good he is. As the game progresses, you can see the players are like Dam this guy is good.
By today's standards Bird was fouled a lot in this game. If he were playing today, he would have WAY more points based of that alone.
Wis Dom and way more assist also
Rookies don't get calls
@slip satch ,you got that right, no hand checking, you breath near a star player today it's a foul. Larry bird was unreal! If he played in this so called game today, he would destroy the league in every facet, and he would be paid 100 million a year, I don't watch that slop they call basketball today, it's a joke
@slip satch absolutely! Further more, aside from the speacial treatment to stars and so called stars that you can't breath on, the game is unwatchable, they shoot from 10 feet beyond the 3point line, sometimes more, on a 3 on one break they shoot 3 pointers, no cohesiveness, no defense, one on one most of the time, it not the game I grew up playing, watching, loving. Bird epitimized how the game was supposed to be played, and did it better then anyone who ever played, that's just a fact! You can stick all the blown up phoney stats you know where. He played with heart, toughness, and smarts, and with the game on the line, CLUTCH! As Pat Riley said, if the game's on the line, I want Michael Jordan taking the shot, but if my life is on the line, I want Bird taking it!
@slip satch by the way, don't know if you watched them, but I loved slip and satch and the Bowery boys, they were great too
I remember watching Bird's first game with the C's. He scored 14, I think, but what was more impressive was the way HE was directing seasoned veterans around the court. I figured it was beginner's luck, and to prove it to myself, I said I'd keep watching him play until I was proven correct that he's not much of a player and clearly not worth his $650k rookie contract. That's why I had to keep watching until he retired in 1992. Best passing forward ever...
+Richard Rohan I would love to see footage of Bird's first game. 14 points his first game is not bad!
+leon3 Bad by Bird standards, but understandable. Interesting what RRohan said about the way Bird was directing vets around. His court vision and creative play was apparently instantly recognizable.
newerafrican Yes, because he was naturally gifted. When you combine that with being a hard worker you have an awesome player. Who cares that he is white, the man could play!
Bird is my favorite player of all time but LeBron has really developed into arguably the best passing forward ever
mihir702 if we are being honest ...
Watched so much of Larry lately 3 steps ahead. Just love watching him. No 1 for me.
At 1:00, He airballs a tough 3 pointer, goes for the rebound and gets the 2 and 1. AWESOME.
"Best hand eye coordination ever"
- Bobby Knight
He actually said " The best hand eye coordination, maybe, of anyone to ever play the game." That is a great video.
He had very fast hands and quick reaction time. People make such a big deal about jumping ability but fast hands are so crucial.
Was a freshman in high school. This was a special time. 🏀
Can you imagine being a college coach and losing maybe the greatest all-around player in history? Coach Knight would have loved coaching Larry Bird given his high basketball IQ, toughness, determination, all out hustle, and high level of skill. Indiana probably would've gone undefeated because they would've had Bird, Mike Woodson, Ray Tolbert, Randy Wittman, Landon Turner, Butch Carter, and Glen Grunwald - a MUCH better supporting cast compared to Indiana St in '78 -79. Knowing that must have kept Knight up at nights.
Um, he had a chance. Bird went to IU out of French Lick but was overwhelmed by the bigness of everything and left school as a freshman. Knight has said he didn’t do enough to find out how small-town Bird was and try to help him acclimate to that huge campus and school. Said it’s one of his biggest regrets. Lol You think? He might have won another national title or two. Bird, meanwhile, went back home to French Lick and even worked for a time for the local garbage company. But he gave Indiana State a try and he fit right in at that smaller school. The rest is history
THANK YOU FOR THIS
Bird was way more athletic then people give him credit for especially in his early years.
Yeah, I think people tend to think of the Larry later on with a bad back when they think of his athleticism.
Exactly
He could actually dunk on people Haha. black people at that.
Bird was fast. He looks slow but you cant beat him on a one on one situation. He will kill you
Before he hurt his back (1985), he was incredible and very athletic.
what a fantastic video. Shows you the transition the game was going through and how Larry really changed the game. No one had seen a guy play like this before.
This is back when the default tactic was to try to get as close to the basket as possible for the high percentage shot
What made this hard knocks dude so amazing wasn't just that he was smarter and was always a play ahead of everyone else but by just gutting things out was all the difference!! Case in point. 1992 game 5 against pacers the famous fracture of the left cheek game!! When he came back out onto the parquet almost midway in the 3rd quarter"" sonn as he stepped on the floor Robert Parish who looked every bit his age throughout the game all of a sudden hit scoop shot in lane in heavy traffic and on next play hits a turnaround fading jump shot from 17 feet then hauled ass back down court on defensd!!! Instanteously elevated and in some cases took years off his fellow teamates!!! Amazing,,,unbelievable and I envy all you guys who have seen him live !!
Best player of all time!!
32 game turnaround when he came to Boston as a ROOK! Amazing
He played a beautiful game. And you can see how contagious it was, he would be perfect fit for every team.
2:15 to 2:25 in this video says it all!...Who does that?... Who the hell else have you ever seen make that play?...Steals the ball...starts the break...passes to an open teammate 40 feet ahead...guy blows the lay up...who gets the rebound?...Larry!...and the put back?....Bird!....Where the HELL did HE come from????...
Who else makes THAT play?...
Russell maybe?...Wilt?...Michael?..
That's the kind of hustle and determination and sheer will to win you only see in the Great Ones...The Best Of The Best...whatever the sport...
It's also, unfortunately, just exactly the kind of play that...."Newer Fans" don't seem to appreciate...
Nobody got "posterized"....so it must be lame...right?...
Unfortunately, it's also the type of playing that will cause your body to break down much quicker than usual. I wouldn't have had Larry Legend any other way, but I sure could have used a few more seasons with him out there!
Luka Doncic makes that play
@@williammorrison6311 get real!!!!
Robey the stiff missed the shot
This is why he was an All-Star, Rookie of the Year, All-NBA First Team, and 4th in the MVP voting during his rookie year.
Man, when Bird was young and healthy he was almost unstoppable.
He is just a rookie here.The 84/85/86 Bird was a god.
True statement.
@@RoChede & in 87 should have WON his 4th MVP if it weren't for RODMAN/THOMAS REMARKS about him being WHITE.
NewerAfrican no he was unstoppable. He played against 5 of the top ten defenders of all time and not one of them came close to stopping him. That's why mj tries to to tell people all the time that they just don't understand just how good bird really was
@@billmelton5528 did you see what bird did to Rodman the next game they played them after that remark?
What is a privilege to watch Larry up in section 2 row h seat 4 from 80 to 90...in the Garden
The passing the passing ...was great.
I hated Larry Bird so much as a kid as a die hard Sixers fan. I just love watching these old clips of Bird. It was a beautiful game back then.
You watch this, and you see that Larry was plenty fast. More importantly, he hustled his ass off, and recognized when it was time to run. He reacted a fraction of second before anyone else to start busting ass to the other end of the court, which is all it takes....
good call
yeah he definitely slowed down toward the end of his career
@@SniffyPoo bad ankles and bad back killed his career.
I grew up 45 miles from Larry in Southern Indiana and we followed lots of excellent high school stars in the ‘70s. But the name Larry Bird was not well known in the region. In the class of ‘74, he finished third in the voting for Mr. Basketball, the top senior male in the state.
The most amazing thing about Larry Bird’s career is that he was a sleeper. Obscure in his own area. Dropped out of two colleges. Was working in a resort hotel.
And out of this background, he goes on to be one of very greatest players ever.
Larry Bird played like a long-time seasoned vet at 21 up to 24 years old, as well as college to an extent. He was pretty much NBA ready in 1979. He was a "freak" player, just not quite on the athleticism side. incredible game IQ and creativity, plus seasoned playing right out of college, that sets a gold standard
I do not know where the " lacking athleticism" comes from. He was first down court. His passes were pinpoint accurate, his shots were quick, after using great moves to be open, or shooting in someone's face, moving sideways on jump shots, off balance. He had great timing and could dunk at full speed. He was extremely athletic.
@@robertanderson9375 Yeah he was a great athlete but I wouldn't put him up there with say, MJ. Larry was a freak genius of the game though, the mental part. The toughness. Getting in peoples heads. Playing ahead of the game with remarkable forethought. His passing and court vision was among Gods. Most of those intangibles are not so much physically related talents.
Ofcourse you wouldn’t say he’s mj athletic lol , mj is arguably the most athletic freak ever , I’d say prime Jordan has the best first step ever , biggest hands .
@@teddyhaynes9876 Yeah I was just responding to what you wrote. I never said Bird wasn't a great athlete, but people do occasionally say that. He of course was a great athlete being a top-call NBA player in the 1980's pretty much required it? haha
super quality video - so rare from those days
When people say bird couldnt hang in todays nba, i immediately discount anything they say about basketball after that. Luka doncic just tore through the nba at 19 by putting up the best rookie season since lebron, and not only that, he did it in style and with swagger. And luka is discount bird--bird was taller, tougher, swaggier, and a far better shooter. Not to mention his god mode trash talk would cripple today's feeble minded players. My god, young bird was tailor made to wreck the modern nba.
He was also 3 years older than Luca is today.
Very well said.
As a Mavericks fan, I still don't see how we got Luca at #5. He'd already been MVP of the Euroleague, second-best league in the world.
Graham Powell , Phoenix and Vlade Divac(Kings) weren't doing their homework.
I mean just look at Nikola Jokic. Jokic is probably one the worst athletic NBA players ever but he is dominating like crazy. Athleticism is overrated, skill is way more important in my opinion.
The good old days when I cared about the NBA!
I can think of one thing that will improve the quality of basketball in the NBA, do away with the three point shot.
not bad for a rookie, nate archibald toward the end of his career, i saw nate in his prime, great player too, he played at a faster pace than everyone on the floor, they didn't call him nate the skate for nothing, very exciting player to watch.
It’s a bummer the NBA won’t release all of his games for the fans to enjoy:(
it would undermine the current product
@@mikejones9961 That is for sure.
I feel very fortunate to have been able to grow up during this time! Seen some great NBA games! Way better than the NBA now!
@@mikejones9961 April 10 2020 - There is no current product. They should totally do this. Currently we have NBA players playing in NBA 2K to entertain the masses.
Racist league.
I feel like Larry was one of the most polished rookies we still have ever seen looks like he’s been playing for years in these clips
He's fast! He is everywhere. He shoots, pass, hussle, rebound etc.
At the 5:14 mark, Birdman has no defenders to beat for a dunk or a layup. Instead he gives the ball to benchwarmer Fernsten (spelling?). Previews of coming attractions ..... ZILLIONS of them!!! I feel so PRIVILEGED to have been a Celtics fan all those years from Russell onward ..... almost without exception, the Celts don't care AT ALL who scores the points, but whether someone on team does!
Doug Griggs Yeah, I don't see that these days. Bird didn't have to dish. But he did.
@@jamesallen5591 That's why i would pick BIRD over anyone else to be on my team HE plays the game the RIGHT way.
Larry Bird's rolling eyes quickly locate which teammates to assist with, to make easy baskets. Bird is not selfish and he wants all the team members to participate in every games.
Yeah Doug, I followed Bird from college when I was in middle school, I think best all around ever, or so far.
@@jamesallen5591 Steve Kerr era Warriors played that way pretty much all the time pre-KD. Even afterward, you could see they took so much pleasure in celebrating each other's contributions.
Lights out! As a die hard Pistons fan, I hated Larry Bird....the hate wasn't against who he was....it was of PURE RESPECT! He was a straight killer and made plenty of fans mad! He's truly one of the best ever!
Thats how I like to see the game played. Selfless, hustle, no ego, silky skills, I mean skills which are the solution to the problem not just flashy skills for the sake of flashiness. His swishes seem more swishy. His timing is more... timely. Just a joy to watch. Is it just me or does he never look 6'10? Maybe its just because his movement was more like a guard of the time.
Until you said it i thought he was 6 "5"!!! all this time
It’s an absolute clinic honestly. I hated Bird, but he was one hell of a player. A lot of hard fought rebounds by the way, when they actually fought for rebounds back then.
If you watch the game today, you will see 8 players standing around, maybe two going for the rebound. What the hell happened?
Larry looked like a veteran as a rookie. He was just smooth. My favorite player.
Awesome greatest player ever In NBA history.. his numbers just watching him play all those years college pros many great player were there but he is in a class of his on
More proof that pre injured Bird was extremely athletic with hand eye coordination off the charts.
It’s amazing that all of his moves he’s famous for are fully on display here. Several coaches on his team also.
I remember when he was a rookie. He turned the team around immediately. They won 60 games that year. You can kind of tell that the audience was just starting to get used to him.
And they weren’t loaded with HOF players, yet he improved them by 32 games.
As a die hard 80's Lakers fan, there was no love lost when i saw the Celtics vs Lakers matchups.
At the core of that killer Celtics lineup was this regular guy, who the entire NBA knew had the vertical jump of lead dumbbell. It was obvious was early on that opposition franchises never took Bird serious ... to their own, great detriment.
For those who never got to see him play, Live, think of Jokic, but with a wider array of skills, and slightly smaller, but faster. But even as great as Jokic is now, i'm not sure he'd still hold a candle to the absolute phenom that was Larry Bird. Sure, if Jokic can get the Nuggets to 3 NBA Championships in less than a decade, as their core piece? Possibly, but even then he'd have to try emulating all the records Bird set in his injury shortened time at the top of the NBA.
WTF! MR. LARRY BIRD PLAYING LIKE A VETERAN IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON WITH THE BOSTON CELTICS.
Befor Bird joined the team, the Celtics, were tired, demotivated and always losing, them being in the lowest rung in the NBA. After Bird joined, they saw Bird diving after any loose balls and passing to the open man so they became energized and began diving for loose balls too. From the bottom of the NBA, they were one-win away from the NBA finals when they lost to a close 5th game in the Eastern championship. Now, thats what you call a turn around.
Lifelong Laker fan here. If I’m picking a roster for a game where my life is on the line then Larry Legend is my starting three. It’s that simple.
Yep
Jz, i put it this way, lets play a pickup game i give you 1st pick, you take mike, i take magic, you take lebron , i take larry, you take.... Wait! I got magic AND larry? GAME OVER!
@shivasirons6159 I'd always pick Larry first because he'd make everyone I picked after him better.
And for that very reason, I'd never risk letting the other team get him.
This game was played January 27th, 1980. The reason "we might see a record for 3 pointers today" when Bird was just at 2 is because the 3-point shot was less than 4 months old, having only existed since the start of this season in October (and wouldn't exist in college until the late 80's). It only LOOKS like Bird has been practicing them for 10 years.
Thank you, there was no incentive to shoot from that far out, it was still just 2pts, you were taught to get closer for higher percentage shot. Then after he's 22yrs of life, hey we're gonna make a 3pt shot, ok now he needs to learn something new and he did, he learned it very well. The guys today curry, Durant, whoever have been practicing 3pt shots since middle school. Always enjoy old footage and points of view, have a great day
Jan, with 1980 was my 1st birthday the day this game was played! I was fortunate enough to witness Larry's final 2 seasons my first 2 watching nba. And he could still dominate the games as a shell of himself physically! Because his I.Q. was so much higher than everyone elses
Number 23 for San Diego is Joe Bryant. Kobe's father.
Was kobe there?
So ???
That's cool!
Captain Futuro
That was interesting.
@@capitanfuturo594
So YOU SUCK
Should have been MVP his rookie season. Who takes a 29 and 53 team to 61 and 21. He did not have any major changes on the team other than him. That is is MVP to me.
Bird was a mismatch nightmare.
Jordan couldn't guard him, Rodman couldn't. He was truly indefensible.
They don't call him Larry Legend for nothing. What a champion ball player he was.
Boston fans were about to be treated to the BEST basketball games ever played in the next coming years. Unknowingly, they were witnessing the dawn of a legendary era.
Bird is the best player ever in basketball.
and even in the future
@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C cool story, bro
@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C yes but.... Larry Bird. So u lose.
I'd give you another like, on that, but you're set at "33" right now...lol..
That was a fun watch. Thank u for posting this video.
Larry Bird makes me happy, just looks like such a nice guy and he’s super talented, love when he passed the ball under that guys legs.
One of the players I would get in his prime to build the best team in history.
Oo
He was the best made his Team strong by how he played. A Guru a Gunner and a Gamer. He was fantastic
OMG!!! Hard to believe that once upon a time LB was so quick, could actually jump, etc. WHAT A SHAME that he couldn't have remained healthier longer. He might have done exactly that if he had played in Western Conference. Back in his years (late 1979 into early 1990s .... and ESPECIALLY IN MID-1980S .... ), the Eastern Conference was much more physical than the Western. More banging in the pivot area.
Doug Griggs You're RIGHT.
What really did him in was his back, which he hurt shoveling gravel in his mother's driveway, and this was after he was in the NBA. People used to go to house in Boston, and watch him now his own lawn....truly a blue collar guy.
It would of helped if they had cut down his minutes in the regular season. All the starters really. Those poor guys were exhausted come playoff time.
Wow, a preview of things to come. I don't believe there is truly just one GOAT in the NBA. There are 8 or 9 guys who belong in that convo. Not only is Larry Legend one of them, if not for the terrible injuries he had suffered there wouldn't even be a need for the conversation. Luv Bird & Magic!!!!
So much respect for this guy.
And this was without Parish, McHale, or Dennis Johnson
CORRECT!! Those geniuses that come in and talk about how Bird had tremendous help for his rookie season turn-around, fail to realize Parish, McHale & DJ were NOT THERE!
NameCallingIsWeak Hahahahaha I know.
@@NameCallingIsWeak from 29 wins to 60 with a rookie 🐦
@@NameCallingIsWeak There was a big coaching change though, they hired Bill Fitch who would later be nominated as one of the 10 greatest coaches ever. And it was a talented group, Tiny, Larry, Maxwell, Cowens, Chris Ford, ML Carr..
Maxwell led the league in offensive rating, was 3rd in the league in win shares, and the following season was the finals MVP for this team. Tiny was healthier than the previous year, and a better fit under new coaching..
Not trying to discredit Bird any, but it's not fair to say he was the ONLY reason they improved, and equally not fair to say he didn't still have lot's of "help" or a quality roster around him.
@@airgordo4 So new coach + Larry Bird = big turnaround ?? Correct?
pretty sick watching a healthy Bird
I was at this game....yeah I was pretty damn impressed.......ESPECIALLY by Larry. :)
I'm a die hard Celtics fan and Mr Bird is my idol,,,you wouldn't happen to have pics or memorabilia or stories you could share??
@@cesargalvan4868 I only wish I had
Well u got the memories only wish my parents had money to watch him but ive got plenty of you tube,,,,consider him the best due to not having blazing speed not muscular could out leap you,,he worked hard to master his skills ...and no one matched his desire to win,,!! Hey when u watched the game did they ever chant !! Larry Larry Larry!!
@@cesargalvan4868 know what?...I don't remember....I DO however remember he was doing McDonald's commercials that Spring....for the McChicken.....billboards all around Boston with him smiling as he proudly displayed the then-new product. :)
The crowd might not have chanted Larry Larry Larrry yet since he was new!! I did see him when he came to Oakland when he was coach for the pacers !! But to have seen him play ,omg u are very lucky man!!
Not to sound haughty or anything, but if you grew up playing or watching basketball in the state of Indiana during the same era as Bird, you recognized immediately in him an innate basketball intelligence that personified many Hoosier schoolboy talents we all witnessed every Friday & Saturday night. Yes, Bird was the greatest of us to emerge from the ranks, but just about every school had those types of players who could do it all and elevate their teammates at the same time. It's why we all respect his game so much here.
Simply Terrific!!! Showing since the right beginning his skills, including a brand vision of the court with his teammates and opponents
I'm really Larry Bird an Boston fan . We always find game's in VHS nothing but Celtics 😊
Greatest player of all time by my metrics. The guy was rarely healthy after 86’.
Bob do you know who Michael jordan is
@@Iceman991 i’m sure he does as do I, and I agree Larry Bird was better than Michael Jordan. All you have to do is watch when bird went up against Michael, was he dominated? No he certainly was not and Jordan was in his prime and bird was about to retire. Imagine if the two of them went up against each other when they were both young. How many of the worlds best players have to admit Larry Bird was the greatest for you to believe? Magic Johnson, Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The list goes on and on and on
Ok buddy
@@matts6551 gotta be racist
@@Topg0333ok d baruijel
Nzinn73 About Larry as a 3 point shooter and the Reddick thing. It's speculation somewhat about how Larry would shoot today, but pointing to the Lower percentages earlier in His career, he wasn't really working on the 3 point shot and he still was shooting a higher percentage than most. Steph is amazing don't get me wrong, if you are a basketball fan I think you have to appreciate him, but all the people saying he is way better than Larry aren't taking into account that Larry was averaging like 2 attempts a game. Get him to focus on the 3 pointer and he shoots North of 40 percent today, imo. He doesn't have Steph's handle to get open off the dribble, but he's also a half a foot taller and one of the craftiest ever. he did shoot 42 percent and if he is taking10 a game, it would be something to see. Shooting is hand eye coordination and Larry has some of the best there is. People say Craig Hodges had a higher percentage or whatever, my response is fair enough, what else did He have to work on other than 3 point shooting? That was his whole game.
He had a four season run that averaged over 50/40/90.
Larry was poetry on the court!
Red Auerbach “Hey Boston.., how much do you think can you love, I mean really 💕 LOVE, a kid from southern Indiana.”
New England. “Yes”