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There's probably never been a better player in the league than 1986 Larry Bird

That Bird & Dennis Johnson connection was lethal

Larry GOAT Bird. He played forward, guard and center in every game and excelled in all positions: shooting, passing, rebounding.... There has never been a player as great as Larry was.

Magic:"When I played, Larry Bird was the only one I feared. A lot of black guys always ask me, 'Did Larry Bird really play that good?' I said Larry Bird is so good it's frightening."

1986 Boston Celtics in my opinion was the holy grail of professional basketball, so beautiful to watch the ball movement, the toughness, the blue collar attitude that these guys brought to the floor every night. Larry Bird was the greatest small forward to ever play the game, and I believe Kevin Mchale was the best power forward ever. Stone cold killers, never took a night off for load management, ready to fight at a moments notice if need be, injuries were just part of the game for them, they played through stuff that would sideline today’s players for weeks on end. Thanks for the memories.

He was such an exceptional passer. You could have a 20 minute highlight of just his passing. Or his Defense. He was just a complete player.

How can anyone question Bird being THE GOAT of basketball? Heck I would say the GOAT of team ball sports. I watched him play in Boston long ago and I'm still in awe of him watching his videos some 30 years later.

If you judge both the team and the player, Bird made those Celtics that played with him the greatest team of all time. Teams win championships, great players make their teams great. In this context Bird is the GOAT and there will likely never be anyone that comes close to the Birdman.

bird is really underrated these days

There is NO DOUBT in my mind. Larry Joe Bird is the TRUE GOAT. He hustles, he gets everyone involved, he can do ANYTHING, his court awareness & b-ball IQ are second to none....plus his shooting, rebounding, passing, and CLUTCH ability. I’ve NEVER seen a more complete package!

Kids today have no idea how good 80's basketball was. Larry dominated it. They have no idea how good a shooter Larry was. Best ever? I think so.

My all time favourite player.

My favourite player. There’s some sportsmen that make the game they play beautiful to watch. Federer does it, so did Zidane, Cruyff, Gareth Edwards and Sugar Ray Leonard to name a few in their respective sports. Bird made basketball an art form.

Today’s generation will never understand how smart of a player Larry was. He used one muscle. The one in his head. I always here the question “could Larry play in today’s NBA?” My question is could today’s players handle getting beat up and pounded on all game playing the way they did back then. 🤣🤣🤣

“Makes it look easy”… classic expression of Birds game

The jelly layups of MJ and Kobe were difficult, but I understand how they made the play. Bird’s layup at 5:02, I don’t understand how he did that.

Love that turn around jumper at 19:22 When Bird retired, it was then that I too retired from watching NBA for it was just never the same! What great times they were! Thanks Larry Bird for all those unbelievable plays you made throughout your career! GOAT

what i notice is most players need shots to get in rhythm, bird got in to rhythm by dropping dimes, rebounding, starting the break and then take his shots in the flow. pretty genius style

Simply put, peak Bird is surpassed by no one. There are a few who may have a claim to equal his peak, but no one surpassed it. Bird had a stretch in the league where it was basically too easy for him, and he could do basically everything.

Larry Bird was the best basketball player in NBA on the 80's.

The Celtics personified TEAM BASKETBALL, WHATEVER IT TOOK, GET IT TO THE OPEN MAN , FEED THE HOT HAND AND ALWAYS , ALWAYS PLAY TO THE LAST SECOND. THERE IS NOT A TEAM TODAY THAT COULD BEAT THE 86 CELTICS. NO ONE COULD MATCH THEIR TALENT ,GRIT , HEART AND PASSION. THANKS LARRY , DJ, DANNY, ROBERT, KEVIN , BILL . YOU ARE THE GOAT.

Still the greatest player ,team mate ever in the history Basketball

Was there anything this Larry Bird can’t do? Rebounds, assists, layups, fadeaway, passing, clutch shots, you name it. He did it all. Probably the best 3 point shooter of all time and if not definitely top 2 all time. Steph Curry is a phenomenal 3 point shooter but Larry is a true legend. I use Larry Bird as inspiration, his game and his quotes. Everything he worked for all about him was phenomenal. What a legend. Says something when Magic Johnson says your that good, that says it all.

The only sports figure / player in the world that I could never grow tired of watching.

As an old man who spent his life in Philadelphia I love and hate this man. I miss these great days of basketball, watching it on UHF channel 68 in Philly. Wasnt even on regular tv most nights. These guys made it worldwide

After a few years of amazing plays over and over again, you can hear how the commentary just expects it....almost like it's just a run of the mill pass, shot or play....when you can clearly see its actually an amazing play. That's how consistently good he was!! So glad I grew up getting to watch Larry play!! Magic and MJ too

Those last two plays were absolutely sick!!!!!!

Larry LEGEND!

One of the greatest assassins in the history of modern sports.

The real GOAT.

The best ever period!

Bird is a top 5 player

Imagine doing 12:31 30 years before it became hip. GOAT.

Not only was he making great plays, but also with the most outrageous manner; each of them were deserving some good trash talk on his opponents lol

Larry Legend. Enough said.

As I watch the playoffs on going now. Then this, nobody comes close. He acted like his life depended on it.

Fantastic highlight reel of the master , Larry Bird . His genius and will to win carried over to all his teammates make him the most lethal player ever . And Bird is getting his proper dues in 2023 , look how many videos are fan reactions to his plays and his former opponents and Celtics talking about how great he really was . Even MJ telling his bros, after he was asked who his top 5 is and he mentions Larry ahead of LJ " No you dont understand , Larry was the best small forward to play the game " Michael knows , the Celtics swept the Bulls and MJ never got Larry . Hell, Larry is in LeBron's top 5 as well . Many "Egos " wont say it , but you can sure see it on their faces and what they are thinking ... GOAT.

Running into that 86 Celts team was just a nightmare for everyone.

Why didn't you put the games in playing order? Strange choice. But this video does give a real sense of the 1986 Celtics, in a way in which few others do. They were facing real, serious playoff teams with all-time superstars on them. Jordan, Dominique, Moncrief, Olajuwon, and they just ran these teams off the court. Bird is basically unguardable--he destroys double teams, he can hit any shot from any angle or range, he can post or drive (with either hand) or fade away, and then he makes 90% of his free throws. He's also a 6'9" forward leading fast breaks off of steals, who has essentially unlimited options in the open court. The only thing that stopped Bird was injury. In the 1986 playoffs, he was the most dominant basketball player since Wilt, and also the most clutch player other than possibly Jordan. How often is the scrappy hustle guy also the team superstar?

Bird had the most wicked jump shot as when he was hot, his shots of ball was always hitting the back rim going straight down after hearing that Clunk sound going thru. You can say its all net but with Bird, it was a gun shot to basket back end of rim.

So I’m changing my comment...Larry the Assassin Bird!

So, this is after having broken his finger young. When he was a better shooter, possibly. That's, like, insane.

Larry bird a demon and he was insane in his era, but he was putting people on the floor with a jab step that’s crazy - it’s a different league now

Greatest fundamentals team in history!

Bird was just lethal , a marksman of the highest order

Legend..... 🐐.....hands down,,,, imagine if he wouldn't of hurt his back...played longer,,,dominated even more???? Yep #33 who can ? Nobody...

I looked this video up not knowing anything about Larry Bird, now I wanna know everything because WHY IS HE SO SMOOTH WITH ITTT

Bird is the GOAT better than all even Jordan

His style is like basic fundamental basketball but quicker, and crazy precise with anticipated opponents movement. Crazy fast hands

Peak Larry Bird... a top5 peak - as an overall player - in NBA history! Then, you mix/add prime Bird to the best supporting cast he had (while also due to him being at an unreal level), when the team was REALLY clicking, McHale hitting his prime, Parish and DJ still balling, Ainge coming into his own, Walton managing to stay healthy as a 6th man, Sichting and Wedman contributing pretty well... just even more ridiculous! One of the GOAT teams, also.

Literary bird was the best offhand shooter he played a lot of games with a great left hand shots

This Celtics Led By Larry Legend Bird Can Beat 90s jordan Anytime At.

top 5 player of all time

That was the greatest team i have ever seen great players in great shape greatest team play i will ever see

When has the ball, the defender is kinda confused what to do...where he shoot. where he pass, or where drive to the hoop. or when he play up and under. ?...he has so many tricks that the defender who may be more athletic than him----is just outsmarted...Bird is a top ten all time...never will be another Bird

Still don't know how someone who really couldn't run or jump could dominate games. He also made an unusually high % of forced shots but was so fun to watch

Zero overdribbling by bird or any of the Celtics

This was the greatest. I was 12.

Thank you for this video great job

Jordan Magic Bird my top 3 of all time

My favorite team of the 80's,i was called every name in the book for liking the Celtics,all my friends were Laker fans and i was the Lone Wolf, when the Celtics signed Walton in 86 i knew it was a championship waiting to happen,i didn't care how stacked the Lakers were,and they end getting beat by Houston,of course i laughed at my friends, but the 86 Celtics are the best team of all time, people say the 96 Bulls and i understand why they would say that,but we will never no

amazing content keep up the good content

The 1986 Celtics are amazing! Best team ever 🏀 👌😁

Bron and Bird at their peak,. Bird is a mile higher.

Larry Bird still playing against MJ for a Big Mac.

And this was after he hurt his back!

The 86 Celtics were one of the top NBA teams of all time. I don't know if Larry was the best ever, but he deserves to be in the conversation, because you simply have to listen to what other great players have to say about him; including players in today's league, such as Lebron. (KZfaq is full of those videos). He got everyone involved in the game. A very underrated rebounder and probably the best passing small forward of all time.

Maybe he made it look too easy. BTW, before hampered by injuries he could jump pretty well, it's just in many cases he didn't have to. Cue the highlights of him besting Olajuwon for a jump ball. His vertical of 28 inches is identical to that of Karl Malone. 99% of the game is played below the rim. Then compare to highlights of Jordan who of course was extremely gifted but often made plays look difficult, tongue wagging, depending much on his leaping ability, unnecessary moves such as switching hands when not necessary, a lot of one on one and posting up. Larry for the most part, just did what was required to win usually with economy and little fanfare. Exception might be when the game was in the bag such as the famous left handed game. That's what you do when the game becomes boring. Today's game caters to certain players and making the game needlessly more dramatic - euro step, step back jumper, double dribbling, isolation one on ones, showboating, poor defense because you can't touch the player. No doubt some great talent today but more about the individual player, less of a team game IMHO. You get the idea. Oh, LeBron would likely defend his opinion as the greatest small forward while Larry might say, hey, that's up to you experts to decide. Braggadocious vs. humble, well at least off the court. Larry is by far the most intelligent player of all time and it's not even close for second. Neither do individual stats tell the whole story. As great as he was he is still underrated. The 80's were also probably the best era in the history of the NBA. Here are some attributes at which he excelled. Surely you can think of some more. Court awareness Court vision Intelligence Winning attitude Leadership Involving other players in the game Laying it all on the line Never giving up Clutch time Pecking order Rebounding Offense Rebounding Defense Passing in traffic Passing down court in transition Shooting under the basket Midrange shooting 3 pt shooting Confidence Body control Resilience Thinking ahead/Focus Unselfishness Free throws Quick hands Quick thinking Strong hands Playing hurt Fearless Preparedness Intangibles Dedication Leader on and off court

Bird loved playing against the Hawks.

Larry Bird's IQ is more mesmerizing than MJ's athleticism. He was a killer and artist at the same time. Unique player.

Real, knowledgeable basketball fans, ex-players and historians know that Larry Bird would embarrass these overrated, entitled, disrespectful, modern-day plantation commodities in the NBA today and tomorrow. With the soft rules, no hand checking and zone defenses, it would be a nightly lesson. Too bad professionals have to get old.

0:23 badass 😊

Larry joe Bird..... enough said.

傳奇

*1986 Larry Legend Bird Regular Season Stats* Bird 25.8ppg, 9.8rb, 6.8ast, 3.0stl, 0.6blk, 3.2to (81 games started) *Fg 49%, 3p 42%, ft 89%* (3RD MVP) (3rd straight MVP 84, 85, 86) (4x player of week) (2x player of month) *1986 Larry Legend Bird PostSeason Stats* (18 games) Bird 25.9ppg, 9.3rb, 8.2ast, 2.1stl, 0.6blk, *2.6to* *fg 51%, 3p 41%, ft 92%* (50/40/90 postseason) *1986 Larry Legend Bird Finals Stats* (6 games) Bird 24.0ppg, 9.7rb, 9.5ast, 2.7stl, 0.3blk *fg 48%, ft 36%, ft 93%* (Finals MVP) -MVP (3rd straight 84,85,86) -4x player of week -2x player of month -10 triple doubles (league high) -All NBA 1st team - 50\40\90 postseason -4th Finals Appearances (1986) 5 Total Final Appearances (1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) (4 consecutive finals appearances) -3rd Nba Championship (1981, 1984, 1986) -2nd Finals MVP (19884 & 1986) Larry Legend 🐐

That 86 Celtic team coulda,beat anyone .Pick your 5 best players and put them against Bird, McHale. Parish , DJ and Ainge and it still would,nt be fair. Bird elevated that team beyond anything anyone had ever seen, his WILL to win was unequaled. He and DJ had a 1, 2 punch that would flatten any team, perfect ball control, passing , finding the open man, the loose ball hustles DAMN , THEY WERE ALL A HIGHLIGHT REEL ON STEROIDS. Birds greatest asset was his head, he knew where everyone was every second and was in the heads of the opposing team all game long. He may not have been fast but he made the other team play HIS GAME at his speed. When one player can force a entire opposing team to play to his pace you know you,re looking at the GOAT.

That was a great Hawks team.

BEST NBA TEAM EVER

Larry's b day yesterday...fly bird fly my hero the hick from st lick

Great vid u should put Prime along the GOAT vids.

It's like someone broke open a glass with Bird inside that said, "do not open until 1979", or unless the Celtics and the NBA need a throw back player, Bird was old school, but could bury a brother. Greatest white boy ta ever play the game.

A prime Larry Bird can carry todays Celtics to an NBA Title. While a Washed up Bird was better than prime Marcus Smart.

All the Celtics players appeared so relatively unathletic compared to everyone else, especially bird. Yet he was the baddest dude on the court.

8:34 Mirror image of the shot against LaSalle Thompson in 1991 Playoffs deciding game against the Pacers.

💕 💕 💕

Jokic and Luka combined is Larry Bird

Anyone know where I can find full Larry bird games?

Larry Bird was the best player in the league on his very first day as a rookie. Nobody has ever been better. If the 2022 Celtics had a young Bird, they would have easily swept the Championship. Today's basketball sucks and is unwatchable, like a 3 point show with zero offensive rebounding.

0:22 Bird "TIMBER"

7:45 Bill Walton falls twice in one play.

@11:42 remember Don made some negative comments about KC and the Celts loved KC and took it personal. You can see the Chief was sending a message in this game. Dont say bad things about KC. By many accounts KC was one of the better individuals on the planet.

Can Bird play in todays NBA? 12:30 Easily

Larry Bird , one of the all time greatest players. One major highlight : Michael Jordan NEVER got past him in the playoffs.

Something about this play at 15:49

2 things here: larry made it look easy & tommy heinsohn is the luckiest person ever

13:05 Why was this acceptable in 1986 but not in today’s game? The match was well out of reach

86 celtics greatest team of all time..Bird #1 Jordan #2 Magic #3 ....Team ..#1 Celts 86 #2 Philly 83 ,#3 lakers 87...

Where is l.a.lakers games that's I can watch too in that video? Bird vs magic?

Arguably the Greatest Small Forward Ever, battling Lebron for that position.