Although he wasn’t the most athletically gifted player in the NBA, Larry Bird was undoubtedly one of the most dominant. The premier player from the Boston Celtics accomplished it everything. Bird had the ball in his hands when the chips were down, and he could defeat you with a fadeaway three-pointer or a nice pass for an assist.
Bird was equally self-assured as they come. Even though he had stated during his playing career that there was one guy “who can really shut me down,” he still believed he could score on anyone.
During the 1986 NBA Finals, Larry Bird revealed the person who could shut him down.
In the 1986 NBA Finals, the Celtics led the Houston Rockets 3-2 in the series. In Game 5, Boston was unable to secure the victory in Houston. The Rockets may have been underestimated by the C’s during their most recent match, as they lost 111-96 following a dismal showing.
Rockets center Ralph Sampson was sent off for punching Celtics guard Jerry Sichting during a rough and tumble game five. Later, Sichting stated he was unsure if the incident was caused by a punch or a mosquito bite. Before Game 6, the Celtics practiced hard, as Sports Illustrated reported.
Back then, K.C. Jones, the coach of the Boston Celtics, stated, “I had to call it off before they killed each other.”
Bird only attempted 13 shots in Game 5. It had nothing to do with Rodney McRay’s or Robert Reid’s defensive strategy. Neither of them worried Bird in the slightest.
Bird only attempted 13 shots in Game 5. It had nothing to do with Rodney McRay’s or Robert Reid’s defensive strategy. Neither of them worried Bird in the slightest.
Bird remarked of the Los Angeles Lakers guard, “Michael Cooper isn’t in this series, and he’s the only one who can really shut me down.”
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