Larry Bird (43pts/8rebs/13asts) vs. Nuggets (1990)

[@halowafflebrains]

Whether its young Bird or old Bird, I am always in awe of how the dude controlled games. Just a brilliant player

[@Amick44]

Yeah, true. Larry still had decent (not great) mobility here. And that's all he needed with his array and variety of moves, step backs, shots, fakes and passes. A variety that kept defenders guessing, never knowing, what was coming. Oscar was a bit similar a generation before.

[@oldmanballer5088]

Me was a maestro

[@chitownmo]

larry bird is a basketball player. pure and simple.

[@carmenruggiro8663]

almost 50 years old and I'm still watching these old video clips love some bird childhood Idol

[@ReginaldKing-xg4bx]

Oo I'm 50 on the nose

[@mrho4speed]

Thanks for posting. Another great example of Bird doing everything. Steals a dribble from a guard, steals the cross court pass, blocks a shot, pulls down rebounds, beautiful passes with perfect timing to his teammates, shoots left handed, spin moves in the post, kills you with 3 pointers, if you foul him he's 90% from the free throw line, and his movement w/out the ball is a lost art. Best all around player ever to play period.

[@73Trident]

@gerizzyYMcrew no

[@erocksolshooter2321]

@gerizzyYMcrew are u shitting? Bird would often have 30 at the half. Celtics would put a lot of teams away by then. He barely had to do anything in the 2nd half.

[@73Trident]

@gerizzyYMcrew Lebronze has had how many 90/50/40 seasons? Oh yeah, none.

[@joemarshall4226]

Near the end of the video, Parrish blocks a shot for the Celtics against Malone, but if you look closely at the slo-mo, you can see that Bird made Karl pull the ball in as he was raising it to shoot, by slapping quickly at the ball, which left Karl in an uncomfortable position, and made it easy for the Chief to block it. Another "little thing" that Larry did that the stats don't show. Dennis Johnson and Walton were great, smart players, too. And McHale didn't even play!

[@davemartino5997]

@@73Trident uhhhh yes

[@leemartin1223]

He was an amazing player. Very much fun to watch play

[@andybilakshow260]

Larry never cared who had the shot as long as it put points on their board. Knowing who had the shot before the shooter did & getting them the ball is just 1 attribute that makes Larry GOAT. Being GOAT is no walk in the park. There were so many great players in the 80's. Another thing that makes Bird Goat is his consistency through the years. Love ya Larry!

[@chrispaschal7955]

There will never be another like him, Larry Legend.

[@scottthomas4301]

Hes the best ever to play ball college or NBA

[@nocomment1469]

Even more impressive is the fact that Larry's back was dead, needed surgery on shoulder and just mentally won that battle ,while still putting up big game numbers and never lost his "clutch" = Living legend

[@brettoberry3586]

Slow, lumbering player who mastered keeping his defender off balance and could get in the head of any opponent. Amazing court vision, could score easily with both hands and the very definition of clutch, he's one of the very best to ever play the game. He's on my starting 5 of greatest of all time.

[@joemarshall4226]

Bill Russell said he'd take wilt first, Larry second.

[@MaximusWolfe]

He was only slow and lumbering at this stage in his career. During the early to mid 80s he was quite athletic and even had a 28 vertical leap, which was above average at the time. Back problems slowed him down at this point but his lack of athleticism has always been vastly overstated. You don't play at that level and make every All-Star Game if you're not a world-class athlete.

[@ephraimfink9010]

Deceptive quickness and first step cutting actually somewhat based on being a step ahead or from that hall of fame anticipation

[@euroamerican5189]

he wasn't slow at all before 87

[@biglex785]

@@joemarshall4226 Couldn`t agree more! I`d also go Wilt first Bird second!

[@Jondsmusic]

Simply the best, better than all the rest Larry Legend!

[@vincentmast2981]

.45 second mark, he literally goes under the basket at 1/4 speed & destroys Woolridge like he's not even there. It's like he's by himself in slow motion...incredible. You play at his speed.

[@pretorious700]

By this time you could tell Bird was struggling to get up and down the court, but he still dominated. Amazing.

[@357twilson]

He scored 43 points on only 8 dribbles!

[@robkukoc3393]

Bird was a shell of his former self at this time and he still averaged 19.8 per game. Pure heart and hustle!

[@scottstout3309]

Incredible ball movement, post play you'll never see basketball like this again

[@gt3065]

Man. Bird only had about 5 years of "prime" before his back started to cripple him. I often wonder if he played 12 or 13 years in "prime" condition if the conversation about greatest ever would not always default to Jordan.

[@joemarshall4226]

@Mike Bell He schooled Mike regularly when they went head to head....even Mike admits it....

[@jjs777fzr]

Joe Marshall - Go back and watch films, Bird was able to just stand while Jordan was in his moves towards the basket and Bird would do that over hand half circle over Jordan before Jordan would take off and spin the ball right out from him. It was pretty cool to watch. MJ was arguably the most athletic and talented we’ve seen. But Bird for me is the smartest player I’ve ever seen. And when they say he was not quick. His reaction time to a steal, rebound, or getting a shot off was insanely quick. Nearly akin to a spidey sense.

[@joemarshall4226]

@@jjs777fzr He saw the future. I love that play where he shoots from the top of the key, realizes the ball is going to carom off to the right, runs over there outside the defensive crowd, leaps up, catches and shoots while still in the air as he's going out of bounds, and swishes the ball....do you know the play I mean?

[@jjs777fzr]

As for the greatest ever if we count rings the GOAT is Bill Russel. As his nemesis said (Wilt) Bill has more rings than fingers and laughed at MJ being the goat.

[@kyletorres202]

having played the game with some amazing moves and jumping ability makes you a GOAT rather than making more championships and rings......just asking!!!!

[@larrylegend199]

90/91 Boston Celtics, they were the second best team in the East that year, they were the best team in the NBA in the first part of the regular season

[@Adler4404]

Blazers were actually even better, starting out 27-3 and finishing 63-19.

[@aaacomp1]

@@Adler4404 see the double overtime game against the blazers in 92. Bird schooled them along with clyde the glide the whole game.

[@nocomment1469]

The good old days with hand checking and pushing yet guys still put up stats ...real ballers

[@brian7333]

Larry's body is @#$%ed at this point in his career. Can't tell me different, he looks like a statue augmented by mechanics! Despite this, he's still doing everything in this game!!! Draining them, rebounding, stealing, blocking, passing unselfishly and well! Did I miss anything??

[@guillaumea5527]

First play : the pass to Lewis was easier on the break but Bird elected to pass it to Parish on purpose, in order to reward the effort from his big man. Amazing offensive awareness!

[@k.bowers8372]

He passed the ball on alot of fast breaks when he could have scored himself. No players do that today.

[@FavreianVengeance]

Yea. If I remember correctly, the C's were 25-3 or something when Bird and McHale were both in the line-up. Bill Simmons calls 82 and 85 the lost championships. I have to throw-in 91.

[@bryanburnap4537]

Dude I am so with you on that. People forget how good that 91 team was. I actually think that team led by Bird as a point forward was just a good as a passing team as they had in the 80's. I think they were like 29 and 5 at one point and were playing beautiful basketball. They were on pace for 60 wins all year and were 56 and 22 before losing their final four games and finishing at 56 and 26. They had a good mix of youth with guys like Reggie ( rip) Brian Shaw and Dee Brown to go along with the old veterans. Not sure if they could have won a title in 1991 but they would have given the Bulls a good run at it in the conference finals that year. They should have beating Detroit that year in the Semis. But again injuries were just the story of that era in the late 80's early 90's. A direct result from the tragic death of len bias 5 years earlier. Playing in the finals 4 straight years topped off with about 46 minutes a game in the 87 playoffs just took their toll on larry and the rest of this team. Im glad I am not the only one who remembers how good the 1991 Celtics were.

[@leechmaster21]

Probably the best player to come back and be hindered by serious injury to still play very very well, you can definitely see the difference in Larry's gait after that 88' season. Dominique Wilkins too after that 92' achillies came back to play very well in 93' and 94'.

[@Defender80s]

Amazing How a Crippled and Old Bird Could Still Dominate Most Nights!

[@73Trident]

Yep

[@ruminator3570]

Let's see Jordan Lebron Kobe or anyone else do that.

[@ianbrewer4843]

Agree, back was hurting and still played

[@STONESGAM]

This is the thing about Bird. Even Jordan when he scores 43 points he will have 2, 3, 4, 5 assists with it tops. 13 assists and 8 boards. He just controlled the whole game. Bird has as many passing highlights as scoring if not more.

[@steveguse4481]

Lol Jordan could have averaged a triple double for his CAREER if he wanted to. He was a shooting guard. The most efficient in league history. All while facing double teams every single play..There were stretches he did run point and put up triple doubles almost nightly. While also being the best defender in the league...He was very much the real thing

[@STONESGAM]

@@steveguse4481 I am glad I made you LOL. We all need to laugh more. I think Jordan is the best of all time by the way. I was just remarking about Bird's ability to score and fill up the whole stat sheet as well as his highlight reel passes which Jordan is lacking.

[@chuckweicha1]

The three seasons after Bird came back were brutal...he was so handicapped physically..and the team wasn't as good around him and still they won over 50 games...and when he was healthy were right up there with the elite in he NBA...but injuries took their toll and the great Celtic team and Larry faded away.

[@erwinprime]

Bird really made basketball look easy. He is the example of a great fundamental basketball player. Magic counters Bird's style with dazzling plays. Jordan is the continuation of both. These are the basketball players of the 80's and the 90's when you can witness real competition. I miss those eras. I hope to see another Bird, Magic, and Jordan.

[@bryanburnap4537]

The 90 /91 Celtics were 31 and 6 at one point and the passing by this team was very high level this year. They really passed the ball

[@scottodonnell7121]

They started the season 29-4 and then Brian Shaw got injured and he was having a great season.

[@larrywize]

The fast break at 1:23 was sick no dribbling. Looks like a football team lateraling on the basketball court. Denver was so lost mentally and physically. 😂

[@drixmcdrixerson]

Videos like this are great, but I'm literally addicted to watching him shoot Free Throws. Gets hammered. Swish. Swish. Every time. The same.

[@MerkinMuffly]

This team would have won the 1991 Finals, they had a great team for the watered down expansion league of the 90s. Great role players like Reggie Lewis, Brian Shaw, Kevin Gamble. They started out 29-5 but then Bird went down, McHale went down, Bird went down again before the playoffs. Just wasn't meant to be.

[@leroystover1062]

RIP ORLANDO WOOLRIDGE UNDERATED BUT GOOOOD*!

[@goodfella2400]

MerkinMuffly if only load management had been a thing in 1991.

[@scottcarroll9201]

It would've been a very interesting eastern conference finals if this team had stayed healthy. They split the season series with the Bulls.

[@CLewey44]

Jeez, Gorman calling Bird games...nothing better...he was great.

[@mattwatts33]

1990’s Larry was my favorite bird era.

[@jonquist7089]

5:35 and 5:45 the defender tried to knock the ball loose. Larry's instincts are astonishingly fast here.

[@dominiclacoote2855]

The legend Birdman

[@stevenhines5550]

Imagine healthy Bird with Len Bias and Reggie Lewis

[@mattwatts33]

6 rings easily!

[@eltravo2112]

I remember Denver being coached by former college coach Loyola Marymount’s Paul Westhead and his run and gun style offense. Denver could score a ton of points. The only problem with that was that they had almost zero defense which means any opponent that knew how to put the ball in the basket had a decent chance of winning that year.

[@johnnyreed8537]

On my all time starting five lineups, Bird is definitely in the starting five (over Lebron James)

[@didoman2645]

If Only: Len Bias lives, Reggie Lewis lives, Bird's back heals, Mchale's foot never breaks.

[@josephvitielo1693]

And they kept Ainge

[@brian7333]

Larry, McHale & Parish used to form a triangle on defense sometimes to protect the lane against you-know-who (👅) in the Playoffs. It worked beautifully as he couldn't go left, right, or straight down the lane. If he elevated at the points of their triangle, he was too far out to layup or dunk so he was held to jumpers at best. Of course if you have Wilt you only need 1 guy to do this, but it worked for the Celtics. 👍

[@fadeawayJ]

Larry Bird was the best to ever do it!...

[@chadallen5376]

You can hear bird say, “and 1” before he swishes it 4:16. Has there ever been a player that cocky/confident? When he was rolling, I don’t think there’s ever been a better basketball player. He is fundamentally sound in every department but almost godly in the clutch. Pretty scary when he was at his best

[@sugarnads]

Imagine if his back didnt self destruct in the 80s... Damn.

[@k.bowers8372]

Bird could have easily had another 10 points but he chose to pass to his teammates when he could have just as easily scored. He didthat alot on fast breaks also,giving up the ball instead of taking the layup himself which all players do today. Bird was unselfish and players today are selfish.

[@brian7333]

Larry passes so much when he could shoot--- what exactly counts as "an assist"?

[@edwolf6017]

Bird and Kleine together were pretty much unstoppable

[@noelharris1177]

Kleine?That's a joke,rite?

[@andreasgr1740]

it would be great if celtics were healty to watch bulls-celtics in east finals...they had 2-2 in gegular season and i think it would be a great battle.

[@goodfella2400]

Andreas GR it’s very unfortunate the Celtics didn’t get past the Pistons.

[@davemartino5997]

Larry legend was just money that pass to chief was sick asf

[@jonquist7089]

43 points and 13 assists... not even a primary ball handler

[@robertsutton8802]

He,,get,, you every thing how,,one,,heck of, player God,, bless this guys,, 💟 this,,hell,, player

[@joshuasussman4020]

To be clear, he posted these numbers with a very bad back which limited his mobility.

[@gabrielking1247]

Imagine someone taking a pull up mid range on the fast break in today’s nba 😂

[@mikegazanchyan2423]

Damn the goats were so consistent

[@thepunditspundit1776]

The steal on Michael Adams was SICK. How do you time that?

[@dacosta0656]

1:25 holy cow

[@jjs777fzr]

148-138 high scoring game

[@scorpionJB]

excellent point

[@ReginaldKing-xg4bx]

This was 2 days before his birthday

[@johnhebert3855]

It must have been so demoralizing playing against The Legend.

[@robinsinpost]

Just 8 rebounds? Slow night for Bird.

[@alecvip7562]

Why did he have so many 40 point games in 1990

[@antoniocomeau6097]

Imagine a Healthy Bird...len bias n reggie lewis both had lived

[@davanmani556]

If he went to a shoot first offense like the Warriors run then drive, he would have played 20 years.

[@bryanburnap4537]

Still breaks my heart and makes me sick to my stomach !! The what ifs on that are unbelievable !!!

[@buckcubmandingo6772]

Yes, indeed. However, if Bias would have lived, they probably would have drafted later in the draft(like last) and be unable to get Reggie. Although, maybe Reggie was one of Red's pearls that nobody else saw

[@bryanburnap4537]

@@buckcubmandingo6772 very interesting view ! Yeah I wonder if any other teams had Reggie on their radar screen. Red was always one step ahead of everyone else. Reggie was just another instance.

[@innerspacerace9196]

Yes slower and slower bird his own slow motion replay how did he do that ?

[@The_McD]

Bird at the line.. All i hear is nothing but net.

[@davanmani556]

I remember Todd Lichti was supposed to be the next great star.

[@bryanburnap4537]

Me too out of Stanford :)

[@GamerFace167]

Bird ain't athletic at all, but he plays with high ball iq and look at his shots, all he shots that go down are swishes, beautiful form like dirk and ray of today. Pity dirk couldn't get his game to highs like bird in the early stages of his career

[@Amick44]

Dirk is nowhere near Bird overall.

[@krisharkleroad8]

You clearly don't understand athleticism.

[@CLewey44]

I think I could have gotten 40 on this Denver team.

[@NickIntoTech]

🥶🥶🥶

[@goodfella2400]

What could have been for the 1990-91 team... For a while they were in ‘85-‘86 form, as far as the W’s are concerned.

[@bryanburnap4537]

2nd time tonight I have come across your comments on the Celtics. And I have loved them both my man !! So on point with this 1991 team. This was my senior year in high school and I was so obsessed with the Celtics and Larry Bird. I had a 1984 chevy chevette and I decorated the interior with all Larry Bird stuff. Anyways not to bore you with memory lane, I do appreciate your comments on hoops. You know your stuff about the Celtics of the 80's. I think you said you were from Chicago. The 91 ECF should have been Boston vs Chicago. Least I think we could have won a game or 2 instead of getting swept and "dipping out" like Isiah and the rest of the bad boys !!

[@ernestportlock]

Bird's jumper was wet all night long in this game.

[@pbody4080]

4:51

[@juliolois7794]

that airball...you must be joking

[@cindyknudson2715]

Bird was fouled on that shot. And if you mean Adams on the wide open shot he airballed, I thought he looked like LeBron shooting last week.

[@goriotv2023]

A washed up Bird is 10x better than primed Paul Pierce

[@thetruth7783]

Larry LEGEND. I'll Take Larry Bird over the TRAITOR to America Lebron James any day. This is Larry when his back when destroyed and he still DOMINATED. RIP Reggie Lewis who was a really good player. Remember Dee Brown and his shoes where you pump air into them? Those were fun.

[@sneakerfacevids441]

LeBron is not a traitor to America. You must be a supporter of that psycho Trump.

[@robinsinpost]

Impossible to defend against his shot.

[@keenakaur6314]

If KC Jones would've inserted Reggie Lewis immediately into the regular rotation in 88, Bird and the Celtics would have won 1-2 more titles. Sadly, KC preferred guys like Fred Roberts because of his white skin and Brad Acres, Greg Lohaus. Sad.

[@toscodav]

To bad dim Celtic fans didn't appreciate the greatness of Bird. This is the state who's hero is Ted Kennedy so I shouldn't expect too much from them I guess.

[@Denis-cr4bs]

Idiot. Probably had his mom type it.

[@williamlarochelle3953]

Lmao

[@joemarshall4226]

Dr J blocked that shot cleanly. It should have been called a charge when Ainge got flattened by Charles.

[@scottthomas4301]

Quit crying

[@noelharris1177]

This just in,they're not playing anymore...