Loved the way the celtics pass the ball down the court with a dribble or two and then a basket, Bird made the celtics matter again dominated the east year in year out in the 1980's.........and won some chips too!
What can you say? Just a joy to watch and entertaining as well. Bird could create passes and make them no matter how difficult the angle. Seemed to always have the opponent confused and knew when to take and hit the big shots.
Watching Larry's highlights are misleading because he did those things in every game. His entire career is a non stop highlight reel. Every single game is filled with enough moments to equal most guys career highlights film.
@AdreasTheGreat One more thing, and I do appreciate the conversation btw. :) Bird and Oscar are the only players in NBA history to lead their teams in ppg,rpg,apg,FT%, spg for at least 90% of their careers. Put that into perspective. Bird, Oscar, West, Jabbar,Havlicek are the ONLY 5 players in history to have at least 20,000pts, 10,000rebounds, and 5,000 assists...Some have just above or way above these numbers. Bird has the shortest career on that list by 6 years...
It's a shame that Bird missed a lot of games in his last 4 seasons due to injuries coz it affected his career averages. It could have been higher if it were'nt for those injuries. The worse was the 89 season were he only played 6 games.
@@aaacomp1 Always thot Bird was a bit quicker than he ever got credit for. Exactly what u stated in yer post.Celtics had hundreds of fast breaks where the ball never hit the floor. . .
A Knick fan since '69. Always despised the Celtics. First the Havlicek Cowens team's of the 70's , then the Bird Celtics of the 80's. Never got a chance to enjoy Birds greatness. Now stepping back years later watching these compilation videos I feel he should be mentioned more when the NBA GOAT is discussed. A true All time great who could do it all. One of the smartes players and cluctchest shooters of alll time.
@AdreasTheGreat I agree with that...I believe that Bird numbers would be how Oscar would perform had he been in the 80's. Oscar was 6'5'' so hes not snagging double digit rebounds in the 80's.The reason I put Bird ahead of Magic is that Magic's lakers were better 7 out of 10 years than those Celts. The Celtics had bad injury years too. Bird could do everything Magic could do; it wasn't the other way around necessarily. Magic didn't have a top notch jumpshot, and Bird was WAY better on D.
Mckale, probably HOF on another team, DJ, maybe... the rest, no way without Bird -rookie of the year (over Magic) -3 time 3pt shootout winner, first 3 years -50-40-90 Club creator (FG%-3pt%-FT%) -led league in FT% -led league in 3pt% -3 in a row MVP -All-star MVP -Career 10 rebounds a game -College Player of the Year (over Magic) How many of these things did Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Kareem, Wilt (era issue) LeBron (LOL)...none can match the complete game of Bird, no one! Scoring is only one skill that he was the best, but getting your teammates involved in the game so the TEAM could win, it's Larry Legend, all day long!
I tend to disagree...Teams don't take higher quality shots now...the FG%'s across the board are way down due to the over use of the 3 pointer and less big man involvement due to Sterns rule changes that give wing players advantages...the FT attempts have gone up WAY up though. Also big men can't camp out in the lane so defense is less of a factor(which I think is the worst decision ever) I think it was a better game to watch before 2001..you? I still love the game but the nba needs college rules
Parish and the rest of the C's probably played a little mad after 1986? comments by Don Nelson (former Celtic) when he said K.C. Jones couldn't coach. Parish said some of the C's took that personally as many of the players thought the world of K.C. If you notice, Parish seldom dunked with such attitude as he did against the Bucks.
One of my fave assists of Larry Bird, through the legs of Sikma. In the 80s, no team in history will beat the 1986 Boston Celtics. Larry Bird is the greatest player throughout the 1980s. Just my 2 cents.
Robert Parish and Larry Bird had a telepathic relationship. How else can you explain the former's ability to ALWAYS be in position to receive the most unlikely passes ever seen in the NBA? There cannot be such a passer in today's game because none of his teammates could handle more than 25% of them.
From 1983 through 1986 the Bucks made it to the conference finals 3 out of those 4 seasons, almost beat the Celtics in 1987, and then they pretty much sputtered after that. Nobody really knows the 80s Bucks, but it's funny how history would have been rewritten if the Bucks had just been able to get over the hump.
If not for Larry Legend, the Bucks might have won 1-2 titles in the 80's. Unbelievably deep and talented team. The Celts were fortunate to beat them in G7 in 1987.
Yes he was and I don't feel he has anything to be embarrassed about on that play. The Legend just made another unbelievable pass. Nothing for Sikma to be ashamed of.
Larry took Sikma out of the game mentally right at the start. He was never a factor in the game. Jack Sikma was a really good player in his career but got intimidated by the Legend.
Lebron james& luka doncic & Nikola jokic each fell over laugh , laughing, lebron jame would've put a 50s points burgers playing against Larry broken back & bad feet bird, kobe Bryant would've had a 81scoring points parade playing against Larry broken back & bad feet bird
1986 sikma: *Mouth drops open as Parish dunked* 2012 sikma: *Mouth hangs open still* 1986 bird: "F*** You sikma! *Parish dunks* 2012 bird: Ah, can't forget that pass. 2012 sikma: You got that right.
@AdreasTheGreat Agree on all counts....imagine if you put K.Love's rebounding heart,and fundamentals into D. Howard's body? You'd have Wilt Chamberlain...
No one will average 22rpg and 10bpg in the current NBA. The pace is much slower compared to the 1960s, teams take higher qualitied and less shots, also, more fouls are called.
@AdreasTheGreat Yes they were..The media predicates how great a player is by the number of rings too much...I do but only to a certain extent..to me if a player has at least 2 AND I count how big they were for their team...What you said about magic rebounding.I think people could say that about Bird and his passing, he HAD to be the go to guy on scoring for the Celts.Bird drew attention and kicked it brilliantly to teamates, much like MJ. I Count what they did, not hypotheticals. Right?
@AdreasTheGreat If we are talking rings+how great...Its always about how they got them.Russell(11) Magic(5) Bird(3) MJ(6) now take what they each did....Bird replaces your best scorer, rebounder, passer, and AWESOME team defernder...Russell best rebounder and defender, Magic is your best passer.MJ replaces your best scorer, defender, is tied for your best passer at 5.5apg..now whos better? Do you see?Its how many you have AND how big of a part you play.MJ,LB, Russell ,Magic in order.
You seriously cannot put Jordan's passing in the conversation with bird and magics passing. That's silly. Bird was a better basketball player than Jordan was. Period. Only wilt and Oscar are on his level
@AdreasTheGreat Yes I agree Dr. J's ABA career is what he should be judged on rather than his short NBA stent when he was much older. BUT he isn't the greatest SF all time..Bird did things that J never did stat wise. Later Moses Malone at his peek was the greatest rebounder I've ever seen, and at his peek he was just over 17 and that was only for 3 seasons Wilt or Russell would be closer to him stats wise..Kevin Love is the best rebounder since Rodman. I like scrappy garbage men players too.
Albert , Magic Johnson without 4 HoFers and a handfull of other stars? Michael Jordan without 3 HoFers, a handfull of other stars, and help from the refs? Larry Bird without injuries?
Merl Ball, you are SO correct about Jordan's help from the refs. Great player, nobody doubts it, but if you even breathed on his shadow, he'd be at the line. Just like the prick who plays for the Cavs right now.
ISAAC YOU MUST BE A YOUNG PUNK! WITHOUT BIRD MCHALE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY HOFER ON HIS TEAMS. HE HELPED MAKE THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY MAKING THEM TEAM PLAYERS WITH PASSING AS A TEAM THAT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! SOME NEEDED THE PASSING (DJ & PARRISH) & AT LEAST ONE WALTON NEEDED. THE EXTRA TIME TO CEMENT THEIR SPOTS IN THE HOF! AGREE OR NOT I DON'T CARE I LIVED IT HOW ABOUT YOU?
1980's Tommy Heinson... NESN totally PRO Celtics. CBS Sports, totally anti-Celtics. I love the Celtics but I think Heinson is a disgrace to announcing.
omg dick stockton absolutely hated the celtics....all he did was praise other teams and he would NEVER compliment any celtic!!!! he was so biased i could not stand him way back then!!!
Larry Bird is the Greatest Team Player Ever!
Yup. Lots of folk wanna say “one of” but nah. Easy to see what he is.
Amen.
Loved the way the celtics pass the ball down the court with a dribble or two and then a basket, Bird made the celtics matter again dominated the east year in year out in the 1980's.........and won some chips too!
Not only did he put it through his legs but he put it where Parish was going to be ..Bird is greatest all time at the intangibles
What can you say? Just a joy to watch and entertaining as well. Bird could create passes and make them no matter how difficult the angle. Seemed to always have the opponent confused and knew when to take and hit the big shots.
Impossible to play basketball any better than Larry Bird in this game. Unreal.
Unless it’s another Larry Bird game 😂
@@irishgrlTruth
Watching Larry's highlights are misleading because he did those things in every game. His entire career is a non stop highlight reel. Every single game is filled with enough moments to equal most guys career highlights film.
If you watch this video and emerge without thinking Larry Bird is the greatest basketball player ever, there is something wrong with you.
Larry Legend took everyone to school. How you got home was your problem.
Best description of Birds passing and overall game I've read.
@AdreasTheGreat One more thing, and I do appreciate the conversation btw. :) Bird and Oscar are the only players in NBA history to lead their teams in ppg,rpg,apg,FT%, spg for at least 90% of their careers. Put that into perspective. Bird, Oscar, West, Jabbar,Havlicek are the ONLY 5 players in history to have at least 20,000pts, 10,000rebounds, and 5,000 assists...Some have just above or way above these numbers. Bird has the shortest career on that list by 6 years...
First the pass through the legs, then immediately a block, Bird took Sikma to school the hard way!
And Sikma had won a world NBA crown with the Sonics before Bird even came to the NBA!
@@kentclark6420 not was bad players then
@@kentclark6420 competition was weak
@@onlythewise1
Don’t forget that lean-in basket by Bird on Sikma before that bounce pass to Parish between Sikma’s Legs.
@@onlythewise1 No it wasn't. Clown.
True GOAT awesome
Larry was just simply ahead of his time against these fellas in the 80’s. They weren’t ready for him.
bird is the best!!!!
It's a shame that Bird missed a lot of games in his last 4 seasons due to injuries coz it affected his career averages. It could have been higher if it were'nt for those injuries. The worse was the 89 season were he only played 6 games.
man, Larry and the Celts were really feelin' it.
@1:42 to hear Tommy laugh and say he’s never seen a move like that speaks volumes.
More great passing, I guess I'll start working on Greatest Passer Pt. 2
Maybe a compilation of betwen-the-leg passes too??? 🙏
So many great plays. Loved the sequence starting at 3:45
Poor Sikma. Bird trolled him hard.
Tommy’s laugh sounded just like Barney rubble!
Flying school...fly Bird
Birds D gets overlooked a lot cuz he was slow,but his mind was a step ahead of theirs so it leveled the playing field
I guess you didn't watch the video, bird was the quickest one on the floor, starting and finishing many fast breaks.
@@aaacomp1 Always thot Bird was a bit quicker than he ever got credit for. Exactly what u stated in yer post.Celtics had hundreds of fast breaks where the ball never hit the floor. . .
He did the between the legs pass more than once.
I'd love to see a compilation video of all of his between-the-legs passes.
Stunning basketball - at its best!
The stat line says it all, complete player!
Jeepers... How the heck do you win against Walton, Parish, McHale, Bird, and Dennis Johnson on the floor at the same time? That's one tall team.
I believe if everyone was healthy that year they would of won it all that year. McHale barely played and Walton was all messed up.
You dont win if theyre all fit.
You get an education...
@@sugarnads 100% That's the greatest unit ever! Not just talent, but their cohesion, desire to win, and their IQ level
Tall and skilled. All great passers and shooters.
A Knick fan since '69. Always despised the Celtics. First the Havlicek Cowens team's of the 70's , then the Bird Celtics of the 80's. Never got a chance to enjoy Birds greatness. Now stepping back years later watching these compilation videos I feel he should be mentioned more when the NBA GOAT is discussed. A true All time great who could do it all. One of the smartes players and cluctchest shooters of alll time.
Fred Roberts, before he went to the Lakers, was at BYU's national championsjhip team w/ C - Kite, G- Ainge.
Man, those Celtics were awesome. 3 hall of famers and 7 other players who became all stars at one point. Damn good team.
Four when you add Walton.
Through the legs is Sikmarrr. Thanks, Tommy!
And Parish acted like that was a called play. He knew that Bird would get him the ball in stride on that pick-and-roll no matter what.
@AdreasTheGreat I agree with that...I believe that Bird numbers would be how Oscar would perform had he been in the 80's. Oscar was 6'5'' so hes not snagging double digit rebounds in the 80's.The reason I put Bird ahead of Magic is that Magic's lakers were better 7 out of 10 years than those Celts. The Celtics had bad injury years too. Bird could do everything Magic could do; it wasn't the other way around necessarily. Magic didn't have a top notch jumpshot, and Bird was WAY better on D.
Larry was a stake in the heart shooter, Earvin as good he was, he not as good Larry was at taking you out of the game.
This shouldn't even be argument. Magic was a flashier passer, and only by a little bit. Bird was superior in every other basketball category.
Mckale, probably HOF on another team, DJ, maybe...
the rest, no way without Bird
-rookie of the year (over Magic)
-3 time 3pt shootout winner, first 3 years
-50-40-90 Club creator (FG%-3pt%-FT%)
-led league in FT%
-led league in 3pt%
-3 in a row MVP
-All-star MVP
-Career 10 rebounds a game
-College Player of the Year (over Magic)
How many of these things did Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Kareem, Wilt (era issue) LeBron (LOL)...none can match the complete game of Bird, no one! Scoring is only one skill that he was the best, but getting your teammates involved in the game so the TEAM could win, it's Larry Legend, all day long!
Don’t forget the clutch gene...
I tend to disagree...Teams don't take higher quality shots now...the FG%'s across the board are way down due to the over use of the 3 pointer and less big man involvement due to Sterns rule changes that give wing players advantages...the FT attempts have gone up WAY up though. Also big men can't camp out in the lane so defense is less of a factor(which I think is the worst decision ever) I think it was a better game to watch before 2001..you? I still love the game but the nba needs college rules
Tommy Heinsohn can't stop laughing at Jack Sikma, I've never heard an announcer mock a player so mercilessly.
He was so fucking good he’s so disrespected today it’s ridiculous almost as ridiculous as how good this guy was at basketball
Parish and the rest of the C's probably played a little mad after 1986? comments by Don Nelson (former Celtic) when he said K.C. Jones couldn't coach. Parish said some of the C's took that personally as many of the players thought the world of K.C. If you notice, Parish seldom dunked with such attitude as he did against the Bucks.
They were mad since the Bucks swept them in 83...
bird so good even the other team is jealous of him
One of my fave assists of Larry Bird, through the legs of Sikma. In the 80s, no team in history will beat the 1986 Boston Celtics. Larry Bird is the greatest player throughout the 1980s. Just my 2 cents.
Robert Parish and Larry Bird had a telepathic relationship. How else can you explain the former's ability to ALWAYS be in position to receive the most unlikely passes ever seen in the NBA?
There cannot be such a passer in today's game because none of his teammates could handle more than 25% of them.
these bucks teams were fantastic
From 1983 through 1986 the Bucks made it to the conference finals 3 out of those 4 seasons, almost beat the Celtics in 1987, and then they pretty much sputtered after that. Nobody really knows the 80s Bucks, but it's funny how history would have been rewritten if the Bucks had just been able to get over the hump.
If not for Larry Legend, the Bucks might have won 1-2 titles in the 80's. Unbelievably deep and talented team. The Celts were fortunate to beat them in G7 in 1987.
Very true.
Poor Sikma. Came in with a little swagger.
Ahhhh. Yuh.
Jack Sikma was a HoF'r' and was in two NBA Finals w/ Seattle.
Larry Bird had a slower body but a quicker brain.
How can anyone not see that bird was the best ever?
GOAT
Sikma was a really great player also.
Yes he was and I don't feel he has anything to be embarrassed about on that play. The Legend just made another unbelievable pass. Nothing for Sikma to be ashamed of.
Yeah, Larry passed between others’ legs. Sampson was one, I believe.
Larry took Sikma out of the game mentally right at the start. He was never a factor in the game. Jack Sikma was a really good player in his career but got intimidated by the Legend.
0:16
WOW Roberts DIDN’T 🧱 a lay in 😳
Watch Walton box out then outlet pass @ 3:41.
I see Walton here. If he didn’t go down, we would’ve won another one.
He makes it look easy.
Sikma was not the only one Bird got assists through his legs. He did it a few times to some Laker players too.
Wouldn't you love to see a compilation of all of them?
0:36 seconds
You're welcome.
Was that Barney Rubble laughing at 1:41?
Larry did the between the legs pass 6 times. This was perhaps the best as it went to the Chief for a slam.
Larry Bird to Jack Sikma:
SOUND THE BELL, SCHOOL’S ON! Lol
LARRY BIRD WAS THE BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY.
Lebron james& luka doncic & Nikola jokic each fell over laugh , laughing, lebron jame would've put a 50s points burgers playing against Larry broken back & bad feet bird, kobe Bryant would've had a 81scoring points parade playing against Larry broken back & bad feet bird
Bird made sick man look foolish!
1986 sikma: *Mouth drops open as Parish dunked*
2012 sikma: *Mouth hangs open still*
1986 bird: "F*** You sikma! *Parish dunks*
2012 bird: Ah, can't forget that pass.
2012 sikma: You got that right.
@AdreasTheGreat Agree on all counts....imagine if you put K.Love's rebounding heart,and fundamentals into D. Howard's body? You'd have Wilt Chamberlain...
No one will average 22rpg and 10bpg in the current NBA. The pace is much slower compared to the 1960s, teams take higher qualitied and less shots, also, more fouls are called.
if anybody could play the Bucks well it would be don nelson. Nelson gave Milwaukee their only title in 71.
How did Nelson give the Bucks an NBA title?
Sikma will NEVER get over that humiliation by Bird. haha 😂😂😂
I can only imagine the trash talking Bird gave Sikma.
1:40 Lmao
4:15 Bucks whacking Bird twice in the head on one play.
@AdreasTheGreat Yes they were..The media predicates how great a player is by the number of rings too much...I do but only to a certain extent..to me if a player has at least 2 AND I count how big they were for their team...What you said about magic rebounding.I think people could say that about Bird and his passing, he HAD to be the go to guy on scoring for the Celts.Bird drew attention and kicked it brilliantly to teamates, much like MJ. I Count what they did, not hypotheticals. Right?
@AdreasTheGreat How do you put magic ahead of kareem or wilt...??
LB taking Kcaj outta the game mentally very early.
@AdreasTheGreat If we are talking rings+how great...Its always about how they got them.Russell(11) Magic(5) Bird(3) MJ(6) now take what they each did....Bird replaces your best scorer, rebounder, passer, and AWESOME team defernder...Russell best rebounder and defender, Magic is your best passer.MJ replaces your best scorer, defender, is tied for your best passer at 5.5apg..now whos better? Do you see?Its how many you have AND how big of a part you play.MJ,LB, Russell ,Magic in order.
You seriously cannot put Jordan's passing in the conversation with bird and magics passing. That's silly. Bird was a better basketball player than Jordan was. Period. Only wilt and Oscar are on his level
@AdreasTheGreat Yes I agree Dr. J's ABA career is what he should be judged on rather than his short NBA stent when he was much older. BUT he isn't the greatest SF all time..Bird did things that J never did stat wise. Later Moses Malone at his peek was the greatest rebounder I've ever seen, and at his peek he was just over 17 and that was only for 3 seasons Wilt or Russell would be closer to him stats wise..Kevin Love is the best rebounder since Rodman. I like scrappy garbage men players too.
# CLINIC
You know, Jack Sikma was actually a pretty good player. Now he's just know as Larry Bird's crotch pass victim.
Sikma's in the Hall of Fame.
@@Exileonbackroad Then he must be trespassing. . .
Actually, that title probably belongs to Joe Barry Carroll.
@chiladin Wilt, MJ, Oscar, Bird, Magic...in that order.
Don Nelson was coaching. The Bucks never had a chance.
Also fun watching Bird vs Moncrief when ISU beat Arkansas: ruclips.net/video/FrasrktIAlU/видео.html
Larry Bird without 4 hall of famers?
He'd help make 4 others Hall of Famers. Legend!
Albert , Magic Johnson without 4 HoFers and a handfull of other stars? Michael Jordan without 3 HoFers, a handfull of other stars, and help from the refs? Larry Bird without injuries?
Merl Ball, you are SO correct about Jordan's help from the refs. Great player, nobody doubts it, but if you even breathed on his shadow, he'd be at the line. Just like the prick who plays for the Cavs right now.
Ever research Bird's rookie year? No Mchale, Parish, and DJ, The worst team in the league the year before, Bird took them to the ECF His ROOKIE Year.
ISAAC YOU MUST BE A YOUNG PUNK! WITHOUT BIRD MCHALE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY HOFER ON HIS TEAMS. HE HELPED MAKE THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY MAKING THEM TEAM PLAYERS WITH PASSING AS A TEAM THAT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD! SOME NEEDED THE PASSING (DJ & PARRISH) & AT LEAST ONE WALTON NEEDED. THE EXTRA TIME TO CEMENT THEIR SPOTS IN THE HOF! AGREE OR NOT I DON'T CARE I LIVED IT HOW ABOUT YOU?
Celtics coud play volleyball
Larry's the greatest white player of all-time
Celtics Suck!! Bulls Rule!
1980's Tommy Heinson... NESN totally PRO Celtics. CBS Sports, totally anti-Celtics. I love the Celtics but I think Heinson is a disgrace to announcing.
Yes he couldn't be impartial when the Celtics played.
omg dick stockton absolutely hated the celtics....all he did was praise other teams and he would NEVER compliment any celtic!!!! he was so biased i could not stand him way back then!!!