The Duel: Bird vs Wilkins - 4th Quarter of 1988 ECSF Game 7
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- Опубликовано: 27 июн 2018
- May 22, 1988 - In the deciding game of the Eastern Conference Semifinal, Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins staged one of the greatest duels in NBA History when they went shot-for-shot in the 4th Quarter. The Celtics would go on to win 118-116 and advance to play the Pistons.
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The absolute best 4th quarter in NBA history. Two MEN at the top of their games. I was stunned watching this live.
so was I. I was 13 at the tine and a huge Hawks fan.
What I didn't so much realuze at the time was that the Hawks were hacing Boston abd the NBA's front office.
Bird had a bad back at this point he wasn’t at the top of his game lol
@@Domeo_Divine that was his last great season tho
@@yvans.Actually 1990 was
The absolute best 4th quarter in NBA history?
Nope!
Bernard King and Isiah Thomas had that in Game 5 in 1984 when Isiah Thomas ' performance rallied Detroit to force OT.
King's scoring that day matched Wilkins' scoring this game and Isiah's scoring that day matched Bird's scoring this game.
This needs a documentary. It's time for Dominique to finally get the credit he deserves. Documentaries are the thing now since there's no sports so now would be the perfect time.
100%
Bruh you are absolutely right Dominique was a great player he didn't have the help that the other stars in the league like bird magic and Jordan had I hate the Atlanta Hawks to this day because as soon as they got a decent TEAM around nique they traded him for garbage ass Danny Manning
@@timmayes2863 The human highlight film! He was a scoring machine great dunker and had big time pull up game and could shoot the 3!
@@gturcott1 absolutely
Yes!
"You are watching what greatness is all about." Well said, brent. Well said.
Wilkins and bird played liked gods that night. One of the first games of NBA basketball that was shown here in the UK .Me and my mates couldn't believe what we were watching.
I was 11 years old and couldn't believe what I was watching. It made me fall in love with the NBA.
Wilkins vs Bird game 7 will never get old!
They battle it like crazy.
Who are the nine people who downvoted this video? Two brilliant, clutch players, giving no quarter. If you’re a fan of the sport, you know that this period of play is the absolute crack cocaine of elite basketball competition. Bird went 9/10, every bucket hotly contested, Wilkins answering him shot-for-shot.
CBS Sports ruled the 80’s. Loved Brent Mussberger’s calls-all class, informative, and unabashedly awestruck by the incredible talent he beheld on the court. Marv Albert was the same-brilliant broadcasting that elevated the sport.
Incredible. Thanks for uploading this masterpiece.
I have seen many many NBA games. This was the greatest playoff game I;'ve ever seen
@Alvin Joe Maybe... but this game was the greatest playoff game I've ever seen
Remembering Dominique’s interview, talking about Larry Bird….advising young kids to not automatically assume it’s better to be a great athlete than a great player….saying “in a half court situation, Larry was Evil, you couldn’t stop him.” His walls were lined with pictures of other greats, and he says “these are the guys I played against, man.” Dominique giving them all their due, but he held his own against them. When a player can say they held their own against the kind of competition Dominique had, they also have a right to feel proud of their accomplishments. I have admired & respected Dominique from that day forward. ❤️
Bird’s still my guy tho. ☘️
One of the greatest playoff games I've ever seen. I remember watching this live.
4:27 The Roar of the crowd when Bird drains that 3 gave me chills. Easily the best 4th quarter every played in NBA history. The Celtics always seemed to find a way especially at home.
Bird's fadeaway was unstoppable!
This is what the playoffs is all about. Pure gold.
This is still one of the greatest 4th quarters I’ve ever seen! The stakes were high and the emotions were so intense. Look at Bird making impossible shots, and with his off-hand, no less. Dominique tried to keep pace, but the Celtics were virtually unbeatable at home in those days.
Till Mahomes and Allen.
@@davanmani556 well, I don’t tend to compare different sports to one another, but it’ll go down as one of the best, yes.
@@davanmani556 dumb this is more personal with much more pressure especially since they ate matched up against each other on offense and defense.
the greatest
It was amazing, i was 12yo watching it with my grandfather I will never forget how special it was
Scoring 47 points in a game 7 and lost by one point (knowing he deliberately missed the last free throw). Yet, this person reaches out to congratulate the defender who just hard fouled him to prevent him from taking a game tying shot. This class act is Dominique Wilkins. 8:30.
YOU ARE WATCHING WHAT GREATNESS IS ALL ABOUT
Dominique remains my favorite and most exciting player to watch other than the 80’s Celtics.
This is one of the many reasons why Bird is a legend. He refused to let his team lose when they should of lost. Great moment in Bird's career.
OH NOBODY ELSE WAS THERE??
Of course other players, coaches, the crowd, television crew, announcers, janitors, security guards, the concession stands workers and ball boys. @@THEREALLORDJ
BIRD WAS DEFINITELY THE ONLY PLAYER OUT THERE.
@@doitall36 😆
@@zerimar26 🤐🤡
The forgotten man of this game is Kevin McHale... 33-13 and 4 blocks.
Kevin had to step aside in that 4th quarter. You know damn sure he wasn't demanding the ball.
Another forgotten man of this game is Doc Rivers...16 points, 5 rebs and 18 assists.
What about Randy Wittman, too? He was virtually perfect from the field and had several clutch baskets.
Alamo James bruh I’m just here watching and asking “is this real??”
Kevin McHale was a nightmare to deal with on both ends.
What a game and what a superb performance by two basketball superheroes. Respect to both of them.
Such an intense 4th quarter, filled with clutch shotmaking. You can feel the tension through your screen.
Best 4th quarter of a game 7 ever.
Bird........................what a killer that guy was.
Hands down the greatest back-and-forth between single players of Nba history
NOPE!!
Man, Nique was a scoring machine..smh
Ironically he became a Celtic years later
@@supervegito8513 Dont remind me. That 95 season was awful. The only highlight was winning Game 2 in Orlando
I was 9 years old and all I can say is that if Larry Bird flew out of the arena and shot lasers out of his eyes he wouldn't have been any more of a super hero to me then he already was.
same here and no doubt about that!
🙄
These two guys put on a performance for the Ages!!! Both players had such extreme confidence and skills and wanted the ball in pressure situations!!! That is what Greatness is All About!! Miss the 80’s NBA!! Best of Times.. Larry Legend Best Player in the World 1980-87 before injuries.. MJ took over the Reigns from There!!!
You are watching what greatness is all about.
Wilkins:Most underrated ever/Bird:Greatest ever!
Agreed. Wilkins is the Marcus Allen of basketball. Great player who is highly regarded, fans of the game know him and appreciate him, but still, you just feel like he doesn't get mentioned enough. Same can be said for Tim Duncan. I think part of the reason is none of these guys were big on posing/posturing or self-promotion.
🙄
Larry Bird was incredible, but so was Dominique Wilkins! The announcers clearly had a bias and were not giving 'Nique enough credit for his incredible play that nearly sent the game into overtime! What an astounding game and incredible 4 Quarter from two greats!
Watching this live as a 14 year old was spectacular. I will never forget it.
I was 16...I remember it vividly...Hawks got screwed...lol....that wasnt goaltending at the end.
At age 11 and a Celtics fan I was captivated seeing 2 of the greats duel live
Mind you guys this is Larry on the decline. His back was already hurt and going out. Nique was awesome, so underrated all these years.
He wasn't in decline here. 1988 was arguably his greatest season.
PurpleMonkeyDishwasher Birds decline began in 1990.
ikr
Too bad he played in Michael Jordan’s shadow in the East.
DonDada Not really. Bird was a lot older than Jordan. Sure there was some overlap in their careers but by the time Jordan won his first championship Bird was washed up and just about done in the nba.
bird midrange fadeaway is absolutely unguardable.....
Double teamed and he hit it every single time. Freak.
Man, Bird pulled off some unreal shots. Sure miss watching him play.
HE WAS THE ONLY ONE??
Probably not going to be an era like this again. DJ bleeding from the eye and still in the game, defenders hanging on to their opponent with both hands. Total war!
Here after Atlanta blew another 3-2 lead at home against my Sixers and headed to a gm 7 defeat. Just love that quote from Bird. Everyone always watching what they say these days in sports
What happened exactly🤣. I mean who won the series in 2021.
I saw this game on TNT when was a kid, I was totally impressed with the game of basketball.
This game was not on TNT, it was on CBS. Game 6 was on TBS.
"Bird comes free. Bird for the layup."
*Crowd goes wild*
"You are watching what greatness is all about."
I C O N I C
🙄
11 ties....... 22 lead changes........ god dam
Thats ballin' 2 great legends just tearing it up.
Best playoff game I ever saw!!!
Bird's high arc rainbow shots are indefensible.
Funny how an "old" game can still keep you on the edge of your seat...
Even though you KNOW the result beforehand 😅😂🤣
I watched the game back in 88'. The game was top 5 all-time. Several Hall-of-Famers playing great in a go home game. In a historic venue, maybe, well I will say the MOST historic venue/auditorium for NBA basketball ever/The Bosten Garden. But all that said the 4th quarter WAS the best quarter of basketball ever played between (2) Superstar/1st ballot Hall-of-Famers ever played. If you don't believe it watch it with your friends or by yourself, you will leave with a different opinion, simply a moment in time in a professional sporting event that stands alone and will never come around again, because the game is different now (3-pt shooting contests). Look at all the close in shots, just a sensational sports moment that's all. Not an accolade giving type person(myself) over a basketball game, but it was a privilege to have seen it live that Sunday afternoon
This is Greatness! Bird and Dominique went toe to toe
I watched this game live on tv. Probably one of the best duels i ever watched. Nique was awesome, still very underrated.
Whole fourth quarter was played in a 2-4 point window. The level of high pressure stakes play they both exhibited was incredible. Best 4th quarter display of clutch play I’ve ever witnessed. Always said… one shot for my life? I’d want Bird taking it.
Recently I found out watching hardwood classics I may add that this classic historic game fell on my eight birthday. "The Duel" bird vs Wilkins. Playoff bball..
Back when the NBA was great and fun. No politics just Superstars.
The greatest mano a mano battle of all time
Legends... Period
Me and a fellow Celtics nut were working our part-time jobs at Valley Pharmacy in Succasunna NJ that afternoon, a Sunday. He was going to tape the game and we were going to watch it together after work, as though it was live. He then informed me that whomever had neglected to tape it.
I was 17 when I saw this, still brings a chill down my spine. Superb basketball by The Birdman and Dominque.
"a chill down my spine"
No pun, huh?
And it came out after the playoffs Bird did all this on a bad back 🦅🔥🔥🔥🔥
Imagine if The Lakers would have drafted Wilkins over Worthy.Yes, Worthy is a HOF and it worked for The Lakers. That said, I can only imagine Dominique with Magic and Kareem, he would have put up insane numbers.
Ted Turner wanted Dominique. Dominique wanted to have the Hawks build around him. Please, he wasn’t going to wait for his points from Kareem and Magic like Worthy did.
Worthy was better team player, better fit
I'm a Celtics fan and became a big Dominique fan after watching this game. 'Course I hated him while I was watching the game. I think Wilkins is in the HOF but I believe he didn't make the first version of top 50 NBA players which was compiled not long after his career was over. Oversight as far as I'm concerned. And if he's not HOF he should be. He gets his props but I still think Wilkins is underrated. That having been said, I wouldn't argue that Wilkins wasn't better Worthy, but I would argue that he wasn't all that much better if at all. I hated Worthy too.
one of the greatist games ever....remember it like yesterday...LB33
Wow Bird was so great! It's a shame people don't add him in the goat conversation
That season Bird averaged 30 points a game
Mr Orange no he didn’t
29.9 but close enough
@@TheLuscious 29.9 ppg lol
Is Larry LEGEND for a reason. GOAT.
If you were lucky to witness it, you'll never forget it.
I remember watching that game live. Incredible. As a Pistons fan I was kinda rooting for Atlanta. But any pistons fan was happier the way it turned out. Boston beat Atlanta, and of course the pistons finally beat boston in the conference final. Would not have been as sweet had detroit beat Atlanta instead of Boston.
You are watching what greatness is all about ... love those comments!!!
Brent Musberger was great!
LARRY LEGEND AND THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL!
I saw some of this on a TV in a bar and I think it was the most exciting game I ever saw.
Same for me except I saw all of it on a TV in a bar.
The shot by Bird at 4:10 in the video was unreal. He made it look easy but coming off the screen, on the move, being squeezed by 2 defenders.... That was insane how effortless he made that shot look.
True NBA. Heroes playing. This is basketball greatness. Respect.
That was one great game. Seems like yesterday!!!!
Hometown call on that Ainge layup.
0:32 Bird shooting and feet position technique perfection
The experts say that Lebron is already better than Larry Bird, but the genius that the golden blond did, are incomparables
Omar Encarnación What do you mean “already”? He’s 17 years in. Bird never made it to 17. He broke down and LeBron keeps going.
@@LanceJ.Lebron certainly surpassed Larry a long time ago. I said that, because Larry always was and is still my favorite basketball player of a lifetime. Im talking about the incredible feats that Bird did without having those great athletic conditions as Jordan, Lebron or Kobe.
@@LanceJ. Parish played more years than Larry and Lebron, does that make him the best???? smh
@@cindyknudson2715 Where in my statement did I say years played makes you better? I commented on Omar saying LeBron is “already” better than Larry. “Already” being an indication of time. Years played is time. I didn’t discuss skills or accomplishments. Maybe see if your English teacher offers tutorials for reading comprehension.
@@cindyknudson2715 the thing is, Bird was a 23-year-old rookie. he left college for 1 year and went back home and worked for the sanitation department in French Lick. Lebron was in the league at 18. Has way more time in the league. Wish Larry had better health. He would have played 3 more years at high level. LBJ was indestructible.
"hey, Larry ...do you know it remains only a quarter and this is a game 7?"
LARRY: "really?? ...ah ok ..."
Both men took their teams on their backs and carried them to the end.
Props to the Hawks for keeping up as well as they did.
Larry Bird
No, his name is Larry Legend!!
Kc Jones "Get the ball to Larry and get the hell out of the way"
No traveling, carrying, or palming allowed. Back when real basketball was played.
Dominique Wilkins didn't really focus on defense as much especially in the playoffs. Defense won championships in the 80's. I'm not an expert but I was focused on watching Wilkins defense against Bird and I noticed several plays where Dominique could have prevented Bird from scoring but he either didn't put his hand up and he was sagging off and Bird took advantage everytime. Gotta play defense to get to the big house but he was a killer on offense. He didn't have alot of help either. The Celtics were always better had more weapons and more role players.
He was tired by the 4th quarter. He had to guard bird and still score. Bird didn't have to guard him. Most of the time it was McHale guarding him and he was all NBA first team defense.
What more proof do people need that being athletic is not everything. It's basketball and not track and fields.
Basketball players are the greatest athletes and you can’t play at a high level in the NBA without being one. That includes Bird and Wilkins.
@@thomasleary2814 I should have rephrased it. The kind of athleticism people mistakenly keep talking about, typically jumping high and running fast.
Dominique would be the greatest player in the game today hands down , forget the Lebron or Kds and it shows you why Larry Legend was the real GOAT
Larry Legend….The NBA…..Fantastic
Healthy, Len Bias, and 86 bench the Celtics needed in 87 and 88.
What a game damm
That was epic.
Both teams won
Just one advanced.
Bird was on fire that night, if the roof was any lower, that falling shot would have ricocheted off the ceiling.
He was on fire that quarter. Before he was sitting on 14 pts after 3.
He made up for it and pulled em thru though!
I just saw another video where Danny Ainge was taking about how in pregame bird was taking all kinds of weird shots with off hand and when Ainge asked him why, he said that his Achilles was hurting really bad and the step back wasn't going to be there tonight.
Larry ruptured his achilles the next year and only played 6 games.
I couldnt stand Bird! Always lit my 76ers up. Damnit Bird
City of Philly is still smoldering !!!
Held ATL from a title.
My guy Wilkins didn't have much help, bird scored 20 in the 4th but Wilkins had it going all night scoring 48 or 50 and still lost bird had 14 points in the first 3 quarters and the Celtics still won
what a phantom foul call for ainge there
Bird was the definition of ice cold. The way he looks so unbothered when shooting tough contested shots, sheesh
Epic!
This might have been Larry’s last legendary performance. What an absolute beast.
There were many great performances in 1991 and 1992, in terms of individual games (the game in 92 agt. Portland comes to mind). But even if you want to say "how about his greatest games on the biggest stage," the Fractured Cheek game was in 1991 in a deciding Game 5.
Nah man, 91 Pacers game 5 not only was his back messed up he then fractures his cheek bone and still comes back out and somehow leads the team to the W.
He had plenty of regular season great games after 88 but as for high pressure situations that game in 91 was his last great clutch playoff game
Ainge said Larry's Achilles tendons were hurting so he was practicing taking non-jump shots a lot before the game, like running hooks and stuff. Dude wasn't able to shoot a jumper without it killing him and he still pulled this off.
Aquellos años tenían una magia especial.
Bird was my favorite player of all-time. I loved Nique but Larry was physically shot at this point in his career. His back was toast. But he dug deep against the high flying Hawks and do what legend do.. perform in the clutch under do or die circumstances. 🙌🙌👍
Look at the mid range 😍. If you think about it. Just make sure you can make the middie , with no problems. 😅
Brett Musberger with the “You’re watching what greatness is all about “ gives me chills….. Larry Bird was a slow non athletic minority in the game and still dominated. Larry Bird is one of my favorite players of all time and I’m a die hard SIXERS fan
How about the state of WAR that existed between the Celtics and Sixers in the early eighties! Great times!
@@johannesswillery7855classic but this game was a epic duel it gets the edge
He had a quick first step, he was ambidextrous, he had amazing hand-eye coordination, he had strength and he had remarkable endurance. That’s an athlete in my book.
How awesome was this game!!! I miss the old school NBA. Nique couldn't mis Bird couldn't miss it makes you wonder if Atlanta had won would they have been champs?
You look at the hawk bench when Bird hits that 3 pointer from the corner at 4:22 and you can just see the look on their body language that says....."not that prick again" and they knew he was going to drain it the second the pass made it to him, they didn't even move a muscle, no reaction at all, they knew the 3pts was an automatic.
Doc Rivers is on record as saying that the Celtics were on another level (in particular the ‘86 team). He said it was demoralizing because when they kicked in to a higher gear he knew that he and the Hawks couldn’t match them.
Why they put Bill Walton & James Worthy in the 50 greatest list, but not Dominique bewilders me beyond comprehension
Bird’s amazing. He just don’t look pretty doing it. Damn this duel was amazing.
EPIC
I think this entire game should have been played because the dual was the best game ever. From start to finish
Bullshit phantom call on that Rivers-Ainge fastbreak. They waited until Ainge missed a layup to call a foul, when there clearly wasn't one.
Fucking rigged imo. Wilkins had 48, had it going all night and bird had 14 until the 4th and the hawks still loss after blowing game 6. Them boys sold on Wilkins
@@dustindover4988Them boys also weren’t as good as them boys Larry had on his team.
It wasn’t called a foul. The official called goaltending on Rivers. It was still a dubious call though and you couldn’t tell from the terrible replay angle.