Larry Bird - 1984 Finals Game 5 (34pts 17reb) vs. Lakers (15/20 FG)

[@garrison6863]

Bird was one of the best deep shooters ever. And he was an underrated rebounder.

[@danb1391]

did you hear towards the end.......Bird had 21 rebounds in the previous game :)

[@igit_7296]

Prob 2nd best rebounding SF.

[@davemartino5997]

@@igit_7296 who’s the first ?

[@igit_7296]

@@davemartino5997 Charles B.

[@CJthegreat-ox1mh]

@@igit_7296 Barkley's a power forward

[@253jacksonrhoads1]

The dude lighting up a smoke in The Garden when the game first ended is the best thing ever.

[@robertweir5313]

I loved that too! Seems like the only inside entertainment place one can enjoy one of life’s simple pleasures is in a Vegas casino

[@robertweir5313]

Smoking is kool! Geddit? I don’t! I smoke Marlborough reds! Ha!

[@beedub93]

Burning a heater in 100+ degree sauna. 😂😂😂😂

[@camoss3724]

@@beedub93 Yeah, why not? What's a little secondhand smoke among friends?😊

[@loydkline]

Kobe Bryant would've scored 81 points against Larry bird ; dirk nowitzki; Nikola jokic; Kevin Duran would've each scored 50s points against Larry bird

[@deancafe4739]

Larry's rebounding smarts is just amazing.

[@CLewey44]

This is maybe his best Finals game. I know he likes his game 6 in 86 but this is unreal. He played so smart here.

[@patsfan4life]

He was the difference in the game, clearly

[@VancouverChokers]

By far the most important series Bird ever played in. As he said afterward, he “won it for Terre Haute.”

[@_gamepoint_]

​@@VancouverChokers that is who?

[@youngspiffeyboy5903]

complete monster on the boards. And i always heard kareem never missed the hook shot , well he missing alot this game he was selling hard

[@westies1962]

You got that right!!

[@albertferro8563]

Incredible collection of legends on both teams. Larry outshined em all that day.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@MattMc33]

It’s one of his many legendary games. One of my favourites. He completely, utterly dominated a great team, who were absolutely powerless to stop him.

[@johannesswillery7855]

Cooper was a warrior! Epic battle between he and Larry.

[@theephraimite]

him*

[@johannesswillery7855]

@@theephraimite Thank you.

[@echoromeo384]

Yup, and Larry said cooper was the best defensive player he ever played against, And Cooper said Larry was the best he ever faced.

[@73Trident]

@@echoromeo384 And Larry always kicked his ass. Built him up to tear him up.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

@@73Trident Didn't kick his ass in '85 or '87.

[@mrho4speed]

This was a big win for the Celtics and a great game for Bird. Seems like very few people remember this game. You can sense Bird's determination and will to win.

[@caesarfiorini1728]

Loved Musberger

[@caesarfiorini1728]

This was before they changed finals formal to 2-3-2. Otherwise game 5 would have been in LA

[@lakerraider100]

As a Laker fan, believe me I remember this game. No AC in a boiling Boston Garden. Red turning the heater on in the Lakers locker room and Kareem sucking on the oxygen during time outs. Ugh it still hurts. What a series this was.

[@bobbenbrown123]

​@@caesarfiorini1728and Dick Stockton and Tommy Heinson as well 😁

[@bbkyjohnson]

I hated the Lakers growing up as a Celtics fan. Have to respect how good they were. 2 of the top 3 teams in history in my opinion.

[@H0kieJoe]

Lol, growing up I was a Sixers fan so I hated the Lakers and the Celtics! I've nothing but respect for all of these teams now! What a great era of basketball.

[@bbkyjohnson]

Unfortunately the 76ers were a little bit older I’d say and I missed how good they were. Hated the piston’s and probably didn’t respect the bulls enough until I was older.

[@davemartino5997]

They had a great team tho

[@davemartino5997]

@@H0kieJoe Philly had a great team 81-84

[@bbkyjohnson]

Absolutely those series between Boston and Philadelphia were really tough!!

[@TheMarcuscamby13]

Who’s bad done more in a gam than the the legend himself. He is everywhere at all times!!!!!

[@Listman11]

At 14:20 a guy lights up. You got to love the 80’s

[@mshahnazi7636]

This was a really fantastic game, and Larry willed his team to victory. He was just AMAZING.

[@fezzik7619]

My aunt got married the Saturday of that week and it was 102 in the church for the ceremony. No AC. No AC at the reception either. I remember watching this game as a young kid wondering how they could run so much in the heat.

[@localwear1]

Thommy Heinson is hilarious 😆 I’m not certain who he was referring to when he said “he’ll step on his grandmothers face to get an offensive rebound!”

[@basketballcomposition7748]

He was talking about Mike McGee from the Lakers 😂😂

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

That cracked me up too.

[@VancouverChokers]

I still hear Musburger’s words, “In game 4 they declared war. The Celtics were going to do things their way whether the Lakers liked it or not.”

[@johncox770]

Bird and the Celtics pulled off an amazing feat in this series. In my opinion the Lakers were the better team, but I was rooting for the Celtics.

[@scottbuono2507]

KC always had the same dilemma his whole coaching career with the Celtics does he go to the bench against the really good teams to give the big 5 some rest but risk giving up an immediate 10-2 run or does he leave them in and pray they had enough gas in the tank to get them home in the 4th..bench was solid but never matched up well against the Lakers reserves

[@Gregory-sm9pf]

@@scottbuono2507 Lakers definitely had a deeper bench, I mean Greg Kite, yikes!

[@robertpetty7753]

Which makes Bird even more of a Legend.

[@cindyknudson2715]

Bird said he trained to play the full 48.

[@donmorton7282]

WOW, took me right back, the crowd was electric and Larry Legend. The NBA was Fantastic!

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!!

[@camoss3724]

I think the Garden crowd was louder in this game than it was for Game 7. Oh, and loved the shot of the guy in the stands firing up a smoke at the end of the game.

[@donmorton4597]

Not only a legendary series, but how about that legendary CBS opening theme.

[@wizard1687]

No doubt! Only the theme from This Week in Baseball eclipses this, in my opinion. Miss the 80s

[@DJ-bj8ku]

That opening sent shivers.

[@dwgwnr1969]

Dude ..that's the original shit !! Totally hummed it while I would dazzle the nerf hoop league

[@irishgrl]

MY TRUE GOAT!

[@echoromeo384]

What's up girl. You're on every Larry Bird video I see.

[@stephanefokou3838]

@@echoromeo384 😂😂😂 if you see her every where it means you are also every where

[@echoromeo384]

@@stephanefokou3838 I sure am.

[@jeremycaldwell6477]

Larry just wanted it more than others period, if his body wouldn't hv failed him in the early 90s n bias hadn't of died a few yrs b4, Larry would hv at least 4 chips maybe even 5.

[@MarkBird32]

And don't forgot that Byrd cut his hair short in 1988 and never reached finals again. I truly believe he was a better player with long hair mullet. 1986 he had the juiciest full mullet and he was a triple double machine. His absolute prime. Short hair stinky fart Byrd of 1989 he only played 6 games. By 1992 he could barely walk. His short hair and brother Eddie not paving drive way ruined Byrds career. I 100% agree. 1987 Celtics with healthy Byrd, Mchale, Walton, and Bias would of beat the lakers in 6 or 7 games.

[@ephraimfink9010]

Totally

[@vernonsanders371]

That is a 100 on that one

[@chrispaschal7955]

6

[@davemartino5997]

6 Boston should’ve won 81 , 84-88

[@holycow7195]

Best playoff game I've ever seen..

[@markdellose4989]

Almost impossible to play better basketball than this!!! Larry Bird just dominated this important home game in 1984.. He “willed” his team to The NBA Championship and was the best player in the world from 1981-1987.. Such a great time to watch professional basketball in the 1980’s.. Much Thanks to Larry and Magic both!!!

[@robertpetty7753]

Perfect take on this.

[@chuckkirby2708]

Bird was the best player from 84 to 87. Even as a Celtics fan, I knew that Moses Malone was the best player from 1980 to 83.

[@Gregory-sm9pf]

This is imo one of Bird's top 5 games of his career

[@MrNaturalSez]

"What's the big deal about 100°? It's just another day in French Lick."

[@clutchcity25]

Winning Time brought me back her and he was kicking their ass this whole series.

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

Back when the NBA playoffs were flat out war.

[@beachbunny7256]

Ikr!! "McGee would step on his grandmother's face to get a rebound especially an offense rebound" 🤣😆 total war back then!! Lakers and Piston's games were blood baths!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed on that!!!!

[@DJ-bj8ku]

What a great beginning.

[@westies1962]

One4 of the best NBA Finals games ever!!

[@hippie564]

I don't think there's any other sport where 'homefield advantage' means more than in basketball. I think the reason is because the fans are so much closer to the game than most sports... Almost like they're playing too - it's so close!!

[@dwightlove3704]

Guess you forgot that homecourt advantage was useless in '85.

[@Gregory-sm9pf]

Game 4 and game 5 showed why Larry Bird was a legend and many other games also

[@davidcallaham60]

Greatest player of all time bird no other

[@mattdeluccia153]

It’s insane to me the Celtics won this series. Even Bird says they got lucky this time. This Lakers team is beyond stacked. Arguably their best team of the 80s

[@afvet5075]

I miss those days. The old Historical Boston Garden. Doesn't get any better than that.

[@marvinlassegue951]

Baseball and basketball are the best sports. Football is the best event sport.

[@walter-ro3lr]

These Sunday games was the sh...t! U had to be there! 80 's baby

[@matttirado7661]

Bird is doing that to 8 time all defense, 5x World Champ Michael Cooper, by the way

[@brianodonnell8553]

If you were alive when this was happening you know Game 4 and Game 5 of that 84 series were like the Big Bang for the NBA. Game 4 with all the drama and the clothesline of Rambis. This game with the 100 degree temps and no AC..Magic and Bird in their Prime and Jordan a few months away. Will never be topped.

[@peterlaray5501]

Omg. Larry is still my HERO!

[@Loydstardeli2017]

Lebron james 4 nba basketball 🏀 championships, stole Kareem Abdul jabber career nba scoring points record from jabber

[@earthsurgery1237]

Bird had some amazing playoff games

[@marcohenrique5858]

Larry Bird era um Deus.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

This one was for Terre Haute.

[@jmreynaud]

A huge building like that with all those bodies and no A/C. That mustve been a real sauwnah in there 😂😂

[@skolvikings5263]

The quality of this vid is superb!!

[@paulcarlson4230]

Wow thats unbelievable wow all around player

[@riffsthatkill2180]

This was a great series because it was the one Larry was really determined to beat Magic since he'd only lost to him in championship games before. Never got to win another against him, but that's what happens when you go up against the Showtime Lakers. Their rosters were always a little bit better.

[@Alphasports576]

The only time Larry had more Talent around him than magic did was in 1986 when he had a healthy Bill Walton with him and we saw what happened the Celtics always had lots of talent red did a great job of managing the roster but the Lakers always had a little more cream and Magic two of the top five or six players ever play the game like I said Larry had Talent around them the magic always had more except for 1986 and that's the greatest Celtics team ever if they could have kept that team together with a healthy Bill Walton and Len Bias not dying tragically instead of having three rings bird would have had 405

[@Bundandong]

@@Alphasports576 Lakers lineup was always better than the Celtics. It’s just that 86 Celtics team was built to battle the Lakers. That Lakers team had 4 number 1 overall pick. Talent wise the Lakers where more loaded than the Celtics. It’s just that Bird’s game really brought a different dynamic to that Legendary team.

[@69FOSTER]

@@Bundandong The Lakers also had better reserves; Celtics had no bench.

[@michaelbonavito2927]

magic went to a team that had jabbar enough said

[@FreddyP-o4u]

And this is against some people that can really play. This is the best of the best.

[@leoderosia9279]

I got to see gm 1 1984 in person as my first Celtic game. I wonder how many modern players could've gutted out 43 minutes in 97 degree heat like bird and others did that night?

[@danabaker596]

Today's wimps would have to take the next game off for "maintenance". Or Covid BS. Plus, half of both teams players would be suspended from the previous game in LA. Back then....play on boys!! Miss that era, alot!! They were tough as nails.

[@leoderosia9279]

@@danabaker596 how true! Great comment...players now are certainly babied a lot more

[@noelharris5488]

@William Kremin Just before the game they (CBS) were talking to McHale n said "It's going to be 100° in here,McHale:Yeah,but I don't think they're going to call off the game. LOL

[@marvinlassegue951]

Larry Bird had some foot speed.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Yes indeed!!!!

[@gmaneis]

Those of us who were in Terre Haute when Larry was at ISU knew this stuff was going to happen. Fun!

[@MrFed.]

Haha - guy sparking up a cigarette at the end 😆

[@elroz1675]

the guy at 13.13-13.14 "now let's have a smoke" in 97 degree Garden. The 80s!

[@vegaed56]

The bird!!!

[@paulazzar8936]

Aside all racism, LARRY BIRD IS GOAT.

[@johncox770]

Bird is my favorite player of all time, but Jordan was definitely better. Bird is in the all-time top 5.

[@paulazzar8936]

@@johncox770 Bird is a far better team player. He scores, rebounds, assists. Jordan is mainly a high scorer. Bird will make any team play well, Jordan, you have to build a team around him.

[@johncox770]

@@paulazzar8936 I hope you are not making a case for Bird being better than Jordan. That's just not true. Jordan may be the best NBA player ever. Bird was great but MJ was on another level. I don't really like MJ but my personal opinion of him doesn't matter. Pippen was my favorite Bull, followed by Rodman. Anyway, Bird was one of the greatest but he's not the GOAT.

[@paulazzar8936]

@@johncox770 Bird is the best. He beat Jordan, check it out.

[@FinnSwede906]

​@@johncox770Jordan never beat Larry in a playoff game

[@ephraimfink9010]

Lakers wilted; Bird flourished

[@youngspiffeyboy5903]

playing in 100 degrees weather is insane

[@lakerraider100]

I watched every game of this trilogy during the quarantine wanting to figure out who really was better Magic or Bird. After watching all three series the answer is Kareem. He was consistently the most dominant and his performance in 85 is the stuff of legend.

[@dwgwnr1969]

U are correct..hes why 85 and 87

[@cindyknudson2715]

@@dwgwnr1969 And 1980. He was injured for the last game of that series but they wouldn't have gotten to that last game without him. He was league MVP that year.

[@larrybober6335]

The Lakers were the better team in 84. But Boston just wanted it more

[@mistersir418]

Hey Sir, how about some videos of those old Miluakee Bucks teams that had Marques Johnson, Terry Cummings and Sidney Moncrife?

[@localwear1]

Honestly, i knows it almost 40 years , however Dick Stockton’s commentary drives me nuts. He always made these subtle passive aggressive statements about the Celtics. “In many ways the Lakers gave the Celtics 2 games “ for starters. He (in my opinion )always favored LA, particularly Earvin. 86-87, started Touting Johnson for MVP before the season even began. Lobbied for Magic to win an all star MVP 1990 even though the west lost! I can go on and on.

[@lgbfjbmaga3930]

🐐🐐🐐

[@dwight8090]

The best Finals ever!

[@thorphoeung6057]

Larry Legend

[@Denner771]

The "GOAT" 🐐

[@danb1391]

how many assists did he have in this one...anyone?

[@dwgwnr1969]

When did they drop the "world championship series" moniker and go to "finals" 85?

[@pbody4080]

11:22

[@mrmojorisin8752]

At one point Kareem was 4-17. All you need to know.

[@jasonmoukala8909]

Wym

[@debbiehenson1096]

Silly match up, Cooper can't guard Larry Legend.

[@baronvonraschke77]

Umm, Cooper was the toughest defender LB ever faced. I believe he's said as much. Even elite defenders usually can't totally shut down an elite offensive player. Coop did as good a job on LB as anyone I can think of and I watched a lot of Celtics in the 80's.

[@gunny-lneck4352]

@@baronvonraschke77 rodman caused more problems for bird than anyone

[@jamestoddjackson9655]

@@gunny-lneck4352 not according to Larry. He says Coop was the best defender he ever faced

[@69FOSTER]

Cooper held Bird down in game one, holding Bird to 7 of 17 field goals and 24 points.

[@echoromeo384]

Larry said coop was the best defensive player he ever played against.

[@LarrySalamander]

Larry Rodman 😂 reminding me of Carmelo just stealing rebounds

[@oneadvocate9517]

Celtics got dominated by a 38 year old in 1985, as they lost the title in Boston.

[@zt1053]

He had Magic to get him the ball real easily. 86-87 was the season Kareem started to slow down.

[@youngspiffeyboy5903]

kareem was selling hard

[@maxflipper34]

97 degrees and all the coaches/announcers are still wearing suits and ties. Probably lost ten pounds that night.

[@burdine26.120]

This video is way too grainy for prime time. Hard to make out who is who and what is what.

[@richardcollins2622]

It would be better if this footage at least showed some of the Lakers made baskets…geez.

[@damfst23]

Got A.C. yet Boston?

[@RJB117]

can someone remove the Vaseline from the camera lens?

[@debbiehenson1096]

Cry baby Kareem missed about 20 shots.

[@irishgrl]

A lot of ppl like Kareem, think he’s GOAT material, but I just don’t see it 🤷‍♀️

[@irishgrl]

@Gregory Holden I made the mistake of calling him a “one trick pony” on one of the reaction channels and hoo boy all the Kareem lovers came scuttling out of the woodwork to defend him 😂

[@irishgrl]

@Gregory Holden Also, I never saw Danny as a whiner, I think he’s scrappy as hell & I LOVE HIM 😍

[@balitangkalusugan19]

@Gregory Holden How old was Kareem in 84? 37 and you expect him to run up and down the court. Who was it that killed the Celtics in the finals the following year? Kareem and won FINALS MVP @ 38 years old. Lol. Who elses won FMVP at 38? None. Bird was my MOST favorite player but kareem i believe is the goat

[@Saisei87]

I'm a huge larry bird fan....but you guys are all smoking crack if you think Kareem isn't the goat...at least at the Center position....only other person you could compare to him would be bill russell. The dude won multiple championships at the high school, college, and professional level. He still holds numerous records. Give props where its due. He certainly has my respect.

[@dwightlove3704]

Cedric Maxwell won FINALS MVP HONORS

[@spike02176]

not in 1984

[@dwightlove3704]

@@spike02176 Okay thanks he won in '81

[@paullentz1972]

Notice how the fan in the upper bleachers lit up a cigarette after the buzzer ended, lol!

[@reneep9972]

Thank God we won the series, but as was SO predictable, we lost in LA, AGAIN, in Game 6. The beginning of the end to the Celtics mini dynasty of the 80s. David Stern, simply would not allow a racially superior, white team, absolutely, dominate the rest of the black NBA, Just like today's PC NBA.

[@zt1053]

86 was when the downfall started in the playoffs with Scott Wedman's career ending injury, then Len Bias dying two days after the draft, and Bill Walton's injuries acting backing up causing to miss almost all of 86-87 season. Stern didn't have much to do with that but Stern was being the Lakers's lapdog when he had two key Houston players banned for drug use when drug use was so rampant around the league espcially the showtime Lakers

[@robertmeade7642]

This video quality is terrible.

[@montemccarty6512]

Bird had 9 rebounds in 1st quarter. Amazing.

[@357twilson]

14:18-14:21 to think you can just light one up after a great win. Such a different world we live in now.

[@wizard1687]

This was the tail-end of the smoke anywhere you want era. By the dawn of the 90s, no smoking sections were in full effect

[@chrisledbetter9278]

Different yes, also much worse.

[@kingfish4242]

@@wizard1687 Yea, fire one up in an arena now you get arrested lol

[@robertweir5313]

@@kingfish4242 yet you can drink as much you want without a fine as long as you’re not being disorderly and people think you’re just having a good time, but light a Marlboro and you’ll hear cries of “put it out!!” Interestingly enough those same anti ciggy people are too cowardly to tell some gangsta to put out his marijuana joint. The cognitive dissonance is mind blowing

[@Youve_GotABeard]

Yea saw that too.. as someone who loathes cigarettes I find it outrageous.

[@debbiehenson1096]

The goat with his 2nd ring.

[@joshuasussman4020]

34 points, 17 rebounds. “But he’s not athletic.”

[@johncox770]

To be honest, Bird didn't look very athletic even though he was one of the all-time greats.

[@krisharkleroad8]

@@johncox770 looks can be deceiving.

[@berniecioffoletti3398]

......but he had a motor that was always running.

[@joshuasussman4020]

My main point is that if you get 34 and 17 then you can play the game in a lazy boy chair for all I care.

[@MaximusWolfe]

@@johncox770 Actually he was very quick. Look how he dashed past Worthy who is one of the quickest players in nba history. Birds supposed lack of athleticism was more folklore than fact.

[@patmcstuff671]

I was in the Army during this series and it was the best Finals ever, the break room was rocking!

[@stabbrzmcgee825]

Ohhh. the HOT game. I remember watching this on the tube. A classic.

[@thomasryan5736]

DJ and Bird shared a brain.

[@davemartino5997]

Years of playing and practicing together helps

[@brandonterzic]

Denis Johnson was my fav player ever. So steady and clutch. Slow but quick. A strange combination.

[@beachbunny7256]

Dennis Johnson was so clutch!! He and Bird had an ESP connection also!! Loved the late great DJ. So happy his number is next to bird's!!

[@beachbunny7256]

Hey brand! You're right!! DJ and Bird had incredible quick hands and accurate bullet passes but weren't the fastest runners! And the high IQ's were a winning combo against the best players of all time!

[@trhansen3244]

Shame he wasn't inducted into the HOF earlier. He passed away too soon.

[@berniecioffoletti3398]

He was tremendous. He was money at the free throw line.

[@robertpetty7753]

Yes like the Sam Jones of the Russell Era.

[@BasketballJones48021]

After leading the Celtics to a OT win, with 29 points and 21 rebounds in game4.. now in game5 with the series tied 2-2, game played under 97 °F heat, no air conditioning, players needing oxygen tanks, ref even fainted from dehydration.. Larry is looking as fresh as can be, putting up 34 and 17, EASILY leading both teams in points and rebounds!! That’s why they call him Legend. Prime Bird was unreal!

[@73Trident]

Without a doubt. Legend!

[@pcorf]

When it is hot inside you need to drink lots of water that is for sure.

[@cindyknudson2715]

​@pcorf I've heard pickle juice is good for physical activity in heat. Perhaps it's the salt?? Only water isn't enough.

[@Gregory-sm9pf]

Somebody asked Bird if this was the hottest game he ever played in he replied, "Hell I've played in a lot hotter weather back in Indiana" LEGEND!

[@naterewing]

Larry legend. I could watch these videos all day

[@acornsucks2111]

too cloudy for me, but it was great.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Me too!!!

[@arnelsamson3023]

its impressive to get 34 points in that era because of the ball rotation of the teams. and no superstar treatment.

[@garylp3]

10's of thousands of fans cooped up in a 100 degree plus building. That's some dedication for your team.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@capitanfuturo594]

(13:28) GOAT Larry Bird was a player with two very huge balls.

[@mrmojorisin8752]

The studio graphics in the opening 90 seconds of the broadcast: in 1984, they looked SO cool, so cutting edge, so futuristic. Really brings me back!

[@bobbenbrown123]

Amazing nostalgic memories 😁😊

[@michaelpeach2833]

Larry Bird puts on a clinic in the steam bath at the Garden. Best all-around player ever!!! Better and more clutch than Lebron James and arguably more clutch than Jordan. As Pat Riley once said, "If the game was on the line I would want Jordan to take the last shot. If my own life was on the line I would want Larry Bird to take the last shot."

[@TheBobbyjuba]

What an amazing atmosphere and game! Magic and Larry saved the NBA and it’s easy to see how they brought so much attention to the NBA

[@simonpaculan6582]

The Legend faces the Magic in Showtime Lakers- Celtics.

[@ToddandRaquiForrest]

Better career rebounder than the great Patrick Ewing. Amazing.