NBA Legends on the day Larry Bird got his REVENGE! Larry Bird's Greatest Performance!

[@mike8903]

Man you do an amazing job finding all this footage and the way you edit the video is awesome too. A+

[@NickSmithNBA]

Much appreciated!

[@Yucob]

@@NickSmithNBA You have a compilation on Grant Hill?

[@AnimeRevisitedPodcast]

as fellow editer, i completely agree it was a great video and i can only imagine how difficult it must've been to compile the clips!

[@rickvaldez-oj4vn]

​@Yucob a

[@terrancemitchell3420]

In my humble opinion, Bird was, is and will always be the greatest of all time. I will say I was a Laker fan so recognizing Bird is something.

[@Beecher_Dikov]

Larry Bird never took one second of any game off, ever. There was no quit in Bird. He hated losing more than he liked winning...

[@Beecher_Dikov]

I was 26 when this game was played. I remember this series well. The eighties had the best basketball in the history of hoops.

[@billyshupe5239]

Facts 👌

[@KalebRandalLoshbough]

Being born in 1990 i love watching old nba games back when defense was a thing

[@wmden1]

I was 34. Amen, Brother. I miss this type of basketball, more than I can express. Nothing I have seen, in basketball, even comes close to this. Everybody played great, but Bird and Walton, on the same team, and on the court at the same time, were an absolute cheat code.

[@bigdmarine]

I remember this well. For the young people, these were magical years. We had Bird, Magic, and MJ. This particular year, Houston managed to break up the LA Boston finals. Everything you’ve heard about Bird is absolutely true. I’d take a prime Bird over LeBron any day.

[@DamienBittner]

I HATED Larry Bird growing up forty miles east of Los Angeles as a Laker fan but now I feel nothing but ❤, respect, admiration and gratitude for having been witness to his greatness. Thank you Larry Legend.

[@Markinfilm]

Flip the other side of the coin and I felt the same way about Magic. Now only love, respect and admiration what these two men meant for the game.

[@DamienBittner]

Most entertaining sports rivalry of my lifetime. If Bird doesn't mess up his back and Len Bias doesn't die maybe Celtics come out on top. In terms of percentage of championships won, Celtics and Lakers are on par with the Yankees. Hope we get to battle for another trophy soon. Respect to Celtic Nation.@@Markinfilm

[@johndyer9232]

@@DamienBittner Yeah, the Bias tragedy hurt bad as a Celtics fan. Bias had better numbers than Jordan in college.

[@bobbylenz3594]

We were lucky to have witnessed such greatness. Magic, Bird, Dr J., MJ, and on and on. I can't even watch the sport today.

[@johndyer9232]

@@bobbylenz3594 Same here.

[@AbigailMcGarvey]

It has been said before, but Larry Bird had a few things that will never show up on a stat sheet. His sheer will was astounding. Was anyone in the history of the league a more cerebral player than Bird? And, most importantly, his affect on his teammates was just outstanding. He may have been riddled with injuries late in his career, but Larry Bird's peak was as good as anyone in the history of the league.

[@robertswift6101]

one if not the best ever,,,,he was bigtime box office

[@joegriffee9305]

😊

[@darrinlygrisse5287]

People also forget he left college as a 5th year senior. Now guys hit the league at 18 or 19. Imagine his career stats if he had 3 or 4 more years in the league.

[@AbigailMcGarvey]

@@darrinlygrisse5287 Bird also broke the index finger of his shooting hand in college. Apparently (and we have to go by anecdotal evidence from back then), he was a much better shooter before that and was never really the same afterwards. Not sure how true that last part is, but it is something to smile about. He was actually a better shooter before he turned pro.

[@irishgrl]

I’d say it was better.

[@robertjordan4691]

I never get tired watching Larry Bird highlights.

[@Carlie-qv2po]

There might have been players that scored and rebounded more, there were players that got more assists! But nobody put it all together the way that Bird did! He's without a doubt, the greatest ALL AROUND player in NBA history!

[@mikeratza479]

The Hick from French Lick broke so many hearts of the fans of opposing teams. There will never be another Larry, a trash talker who backed up his talk. Simply an amazing "basketball player"

[@warrenoleary2168]

Amen !

[@artofsoul]

I hated, I mean hated Bird during this game. Me and my fellow Houstonians were continuously cursing at the TV shouting and asking "Who's holding Bird?". As an avid basketball fan, I look back at this game and my opinion has shifted 180 degrees. I love Bird now and the competitiveness he brought to the game. The saying, "He left it all on the floor" exemplifies the game this man played that day.

[@dhruvadude808]

I was the same. I rooted so hard against him that I didn't appreciate his brilliance.

[@artofsoul]

@@dhruvadude808 - Amen to that. One of the most balanced players of all time. I believe one of his secrets was stamina / endurance. Younger fans probably didn't know Bird would jog around the arena before games then warm up and then shoot around (in his prime). Bird had lungs.

[@Primus54]

@@artofsoulThat is so true about Larry’s stamina and endurance during a game. Larry would get lots of foul shot opportunities, particularly after having just run a fast break. The camera would be focused on him and you’d be hard-pressed to find a clip of him bent over, puffing for air, even during June when the Garden would be like an oven.

[@texasturner2313]

Same. 😂. Today I have nothing but admiration for Bird and that Celtic team. They were the best of all time imo.

[@kevincoady5248]

I was a teenager in Boston in 80's, so I was a Bird fan and there was no ? He was the best player on the planet in mid 80's. Weird how time alters people's perception. Always makes me laugh when I see all BS on ESPN No one wanted it as much as Kobe or no one was more competitive than MJ, Larry was both, as were both Kobe and MJ. Just makes me laugh like MJ had a monopoly on being competitive. Peeps need to watch the tape, MJ/Kobe on same level, but u can't convince me anyone wanted it More than Legend.

[@78tag]

I don't understand how anyone could watch this game and not think Bird was not the GOAT. Hands down.

[@melvinholcer4756]

Hands down ,Larry is the GOAT

[@lcchristensen9322]

Bird was a great athlete.....he was like Gretzky in hockey......a step or 3 ahead of everyone. Athletes are more than just pure speed, power or jumping....those guys anticipation & confidence combined with their skill level were better than everyone else.

[@newerafrican]

Babe Ruth was also a great athlete. Not necessarily the most athletic but he fine tuned his game to suit his strengths, channeled his upper body strength and had a larger-than-life persona to go with it all. Same with Bird. Ruth played his career nursing a hangover and Bird played his nursing a bad back.

[@AbigailMcGarvey]

I was thinking the same thing. Gretzky's anticipation was off the charts. He saw things that the rest of us could barely see on the replay. Bird was like that and, in some ways, it's even more difficult in basketball because there's no space like there is in hockey.

[@rogerahier4750]

Actually, it just takes more than athletics to play in a sport that is predominantly athletic. For a professional basketball player, Bird was not athletic. What he, and others have proved is that you don't have to be a good athlete to be good at a sport. Nobody ever accuse Tom Brady of being a good athlete. Goat QB, yes, but athlete? I think not.

[@haroldsmyth6685]

Athletes more than running jumping. Size and strength. Its mind and eye to hand coordination flexibility quickness. He had it tothe hilt

[@peterblum613]

Exactly. You hear Bird was slow. But if you know what will happen a second before everyone else, you don’t have to be fast.

[@ashleycampbell6825]

Hello from Brisbane, Australia. I am NOT a basketball fan. I was only aware of Michael Jordan and the Harlem Globetrotters. At 68 y.o. I am now only learning about Larry Bird. What impresses me the most is how much of a team player he was, not at all selfish. Teammate gets the pass and scores but you can see that Larry has outplayed the opposition players to make it happen.

[@richardpare3538]

Bird was a monster when it came to being able to control a game, even by never taking a shot. No other player, ever, could come even close to that. People can talk all they want about how great Jordan was, but even he could not perform the completeness that Bird did all the time. Playoff games were almost beyond belief. The best entertainment you could ever see.

[@mama_4u671]

Brisbane here too 🔥

[@jamolina72]

How fortunate we are for having witnessed a player like Bird. He just epitomizes the way basketball should be played.

[@ronk2577]

Only us old guys got to see it

[@steverenom.299]

So very, very true.

[@ronk2577]

I was lucky enough to see a lot of those games being 67 years old.He was so good it was supernatural and I'm not bullshitting.I was a football fan first but watching him was I can't find the words just pure Greatness.unreal

[@jeffmurray1681]

I met Ralph Samson late one night in a convenience store several years ago. Him, me, and another patron stood around and chatted for about 20 minutes. He was a nice guy.

[@brianhillis3701]

First time I saw him he was still in high-school. He walked into Micky Ds and he had to duck advertisements hanging from the ceiling. Nobody else even came near them. Great player who could disappear or dominate you never knew which. He wanted to do things Larry did. He loved dribbling down court like a point guard. I most remember him and Len Bias. Sampson was a monster the first half and Len didn't show up. The second half was all Len. My friend turned to me and said Len took coke during half time. We all know why Len didn't get to play with Larry for one year. That would have been awesome.😢

[@johnnysnowbird826]

What made the NBA so awesome in the 80s for me was the crowd energy and the intensity of the players.

[@jmad627]

Great memories, I wonder if any succeeding generations will ever experience things like this, like we did?

[@zeppelinmexicano]

The crowd energy levels at the Forum and Garden were unbeatable. Every time they played it was like life and death, never a moment of rest, just balls to the wall and the crowds were right there with them.

[@Spanner249]

And the racism. The racism was awesome in Boston. Bunch of charmers up there.

[@timothythomas8082]

I was 13 when this game was played. I agree that this was Larry's best game because of how important it was that we didn't want a game 7. He rose to that level of greatness that is almost perfect except for a few missed shots and maybe a turnover. But the level and zone Bird could put himself in is on a higher level than anybody I've ever seen. For me personally, I feel that in the very next year of the Eastern Conference Finals 1987, Game 5 against Detroit in Boston, series tied, and Larry steals the inbounds pass from Thomas to Laimbeer, is the single greatest play, and moment, n the history of the league. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

[@adrianharrison5208]

I have been getting into basketball over the last few years and Larry Bird is by far my favorite player.

[@sonjanewstrom6228]

Brought joy to millions! Never another player like him.

[@Noname-ni1dy]

Best team ever, no one can convince me otherwise.

[@jonnieh6954]

96 bulls!!.. would have been fun to watch those teams in their prime play. Only imagine that game

[@hughkingsley8631]

@@jonnieh6954 That would be awesome to watch, but Bird had Jordan's number, even with Scottie Pippen on the team, but I would still love to see that match up. That one could go both ways, but the edge would have to go to Bird, with his IQ, being clutch from anywhere on the court and the shear will to win.

[@joelgiovanazzi5307]

Larry was the total package in a player.. he was never selfish. He was a true general of the court and he made this teammates play better and harder .. nothing but respect for Larry

[@kentjax3622]

Watched that game and yes, it was another great chapter of the Celtics lore and Larry Birds greatness.

[@irishgrl]

LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️

[@RobertSchuster68]

Sitting on my couch, crying as a baby! Great Video. Thank you so much!! Memories

[@NickSmithNBA]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timothy4664]

That season was the greatest single season of basketball of my life. Boston Celtics were truly unbelievable that year. You cant really get a sense of Bird's greatness through highlight reels. You have to watch whole games and seasons.

[@erikpeterson25]

Watching the celtics during the eighties 👍....doesn't get any better ...thx for the reminder

[@EricGordon-j2s]

Good gracious I'm 53 years old now and I'm so glad I got to grow up in this era

[@ezsmith3765]

I’m 51 ... me too. Was 10 in 1982 when I first saw Bird play. Instant ☘️ fan

[@GrislyAtoms12]

Me too. Well done! Well done to your parents, that is, for having you when they did :)

[@brianbrady4496]

Just turned 50 from Worcester ma. I loved the 80s

[@jamesbarker619]

As a big Larry Bird and Celtics fan I believe that 1986 team is definitely one of the greatest teams in basketball to this day.

[@dutchtea8354]

Nothing better than another Nick Smith video about Larry Bird!

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

These are absolutely amazing! Thank you! Loving Larry Bird & the Celtics!

[@JosephAdams-ly1lx]

This is why nobody could ever say that LB couldn't handle the situation of basketball This dude played the game of basketball at a high level

[@IAAP.]

Only an idiot would say that.

[@cden409]

Wow, you have made an excellent video. I’ve never seen anyone’s channel do a better job. I felt like we were right there at the game. Had to subscribe to see more like this. Larry is so great to watch. Go Bird

[@leggbert4209]

Hands down greatest all around player of all time! i had the privilege of watching Larry Bird at a very young age to say the least he is one of my childhood heroes

[@anonygent]

I second everything said on here in the comments, but I want to submit his three years coaching the Indiana Pacers as the clincher for why Larry Bird is the greatest... he led a third rate team to the championship without ever shooting a basket, making a pass, or stealing the ball. THAT is a truly astounding performance. Magic couldn't do it, Michael couldn't do it, none of the other contenders for greatest ever did it. Larry Bird is one of a kind.

[@jayltmoon]

He took Michael Jordan and the unbeatable bulls to 7 games in the Eastern Playoff Finals as coach. Pacers had Reggie Miller at the time. They almost won that series. I never thought he would coach or go to the front office of the Pacers. But that court sense translated great to coaching and relations with the next generation of players. Just the greatest in my mind.

[@bigkw1568]

Greatest era of basketball.... RIP NBA

[@terrancemitchell3420]

Amen brother! I don't watch it any more. If you got to to watch Bird, Magic, Kareem, Isiah, the Doctor, etc, the Jordans, James, etc hold no allure. Jordan ushered in the era of the endorsement and, just like that, the game was gone. Thea aba was engulfed by the NBA and for a short time we had PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. Now we have 3 officials and the big money. It will never come back.

[@waltdavis29]

I wish today’s NBA was like those days. Still love the league but miss that style and competitive chemistry of ALL those guys. And of course, especially Bird. Thanks to all of them 👍

[@DanMarshburn-il2sd]

Bird’s basketball IQ was off the charts!

[@marylou8449]

I agree Bird was the greatest all around basketball player of all-time I still watch old game's of the Boston celcits The 🐐

[@MrAlbino26]

Larry Bird is the most intelligent basketball player ever that’s why he is the GOAT ever to me, period.

[@ChadAdkins-hx5zz]

He did all the things you need to due in a game to win...scoring is just part of truly being a complete...committed player....doing what it took....TO WIN!!!!

[@countrybumkiniii9003]

Haven’t watched much NBA since Bird retired honestly, loved Bird and the Celtics! Pistons and Lakers are series I never missed, best basketball n the history of league.

[@torinbrown8196]

Dad, RIP, held Bird in high esteem, his favorite player bar none.

[@jonsoares6557]

I lived in Houston that year! Pretty rough for a Celtics fan to say the least. I went to Intercontinental Airport after game 5 to hopefully get autographs before they headed home for game 6. Everyone signed, even Red and you could tell they were just ready to get home and start Game 6. Needless to say it was a highlight to stand with the Celtics in the airport terminal that day!

[@PAMELAENEAS]

LARRY BIRD WOULD SCARE THE HELL OUTA TODAYS PLAYERS..HE WOULD MAKE THEM CRY...

[@OakleytheRottie]

Larry Legend for a reason

[@manko717]

This is when the Game wasn’t Soft. LeBron fans need to understand, Bird did it all, all the time.

[@Michael-dd6hl]

Larry legend was the man. That Boston team would run through today's teams. Period.

[@sitarnut]

Bang up job, Nick.. I watched it two times in a row - you're a Bad Mamma Jamma.... your efforts much appreciated.

[@indridcole7071]

He scores a Triple double in a finals match and they said his stats didn’t look good.😂😂😂😂 They just LeBron’d Bird! 😅🤣

[@andrewtownsend9128]

The greatest performing like the greatest.

[@charlesjohnson536]

DEFINITELY 1 OF THE TOP 10 PLAYERS IN NBA 🏀 HISTORY .. LARRY LEGEND#33 ..

[@soramirez5473]

top 2

[@AntonioWhite-ef4ue]

It's just amazing to watch this and hear about it...I wasn't born in this era, but the fact of just hearing about these great games and watching it on KZbin the players of past and what they did at that time makes you say "Wow" what an amazing era for basketball (The 80s)...This was a great Boston Celtics team of the 1980s

[@gregvanmatre5068]

Thank Nick for a great vid of the best player ever played the game.

[@darrinlygrisse5287]

Bird and Jordan are the 2 greatest competitors I have ever seen. Complete focus and confidence under the biggest pressure. I guess I would throw in Tiger in golf as well.

[@ericc2083]

You obviously never watched Nicklaus. As Tom Weiskopf put it: "Jack knew he was gonna win; we knew Jack was gonna win; but the worst part was Jack knew that we knew he was gonna win!". He was the greatest competitor I ever saw.

[@majorkade]

Yes, all three even better in clutch moments.

[@darrinlygrisse5287]

Yes. Agreed. Jack as well. Probably Hogan too, but he was before my time.

[@Neyshtradamus]

Love the details on this game! Low key triple double in a championship clinching victory leading the entire game. This ‘86 team was something special! Before my time but I love looking back on it - let’s get banner 18 !!!

[@michaelnicholas7746]

If it’s before your time then it’s hearsay.

[@TL2354]

Low key?

[@maverick1973131313]

If Len Bias had not passed away, I wonder if the Celtics are known as the dynasty of the 1980s? His athleticism and skill added to that 86 team perhaps keeps them at the top of the East for another 5 years.

[@3313-c2j]

I still have that big fight on VHS between the Celtics Rockets,that season

[@markydkiehl]

80s NBA. Golden Era. I miss it .

[@emeterioarredondo1775]

This is why I have Bird in my top 3 of all time greats with Kobe and Jordan

[@youroldmangaming8150]

I remember that game as a kid. I loved watching the Celtics and Bird was a great player. I also liked Kurt Rambis with the Nicks.

[@Duck_Dodgers]

Rambis was with the Lakers

[@jcd3869]

Wow that was truly inspirational thanks and WELL DONE!!

[@5tillmidnight]

I remember the 86 Finals. We were camping, in the middle of nowhere...yet we found away to rig an antenna and pipe that game into a little color tv that we brought... 😂 When I saw Sampson's pre-game I knew Bird and Boston Garden had already ate him alive. I'll never forget it... greatest game I ever witnessed!

[@michael-hf7tn]

Larry Bird is the GOAT. Michael was the most athletic. Larry is the GOAT.

[@robertzm]

Larry Legend getting it done in his prime! Thanks for the video, it was excellent!

[@keithmoore6334]

I remember this series. Larry Legend was legit.

[@davidrinehart-r3k]

Thank you nick sir for putting all these videos together ive watched 5 yours about larry legend all good job n top quality sir thank you again nick.

[@The-Dom]

Watching Larry play when i was a kid legit changed me as a person.

[@patriciadavis1393]

Okay I'm not a basketball fan but I am definitely a Larry Bird fan and I watch almost every clip I can of him❤❤❤❤ he just is a legend on and off the court😊😊😊😊😊

[@cindyknudson2715]

Thank you so much. Love your content. Great job. ☘️ Larry Legend - for all the reasons.

[@NickSmithNBA]

Thank you too!

[@timothyhanna8500]

Thanks, I appreciate your hard work.

[@davidmcdonald9374]

Thank you Larry Bird For being one of the GOATS 🐐 Of All times And thank you for beating the Houston rockets that year To win the NBA finals Because the Rockies Beat my team the LA Lakers To advance to the final What a sweet revenge it was When Boston beat the rockets

[@RobertMewborn-tw9yc]

For those that put this together. Thanks thanks thanks.great job.

[@sharonmullins1957]

The more I have viewed and read about Bird, the more respect and awe, I have. What a player!🤩❤⛹

[@mjathisbestandteachingskil6980]

Larry bird was a beast on the court❤💪🏽💪🏽👍💯

[@eduardoquintero8363]

Such a legendary performance..

[@bradywhatley970]

I'm a lifelong rural Texan. My dad bought a satellite dish in '82 when I was 12. I watched nearly every Celtic game the next ten years. That '86 team was the best team I have ever seen. There has never been another team with that many great passers on one squad. It was poetry in motion, a beautiful display of perfect basketball, every time they took the court. Bill Walton was the difference that year. His passing out of the post was almost unfair when you added it to Bird's passing in the half court setup. Teams playing them often were left looking stupid. Just to think, that team drafted Len Bias just a few days after that championship was won. Bias was a rival of Jordan in college and their previous clashes were tit for tat. It was not a stretch at all to say that Bias was on Jordan's level from an athletic standpoint, and the world champion '86 Celtics drafted him just days after they won that championship. As great as that team was, I never remember them without thinking, "what if?" "what if?" What if Bill Walton would have had a couple more years of health? What if Len Bias had not died? What if Larry's chronic back injury had not happened? What if? What if? When you consider Reggie Lewis's heartbreaking death a few years later, its almost as if the Celtics lucky leprechaun made his exit from The Boston Garden the day after that '86 championship, never to return for that particular group.

[@paul-u2y9y]

Ilike what Dr.J said, "Larry was always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing "!

[@Dottor_J]

You're great at editing all these various clips in a cohesive manner (that Clayton video is so good. His Making The Case series in general really)

[@Gstar5150]

Damg i played that jumpball in slomo and Larry actually does get up there with Olajuon and people always say he was "slow and unathletic". He sure could move when he wanted to i think he just preferred to save his stamina, smart.

[@yboohcs]

Bird filled the seats no matter who they were playing. Most teams had a game plan to stop Bird before the game started.

[@chrisb7198]

And Bird tore up that plan as soon as the game started.

[@Scotpatriot]

Bird at his best was the best. Perfect. Period

[@georgethomas2004]

A true master of the game.

[@dohnbroadwell1858]

Bird was my favorite., but I'm not sure I fully realized his defensive talent in his prime. Great video.

[@danielwhitehall7950]

I grew up with Bird & Magic. Even back then it was a thrill. They electrified basketball. Larry was the most in ty intense competitor I've ever witnessed. Closely matched by Jordam & Kobe. However, Bird was 'unmatched' in his ability to deliver in critical, late game moments. He is the Bar.

[@JavierDunk]

🏀 The Legendary Larry Bird

[@rafehr1378]

Yo, Banger here,Thank You, Nick

[@vincentmurphy9252]

Was in the stands ! Being in college in Boston in the 80s this was unbelievable! It’s goosebumps watching this again. Gahdennnn was was rocking !!! Insane Today basketball I do not watch from about 2000 it’s terrible compared to those days. This was incredible the players now could not even last a few Gabe’s in that era

[@Midragor]

Great video Nick, amazing story

[@NickSmithNBA]

Thanks a ton!

[@phillipgrant5289]

Love the video, well done indeed

[@abelhansen]

Bill loves larry. RIP bill. You are a true champion. A super star of the game. I will miss you bill😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@toms81162]

After it was said and done. Everyone who played against Larry hated him, because he backed everything up. Today they look back and respect him. Why? Larry trashed talk but NEVER made it personal.

[@MurphyCIOBroadcast]

Wonderful game. I remember it.

[@mikemontgomery7337]

He was the ultimate player. Maybe not the most athletic but the most desire to win at all costs. And devotion to Boston !! I was lucky enough to be able to see his entire career. Only 2 years younger than him.

[@Rhoneman]

Never seen anyone impact the game more when scoring less than 30 points??? . . . . Except for Magic!!

[@califsherry]

Seems to me that all these marvelous Bird revenge stories are actually about dominance.

[@zekelucente9702]

I realize that I am biased, but it’s a fact that 80’s NBA basketball was the best.

[@johndyer9232]

The little school in Maine I went to was buzzing the next day.

[@bentaylor8198]

Well researched.Thank you

[@robertthomas4545]

Larry could run the floor and shoot any were on the floor like nothing.and he was a great teammate and a assist player

[@mychannel-su1bx]

Bird first thing was bigger than people thought he was. Then his shooting form was near perfect by establishing a solid base with his eyes on the target and releasing the ball with a beautiful rotation.

[@MrGoogle239]

😮 Really enjoyed this! THX.😊

[@TimMauldenUncleBuck]

Being able to assert your will like this is what separates those “really good” players from the immortals.

[@framjansen5443]

Omg Dood!!! So Triumphant!! Don't change a thing..unless you think you need to..but damn!!! Yeah!! Keep it up!!