Tag: Larry Bird

No. 22 Jimmy Butler: “I played (in …

No. 22 Jimmy Butler: “I played (in Chicago) with one of the toughest individuals I’ve ever played with in my life — Taj Gibson. He taught me so much about how to be a pro. Sometimes people choose numbers because of someone that inspires them, and Taj is one of those people. I wore 33 at Marquette. In high school, I wore No. 1 because of Tracy McGrady. My best friend, who’s a brother to me and (who) I moved in with, was No. 33. And as much as his family had done for me, I chose it because his mom’s favorite player was Larry Bird, and then it kind of stuck. It was all because of Larry Bird and Jordan Leslie.”

Michael Jordan once said, “Larry Bird …

Michael Jordan once said, “Larry Bird is the greatest trash talker and mind-game player of all time. He taught me everything I know about getting in folks’ heads.” That was reason enough to call 17 of Bird’s former teammates and opponents and ask for their best trash-talking stories about Larry Legend. They delivered. Leo Rautins, opponent: I say this in the utmost complimentary way: Larry was a prick. Kevin Gamble, teammate: He would run by you and say, “I told you, motherfucker. I told you I was going to do that.” Or he’d smack you on the butt and say, “Nice try.”

Terry Porter, opponent: My rookie year …

Terry Porter, opponent: My rookie year in Boston. He had the ball in the deep corner. I was sprinting to close out and he was in his famous form, and he shot it and as I was running out he said, “Too late, rookie.” I didn’t even know he was a trash talker. I got to the bench and told Clyde (Drexler) and he was like, “Yeah, he does that all the time.” Mike Gminski, opponent: He’d drive down the lane and I’d try to go up and block his shot, and he’d say, “What are you jumping for? You’re not going to get this.”

Gminski: I was with the 76ers at the …

Gminski: I was with the 76ers at the time. We go up by one with about four seconds to go. They call timeout, get the ball at half court. Barkley is guarding Larry. Bird comes up to him and says, “You know who’s getting the ball, don’t you?” Charles kind of nodded his head. Larry said, “I tell you what I’m going to do: I’m going to get the ball, take two dribbles down the baseline and shoot a fadeaway jump shot.” I’m on the weak side. I’ve got McHale. Bird takes two dribbles down to the baseline, fadeaway jump shot, and the ball was halfway to the net and I just started walking to our locker room. I knew it was good.

Ranking the top five power forwards in Boston Celtics history

Who are the top five power forwards in the history of the Celtics?

The Boston Celtics have had a wealth of riches at every position, and power forward is no exception.

But who are the best to play for the storied franchise over the seven decades of its existence? With 17 banners and plenty of outstanding players at the four in those and other seasons, it’s no small task to narrow the field to the five power forwards who best represent Boston’s excellence at that position.

The Celtics Wire got to researching this very topic to fill the basketball-sized hole in our lives while the coronavirus pandemic disrupts so much of what we used to call normal.

Players from Boston’s past who appeared on the top five centers list will not be counted, so if you wondered why some who played both positions are absent, that’s the reason. It should also be noted this list only considers what each player has done with the Celtics — not their career before or after.

There are plenty of candidates to choose from, but only five slots to place the Mount Rushmore — plus one — of Celtics power forwards, so let’s get started with the honorable mentions.

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Bird is widely regarded as one of the …

Bird is widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the game. Walton echoed that sentiment, telling NBC Sports Boston’s Brian Scalabrine why Larry was the greatest player he ever played with: Larry did not want halftime. Larry did not want timeouts. Larry did not want days off in-between the games. He wanted seven straight days of basketball and the first team to win four, that’s fine. He was not into waiting around. He was certainly not into waiting around for any of his teammates. He was not waiting around for the coach. Not waiting around for the television schedule. Larry, he was ready to play and ready to deliver. And did he ever.

Michigan State’s 1979 national title game to air three times on March 31 on Big Ten Network

Watch Magic’s Spartans defeat Larry Bird’s Sycamores on Tuesday, March 31

If you’ve never seen Michigan State win its first ever national championship in men’s basketball, now is your chance.

The Big Ten Network will be airing the 1979 National Championship game three times on Tuesday March 31. Magic Johnson’s squad taking down Larry Bird’s Indiana State team will be shown at Noon, 4 PM, and 8 PM, according to BTN.

The official Michigan State Basketball Twitter account will also be jumping into the rewatch, asking fans which game for everyone to watch together. So far 8 PM is leading the vote by a wide margin. It’s fair to guess the MSU hoops account will be posting some fun pictures and videos during the 8 PM airing of the game.

Michigan State beat Indiana State 75-64 to win the 1979 national title. It was the first of many Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird showdowns across the history of basketball. At the time it was the most-watched game in the history of basketball.

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The five-time NBA champion spoke to …

The five-time NBA champion spoke to ESPN’s First Take this week to discuss various topics and would liken LeBron to himself and another NBA icon in Larry Bird, pointing out the superstar’s willingness to share the basketball, as well as his ability to attack the rim himself. “Lebron is just like Larry and myself, and he is so unbelievable when he’s coming down the court, his head is up,” Magic told First Take’s Max Kellerman. “He’s always willing to make the pass to make his teammates better, but also two, he can go down the middle and dunk on you.”

OTD: Larry Bird sets Celtics record with 60 points against Hawks

Larry Bird bested a record set by teammate Kevin McHale nearly a week earlier.

On this day in 1985, former Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird set a franchise record with 60 points against the Atlanta Hawks in a game that Boston would win 126-115. While getting to the free-throw line 16 times (where he went 15-16), Bird also added seven rebounds and three assists to his stat line.

Although six Celtics would score in double-figures during the win (including Danny Ainge, the franchise’s current general manager and president) only Bird would score more than 20 points.

Former Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins has the team-high for Atlanta with 36 points.

Boston’s previous franchise record for points scored in a single game was held by Bird’s longtime teammate, Kevin McHale. The Hall of Fame power forward scored 56 points against the Detroit Pistons just nine days earlier (March 3) in what was also a win for the Celtics (129-138).