80's Michael Jordan vs Larry Bird - Revenge Game Boston Garden "Jordan won't score 50 here again"

Chicago Bulls hadn't beaten the Boston Celtics in Boston Garden since March 1985. While much is made of Michael Jordan's exploits in Madison Square Garden, he certainly made his mark, in Boston Garden as well (63 point game). The Celtics claimed that "Michael Jordan will not score 50 points against us again..." (Story @ 31:00 mark of video). Another personal challenge for MJ. Dominate Boston, again!
At this point in time, the Bulls had taken a step back, from a roster perspective. The team got worse. Jerry Krause utilized the Bulls first round draft pick (11th overall) on Will Perdue & traded Oakley for Cartwright, which lowered the ceiling for the Bulls. So, the roster was still a mess, and Michael Jordan was still asked to put on his Superman cape, on a nightly basis, just to win. This gets lost in the story of Michael Jordan's career. The 88-89 Bulls supporting cast was a downgrade from the 87-88 supporting cast, but MJ took the team further than ever before. Some of you read that, and I'm sure a few people will say "look at the way these old heads gas up Jordan", but it's true, the team got worse, but somehow MJ took the team further. It's just what happened folks.
This Jordan vs Bird contest from 1988 would have been a frequent scene, in the playoffs, had Larry not so luckily avoided MJ from '88 and on.
Another fantastic game featuring Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Reggie Lewis, Horace Grant, and of course Michael Jordan! Bulls vs Celtics inside the iconic Boston Garden on the parquet floor! Doesn't get any more classic than that!
(1988-89 Season)
TIMESTAMPS:
0:03 - Horace Grant pull-up jumper
1:08 - Dennis Johnson jumper
1:23 - Shaw to Parish dunk
1:33 - Michael Jordan lefty layup over Larry Bird
1:47 - Kevin McHale turnaround jumper
2:19 - Larry Bird post-up vs Michael Jordan
3:01 - Larry Bird runner over Horace Grant
3:06 - Larry Bird jumper over Horace Grant
3:31 - Michael Jordan jumper
5:18 - Michael Jordan transition pull-up jumper
5:45 - Michael Jordan steal & transition layup
6:07 - Kevin McHale tough jumper in traffic
6:23 - Michael Jordan jumper
6:40 - Kevin McHale runner
7:11 - Replay of Michael Jordan fast break layup
8:47 - Michael Jordan 3 point jumper
9:06 - Robert Parish dunks on Dave Corzine
9:16 - Brian Shaw jumper
9:38 - Michael Jordan 360 pirouette hang time fadeaway jumper over Larry Bird, and 1
10:20 - Michael Jordan steal & breakaway dunk on Brian Shaw
10:32 - Larry Bird bank shot
10:50 - Michael Jordan steal & football style lead bounce pass to Grant
11:25 - Larry Bird baseline jumper
11:34 - Kevin McHale runner
11:57 - Brian Shaw jumper
12:05 - Michael Jordan elbow jumper over 7'0" Brad Lohaus
12:26 - Reggie Lewis rainbow jumper
13:10 - Michael Jordan turnaround fadeaway elbow jumper over Reggie Lewis
13:23 - Bird to McHale
13:31 - McHale splits the double, and 1
13:50 - Michael Jordan's 8th steal in the first half
14:09 - Replay of Michael Jordan pull up jumper
14:19 - Replay of Michael Jordan layup over DJ
14:24 - Replay of Michael Jordan's 3 point jumper
14:33 - Replay of Michael Jordan dunk on Brian Shaw
15:00 - Kevin McHale hook shot
15:30 - Dennis Johnson jumper
15:36 - Bird to Parish pick n roll
15:50 - McHale blocks Cartwright
15:57 - Dennis Johnson driving layup, and 1
17:11 - Larry Bird free throws
17:36 - Brian Shaw steal & physical transition layup
17:56 - Michael Jordan crossover, inside out dribble & 2 hand dunk
18:11 - Brian Shaw scoop layup
18:45 - Dennis Johnson jumper
18:57 - Michael Jordan blind pass to Grant
19:38 - Replay of Jordan's no-look pass to Grant
19:55 - Larry Bird runner
20:52 - Michael Jordan layup
21:44 - Jerry Krause's 1988 #1 draft pick struggles to get his warm-up pants off
22:09 - Bulls 1988 #1 draft pick (11th overall) Will Perdue's first point in the NBA
22:29 - Reggie Lewis driving layup
22:36 - Brad Lohaus lefty layup
22:47 - Michael Jordan jumper
23:01 - Will Perdue's first FG in the NBA
23:12 - Jim Paxson running hook in traffic
24:05 - Michael Jordan driving layup, and 1
24:28 - Michael Jordan NASTY tough contested fadeaway jumper out of bounds
24:52 - Kevin McHale signature patented up & under layup
25:02 - Michael Jordan 3 point jumper
25:37 - Kevin McHale finger roll layup, and 1 (give him his towel)
26:35 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws
27:22 - Larry Bird clutch free throws
28:00 - Reggie Lewis clutch give & go baseline layup
28:14 - Michael Jordan clutch steal (9th) & breakaway dunk
28:46 - Replay of Michael Jordan clutch steal & breakaway dunk
28:59 - Larry Bird clutch jumper
29:16 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws
29:45 - Michael Jordan NASTY clutch turnaround bsaeline fadeaway jumper
30:41 - Kevin McHale runner
31:00 - Michael Jordan clutch "it became personal" free throw moment ("he's got 50")
32:57 - Michael Jordan's final contributions
G.O.A.T.
Michael Jordan greatest games series playlist (games in chronological order here): kzbin.info/aero/PLsuQLqnitVCGDTFsu5n5uFBnNvIwAAyBT

[@MicroWave233]

Jordan was a beast, arguably the best 2 way player to ever play the game, relentless on both ends.

[@soramirez5473]

between him and Wilt.

[@soramirez5473]

but jordan got 6 rings.

[@nunyabusiness7927]

I was at the Boston Garden in 1991 when the Bulls played the Celtics on Easter Sunday. The game went into double overtime and the Bulls lost, unfortunately. I was the only guy pulling for the Bulls in the whole arena.

[@JoshOkoye]

Why am I just now being graced with these videos on my feed. This is great coverage of majority of the games. Then the descriptions are top tier. You would think it’s actually 1988.

[@sandervandenberg977]

That steal & breakaway dunk on Shaw was soooo good, so quick, he anticipated the pass stole it, 4 dribbles & 4 seconds later he dunks it gracefully with Shaw still in front of him, pure class & artistry😎👌🏻 You can't say enough about this man's abilities on the basketballcourt. Simply the gold standard.

[@marketcrypto9982]

MJ had 8 steals in the first half of this game. Most people don't even do that in a career in one whole game. Crazy thing is this was typical for him. SMH Mike was just on another level than anybody that ever played. To me there is no comparisons with him as far as two way dominance.

[@abbasrizvi9389]

I remember watching this game in our Dorms common area with a bunch of other students. Great memories.

[@sliferxxxx]

If this game is anything to go by, I see why MJ didn't have a higher assists per game average. Mind you, among shooting guards, he's 6th in assists per game. But his teammates just sucked at finishing his smooth passes. Needless to say, MJ was a beast on both offense and defense....goat vibes !!

[@chris14487]

Michael vs 4 Celtic HOFer's back when Boston didn't lose at home! Michael had 52 and the Bulls needed most of that! Refuse to lose is what I used to call Michael back then! Airness!

[@jheiny1231]

I mean . Stealing , blocking , shooting, and dunking on 4 hall of famers is just incredible. 7 footers ... it didn't matter. What in today's game could stop that..? U can't. U just pray he has an off day and only drops 30 or less. Its just incredible.

[@BlitzSportsNetwork]

TIMESTAMPS: 0:03 - Horace Grant pull-up jumper 1:08 - Dennis Johnson jumper 1:23 - Shaw to Parish dunk 1:33 - Michael Jordan lefty layup over Larry Bird 1:47 - Kevin McHale turnaround jumper 2:19 - Larry Bird post-up vs Michael Jordan 3:01 - Larry Bird runner over Horace Grant 3:06 - Larry Bird jumper over Horace Grant 3:31 - Michael Jordan jumper 5:18 - Michael Jordan transition pull-up jumper 5:45 - Michael Jordan steal & transition layup 6:07 - Kevin McHale tough jumper in traffic 6:23 - Michael Jordan jumper 6:40 - Kevin McHale runner 7:11 - Replay of Michael Jordan fast break layup 8:47 - Michael Jordan 3 point jumper 9:06 - Robert Parish dunks on Dave Corzine 9:16 - Brian Shaw jumper 9:38 - Michael Jordan 360 pirouette hang time fadeaway jumper over Larry Bird, and 1 10:20 - Michael Jordan steal & breakaway dunk on Brian Shaw 10:32 - Larry Bird bank shot 10:50 - Michael Jordan steal & football style lead bounce pass to Grant 11:25 - Larry Bird baseline jumper 11:34 - Kevin McHale runner 11:57 - Brian Shaw jumper 12:05 - Michael Jordan elbow jumper over 7'0" Brad Lohaus 12:26 - Reggie Lewis rainbow jumper 13:10 - Michael Jordan turnaround fadeaway elbow jumper over Reggie Lewis 13:23 - Bird to McHale 13:31 - McHale splits the double, and 1 13:50 - Michael Jordan's 8th steal in the first half 14:09 - Replay of Michael Jordan pull up jumper 14:19 - Replay of Michael Jordan layup over DJ 14:24 - Replay of Michael Jordan's 3 point jumper 14:33 - Replay of Michael Jordan dunk on Brian Shaw 15:00 - Kevin McHale hook shot 15:30 - Dennis Johnson jumper 15:36 - Bird to Parish pick n roll 15:50 - McHale blocks Cartwright 15:57 - Dennis Johnson driving layup, and 1 17:11 - Larry Bird free throws 17:36 - Brian Shaw steal & physical transition layup 17:56 - Michael Jordan crossover, inside out dribble & 2 hand dunk 18:11 - Brian Shaw scoop layup 18:45 - Dennis Johnson jumper 18:57 - Michael Jordan blind pass to Grant 19:38 - Replay of Jordan's no-look pass to Grant 19:55 - Larry Bird runner 20:52 - Michael Jordan layup 21:44 - Jerry Krause's 1988 #1 draft pick struggles to get his warm-up pants off 22:09 - Bulls 1988 #1 draft pick (11th overall) Will Perdue's first point in the NBA 22:29 - Reggie Lewis driving layup 22:36 - Brad Lohaus lefty layup 22:47 - Michael Jordan jumper 23:01 - Will Perdue's first FG in the NBA 23:12 - Jim Paxson running hook in traffic 24:05 - Michael Jordan driving layup, and 1 24:28 - Michael Jordan NASTY tough contested fadeaway jumper out of bounds 24:52 - Kevin McHale signature patented up & under layup 25:02 - Michael Jordan 3 point jumper 25:37 - Kevin McHale finger roll layup, and 1 (give him his towel) 26:35 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws 27:22 - Larry Bird clutch free throws 28:00 - Reggie Lewis clutch give & go baseline layup 28:14 - Michael Jordan clutch steal (9th) & breakaway dunk 28:46 - Replay of Michael Jordan clutch steal & breakaway dunk 28:59 - Larry Bird clutch jumper 29:16 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws 29:45 - Michael Jordan NASTY clutch turnaround bsaeline fadeaway jumper 30:41 - Kevin McHale runner 31:00 - Michael Jordan clutch "it became personal" free throw moment ("he's got 50") 32:57 - Michael Jordan's final contributions G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan greatest games series playlist (games in chronological order here): kzbin.info/aero/PLsuQLqnitVCGDTFsu5n5uFBnNvIwAAyBT

[@donjuanismo]

Thanks Bruce for sharing this game. I've wanted to see MJ's rare 50 point games form the 80s.

[@9211goat]

michael upped his season avg. by about three points that night.

[@felixy23]

Jordan was carrying Bulls in 80' he always had weak centers in his careers Cartwright, Longley

[@reilym979]

Will Perdue was also a weak center, but #23 Michael Air Jordan is full-time and fully loaded at all times

[@dwilliams8151]

jordan with 50pts in boston against DJ, Bird, Michael, Parrish...what else needs to be said....simply great...not to mention 9 steals in a game...8 steals in the first half!!!!! incredible--and you have idiots today claiming Lebron the superteazm James is better than Jordan was ----lol

[@Clywoo77]

You spelled McHale wrong.

[@jheiny1231]

What stands out to me in games back then is how great these guys were in and around the paint. These big guys will have it easy in today's game. The defense intensity is just incredible. What a era for exciting basketball to watch. Jj Reddick seems to forget 80s Jordan when talking about Jordan can't pass and set up team mates. Dude was averaging damn near 8 assits per game. And with his title run in the 90s phil introduced the triangle and obviously his assits went down .. that's what he seems to bring up all the time

[@thetigerdenpodcast4381]

the one and only goat.

[@patriciaguenzler9150]

Thanks for sharing memories awesome

[@mikiseifu989]

Scary

[@hairjordan2620]

Is eight steals in one half a record?

[@davidschmidt227]

Yes

[@jordanlover23]

Yes it is. I believe one other player may have done it (I want to say Alvin Robertson).

[@1CHOZN7]

If this was my first time ever seeing MJ, there's no way in the he** you could convince me that lebron is better!

[@victorramos287]

Wow Denis Johnson was good 👍

[@taharqaheru145]

😂😂take it personal

[@leonblack751]

Excellent

[@obitoxshinobi8978]

👍

[@ta4life27]

cartwright was playing horrible in this game

[@raymackins9716]

Where was Scottie Pippen this game?

[@stevewagner7507]

Back surgery - missed the first 9 or 10 games of the season

[@murilloFam]

B ahaw a celtic with hair? Crazy