Bird had an interview with Carmelo and Lebron as rookies. He told them that NBA is full of guys that can score in the first 3 quarters but only greats can score when the game is on the line.
That's why LeBron James is not considered the goat you can't rely on him to make the last shot that wins the game they have to hope to have that in someone else
My favorite Larry Bird story is when Bird banked a three- pointer off the glass, shooting before a game. Some trainer comes up to him and bets him $20 that he couldn't do that in the game. So the game starts and there is like 3 minutes left in a tight game. The trainer comes up to Bird and says what about that shot we betted on? Bird, says, shit I forget about that. So Bird shoots a three-pointer off the glass from about 27 feet with 2 minutes left in a tight game, and it goes in. SUPREME CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!
Brian C That was a bet he had going with Danny Ainge. He forgot about the bet and a ball boy reminded him that he was going to use him 20 bucks, so Bird went back out there and did, late in the 4th quarter in a relatively tight game. That’s clutch, for sure.
Alamo James Both. I heard Danny Ainge tell that story on the Dan Patrick show. He said the bet was between Larry Bird and the trainer on the Knicks. The trainer reminded Larry about the bet, so back out Larry went, banked in the 3 and won the bet. Just 1 of many incredible true stories of the man's supreme confidence in himself and his abilities.
There are a lot of great basketball players in history and Larry is one of them but, what I am more impressed by with Larry Bird is that he is a great human being. He competed like a man, gave respect, worked hard, and never expected things he didn’t earn.
kkash72 Here's a story you might like. In the summer of 1992 when he retired he could have delayed the announcement and been paid for the whole year. Even executives told him to delay so he could get it. But he told them he couldn't accept something he didn't earn. He left around 4 million on the table.
@Fui Gebhardt1 I am a huge Jordan fan and I think he is goat, but I can perfectly respect someone who picks Bird, Duncan, Kobe or Karreem as their Goat, but not LeBron lol.
Imagine the teammates (no disrespect to McHale, Chief or DJ) having Kareem and Worthy (one of the best defender) You can imagine what lvl Bird took those guys to. (Also no disrespect to Jordan, But he had good teammates compared to oponents) It´s a team sport and I think (In my opinion) Bird is one of the 3 best players ever to play
JERU Some people may "overrate" his moves, but ANYONE who had to guard McHale would tell you differently. They will tell you he was a nightmare to guard. Charles Barkley said he was the best post up player he ever went up against.
Larry took it to heart when Robert told him he wouldn't win that $10G in the 3P shoot out. If anybody saw that SI documentary of how Larry grew up, or grew up that way themselves, like when Larry lost $1.50 playing blackjack, you'd understand. Larry had a chip on his shoulder and was notoriously tight with a buck to his own detriment, hence shoveling gravel himself building his mom a driveway in her new home. Plenty of strong young backs he could have easily paid $10/hr, way above the prevailing wage at the time in rural IN to do that job, to build that thing. But that was Larry's style and it cost him years off his game.
I'm from out here was a Lakers fan and bird came out the same year as magic bird got rookie of the year magic with under win the championship was MVP and played all 6 positions the greatest effort by a player in a team situation
Larry lookin like a Muppet lol. I try to tell these young fellas that that dude with the mustache & mullet would murder any & everything in front of him. Larry Bird is a top 3-5 time machine player imo.
His mentality is what I remember most about him... I mean come on that 3 point contest story "who's coming in 2nd" I mean that's the definition of Larry Legend!!!
One aspect that "MOST" players today don't master the fundamentals of the game. If you were to ask ANY of the great HOF Basketball players in the past what made Jordan great, Bird, etc. etc. In Addition to their "God" given abilities and genetics was that they mastered fundamentals. Footwork, the correct hands always in the passing lane, boxing out, the attention to details.
Can't believe anybody is dumb enought o say that Bird would be a bench player in todays game..thats absurd..I 'll take Bird over Lebron anyday....Game on the line...I want the ball in Birds hands not Lebrons
Vivian Butler ...Game on the line, I don't want the ball in Birds hands because I HATED the Celtics (Pistons fan here). My Dad loved the Celtics & I lost MANY bets thanks to Larry Legend. The guy could beat you in so many ways. I definitely consider him one of the greatest of all time.
You're one of the only people who gives Bird credit for being as great a passer as somebody like LeBron. I'm a Sixers fan so I don't like the Celtics either but you can't not respect that man.Not only did he have all that skill but he was just an absolute killer too.
brachio1000 you are 100% correct. One of the calmest, always under control and 1 of the most underrated PG ever. Other greats from that era always say “the late GREAT Dennis Johnson”.
Absolutely. DJ had a ring and a NBA finals MVP trophy before he even got to the Celtics. He started off as a points production guard, but the Celts wanted him for his defensive skills and passing, and he filled that role to perfection. It's a terrible shame he passed away before he joined Bird, Parrish, and Mchale in the Hall of Fame. RIP DJ, always on my all time great NBA players list.
Curious.. did Larry B ever get DPOY? We already know about MVP 3 yrs in a row.. The only player, dominated by white voters would give it too among how many other great ball players..
@@datona13 84 it could have gone to either Magic or Larry. But 85 & 86 there wasn't anyone really close to his performance in those seasons. Maybe except Magic. Both on the defensive & offensive end. It's the same white voters that have given the mvp to mostly black players so... make that of what you will.
Yeah Larry Bird was a unicorn. For people to say that he couldn’t play today shows a total lack of understanding. You literally can’t play sports at a high level unless you can adapt. When you play basketball, you’re adapting for all 48 minutes. Players would be able to play in other eras, especially a top 10 player of all time
MrJojo8675309 -what he is saying is that they were the best players Bird could find to give him great competition. Plus they were grown men while he was still a teen learning how to beat the best competition that he could find.
@ completely true at a little known fact about Larry Joe bird was that the French Lick Springs Resort in the hotel was propagated by African American workers bird would come home from school and get off the bus and play with those guys and he learned a lot of the ways that his slow-footed non jumping self could find ways to react and make yourself a better player by playing with those guys in the end and that's completely true however it does seem as if you are trying to make a point that somehow that African-Americans are somehow much better at sports than white players you may be able to run faster you may be able to jump higher but in the end Athletics much as in life is more about strategy
I hated Larry when he played, especially against the Lakers in the 80's which was 1 of my favorite teams & how the white reporters would promote him as the great white hope during his era. However, in retrospect, Larry is 1 of the NBA's best & had extraordinary skill that I appreciate more today...
You are so right ...the white media pumped him like he was God over black players...that was the point Rodman and Isiah was trying to make...they were not... attacking Birds greatness..they where questioning the medias portrayal of him as being so smart while black players where just dumb and athletic. Bird imo is the greatest small forward ever its 1.Bird 2.Lebron 3.Baylor as far as I see it...but the media at that time overdid it..both Bird & Magic had 4 and 3 HOF'ers and 50 greatest...on they're teams while Isiah had none and he eventually beat Magic, Bird and Jordan 3 times
BAMM!! LA kid from '67. Me too. But, damn... it ain't the amt of pts, etc it's your dominance of that era and what your peers say about you that count. Apparently this dude is royalty. I'd have to agree. I mean, C'MON - "Larry Bird Stories?" Like he's a legend and did he really exist-type stuff! They're all over the place now!
I loved him but that’s because he was playing for my team I feel if I was and you guys or your guys shoes I would’ve had the same feelingHe was such a great player that the Twitter emblem the bluebird is there because of some reason from Larry Bird I figured I’d bring that up because I heard it yesterday the Twitter thing I have a good night guys
How funny the times have flipped. We’ve got so many people saying white players can’t play in the NBA any longer (at least those originating from the US). Such a bunch hypocrites in my opinion. I don’t care what color someone is as long as we’re getting best. That’s why the 80’s-90’s era was the best era for basketball, no two teams had the same dynamic. Now, it seems like it is just run and fun. That’s not entertaining. Where’s the strategy and and thinking. IMO - the NBA is lame and one dimensional.
Hold on. Isiah had Dumars and Rodman during HIS prime. Jordan had Pippen and Rodman for a short while. Detroit was deeper than those Bulls title teams. It was mostly Jordan and Pippen.
Even Magic said Larry is the only player I fear with very little time on the clock.” He also said Larry hit (Hundreds) of regular season game clutch shots & game winners!
i always felt that bird was better than magic from an all round standpoint. he cd average as many assists than magic and at the same time score like jordan if he wanted to. top 5 all time imho
baltechsea23 Bird was better in the early 80s but the tide turned in the mid to 80s as evidenced by the mvps. But to birds credit his body began to betray him by then
Its a good argument....I disagree but its a very good argument..one could even make the argument that Magic may have been overrated ..he had Kareem and Worthy....adn jamal wilkes earlier.true Bird had Mchale & Parish..but they are no Kareeem
Disagree. One of the few times its ok to say they are 100 pct equal with different roles on team. Bird better shootet, magic quicker. Passing equal. Magic better vocal leader. Bird better passer with left hand. Bird slightly better in clutch. Magic better passer from post. Magic better ball handler. Truly complemented each other and no mean spirit stuff.
Bird was not only clutch but about the smartest player to ever play. Made his teammates winners from being losers. Literally 1st time I believed there was a "clutch gene" this guy thrived on the most pressure I take Bird all day over LeBron. LeBron beats him in a physical skills competition. Bird beats Bron in a basketball skills competition.
I seriously doubt Lebron is truly better in terms of physical skills. He can jump higher and run faster, other than that Bird was way more physical, in fact he embraced all out paint wars against monsters, and his tenacity and intensity were way beyond Lebrun. Lebrun could never maintain high activity on both ends of the floor for more than 2-3 consecutive plays.
Everyone Larry played against was faster, stronger, and jumped higher...but Bird still beat them all...Dominique Wilkinson was physically superior to Bird...but In a team game Larry Bird is the player you take first so your not playing against him
Great video man! Larry was a bad man back then. He faught all the legends on their prime back when the NBA was savage and not soft like today. I hope kids today would learn their lesson. They will not call him larry legend for nothing.
Larry Joe!!!! I remember in the hood getting clowned for being a C’s local yodel. While everyone I knew had been favoring teams because of individual skills or just because there were more blacks, I had a fundamental feel of how this game can be, and, should be played with the offensive, defensive intensity on both ends of the court, while dominating their opponents and win championships! R. I. P. Reggie Lewis
Players today are bigger and more athletic. Price was barely 6ft. I think he would have a more difficult time adjusting to that part, but he was deadly from 3. If he got open, look out. Bird being a big 6'9 would have an easier time than Price would. I loved watching Price in his day, and always had him on my old NBA Live games on my Sega Genesis, cause he hardly ever missed..lol
I grew up watching bird. he's still the best I've ever seen play as a total player. LeBron is great but can only play lebron offense, bird was a total team player who could make every guy around him a great player, . where as lebron can only make the players around him worse
Not sure about him making players worse. But there certainly seems to be an issue regarding (top) players wanting to play with him. Wade was an exception.
Danny Ainge was a stellar two-sport athlete. I saw a documentary on him on YT; had no idea he was that good. He could’ve possibly been a HOF baseball player but chose Basketball. When you think of how good he was and still wasn’t a NBA HOFer; lets you know how good Bird and other greats were.
They really are. It is wrong to disrespect either great. I must mention Elgin Baylor, too. I know it was a long time ago, but Elgin is a forerunner to the overall excellence of Bird, James and all other great all around forwards. Or players at ANY position.
@@Amick44 You will remember this. When Hodges won won the next year and Larry didn't compete, He was asked if would it would have ended different had Larry been in it. Hodges said "He knows where I'm at". Larry's reply "Yeah at the end of the Bulls bench". Moral- don't trash talk the Legend.
ChroniclesOfJudah 144, excellent video and your comments are right on. The only thing that I would slightly disagree with is your statement that guys are better ball-handlers today. I think that is an illusion, because guys are free to dribble without hand-checking, and also get away with carries and travels that were called more strictly in the 80s. Aside from that, I enjoyed your comments, you are very knowledgeable (unlike many posters that think basketball began in the 1990s).
You make great points, and I agree with you. Larry would rack up LeBron level assist numbers without being the primary ballhandler--i mean bringing the ball up every time. He was much more clutch, a better shooter AND a better rebounder. But most of all, a better WINNER 😁 there'll never be another Bird...an all-time great. I'm sure we're in the minority though. People probably would choose LeBron.
People refer to Larry Bird as someone who is a horrible defender and would be awful today because of it and only be a good to great offensive player. That actually sounds like a lot of top players today because most people aren't great defenders today. I didn't think Larry was as good as he was till I found this channel and did some learning. If he played today, Larry(to me) would be someone that would've driven Lebron insane. He also would probably have gotten moments where more distracted/goofy players would look dumb in front of him(McGee, JR, etc). I actually think he would've been someone that Golden State would've killed to have. And yes, he is at least as good defensively as anyone competent in the league today because he was smart and driven. Not many players I've seen today are both on that end of the court.
they said you're in the running and most likely the MVP...BIRD said " I don't really care about the accolades, did we win, I only if we win" BOB KNIGHT like COACH K also learned from the late great DEAN SMITH whom taught and coached the GOAT JORDAN
Hey, Judah, GREAT vid. I'm 46 and from Boston and watched Bird from start to finish, and it's refreshing to see a young guy appreciate how truly great he was. The way you broke it down, analyzed metrics, compared today's game very adeptly to the way it was in Bird's era, and made the indisputable case that Bird was one of the top five greatest players in NBA history. You're a smart guy, and you backed it up!
Man, still think it’s crazy how the NBA did Craig Hodges. Then again Adul-Rauf got did the same way. Both excellent players when it came to their core strengths.
Larry Bird was so good at basketball and needed a challenge every time he stepped on the court. He once played a game with his non dominant left hand, and I believe he scored in the high 20's in that game.
When Larry Bird first came to the league he took a 29 win team from the previous year and made them instantly into a 61 win team in 1980. In the Celtics/Lakers 30 for 30 M.L. Carr said he can score points and get rebounds but it was his passing that ultimately was the gift to his team. Passing is not only about assists or cheap assists but also which plays to initiate and how break down opponents defences
Prime Bird is the GOAT. Dragged a crappy roster to the NCAA title game. Dragged a crappy Celtics roster that won 29 games the previous year to win 60+ games in Bird's rookie year. Made all of his teammates much better to the point that I think guys like McHale became Hall of Famers because of Bird. Larry was a phenomenal passer, phenomenal vision, phenomenal shooting ability, very smart defensive player, very TOUGH player in general, great teammate, great leader, and very unselfish. He did not hold the ball for 90% of a possession like we see in modern superstar players.
Amen Brother!!! Loved your take on ALL this shit. A disclaimer... I am a 6'7" white guy who played college ball from 1980 to 1984. Despite being a CAUCASIAN (I hate that label, what a weird word)... I hated Bird back then. Being from the Philly area, I was a huge Dr. J fan. I was also huge Dawkins fan. SIDENOTE: Was there ever a dunker with more power than Dawkins? The only ones who come close are Blake Griffin and LeBron. But just when I find myself questioning Dawkin's supremacy, I go watch old youtube videos of Dawkins from back-in-the-day... and the power is just awe inspiring. You should do a video on that!!! I agree 100% with your assertion that teams today can only defeat the Warriors by (perhaps) returning to the low-post game, if they have the personnel to do so. But of course (as you said) everyone is trying to copy-cat the Warriors, but without the inherent talent of the Warriors FROM WHICH the Warriors style evolved naturally. Teams are usually working against their own personnel in order to copy a foreign format. And of course, they are losing. Yet another casualty of the three-point line. Having grown up (basketball wise) in the late-70s through early 80s, I lament the loss of the mid-range and low-post game. The game is less good... or at least... less diverse. When you watch footage from the 1980s, and you see guys operating from 15 feet in... it's really amazing how much skill and coordination are involved. More so than the "step-back" three, which seems to be main skill of today's NBA. On the issue of NOT going low-post, I find a parallel situation in football, where modern NFL coaches refuse to run the ball, or to stick with the running game if it doesn't work right away. I suspect this has to do with the philosophy of coaches, who find more self-fulfillment and interest in exhibiting coaching genius through complex passing schemes, than they do in handing the ball off for a 4 yard gain. They are all apostles of some long-gone "WestCoast Style" coaching trees of one sort or another, and refuse to use their players based on their talents, or to respect the yin-and-yang of football, where the a run-pass balance is necessary. Only the VERY BEST pass-happy teams have any success. The rest of the copy-cats fail. I consider passing the ball down-low to be the analogous situation in basketball. It's a proven formula for success, but nobody does it. Oddly enough, whenever a team goes "down low" with the ball, and their big-man pounds it in for a layup or foul, the game analyst or color commentator will make some comment to how that is the right was to play the game. It's as if they have a momentary epiphany of how sensible basketball can be when you go toward the basket rather than away from it. Yet the other 99 times down the court where the "STAR" player dribbles incessantly and displays ungodly fast-twich moves and cross-overs and carries the ball in ways that would be violations in the 80s... the announcers fall all over themselves the praise their skills. For any team with a dominant big man, the ball could be pounded down-low 60 percent of the time. Yet even when the Lakers had Shaq, we still saw that Shaq had to "demand" the ball... and as often as not, Kobe (or some other guard) would NOT pass to Shaq, in order to dribble or drive or pass to someone else who would dribble or drive. This take-over of the NBA by hyper-athletic guards has had the effect of the 7 footers just giving up and not demanding the ball. It's so depressing for the big guys. After all, it takes a shit-load of effort to get open down low... it's a continual wrestling match. To have guards just look at you and NOT pass... is insane. But that is the insanity that passes for normal. The commentators also fall all over themselves when someone like Russel Westbrook makes a pass to an open teammate. Yet Westbrook only passes as a last resort, and not even Hubie Brown with his monotonic, droning over-analyzing can convince anyone that such passes represent "point guard" skills. He passes when he has run out of his own options. The hyper-athletic, high scoring point guard is as responsible for the demise of the NBA as is the 3-point shot... and I suppose they play off each other. After all, why bother developing deft passing skills and the mentality to pass to "bigger teammates", when the game is indifferent to the big-guys. I suppose there are still old-timers hanging on to fading memories of how the game used to be played, and they try to describe modern play in terms of old, even when (say) a good pass by Westbrook is more of an accident than a deliberate style or approach. The same goes for LeBron with his fancy behind the head passes. It looks cool for a moment, but when you see Bird do it, you realize that it wasn't the showing off of a physically dominant super-star grown bored (i.e., Lebron), but of a 100% percent effort buzz-saw type of guy (Bird) who was ALWAYS only ever thinking of the best way to score. I find it interesting that despite this rising tide of super-quickness, it is just as often ineffectual. Yet the players are in love with themselves in this regard. They have "mad-skills" like an AND-ONE game, and can blow past anyone. But where is the finish. Where is the pass to the teammate you would assume would be open when the help slides over. I just don't see it. I think of this as the John Salmons effect... a player that had all the moves of Allen Iverson, but couldn't finish. Everyone moves (somewhat) like Iverson now... but... what made Iverson transcendent was not only his handle and speed, but his SKILL to finish. That skill is gone in this league of cookie-cutter "athletic guys". And just (as you say) there is less variety between teams styles today than in the 1980s, there is also far less player style. Here is a race-based observation that I don't say to be racist... but it seems obvious to me. To my eye, it's a league filled with 6'7" black guys with washboard abs, broad shoulders, and covered in tattoos. Never-mind that most of these "athletes" linger forever at the end of the bench. I guess it's OK, because when the coach looks down the bench to put somebody in for the last 47 seconds of the first half, he can be sure his "athlete" is an inter-changable part. It's a weird form of racism, that the game is in the process of "perfecting" itself by settling into predictable patterns, one of which is style of play, and then the kind of "athlete". It used to be that John Bagley could be "the bast fat guy" in basketball, or that you can watch NBA clips from the 80s and see a huge variety of body types. But the modern game is generating the same body type. Mostly it's just boring. And I think opportunities are being missed for the game, obviously. I have to wonder how it is that Jimmr Fredette is unstoppable in college, yet does not "FIT" into the NBA. And it's true, he doesn't fit... because the league only allows for one kind of "fit". This doesn't just penalize the "white guys" who (though VERY athletic) don't fit the new (yet debatable relevance) of hyper-athleticism... BUT... it also penalizes ANY player who isn't a one-and-done phenom of highschool hyper-stardom. NBA GMs would rather draft a 6'8" so-called-athlete from Brazil who average 8.9 points per game in an unknown league, then a 4 year starter from an NCAA championship squad. Again... the cookie-cutter, copy-cat-ism of the "basketball factory" mentality is to blame. A final observation on Bird. It is always asserted that Bird was not athletic, where athleticism is judged by (what?)... running, jumping, and lifting weights? It's a strange assertion that he wasn't athletic like the OTHER GUYS, but he was blowing by those other guys every night. He was very often, literally unstoppable. Like I said earlier, I always hated Bird. But as you said... when you get older, you let yourself appreciate and respect greatness. So as I rewatch old Bird footage, I am looking for "how" he managed to dominate super-athletic guys, despite being unathletic. The usual answer is that he was "smart" and had a high basketball IQ. Yet before one chalks his mysterious dominance up to even more mysterious causes... there is clear evidence of tremendous physical skill present in this game, which I was taking note of as I watch old footage. First of all, he had tremendous hand-eye coordination and hand speed. He was ambidextrous too, which is a rare physical skill. He was a tremendous ball handler in tight quarters especially. He was incredibly quick and under control with his body movements. He also had what I would call "physical cunning"... an "animal cunning". Just as a dog never bites you when you are focusing on it biting you, but rather waits until your attention drifts for a split second, and then strikes... such that the attack seems violent and sudden and unstoppable... BIRD too had the animal cunning to know when the defender's attention (or balance, or focus, or eyes, or body-weight) shifted to Bird's advantage. And when that happened, he would strike instantly. Such moments happen in a split second. The defender knows the inbounds will go to Bird, but can't stop it. They know Bird will shoot a three pointer, but Bird still gets the shot off, and makes it. The rebound hangs in the air, but Bird (the lowest vertical on the floor) grabs it. Again, it's all chalked up to some mysterious thing called "being smart", but I think such intelligence overlooks (or is part of) this animal cunning. Such animal cunning IS NOT an issue of being intellectually smart, but of integrating one's body movements with an instinctual physical awareness of others... and making it automatic. It is the rarest form of physical dominance. It's magical, inexplicable, and maddening. That's why I hated BIrd then, but now can see clearly how great and physically gifted he was.
Players that would be even better now the what they were in there time...bird,Mullin, Toni kukoc i think would be a hall of fammer if he played today...mcloud Ellis,chuck person,dale curry,allen Huston,rex Chapman, dan Marley,mark price, Stockton,scrimp,miller,starks, Van Exel,lamber,....and others there skill set would make these guys either better than they where an more of a vocal point because of there skill set in todays game and the rule changes!
No disrespect to LeBron but I have Larry over him. LeBron is a better overall athlete and is a better 1 on 1 defender than Larry. Larry makes up for lack of athleticism and strength, slow feet defensively with pure skill. Larry was a better rebounder than LeBron in his time, better shooter, and a better passer even if LeBron is a great passer. And the brotha had Supreme Confidence to hit clutch shots at his peak. And still made 3 second all NBA defensive teams 3 years straight. What killed him was his injuries starting in 88 and he was better than Magic as an overall player at that time hence the 3 straight MVPS from 83-84 to 85-86 going to 3 straight Finals winning in 84 and 86. With Larry Bird's triple threat offense and unpredictable on offense he can definitely play today. Whoever thinks he is a bench player or he can't play in today's game is delusional
Lebron and Larry are actually quite similar players. Both great scores who are excellent passers. Lebron has a slightly better stat line but remember he hasn’t played his final years yet which will decrease his career stats. Bird was never the same player after 87-88, which was his best year statistically. 30pts 10 rebounds and 6 assists. He really came into his own starting in 84-85 through 87-88. He averaged 28pts 9.6rebounds 6.8assists 1.9steals. Shooting 52 90 41. He severely injured his back in summer of 88 during practice (undercut by rookie Brian Shaw) he would never get close to his normal game again. He surely would have had 2-3 more of that standard had he not been injured. He laid on his stomach while out of game for the remainder of his career. To think he averaged 6.8 assists while almost never dribbling more than 2 bounces at a time is astounding. Offensively Lebron is a point guard. He controls the ball more than Steph Curry or Chris Paul. Only Russ Westbrook, James Harden and John Wall control it more. Larry controlled the ball about as Kevin Love. To average that many assists is incredible with such minimal dribbling. Bird would have been a excellent ball handler had he played in today’s era. Ballhandling has improved incredibly, especially the big men, in today’s game. There is no doubt about that. He was very solid for a 6’10” player in the 80’s era. You didn’t grow up dribbling the ball at 6’10” in the 60’s and 70’s, his formative years. Especially in rural America. Today, everybody grows up dribbling. Add that dimension to his game and he may have been almost unstoppable. His vision was better than just about anybody’s ever. Magic being his only equal. Without being limited by his lack of dribbling talent he would have been the best in today’s game, offensively anyway. Lebron is a much better dribbler giving him many more opportunities to create. Larry was doing all his damage from the triple threat position. Larry was not a good 1-1 defender, but an excellent team defender averaging the same steals/game as Lebron. You also have to look at stats today and understand the use of the 3 (appropriately) completely changed the game. Scoring and assists come much easier. In the 80’s assisted jump shots were much less frequent and may not even be counted as an assist by the official scorer. Bird in today’s game would have been consistently a 30 point, 8 assist, 8 rebound guy, shooting 54 90 45 as he would have played a totally different game. He would have been just unbelievable from 3 ad a player today. He would have focused on the 3 just as they all do today. The 3 was an easy shot for Bird. Watch him, he looks like he’s shooting freethrows. I never understood why people didn’t figure out the math of the 3 point shot. Not until the 2000’s did people realize shooting 38 from the 3 is like shooting 57 from the 2, and often the open 3 is the easier shot. It was really confounding why coaches and players didn’t really get it. Including Larry. Just imagine Larry playing with Lebron in Cleveland instead of Love or JR. Especially with modern handles. 4 championships for sure. All that being said Lebron’s strength, speed and ballhandling skill put him ahead of Bird all time. Slightly. But had Bird grown up in this era I have no doubt he would have been the best. Unless MJ grew up in this era too. Lol. (Magic would have been the same player in both eras). As it stands MJ is the goat, LBJ is 2nd. 3-10 is up for grabs. (I put centers in a separate category) Russell, Kareem and Wilt all have a strong case for number one.
Yea, MJ was supposed to beat 5 HOF player's wit Brad Sellers and Charles Oakley being his second and third best player's😂😂😂😂😂😂😂That's a Dam joke in itself.
That's the difference between Bird and Jordan. Bird came into the league and immediately elevated the game of his teammates. An argument could even be made that he _made_ some of his Celtics teammates HOF players when they wouldn't have been on their own. Meanwhile, it took Jordan six or seven years to learn how to share the ball and play within the concept of a team.
Ahmad2423 bruh.. Larry didn't have McHale or parish his rookie year and he led the Celtics to over 60 wins.. an the year before Larry got there the Celtics only won 20 something games.. Larry single handedly improved the Celtics by 40 games.. u don't wanna talk about that tho huh?? he didn't have those hall of famers and still dominated everybody.. Larry was the best player in the 80s.. cmon bruh
John Craftenworth Orlando Woodridge was a Dam Coke-head who pissed his talent away. You're right he should have been an All-star caliber player, but he couldn't lay off the SAUCE* Jordan was playing with drug addicts and has been his first 4 yrs in the NBA. Having to be the team's best player, best defensive player, best shot blocker, Best scorer, best rebounder and on top of all of that you're just a 6'6 200LBS guard. Not a 7'0 footer or a 6'9 PF a guard. That's why Larry Bird said nobody has ever done more with less than Michael Jordan"
John Craftenworth Man stop it you're embarrassing yourself. 😂😂😂😂😂Michael Jordan was not a leader...Now that's some funny shit! We talking about the same Michael Jordan that led a team to 6 Championships and never allowed a Game 7 in any of those Finals...The same Jordan that single Handley transformed Scottie Pippen into a great player...The same Jordan that retired in his prime came back in his thirties and led them to a second 3peat, That Michael Jordan was not a leader?... You can't lead a Coke-head and has been, but what can do is put them on your back and carry them to the playoffs. Which is what he did because before he showed up they hadn't made the playoffs since the 80-81 season.
Larry bird was non athletic, didn't jump high or run fast,but he was much more talented than most of other all time players.great shooter,passer,dribbler and a great leader a true champion....
Nash had a lotta variety. Off the dribble, the catch, the looping one hander off the drive, the step back. He had to , being 6'2, 6,3. Dirk , many big guys just didn't wanna come out to play him.
I think one of the more incredible stats for Bird was when he retired he was in the top 25 in STEALS, so a guy whose slow and not athletic had that many steals. Kinda shows he was a little more athletic and still anticipated more than people give him credit for.
Thank you, sir. Jerry West would be giving people the business today if he was playing. People just remember those finals losses but Jerry West giving the Celtics buckets in those series. The Celtics had the better teams in all those victories.
me being a Philadelphia 76ers fan back then I had to appreciate Magic Johnson and Larry Bird the two premiere players coming out of college faced each other in the NCAA basketball tournament championship Michigan State and Indiana State knowing that dr. J better days were in the ABA and these two new breed of superstars are going to take over the NBA but I have to give credit to the ABA for allowing the 3 point shot and the 24-second clock witch transform the NBA into more competitive. sport. college basketball needed a three-point shot so the game would not be one-dimensional and it forced NBA and NCAA college basketball League to come out of the zone defense.
Bird was the truth. He would fried my Lakers. Even as a lil kid I had to give it up to Bird. Plus my pops was the only brotha on the basketball court rockin the Converse Bird shoes
I was a Laker fan I and I was old enough to see Bird play. Yeah, Lebron may be the more athletic player than Bird, but Bird would trash talk you, tell you what shot he was going to take, and stick in in the opponents face. Bird played in the tougher era in my opinion, and unlike Lebron could take your will away and beat you psychologically. Bird played in an era with less teams also, so the talent level in the 80's isn't as watered down now because there are more teams.
Larry bird is the greatest ever man shooting passing rebounding mental toughness clutch plays trash talking played hurt could do it all fact of the matter is he was a white guy in a black sport dominated the game in everyway possible few black people could play as well as he did had a heart of a lion heart of a champion always played like it was his last game yea Larry legend perfect name for such a legendary player that transcend the game thanks Larry yea your the greatest ever
LOL. LeShannan Sharpe says "if jordan was so great how come he couldnt beat the celtics?" But lebron lost to the Mavs, a team that wouldve lost to every team that Jordan beat in the finals and lost to in the playoffs lol.
Plus Jordan was young with no help when he lost the Celtics, The comparison is laughable LeBron was like 8 years in the league and played with Dwayne wade the 3rd best 2 guard in NBA history and like 7 time all star Chris bosh and LeBron being the best player in the league and still lost
Revelator Kobe looked like a fool plenty times Paul pierce dragged Kobe in 08 the pistons the suns the old jazz the spurs the mavs, Lakers lost to the mavs cause Kobe just jacks up shots when he should pass more, Kobe is good but Kobe was his own worst enemy at times
Yo Larry was number 5 on my list. Jordan Russell Magic Duncan Bird. The guys face up is better not because they dribble better. They can palm the ball every other dribble back in 80s u had to dribble with finger tips they used to call carries and travels a lot more. In my opinion peace
My starting 5 would be Larry, Shaq, Olajuwan, Jordan, Nash... I know Nash but I think he's a good fit for this group of guys...I would either take Magic or Kobe
Good take, the kids today would have to prove themselves in yesterdays physical game, they would get stomped! Lebron and all of them, they just wouldn't be prepared. Interesting take on the MK, you are right. Do you have a vid on Jordan? Fathers death, early retirement etc, though he was the greatest, lot's of fuzzy things about that whole career.
Excellent evaluation up and down, Judah. Larry was so multi-dimensional, including - no especially - mentally. Larry is really humble in this interview but he was a beast on the court, talking trash with the best of them - and then backing it up!
When Bird was out with injury..and wasnt in the 3 point contest, Hodges was heard saying..Larry knows where to find me...and Bird, in true Legend form said, Yeah..At the end of the Bulls bench...😅
Dear Judah, you should have your own program. it is a shame a complete jerk like nick wright has a show. I am 62 years old, and multi-racial. You are respectable to all cultures and I am saying a prayer for you today! Thank you for making me feel beterr because I have p.t.s.d. and am also physically disabled also.
The caveat for Bird will always be the flaky things with the refs with Boston home games. That's why the Celtics were so hated. That's why I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the claims from that ref that wrote that book. Can't remember his name. But it's not a crazy thought to me that the league wanted to aid them for marketing reasons. There were virtually no stars that white males, who were and always will be the dominant ticket buyers, for them to get fanatical about. There's no denying his talent and craftiness. But there's also no denying the flaky stuff that went on back then. And that includes the flaky stuff that would happen in Detroit home games with Michael Jordan. I believe that the league didn't want a team that was known to be so deep that they had 10 starting five, to be beaten by a team known to have just Jordan and some other guys. I think they thought it would be bad for the league if fans thought all you need is one superstar. I heard Isaiah Thomas say they later changed the rules for Jordan when Chicago finally got past Detroit. But they changed the rules because of the ridiculous tackling that Bill Lambieer and other Piston players were doing. That was just cheap shots. So they had to clean that up. Regarding the Warriors. How you play them is learn to defend the pick and roll. Which a lot of teams don't know how to do. Regarding Bird at Indiana. He didn't like the atmosphere and he hated Benson. Who was there as a senior when Bird was a freshman. Hated him so much there's a clip you might be able find of Bird sudden'y deciding to play dodgeball in the middle of a game and throw the ball at Benson's face.
More like they called against him in games that were in Detroit because they didn't want a team that was known to be 10 players deep with 5 subs who were worthy of being starters for any other team being beaten by a team that was known to has one super star and other people. To have one of your deepest teams being beaten in a series by team consider to have one star and just four other guys does bring a risk of fans being disinterested in watching if they feel all you need is one player. Bird is one the greatest as far as his shooting skill and savvy. But, especially early in his career, the way the call were for him and Boston did have an affect on how players would defend him.
John Craftenworth - he got calls like ALL STARS in the NBA did back then. And today's foul interpretations make that look like wrestling. Jordan took serious licks and if you didn't watch, you don't know. This nonsense about MJ never getting touched is Internet regurgitation - it's laughable.
I always enjoy your analysis! You stick to the facts and don’t get into the emotional shit. These so called analysis on ESPN etc. are like soap operas stars injecting race an emotion. Keep up the great work!
I love your point of view! You refer to assume "brothers" follow you excluvisely. Don't leave us women out when you address your listeners. Continue keeping it "real"
Bird is the definition of self-development. His will power and lead-by-example was contagious. I still curse him for wrecking his back in the summer of ‘85. I want more highlights!!!
Great, great video and your analysis and commentary was spot-on my friend; It also made me wax nostalgic about the 1980's best, pure point guard...Isiah Thomas; Larry Bird is arguably the best small forward in NBA history, and many legends including Jordan have said so. But whenever the great rivalries are discussed, I feel people don't give Isiah Thomas the respect he deserves...as a HOF player. Even though I've been a life-long Boston fan, I miss the amazing, brutal playoff series the Celtics had with the 76's and against Detroit...great time to be alive and loving basketball! Well done sir!
I wish Bron played with Mchale, Parish, and Walton, Dennis Johnson. That would take away most of the attention from him. Larry Bird was great Probably greater than Kobe but not Lebron. Larry Bird can’t take Lebrons 07 team to a finals or that 2018 team. That obviously says how much of an impact he had in the game. He wasn’t a better passer, rebounder, or defender than Lebron. More skilled offensively but to say he’s better at rebounding, passing, etc is completely utterly ridiculous.
Tom Coughlin coached at Army as well and you see the result of his mental training and discipline on a young team in the Giants that he won Superbowls with and last year's Jacksonville Jaguars. He failed when ownership would not allow him to disciplein Odell Beckham for fear of running him off after his rookie contract but then look at how the Giants fell apart without Coughlin.
Your analyzation is dead on. Plus, I like your delivery. Really enjoyed it. Every successful coach could be a military general and vice versa. I'm 68 years and have seen them all. Bird made you say "DAAAAMMN" at least once every game.
Enjoyed the video. That was my era...an All-Star Game back then was like watching 2 Dream Teams compete. I like the resurgence of coverage of the era, especially the Magic Bird and 30 for 30 documentaries. Thanks for posting.
Nice Video. Bird is one of the top ten all time in the goat category. Only individual I can credit as better would be MJ. All the rest would be arguable.
He did that at TWO of the first 3 three-point contests. And of course, he won all three times. LOL He asked the other competitors, "So, who's coming in second today?" 😂
Nice commentary. I was an NBA fan of 20 years old when Larry came into the league. Being a Celtics fan back then was a bit like being a Patriots fan of today. You expected to win and you expected a show... It's one thing to watch old highlight reels. But I watched them when they happened. It was like nothing anyone had ever seen. Because it had never been seen. Larry was the real deal... Great point about players of today playing in the yesteryear game. Great players will be great players in the era they are in. Regardless!...
Larry Bird had this "Refuse to lose" mentality to go along with his skills. That's what made him the best.
It’s called “it” and he had it
Bird had an interview with Carmelo and Lebron as rookies. He told them that NBA is full of guys that can score in the first 3 quarters but only greats can score when the game is on the line.
Level2 Boxing - Kobe Bryant, Jordan, Jabbar, West, Olajuwon, Shaq, Duncan. LeBron sometimes disappears in crunch time.
he also had way many crunch times. law of averages.
C Howard Jordan? WTF you talking’ bout
That's why LeBron James is not considered the goat you can't rely on him to make the last shot that wins the game they have to hope to have that in someone else
@@choward5430 LBJ is a better clutch player than kobe, contrary to popular belief.
My favorite Larry Bird story is when Bird banked a three- pointer off the glass, shooting before a game. Some trainer comes up to him and bets him $20 that he couldn't do that in the game. So the game starts and there is like 3 minutes left in a tight game. The trainer comes up to Bird and says what about that shot we betted on? Bird, says, shit I forget about that. So Bird shoots a three-pointer off the glass from about 27 feet with 2 minutes left in a tight game, and it goes in. SUPREME CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!
Brian C That was a bet he had going with Danny Ainge. He forgot about the bet and a ball boy reminded him that he was going to use him 20 bucks, so Bird went back out there and did, late in the 4th quarter in a relatively tight game. That’s clutch, for sure.
what makes this story isn't that he made the shot, but it was the "shit i forgot about that!" LOL
@@smoothALOE no it was against New York and it was the New York Trainer as the game was in New York.
Gareth Fraser the bet was with a trainer or the trainer reminded him?
Alamo James Both. I heard Danny Ainge tell that story on the Dan Patrick show. He said the bet was between Larry Bird and the trainer on the Knicks. The trainer reminded Larry about the bet, so back out Larry went, banked in the 3 and won the bet. Just 1 of many incredible true stories of the man's supreme confidence in himself and his abilities.
Larry Bird can average 35 to 40pts a game without dribbling the ball in today's era
There are a lot of great basketball players in history and Larry is one of them but, what I am more impressed by with Larry Bird is that he is a great human being. He competed like a man, gave respect, worked hard, and never expected things he didn’t earn.
kkash72 Here's a story you might like. In the summer of 1992 when he retired he could have delayed the announcement and been paid for the whole year. Even executives told him to delay so he could get it. But he told them he couldn't accept something he didn't earn. He left around 4 million on the table.
it was 7 million
What character I like hearing about players I use to watch I was a Lakers fan local team I miss the old days
I personally think Larry Bird is the GOAT thats my opinion you dont have to agree
DankSome TV I think him and Jordan had equal winning impact in their primes. But Jordan learned from Larry, so I'd definitely agree he is the goat.
Totally agree! Simply the best!
MJ, Kobe, Bird, Hakkeem, Duncan are for me the top of the top when it comes to pure basketball, which means skill, heart and wining.
@Fui Gebhardt1 I am a huge Jordan fan and I think he is goat, but I can perfectly respect someone who picks Bird, Duncan, Kobe or Karreem as their Goat, but not LeBron lol.
Imagine the teammates (no disrespect to McHale, Chief or DJ) having Kareem and Worthy (one of the best defender) You can imagine what lvl Bird took those guys to. (Also no disrespect to Jordan, But he had good teammates compared to oponents) It´s a team sport and I think (In my opinion) Bird is one of the 3 best players ever to play
Kevin McHale was one of the best post players ever. He had some sick moves in the post .
he use to put on a show when he played the Lakers & Rockets. Crazy big man moves...
He was a great post player but ppl overrate his moves thou. I saw Olajuwon take David Robinson's soul with the moves he put on him
JERU Some people may "overrate" his moves, but ANYONE who had to guard McHale would tell you differently. They will tell you he was a nightmare to guard. Charles Barkley said he was the best post up player he ever went up against.
McHALE, DUNCAN, and HAKEEM got the Best footwork of all time in the post
What Olajuwon newsy learn from McHale best footwork ever from a big man
Larry took it to heart when Robert told him he wouldn't win that $10G in the 3P shoot out. If anybody saw that SI documentary of how Larry grew up, or grew up that way themselves, like when Larry lost $1.50 playing blackjack, you'd understand.
Larry had a chip on his shoulder and was notoriously tight with a buck to his own detriment, hence shoveling gravel himself building his mom a driveway in her new home.
Plenty of strong young backs he could have easily paid $10/hr, way above the prevailing wage at the time in rural IN to do that job, to build that thing.
But that was Larry's style and it cost him years off his game.
I can identify. I'm reluctant to ask for help when I should.
Many , if not most of us men are. I'm no different.
That’s the same character that made him so great. It was a two edge sword for him but he wouldn’t be Larry legend
Larry legend was a killer
Lemroyal James hey what up my favorite basketball channel right here hands down
STR8 UP! They need to stop disrespecting that man
Miss the rivalry with Magic. Then they became great friends. Need more of that these days
Thank you, sir.
I'm from out here was a Lakers fan and bird came out the same year as magic bird got rookie of the year magic with under win the championship was MVP and played all 6 positions the greatest effort by a player in a team situation
Larry lookin like a Muppet lol. I try to tell these young fellas that that dude with the mustache & mullet would murder any & everything in front of him. Larry Bird is a top 3-5 time machine player imo.
Teddy Longfellow Facts! Larry Legend was a cold blooded assassin.
Lmao! 😀... So true! Larry the (Muppet man assassin) Bird.
Damn injuries. He would be top ten all time scoring easy.
His mentality is what I remember most about him... I mean come on that 3 point contest story "who's coming in 2nd" I mean that's the definition of Larry Legend!!!
PorkFrog dude he was a helluva defender!!! He was 9x all defense... He might not be quick but his intelligence made up for it
One aspect that "MOST" players today don't master the fundamentals of the game. If you were to ask ANY of the great HOF Basketball players in the past what made Jordan great, Bird, etc. etc. In Addition to their "God" given abilities and genetics was that they mastered fundamentals. Footwork, the correct hands always in the passing lane, boxing out, the attention to details.
Morris Brown I completely agree with you. They just care about getting on Sport Centers Top Ten
Can't believe anybody is dumb enought o say that Bird would be a bench player in todays game..thats absurd..I 'll take Bird over Lebron anyday....Game on the line...I want the ball in Birds hands not Lebrons
Vivian Butler bird a bench player in today's league? 😂😂😂 people need help.
Vivian Butler ...Game on the line, I don't want the ball in Birds hands because I HATED the Celtics (Pistons fan here). My Dad loved the Celtics & I lost MANY bets thanks to Larry Legend. The guy could beat you in so many ways. I definitely consider him one of the greatest of all time.
If the game was on the line I want MJ! If my life was on the line I want BIRD!!!!
LOL Dirk Nowitzki is whooping Lebron's ass and he ain't even as good as Larry Bird
@@realitybites629
Exactly
You're one of the only people who gives Bird credit for being as great a passer as somebody like LeBron. I'm a Sixers fan so I don't like the Celtics either but you can't not respect that man.Not only did he have all that skill but he was just an absolute killer too.
Every now and then I think about Dennis Johnson. He was and is underrated. His greatest strength was his smarts.
And Larry knew it, too. Called DJ the best player he ever played with. And he was.
brachio1000 you are 100% correct. One of the calmest, always under control and 1 of the most underrated PG ever. Other greats from that era always say “the late GREAT Dennis Johnson”.
D.J. was an awesome one-handed passer. He had great vision of where his teammates were on the court at all times and got the ball to the open man.
@@kevinwalsh1178 : I've noticed that.
Absolutely. DJ had a ring and a NBA finals MVP trophy before he even got to the Celtics. He started off as a points production guard, but the Celts wanted him for his defensive skills and passing, and he filled that role to perfection. It's a terrible shame he passed away before he joined Bird, Parrish, and Mchale in the Hall of Fame. RIP DJ, always on my all time great NBA players list.
Three Times in his career, Larry Legend scored 2,000 + points, 500 rebounds & 500 assists. Three times! Jordan only twice?
Curious.. did Larry B ever get DPOY? We already know about MVP 3 yrs in a row.. The only player, dominated by white voters would give it too among how many other great ball players..
Larry Legend is the greatest all-around player in history. 💪
@@datona13 84 it could have gone to either Magic or Larry. But 85 & 86 there wasn't anyone really close to his performance in those seasons. Maybe except Magic. Both on the defensive & offensive end. It's the same white voters that have given the mvp to mostly black players so... make that of what you will.
Yeah Larry Bird was a unicorn. For people to say that he couldn’t play today shows a total lack of understanding. You literally can’t play sports at a high level unless you can adapt. When you play basketball, you’re adapting for all 48 minutes. Players would be able to play in other eras, especially a top 10 player of all time
Thank you, sir. Especially if the defender can't touch him and he can pull up whenever he wanted....man.
MrJojo8675309 -what he is saying is that they were the best players Bird could find to give him great competition. Plus they were grown men while he was still a teen learning how to beat the best competition that he could find.
@ completely true at a little known fact about Larry Joe bird was that the French Lick Springs Resort in the hotel was propagated by African American workers bird would come home from school and get off the bus and play with those guys and he learned a lot of the ways that his slow-footed non jumping self could find ways to react and make yourself a better player by playing with those guys in the end and that's completely true however it does seem as if you are trying to make a point that somehow that African-Americans are somehow much better at sports than white players you may be able to run faster you may be able to jump higher but in the end Athletics much as in life is more about strategy
Back then, defenders were able to be far more aggressive without a foul call. Bird would average over 35 in today's game.
Bird would be better today way better in fact .no defense
I hated Larry when he played, especially against the Lakers in the 80's which was 1 of my favorite teams & how the white reporters would promote him as the great white hope during his era. However, in retrospect, Larry is 1 of the NBA's best & had extraordinary skill that I appreciate more today...
You are so right ...the white media pumped him like he was God over black players...that was the point Rodman and Isiah was trying to make...they were not... attacking Birds greatness..they where questioning the medias portrayal of him as being so smart while black players where just dumb and athletic. Bird imo is the greatest small forward ever its 1.Bird 2.Lebron 3.Baylor as far as I see it...but the media at that time overdid it..both Bird & Magic had 4 and 3 HOF'ers and 50 greatest...on they're teams while Isiah had none and he eventually beat Magic, Bird and Jordan 3 times
BAMM!! LA kid from '67. Me too. But, damn... it ain't the amt of pts, etc it's your dominance of that era and what your peers say about you that count. Apparently this dude is royalty. I'd have to agree. I mean, C'MON - "Larry Bird Stories?" Like he's a legend and did he really exist-type stuff! They're all over the place now!
I loved him but that’s because he was playing for my team I feel if I was and you guys or your guys shoes I would’ve had the same feelingHe was such a great player that the Twitter emblem the bluebird is there because of some reason from Larry Bird I figured I’d bring that up because I heard it yesterday the Twitter thing I have a good night guys
How funny the times have flipped. We’ve got so many people saying white players can’t play in the NBA any longer (at least those originating from the US). Such a bunch hypocrites in my opinion. I don’t care what color someone is as long as we’re getting best. That’s why the 80’s-90’s era was the best era for basketball, no two teams had the same dynamic. Now, it seems like it is just run and fun. That’s not entertaining. Where’s the strategy and and thinking. IMO - the NBA is lame and one dimensional.
Hold on. Isiah had Dumars and Rodman during HIS prime. Jordan had Pippen and Rodman for a short while. Detroit was deeper than those Bulls title teams. It was mostly Jordan and Pippen.
Even Magic said Larry is the only player I fear with very little time on the clock.” He also said Larry hit (Hundreds) of regular season game clutch shots & game winners!
i always felt that bird was better than magic from an all round standpoint. he cd average as many assists than magic and at the same time score like jordan if he wanted to. top 5 all time imho
baltechsea23 Bird was better in the early 80s but the tide turned in the mid to 80s as evidenced by the mvps. But to birds credit his body began to betray him by then
Its a good argument....I disagree but its a very good argument..one could even make the argument that Magic may have been overrated ..he had Kareem and Worthy....adn jamal wilkes earlier.true Bird had Mchale & Parish..but they are no Kareeem
Disagree. One of the few times its ok to say they are 100 pct equal with different roles on team. Bird better shootet, magic quicker. Passing equal. Magic better vocal leader. Bird better passer with left hand. Bird slightly better in clutch. Magic better passer from post. Magic better ball handler. Truly complemented each other and no mean spirit stuff.
Magic could do it all and was a better passer than bird. He killed the Celtics in 87.
Yes and bird had dj ainge parish McHale ect....
Bird was not only clutch but about the smartest player to ever play. Made his teammates winners from being losers.
Literally 1st time I believed there was a "clutch gene" this guy thrived on the most pressure
I take Bird all day over LeBron. LeBron beats him in a physical skills competition. Bird beats Bron in a basketball skills competition.
I seriously doubt Lebron is truly better in terms of physical skills. He can jump higher and run faster, other than that Bird was way more physical, in fact he embraced all out paint wars against monsters, and his tenacity and intensity were way beyond Lebrun. Lebrun could never maintain high activity on both ends of the floor for more than 2-3 consecutive plays.
I will always take Basketball skills over athletic skills any day.
Everyone Larry played against was faster, stronger, and jumped higher...but Bird still beat them all...Dominique Wilkinson was physically superior to Bird...but In a team game Larry Bird is the player you take first so your not playing against him
Great video man! Larry was a bad man back then. He faught all the legends on their prime back when the NBA was savage and not soft like today. I hope kids today would learn their lesson. They will not call him larry legend for nothing.
I love the respect all players give Larry Jo....its unanimous. Obviously he earned it.
Larry Joe!!!! I remember in the hood getting clowned for being a C’s local yodel. While everyone I knew had been favoring teams because of individual skills or just because there were more blacks, I had a fundamental feel of how this game can be, and, should be played with the offensive, defensive intensity on both ends of the court, while dominating their opponents and win championships! R. I. P. Reggie Lewis
Don’t forget about Mark Price...He’d kill today too!!!
Mac Mizzle Hell yeah"! Im from Cleveland man,those cavaliers in the 80s would of smoked lebrons_ teams"facts!
o hell yea mark price underated
whah bou dan ma herle?
Today's game is MADE for Mark Price.
Players today are bigger and more athletic. Price was barely 6ft. I think he would have a more difficult time adjusting to that part, but he was deadly from 3. If he got open, look out. Bird being a big 6'9 would have an easier time than Price would. I loved watching Price in his day, and always had him on my old NBA Live games on my Sega Genesis, cause he hardly ever missed..lol
I grew up watching bird. he's still the best I've ever seen play as a total player. LeBron is great but can only play lebron offense, bird was a total team player who could make every guy around him a great player, . where as lebron can only make the players around him worse
Not sure about him making players worse. But there certainly seems to be an issue regarding (top) players wanting to play with him. Wade was an exception.
@@Amick44 no no, he’s right
@@Amick44 wade bosh kyrie
There will not be another rivalry like Magic and Bird’s.
Their NCAA final game is still the most watched game in NCAA history.
100% Agree with Larry > Lebron for my all-time small forward.
Bird > Bron
Danny Ainge was a stellar two-sport athlete. I saw a documentary on him on YT; had no idea he was that good. He could’ve possibly been a HOF baseball player but chose Basketball. When you think of how good he was and still wasn’t a NBA HOFer; lets you know how good Bird and other greats were.
Ainge was an all American in 3 sports in high school. Baseball, basketball, and football.
They neck an neck i would take bird....he had heart and nerves of steel!
They really are. It is wrong to disrespect either great. I must mention Elgin Baylor, too. I know it was a long time ago, but Elgin is a forerunner to the overall excellence of Bird, James and all other great all around forwards. Or players at ANY position.
Craig Hodges shooting a 3 was like a layup for the Bulls. Him Paxon and Armstrong. That 3 pointer situation in Chicago was a problem.
Hodges really didn't do much in Chicago. He was quite good in Milwaukee, though. He got regular playing there and didn't so much with the Bulls.
@@Amick44 You will remember this. When Hodges won won the next year and Larry didn't compete, He was asked if would it would have ended different had Larry been in it. Hodges said "He knows where I'm at". Larry's reply "Yeah at the end of the Bulls bench". Moral- don't trash talk the Legend.
@@73Trident i do.
ChroniclesOfJudah 144, excellent video and your comments are right on. The only thing that I would slightly disagree with is your statement that guys are better ball-handlers today. I think that is an illusion, because guys are free to dribble without hand-checking, and also get away with carries and travels that were called more strictly in the 80s. Aside from that, I enjoyed your comments, you are very knowledgeable (unlike many posters that think basketball began in the 1990s).
You make great points, and I agree with you. Larry would rack up LeBron level assist numbers without being the primary ballhandler--i mean bringing the ball up every time. He was much more clutch, a better shooter AND a better rebounder. But most of all, a better WINNER 😁 there'll never be another Bird...an all-time great. I'm sure we're in the minority though. People probably would choose LeBron.
You mentioned Dale Ellis. Nice! That brother had unbelievable range!
wasn't that much of a clutch shooter. Didn't even do well in the 3 point contest he was in.
Nice!
You're right about that, but I wasn't trying to over analyze the man! LOL! I just remember that he could shoot the hell out of that rock!
tmat2018 .
Now Craig Hodges? that was a shooter..him & Abdul Rauf- & Glen Rice
Larry is the best. I could listen to Larry bird stories all day.
People refer to Larry Bird as someone who is a horrible defender and would be awful today because of it and only be a good to great offensive player. That actually sounds like a lot of top players today because most people aren't great defenders today. I didn't think Larry was as good as he was till I found this channel and did some learning. If he played today, Larry(to me) would be someone that would've driven Lebron insane. He also would probably have gotten moments where more distracted/goofy players would look dumb in front of him(McGee, JR, etc). I actually think he would've been someone that Golden State would've killed to have. And yes, he is at least as good defensively as anyone competent in the league today because he was smart and driven. Not many players I've seen today are both on that end of the court.
they said you're in the running and most likely the MVP...BIRD said " I don't really care about the accolades, did we win, I only if we win"
BOB KNIGHT like COACH K also learned from the late great DEAN SMITH whom taught and coached the GOAT JORDAN
Hey, Judah, GREAT vid. I'm 46 and from Boston and watched Bird from start to finish, and it's refreshing to see a young guy appreciate how truly great he was. The way you broke it down, analyzed metrics, compared today's game very adeptly to the way it was in Bird's era, and made the indisputable case that Bird was one of the top five greatest players in NBA history. You're a smart guy, and you backed it up!
Man, still think it’s crazy how the NBA did Craig Hodges.
Then again Adul-Rauf got did the same way.
Both excellent players when it came to their core strengths.
I think you are right on Abdul Rauf. Hodges, though, his game was going downhill anyway.
Larry Bird was so good at basketball and needed a challenge every time he stepped on the court. He once played a game with his non dominant left hand, and I believe he scored in the high 20's in that game.
reg4321 27 points by the third quarter
When Larry Bird first came to the league he took a 29 win team from the previous year and made them instantly into a 61 win team in 1980. In the Celtics/Lakers 30 for 30 M.L. Carr said he can score points and get rebounds but it was his passing that ultimately was the gift to his team. Passing is not only about assists or cheap assists but also which plays to initiate and how break down opponents defences
Prime Bird is the GOAT. Dragged a crappy roster to the NCAA title game. Dragged a crappy Celtics roster that won 29 games the previous year to win 60+ games in Bird's rookie year. Made all of his teammates much better to the point that I think guys like McHale became Hall of Famers because of Bird.
Larry was a phenomenal passer, phenomenal vision, phenomenal shooting ability, very smart defensive player, very TOUGH player in general, great teammate, great leader, and very unselfish. He did not hold the ball for 90% of a possession like we see in modern superstar players.
Amen Brother!!! Loved your take on ALL this shit. A disclaimer... I am a 6'7" white guy who played college ball from 1980 to 1984. Despite being a CAUCASIAN (I hate that label, what a weird word)... I hated Bird back then. Being from the Philly area, I was a huge Dr. J fan. I was also huge Dawkins fan.
SIDENOTE: Was there ever a dunker with more power than Dawkins? The only ones who come close are Blake Griffin and LeBron. But just when I find myself questioning Dawkin's supremacy, I go watch old youtube videos of Dawkins from back-in-the-day... and the power is just awe inspiring. You should do a video on that!!!
I agree 100% with your assertion that teams today can only defeat the Warriors by (perhaps) returning to the low-post game, if they have the personnel to do so. But of course (as you said) everyone is trying to copy-cat the Warriors, but without the inherent talent of the Warriors FROM WHICH the Warriors style evolved naturally. Teams are usually working against their own personnel in order to copy a foreign format. And of course, they are losing. Yet another casualty of the three-point line. Having grown up (basketball wise) in the late-70s through early 80s, I lament the loss of the mid-range and low-post game. The game is less good... or at least... less diverse. When you watch footage from the 1980s, and you see guys operating from 15 feet in... it's really amazing how much skill and coordination are involved. More so than the "step-back" three, which seems to be main skill of today's NBA.
On the issue of NOT going low-post, I find a parallel situation in football, where modern NFL coaches refuse to run the ball, or to stick with the running game if it doesn't work right away. I suspect this has to do with the philosophy of coaches, who find more self-fulfillment and interest in exhibiting coaching genius through complex passing schemes, than they do in handing the ball off for a 4 yard gain. They are all apostles of some long-gone "WestCoast Style" coaching trees of one sort or another, and refuse to use their players based on their talents, or to respect the yin-and-yang of football, where the a run-pass balance is necessary. Only the VERY BEST pass-happy teams have any success. The rest of the copy-cats fail.
I consider passing the ball down-low to be the analogous situation in basketball. It's a proven formula for success, but nobody does it. Oddly enough, whenever a team goes "down low" with the ball, and their big-man pounds it in for a layup or foul, the game analyst or color commentator will make some comment to how that is the right was to play the game. It's as if they have a momentary epiphany of how sensible basketball can be when you go toward the basket rather than away from it. Yet the other 99 times down the court where the "STAR" player dribbles incessantly and displays ungodly fast-twich moves and cross-overs and carries the ball in ways that would be violations in the 80s... the announcers fall all over themselves the praise their skills.
For any team with a dominant big man, the ball could be pounded down-low 60 percent of the time. Yet even when the Lakers had Shaq, we still saw that Shaq had to "demand" the ball... and as often as not, Kobe (or some other guard) would NOT pass to Shaq, in order to dribble or drive or pass to someone else who would dribble or drive. This take-over of the NBA by hyper-athletic guards has had the effect of the 7 footers just giving up and not demanding the ball. It's so depressing for the big guys. After all, it takes a shit-load of effort to get open down low... it's a continual wrestling match. To have guards just look at you and NOT pass... is insane. But that is the insanity that passes for normal.
The commentators also fall all over themselves when someone like Russel Westbrook makes a pass to an open teammate. Yet Westbrook only passes as a last resort, and not even Hubie Brown with his monotonic, droning over-analyzing can convince anyone that such passes represent "point guard" skills. He passes when he has run out of his own options. The hyper-athletic, high scoring point guard is as responsible for the demise of the NBA as is the 3-point shot... and I suppose they play off each other. After all, why bother developing deft passing skills and the mentality to pass to "bigger teammates", when the game is indifferent to the big-guys.
I suppose there are still old-timers hanging on to fading memories of how the game used to be played, and they try to describe modern play in terms of old, even when (say) a good pass by Westbrook is more of an accident than a deliberate style or approach. The same goes for LeBron with his fancy behind the head passes. It looks cool for a moment, but when you see Bird do it, you realize that it wasn't the showing off of a physically dominant super-star grown bored (i.e., Lebron), but of a 100% percent effort buzz-saw type of guy (Bird) who was ALWAYS only ever thinking of the best way to score.
I find it interesting that despite this rising tide of super-quickness, it is just as often ineffectual. Yet the players are in love with themselves in this regard. They have "mad-skills" like an AND-ONE game, and can blow past anyone. But where is the finish. Where is the pass to the teammate you would assume would be open when the help slides over. I just don't see it.
I think of this as the John Salmons effect... a player that had all the moves of Allen Iverson, but couldn't finish. Everyone moves (somewhat) like Iverson now... but... what made Iverson transcendent was not only his handle and speed, but his SKILL to finish. That skill is gone in this league of cookie-cutter "athletic guys". And just (as you say) there is less variety between teams styles today than in the 1980s, there is also far less player style.
Here is a race-based observation that I don't say to be racist... but it seems obvious to me. To my eye, it's a league filled with 6'7" black guys with washboard abs, broad shoulders, and covered in tattoos. Never-mind that most of these "athletes" linger forever at the end of the bench. I guess it's OK, because when the coach looks down the bench to put somebody in for the last 47 seconds of the first half, he can be sure his "athlete" is an inter-changable part. It's a weird form of racism, that the game is in the process of "perfecting" itself by settling into predictable patterns, one of which is style of play, and then the kind of "athlete".
It used to be that John Bagley could be "the bast fat guy" in basketball, or that you can watch NBA clips from the 80s and see a huge variety of body types. But the modern game is generating the same body type. Mostly it's just boring. And I think opportunities are being missed for the game, obviously. I have to wonder how it is that Jimmr Fredette is unstoppable in college, yet does not "FIT" into the NBA. And it's true, he doesn't fit... because the league only allows for one kind of "fit". This doesn't just penalize the "white guys" who (though VERY athletic) don't fit the new (yet debatable relevance) of hyper-athleticism... BUT... it also penalizes ANY player who isn't a one-and-done phenom of highschool hyper-stardom. NBA GMs would rather draft a 6'8" so-called-athlete from Brazil who average 8.9 points per game in an unknown league, then a 4 year starter from an NCAA championship squad. Again... the cookie-cutter, copy-cat-ism of the "basketball factory" mentality is to blame.
A final observation on Bird. It is always asserted that Bird was not athletic, where athleticism is judged by (what?)... running, jumping, and lifting weights? It's a strange assertion that he wasn't athletic like the OTHER GUYS, but he was blowing by those other guys every night. He was very often, literally unstoppable. Like I said earlier, I always hated Bird. But as you said... when you get older, you let yourself appreciate and respect greatness. So as I rewatch old Bird footage, I am looking for "how" he managed to dominate super-athletic guys, despite being unathletic.
The usual answer is that he was "smart" and had a high basketball IQ. Yet before one chalks his mysterious dominance up to even more mysterious causes... there is clear evidence of tremendous physical skill present in this game, which I was taking note of as I watch old footage.
First of all, he had tremendous hand-eye coordination and hand speed. He was ambidextrous too, which is a rare physical skill. He was a tremendous ball handler in tight quarters especially. He was incredibly quick and under control with his body movements.
He also had what I would call "physical cunning"... an "animal cunning". Just as a dog never bites you when you are focusing on it biting you, but rather waits until your attention drifts for a split second, and then strikes... such that the attack seems violent and sudden and unstoppable... BIRD too had the animal cunning to know when the defender's attention (or balance, or focus, or eyes, or body-weight) shifted to Bird's advantage. And when that happened, he would strike instantly. Such moments happen in a split second. The defender knows the inbounds will go to Bird, but can't stop it. They know Bird will shoot a three pointer, but Bird still gets the shot off, and makes it. The rebound hangs in the air, but Bird (the lowest vertical on the floor) grabs it. Again, it's all chalked up to some mysterious thing called "being smart", but I think such intelligence overlooks (or is part of) this animal cunning.
Such animal cunning IS NOT an issue of being intellectually smart, but of integrating one's body movements with an instinctual physical awareness of others... and making it automatic. It is the rarest form of physical dominance. It's magical, inexplicable, and maddening. That's why I hated BIrd then, but now can see clearly how great and physically gifted he was.
Very well said.
He was in a different physical and mental state. His gift was not of the body it was that integration.
Thats that white boy swag right there lol
Players that would be even better now the what they were in there time...bird,Mullin, Toni kukoc i think would be a hall of fammer if he played today...mcloud Ellis,chuck person,dale curry,allen Huston,rex Chapman, dan Marley,mark price, Stockton,scrimp,miller,starks, Van Exel,lamber,....and others there skill set would make these guys either better than they where an more of a vocal point because of there skill set in todays game and the rule changes!
No disrespect to LeBron but I have Larry over him. LeBron is a better overall athlete and is a better 1 on 1 defender than Larry. Larry makes up for lack of athleticism and strength, slow feet defensively with pure skill. Larry was a better rebounder than LeBron in his time, better shooter, and a better passer even if LeBron is a great passer. And the brotha had Supreme Confidence to hit clutch shots at his peak. And still made 3 second all NBA defensive teams 3 years straight. What killed him was his injuries starting in 88 and he was better than Magic as an overall player at that time hence the 3 straight MVPS from 83-84 to 85-86 going to 3 straight Finals winning in 84 and 86. With Larry Bird's triple threat offense and unpredictable on offense he can definitely play today. Whoever thinks he is a bench player or he can't play in today's game is delusional
Lebron and Larry are actually quite similar players. Both great scores who are excellent passers. Lebron has a slightly better stat line but remember he hasn’t played his final years yet which will decrease his career stats. Bird was never the same player after 87-88, which was his best year statistically. 30pts 10 rebounds and 6 assists. He really came into his own starting in 84-85 through 87-88. He averaged 28pts 9.6rebounds 6.8assists 1.9steals. Shooting 52 90 41. He severely injured his back in summer of 88 during practice (undercut by rookie Brian Shaw) he would never get close to his normal game again. He surely would have had 2-3 more of that standard had he not been injured. He laid on his stomach while out of game for the remainder of his career. To think he averaged 6.8 assists while almost never dribbling more than 2 bounces at a time is astounding. Offensively Lebron is a point guard. He controls the ball more than Steph Curry or Chris Paul. Only Russ Westbrook, James Harden and John Wall control it more. Larry controlled the ball about as Kevin Love. To average that many assists is incredible with such minimal dribbling. Bird would have been a excellent ball handler had he played in today’s era. Ballhandling has improved incredibly, especially the big men, in today’s game. There is no doubt about that. He was very solid for a 6’10” player in the 80’s era. You didn’t grow up dribbling the ball at 6’10” in the 60’s and 70’s, his formative years. Especially in rural America. Today, everybody grows up dribbling. Add that dimension to his game and he may have been almost unstoppable. His vision was better than just about anybody’s ever. Magic being his only equal. Without being limited by his lack of dribbling talent he would have been the best in today’s game, offensively anyway. Lebron is a much better dribbler giving him many more opportunities to create. Larry was doing all his damage from the triple threat position. Larry was not a good 1-1 defender, but an excellent team defender averaging the same steals/game as Lebron. You also have to look at stats today and understand the use of the 3 (appropriately) completely changed the game. Scoring and assists come much easier. In the 80’s assisted jump shots were much less frequent and may not even be counted as an assist by the official scorer. Bird in today’s game would have been consistently a 30 point, 8 assist, 8 rebound guy, shooting 54 90 45 as he would have played a totally different game. He would have been just unbelievable from 3 ad a player today. He would have focused on the 3 just as they all do today. The 3 was an easy shot for Bird. Watch him, he looks like he’s shooting freethrows. I never understood why people didn’t figure out the math of the 3 point shot. Not until the 2000’s did people realize shooting 38 from the 3 is like shooting 57 from the 2, and often the open 3 is the easier shot. It was really confounding why coaches and players didn’t really get it. Including Larry. Just imagine Larry playing with Lebron in Cleveland instead of Love or JR. Especially with modern handles. 4 championships for sure. All that being said Lebron’s strength, speed and ballhandling skill put him ahead of Bird all time. Slightly. But had Bird grown up in this era I have no doubt he would have been the best. Unless MJ grew up in this era too. Lol. (Magic would have been the same player in both eras). As it stands MJ is the goat, LBJ is 2nd. 3-10 is up for grabs. (I put centers in a separate category) Russell, Kareem and Wilt all have a strong case for number one.
Yea, MJ was supposed to beat 5 HOF player's wit Brad Sellers and Charles Oakley being his second and third best player's😂😂😂😂😂😂😂That's a Dam joke in itself.
That's the difference between Bird and Jordan. Bird came into the league and immediately elevated the game of his teammates. An argument could even be made that he _made_ some of his Celtics teammates HOF players when they wouldn't have been on their own. Meanwhile, it took Jordan six or seven years to learn how to share the ball and play within the concept of a team.
ScoobTube It's way easy to elevate 3 HOF player's, than drug addicts and has been. I'm just saying...
Ahmad2423 bruh.. Larry didn't have McHale or parish his rookie year and he led the Celtics to over 60 wins.. an the year before Larry got there the Celtics only won 20 something games.. Larry single handedly improved the Celtics by 40 games.. u don't wanna talk about that tho huh?? he didn't have those hall of famers and still dominated everybody.. Larry was the best player in the 80s.. cmon bruh
John Craftenworth Orlando Woodridge was a Dam Coke-head who pissed his talent away. You're right he should have been an All-star caliber player, but he couldn't lay off the SAUCE* Jordan was playing with drug addicts and has been his first 4 yrs in the NBA. Having to be the team's best player, best defensive player, best shot blocker, Best scorer, best rebounder and on top of all of that you're just a 6'6 200LBS guard. Not a 7'0 footer or a 6'9 PF a guard. That's why Larry Bird said nobody has ever done more with less than Michael Jordan"
John Craftenworth Man stop it you're embarrassing yourself. 😂😂😂😂😂Michael Jordan was not a leader...Now that's some funny shit!
We talking about the same Michael Jordan that led a team to 6 Championships and never allowed a Game 7 in any of those Finals...The same Jordan that single Handley transformed Scottie Pippen into a great player...The same Jordan that retired in his prime came back in his thirties and led them to a second 3peat, That Michael Jordan was not a leader?...
You can't lead a Coke-head and has been, but what can do is put them on your back and carry them to the playoffs. Which is what he did because before he showed up they hadn't made the playoffs since the 80-81 season.
Larry bird was non athletic, didn't jump high or run fast,but he was much more talented than most of other all time players.great shooter,passer,dribbler and a great leader a true champion....
Good vid. Lebron is definitely not better than bird. Lmao, and now we got people comparing Luka Doncic to Larry Bird smh.
Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash , perfect comparison
Yechezqel Yehudi Dirk was nasty before he aged. Nash just caused total confusion on the court and killed from the perimeter.
Nash had a lotta variety. Off the dribble, the catch, the looping one hander off the drive, the step back. He had to , being 6'2, 6,3. Dirk , many big guys just didn't wanna come out to play him.
I agree. Bird may not have as much raw talent as lebron but he maximized his abilities to the fullest. And he was fundamentally sound.
I think one of the more incredible stats for Bird was when he retired he was in the top 25 in STEALS, so a guy whose slow and not athletic had that many steals. Kinda shows he was a little more athletic and still anticipated more than people give him credit for.
I Was A Bird Fan I Had The Converse Sneaks & All. My Mom Was A Celtics Fan.
Thank you, sir. Jerry West would be giving people the business today if he was playing. People just remember those finals losses but Jerry West giving the Celtics buckets in those series. The Celtics had the better teams in all those victories.
Or as Elgin Baylor said, Boston had Russell. LA matched up pretty well in the other areas.
me being a Philadelphia 76ers fan back then I had to appreciate Magic Johnson and Larry Bird the two premiere players coming out of college faced each other in the NCAA basketball tournament championship Michigan State and Indiana State knowing that dr. J better days were in the ABA and these two new breed of superstars are going to take over the NBA but I have to give credit to the ABA for allowing the 3 point shot and the 24-second clock witch transform the NBA into more competitive. sport. college basketball needed a three-point shot so the game would not be one-dimensional and it forced NBA and NCAA college basketball League to come out of the zone defense.
The 24 second clock was instituted in the 1950's.
'86 Celtics were 50-1 at home, thru the playoffs...Still a record.
Bird didn't get to the NBA til he was damn near 24 because he had beef with Bobby Knight and transferred from IU....
Wrong , Larry was 22 in 79 when he entered the NBA. Born 12-07- 56. Season starts in October or early November. It's math, not that hard.
Bird prob lead the league scoring because the shooter he was at 6-10 and nobody can touch anybody in today's game. Yea he average prob bout 35. lol
Bird was the truth. He would fried my Lakers. Even as a lil kid I had to give it up to Bird. Plus my pops was the only brotha on the basketball court rockin the Converse Bird shoes
I was a Laker fan I and I was old enough to see Bird play. Yeah, Lebron may be the more athletic player than Bird, but Bird would trash talk you, tell you what shot he was going to take, and stick in in the opponents face. Bird played in the tougher era in my opinion, and unlike Lebron could take your will away and beat you psychologically. Bird played in an era with less teams also, so the talent level in the 80's isn't as watered down now because there are more teams.
Wow my respect for Larry bird just skyrocketed
Larry bird is the greatest ever man shooting passing rebounding mental toughness clutch plays trash talking played hurt could do it all fact of the matter is he was a white guy in a black sport dominated the game in everyway possible few black people could play as well as he did had a heart of a lion heart of a champion always played like it was his last game yea Larry legend perfect name for such a legendary player that transcend the game thanks Larry yea your the greatest ever
LOL. LeShannan Sharpe says "if jordan was so great how come he couldnt beat the celtics?" But lebron lost to the Mavs, a team that wouldve lost to every team that Jordan beat in the finals and lost to in the playoffs lol.
kyosuke1x Also that Boston team is a top 5 GOAT team
Plus Jordan was young with no help when he lost the Celtics, The comparison is laughable LeBron was like 8 years in the league and played with Dwayne wade the 3rd best 2 guard in NBA history and like 7 time all star Chris bosh and LeBron being the best player in the league and still lost
Facts
Revelator facts
Revelator Kobe looked like a fool plenty times Paul pierce dragged Kobe in 08 the pistons the suns the old jazz the spurs the mavs,
Lakers lost to the mavs cause Kobe just jacks up shots when he should pass more, Kobe is good but Kobe was his own worst enemy at times
Yo Larry was number 5 on my list. Jordan Russell Magic Duncan Bird. The guys face up is better not because they dribble better. They can palm the ball every other dribble back in 80s u had to dribble with finger tips they used to call carries and travels a lot more. In my opinion peace
Agreed. Some brotha's handle wouldn't be squat today if the rules were enforced like back in the day.
On my list he’s tied at 3 with Magic and MJ and Lebron are first and second.
My starting 5 would be
Larry, Shaq, Olajuwan, Jordan, Nash...
I know Nash but I think he's a good fit for this group of guys...I would either take Magic or Kobe
D Love Magic nor Duncan was better than Bird he was better
Larry is the greatest SF ever ... Oscar then Lebron
Good take, the kids today would have to prove themselves in yesterdays physical game, they would get stomped! Lebron and all of them, they just wouldn't be prepared. Interesting take on the MK, you are right. Do you have a vid on Jordan? Fathers death, early retirement etc, though he was the greatest, lot's of fuzzy things about that whole career.
Larry would dominate today's NBA.
19 straight for Craig Hodges. That was in 91. I remember it like it was yesterday.
That was still one of the most incredible displays I've ever seen. To this day.
Excellent evaluation up and down, Judah. Larry was so multi-dimensional, including - no especially - mentally. Larry is really humble in this interview but he was a beast on the court, talking trash with the best of them - and then backing it up!
Craig Hodges 1991 All Star Game 3 point shoot out. He hit 19 in a row. Unbelievable shooting. Never gets boring to watch
When Bird was out with injury..and wasnt in the 3 point contest, Hodges was heard saying..Larry knows where to find me...and Bird, in true Legend form said, Yeah..At the end of the Bulls bench...😅
I've always believed that a champion in one era would be a champion in any era
Dear Judah, you should have your own program. it is a shame a complete jerk like nick wright has a show. I am 62 years old, and multi-racial. You are respectable to all cultures and I am saying a prayer for you today! Thank you for making me feel beterr because I have p.t.s.d. and am also physically disabled also.
Larry Bird was #1 in Defensive Win Shares for 3 years in the 80s
The caveat for Bird will always be the flaky things with the refs with Boston home games. That's why the Celtics were so hated. That's why I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the claims from that ref that wrote that book. Can't remember his name. But it's not a crazy thought to me that the league wanted to aid them for marketing reasons. There were virtually no stars that white males, who were and always will be the dominant ticket buyers, for them to get fanatical about. There's no denying his talent and craftiness. But there's also no denying the flaky stuff that went on back then.
And that includes the flaky stuff that would happen in Detroit home games with Michael Jordan. I believe that the league didn't want a team that was known to be so deep that they had 10 starting five, to be beaten by a team known to have just Jordan and some other guys.
I think they thought it would be bad for the league if fans thought all you need is one superstar.
I heard Isaiah Thomas say they later changed the rules for Jordan when Chicago finally got past Detroit. But they changed the rules because of the ridiculous tackling that Bill Lambieer and other Piston players were doing. That was just cheap shots. So they had to clean that up.
Regarding the Warriors. How you play them is learn to defend the pick and roll. Which a lot of teams don't know how to do.
Regarding Bird at Indiana. He didn't like the atmosphere and he hated Benson. Who was there as a senior when Bird was a freshman. Hated him so much there's a clip you might be able find of Bird sudden'y deciding to play dodgeball in the middle of a game and throw the ball at Benson's face.
Gregory LaGrange kinda like the refs and the league cheated for Michael Jordan all the way through the 90s?
More like they called against him in games that were in Detroit because they didn't want a team that was known to be 10 players deep with 5 subs who were worthy of being starters for any other team being beaten by a team that was known to has one super star and other people. To have one of your deepest teams being beaten in a series by team consider to have one star and just four other guys does bring a risk of fans being disinterested in watching if they feel all you need is one player.
Bird is one the greatest as far as his shooting skill and savvy. But, especially early in his career, the way the call were for him and Boston did have an affect on how players would defend him.
John Craftenworth - he got calls like ALL STARS in the NBA did back then. And today's foul interpretations make that look like wrestling. Jordan took serious licks and if you didn't watch, you don't know. This nonsense about MJ never getting touched is Internet regurgitation - it's laughable.
You are an idiot.
@@boogieloo1831 You are an idiot too.
I always enjoy your analysis! You stick to the facts and don’t get into the emotional shit. These so called analysis on ESPN etc. are like soap operas stars injecting race an emotion. Keep up the great work!
You're right bro the big man in the middle is gone these days! I remember when they would just feed their big man.
I love your point of view! You refer to assume "brothers" follow you excluvisely. Don't leave us women out when you address your listeners. Continue keeping it "real"
Larry is my best small forward of all time.
You are correct. Teams like Golden State can be beat by strong inside play.
I agree with you on bird, I used to hate him...as a Knicks and pistons fan...but as I got older I could appreciate how extremely talented he was
Bird is the definition of self-development. His will power and lead-by-example was contagious. I still curse him for wrecking his back in the summer of ‘85. I want more highlights!!!
Great, great video and your analysis and commentary was spot-on my friend; It also made me wax nostalgic about the 1980's best, pure point guard...Isiah Thomas; Larry Bird is arguably the best small forward in NBA history, and many legends including Jordan have said so. But whenever the great rivalries are discussed, I feel people don't give Isiah Thomas the respect he deserves...as a HOF player. Even though I've been a life-long Boston fan, I miss the amazing, brutal playoff series the Celtics had with the 76's and against Detroit...great time to be alive and loving basketball! Well done sir!
The straw that broke Bird’s back was when on campus Coach Knight didn’t speak when he walked by Bird. Bird felt like the coach didn’t even know him.
I wish Bron played with Mchale, Parish, and Walton, Dennis Johnson. That would take away most of the attention from him. Larry Bird was great Probably greater than Kobe but not Lebron. Larry Bird can’t take Lebrons 07 team to a finals or that 2018 team. That obviously says how much of an impact he had in the game. He wasn’t a better passer, rebounder, or defender than Lebron. More skilled offensively but to say he’s better at rebounding, passing, etc is completely utterly ridiculous.
The Bruce Lee term is a Japanese reference called - Zanshin or empty mind.
Tom Coughlin coached at Army as well and you see the result of his mental training and discipline on a young team in the Giants that he won Superbowls with and last year's Jacksonville Jaguars. He failed when ownership would not allow him to disciplein Odell Beckham for fear of running him off after his rookie contract but then look at how the Giants fell apart without Coughlin.
JamesEarlMoans He's an asshole but he gets the job done.
Your analyzation is dead on. Plus, I like your delivery. Really enjoyed it. Every successful coach could be a military general and vice versa. I'm 68 years and have seen them all. Bird made you say "DAAAAMMN" at least once every game.
TRIPLE THREAT = POST GAME, MID RANGE GAME & PERIMETER GAME
Triple Threat don't equal those things
Enjoyed the video. That was my era...an All-Star Game back then was like watching 2 Dream Teams compete. I like the resurgence of coverage of the era, especially the Magic Bird and 30 for 30 documentaries. Thanks for posting.
I grew up as a small youngsta loving Larry bird. Still my favorte player till this day
Very good video. Your voice is informative. Yet soothing. ✌ & 💜
People forget that good/great players are able to successfully adapt to their environment. They would’ve been good/great in any era!!
The lack of diversity in today's game is lacking, similar to music; particularly hip hop.
Nice Video. Bird is one of the top ten all time in the goat category. Only individual I can credit as better would be MJ. All the rest would be arguable.
Chief liked to smoke the La also. Lol
damn Bird still had his warmups on during the contest...smh
bose Timo mind over matter...
He did that at TWO of the first 3 three-point contests. And of course, he won all three times. LOL
He asked the other competitors, "So, who's coming in second today?" 😂
There is no way on earth you can compare Larry Joe Bird to Lebron James. Bird has something Lebron has never heard of. It's called class and integrity
Nice commentary. I was an NBA fan of 20 years old when Larry came into the league. Being a Celtics fan back then was a bit like being a Patriots fan of today. You expected to win and you expected a show... It's one thing to watch old highlight reels. But I watched them when they happened. It was like nothing anyone had ever seen. Because it had never been seen. Larry was the real deal...
Great point about players of today playing in the yesteryear game. Great players will be great players in the era they are in. Regardless!...
I'll always remember game 5 steal by bird ,, and so many great moments before and after, basketball was great in the 80s