Dr. J vs. Bird...An Overlooked Rivalry?

[jlip]

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I did find this to be interesting. I got this info from an article entitled, "The Best of Rivals: Julius Erving Versus Larry Bird", by NBA blogger, David Friedman.
Link: http://20secondtimeout.blogspot.com/2009/03/best-of-rivals-julius-erving-versus.html


I'm certain that fans 40 and older may remember this, but for those of us who are younger, this rivalry is never discussed. In the early 1980s the biggest NBA rivalry was Dr. J -Larry Bird. Magic and Bird played different positions, only faced each other twice a year, and didn't meet in the Finals until 1984. Dr. J and Bird played the same position, often guarded each other, faced each other SIX times a year, played in the same division, and between 1980-85 faced each other in the ECF 4 times.

[B][I]"The Dr.J -Bird rivalry captured the public's imagination. In 1983, Electronic Arts (EA Sports) produced 'Julius Erving-Larry Bird One-on-One', the forerunner of NBA Live and all the other sports video games; it would have been unimaginable to choose any other matchup at that time. Erving and Bird actively participated in the creation of the game, and as a result the final product incorporated real life aspects of each player

[PHILA]

I believe Larry even said that the games he played against the Sixers were more intense and hard fought than the Finals against the Lakers. It's time to recognize the great rivalry that was the Sixers and Celtics in the 1960's & 80's, better than any Boston-LA matchup IMO.

[PHILA]

http://i51.tinypic.com/5y4wsj.jpg

[MasterDurant24]

Very overlooked indeed.

[jlip]

I believe Larry even said that the games he played against the Sixers were more intense and hard fought than the Finals against the Lakers. It's time to recognize the great rivalry that was the Sixers and Celtics in the 1960's & 80's, better than any Boston-LA matchup IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2vIP9lY3YU&feature=related

6:20-6:35

[Fatal9]

'81 Celtics vs. Sixers was the best series of the decade...maybe ever if you consider the intensity, the closeness, the storyline (coming back from 3-1), the talent of the teams and what was at stake. Bird vs. Dr. J was the premier matchup because they were not only the top 3 players in the league but also division rivals who played the same position (though Bobby Jones used to guard Bird a lot). Sixers/Celtics played each other 5-6 times a year and even more if they met in the playoffs.

There was genuine hate amongst those teams for a long time. Here's game 3 from '81 for example, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTtxnBFZ88Y, Maxwell going in to fight fans (didn't even get ejected :oldlol:) and later on in the same series (iirc game 6?), Philly fans were throwing drinks at Bird when he was shooting FTs.

[jlip]

Bump

Old thread with some of their available H2H stats (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213589)

Another newer thread (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321968)

[L.Kizzle]

No mention of the fight?

[SHAQisGOAT]

Bump

Old thread with some of their available H2H stats (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213589)

Another newer thread (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321968)

Good stuff. Would've been great to see them going at, it in both their peaks, still more than good enough.

Celtics vs 76ers in the 80s is one of the greatest rivalries ever although overlooked like crazy these days (by Celtics vs Lakers mostly), and produced some great, intense and really physical games... Even, arguably, the greatest series ever in 1981.


1980:

game 3 (Bird with 22/21/4 and Erving with 28/11/7) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjwqGwQEDbs


1981:

game 6 (terrific game, very intense) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbNXHJcxbjc

game 7 (Bird finalizes the 3-1 comeback) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJMF8R2QB28


1982:

game 7 (Sixers advance to the Finals) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvVN1jIPNps


1983 preseason skirmish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0ZP-zr6tA


1985:

fight between Larry and J: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4oF34p3-rQ

ECF, game 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCkKiVSAtfo

[Akrazotile]

But ISH told me nothing that doesnt happen in a Finals matters?

[SHAQisGOAT]

No mention of the fight?


Bird even precipitated a fight with Julius Erving by repeating a single phrase over and over. The phrase? 42-5, or the number of points each had scored during an easy Boston victory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4oF34p3-rQ

Just one of the many fights though. Bird also fought Iavaroni, Ainge got punched by Sedale Threatt once, Cornbread fought a Sixers' fan in 1981's game6, I've even posted that 1983 pre-season skirmish, just to show how intense those games were.

[Dr.J4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4oF34p3-rQ

Just one of the many fights though. Bird also fought Iavaroni, Ainge got punched by Sedale Threatt once, Cornbread fought a Sixers' fan in 1981's game6, I've even posted that 1983 pre-season skirmish, just to show how intense those games were.

It was the best rivalry in professional sports(76ers vs Celtics). From Russell/Wilt, to Bird/Erving, the early 80s were a great time to be growing up as an NBA fan.

Doc always held his own vs. Bird, and actually had the better of Bird early on in Larry's career. Let's remember, Doc's actual prime was even better during the mid 70s.

Thanks for posting:applause: :bowdown:

[L.Kizzle]

Somewhat on topic. Also under appreciated in the early 80s are battles between these 2 mentioned teams and also the Milwaukee Bucks.

[Dr.J4ever]

Somewhat on topic. Also under appreciated in the early 80s are battles between these 2 mentioned teams and also the Milwaukee Bucks.

Yes, the Bucks were stacked. They had Lanier, Moncrief, and Marques Johnson. Great battles with the Sixers, but it seemed Philly had their number.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Somewhat on topic. Also under appreciated in the early 80s are battles between these 2 mentioned teams and also the Milwaukee Bucks.

True, Celtics/76ers vs Bucks had some great series and games, as well. Loved it.

Those Bucks' teams of the 80s are generally underrated/overlooked, period... They're the 3rd team with most wins in the 80s, after the Celtics and the Lakers, if I remember correctly.
They had some great squads/players, knew how to play as a team, Nellie ran a good, defensive-minded system... In another era/conference, they would've gotten to the Finals, maybe even all the way once.

[Smoke117]

I believe Larry even said that the games he played against the Sixers were more intense and hard fought than the Finals against the Lakers. It's time to recognize the great rivalry that was the Sixers and Celtics in the 1960's & 80's, better than any Boston-LA matchup IMO.

Well yeah, it would really make no sense for Boston's biggest rivalry to be with the Lakers who unless they meet in the finals they see each other 2 times. Boston/Sixers early 80s rivalry was much more intense.

[GimmeThat]

sibling rivalries are great and all

but the level of talking shit just isn't going to be that much.

because there's a difference between representing a team, and representing a conference.

[L.Kizzle]

True, Celtics/76ers vs Bucks had some great series and games, as well.Western it.

Those Bucks' teams of the 80s are generally underrated/overlooked, period... They're the 3rd team with most wins in the 80s, after the Celtics and the Lakers, if I remember correctly.
They had some great squads/players, knew how to play as a team, Nellie ran a good, defensive-minded system... In another era/conference, they would've gotten to the Finals, maybe even all the way once.


What is the Bucks/Lakers record vs each other in the early 80s? Had they still been in the Western Conference like in the 70s things may have been different. Assuming the Bucks had thier number.