Larry Bird takes Michael Jordan into the post on 3 straight possessions

[AirBonner]

Larry Bird takes Michael Jordan into the post on three straight halfcourt possessions and gets six quick points in a 1987 Bulls-Celtics game. Bird finished with 33 first half points and 41/7/7.



https://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M


Bird used to kill MJ and the Bulls especially in 86/87. They met 12 times in the regular season and the Celtics won 11 of the 12. If you include the Celtics 1986/1987 sweeps of the Bulls they beat them 17 out of 18 times in two years.

[Xiao Yao You]

Larry Bird takes Michael Jordan into the post on three straight halfcourt possessions and gets six quick points in a 1987 Bulls-Celtics game. Bird finished with 33 first half points and 41/7/7.



https://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M


Bird used to kill MJ and the Bulls especially in 86/87. They met 12 times in the regular season and the Celtics won 11 of the 12. If you include the Celtics 1986/1987 sweeps of the Bulls they beat them 17 out of 18 times in two years.

The Celtics killed most everyone. They were a great team. The Bulls weren't outside of MJ

[warriorfan]

In 2010 Prime LeBron left his originally drafted team joined with the 2nd and 4th highest PER in the league only to be our scored by Jason Terry and lose in the Finals. That would be like if Michael Jordan left the Bulls to join Magic Johnson(2nd in per) on the Lakers along with Hakeem Olajuwon(4th in PER) only to lose in the Finals and be outscored by John Starks.

Jordan did not team hop and collude but instead cultivated a winning team organically with no shortcuts and ended up going 6/6. The goat resume.

[Carbine]

This shouldn't surprise anyone. Bird around this time was as good as it gets on offense. Beating the piss out of a 2nd or 3rd year shooting guard in the post is par for Bird.

[sdot_thadon]

No surprise there, Bird was too big for him in the post.

[AirBonner]

This shouldn't surprise anyone. Bird around this time was as good as it gets on offense. Beating the piss out of a 2nd or 3rd year shooting guard in the post is par for Bird.

Saying MJ was just a 2nd or 3rd year guard is disingenuous. MJ was like 27 years old lol that’s absolute physical prime.

[Carbine]

MJ didn't start lifting seriously until around '90

He would have been 24 or 25 in this game.

[warriorfan]

MJ didn't start lifting seriously until around '90

He would have been 24 or 25 in this game.

The same age LeBron was when he quit on his originally drafted team because he lost to the Celtics and had to team hop and collude with the 2nd and 4th highest PER in the league, one already leading his own team to a Finals win in dramatic fashion while winning FMVP(Wade) only to lose in the NBA finals while being outscored by Jason Terry despite LeBron playing 67 more minutes.

Otoh that would be like if Jordan lost to the Celtics and joined the Lakers with Magic Johnson(2nd per and finals winner) and brought along Hakeem Olajuwon(4th highest per)…only to lose in the Finals after promising 7 titles while getting out scored by John Starks.

If MJ did this he would be AUTOMATICALLY out of the GOAT contention and this GOAT level CHOKE would perhaps make it difficult for him to break into the top 10, like lebron is now.

[AirBonner]

If MJ went 73-9 and blew a 3-1 lead in the finals he wouldn’t be top 10

[Axe]

Welfarefan desperately trying to derail the thread by bringing up lbj. :kobe:

[Full Court]

I remember serious debates in the late '80s on whether the best player in the NBA was Bird or Jordan. Of course, there was no decisive answer to that question then, but the Celtics were certainly a better team than the Bulls.

[warriorfan]

LeBron is relevant because he was 25 years old as well and lost to the Celtics. But instead of sticking with his originally drafted team he instead chose to team hop and collude with the 2nd and 4th highest per in the league…only to lose in the finals being out scored by 0 time All-Star Jason Terry.

That would be like Jordan leaving the bulls for the Lakers to join Magic Johnson and to bring along Hakeem Olajuwon. It would remove him from the GOAT conversation and impact his standing breaking into the top 10, especially if he lost like LeBron did.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Bigger players post smaller players. And?

[3ba11]

Bird's team was like the Warriors and Jordan's team was worse than the 05' Cavs

Literally

That's what OP is bragging about

When Jordan had half the help Bird had, he swept the Bad Boys .. let that sink in...

2014 Spurs-style - ragdolled the shit out of them and made them leave the court in SHAME.. that's what the goat does and that's why people FEARED him

[Axe]

When Jordan had half the help Bird had, he swept the Bad Boys .. let that sink in...
You mean the implementation of the 'flagrant foul' into the league starting 1990.

[AirBonner]

You mean the implementation of the 'flagrant foul' into the league starting 1990.
What a coincidence

[3ba11]

You mean the implementation of the 'flagrant foul' into the league starting 1990.


That benefitted everyone

I'm talking about sweeping the Bad Boys with a secondary producer like Pippen, while Bird was defeated in 88' despite having an elite-producing teammate lead the scoring for that playoff run (McHale) and having several other secondary, "pippen-level" producers as well

[Johnny32]

You mean the implementation of the 'flagrant foul' into the league starting 1990.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EFUFmDGdnA&ab_channel=RyanVanDusen

[Axe]

That benefitted everyone

I'm talking about sweeping the Bad Boys with a secondary producer like Pippen, while Bird was defeated in 88' despite having an elite-producing teammate lead the scoring for that playoff run (McHale) and having several other secondary, "pippen-level" producers as well
Yet bird still did defeat them and you never heard of him complaining about the physical style of play by the pistons when he and his team faced them during the playoffs. Otoh mj had troubles with them for three years in a row until it became effective. Even chamberlain said the league changed the rules for him to dominate his era.

[Johnny32]

it's common knowledge the lg changed the rules to help mj. they also changed the rules to help soft skinny jump shooters like steph and kd in the current era.

the lg also changed the rules to try and stop certain players from dominating as much. wilt, shaq, lebron.

[Xiao Yao You]

it's common knowledge the lg changed the rules to help mj. they also changed the rules to help soft skinny jump shooters like steph and kd in the current era.

the lg also changed the rules to try and stop certain players from dominating as much. wilt, shaq, lebron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4vnXJ_xpY8

they changed the rules because it was becoming more like football than basketball. It was ugly!

[Johnny32]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4vnXJ_xpY8

they changed the rules because it was becoming more like football than basketball. It was ugly!

i'm sure it had nothing to do with the most exciting (at the time) player in nba history struggling with the physical style of ball the pistons played. the constant whining by mj and the bulls organization about how det played the game to the league probably helped a little too.

[warriorfan]

https://i.postimg.cc/LX6YnYLW/E7-EE3105-F1-E1-48-C8-BC3-F-62537-CBB6-CF1.jpg

If Jordan had this rule change at the beginning of his career like LeBron did….he would have seasons of 40+ppg.

[3ba11]

Yet bird still did defeat them





Bird went 7 despite having a super-team, while Jordan swept them without one..






and you never heard of him complaining about the physical style of play by the pistons when he and his team faced them during the playoffs. Otoh mj had troubles with them for three years in a row until it became effective. Even chamberlain said the league changed the rules for him to dominate his era.


The Pistons couldn't have tunnel-vision on Bird like they did on Jordan because the Celtics were a dynasty and the Bulls were a 1-man team




Yet bird still did defeat them and you never heard of him complaining about the physical style of play by the pistons when he and his team faced them during the playoffs. Otoh mj had troubles with them for three years in a row until it became effective. Even chamberlain said the league changed the rules for him to dominate his era.


https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-26-2022/SHB07h.gif


^^^ that's a standard foul in the 90's - notice Cartwright just get up and keep it moving

Otoh, Lebron would cower and become a passive facilitator like Magic, so he would only average about 20-24 in the 90's - there's no way that he would consistently take beatings and keep coming back

Otoh, Jordan kept going to the hole and averaged 30+ against the Bad Boys

[Johnny32]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4vnXJ_xpY8

they changed the rules because it was becoming more like football than basketball. It was ugly!

lol literally stopped watching after the first possession. mj drives into three defenders, uncontrollably jumps into them, falls to the ground and pretends to be hurt. embarrassing.

[90sgoat]

How you rank Bird decides if you're a knowledgeable basketball fan, a dumbass or a racist.

In terms of "best basketball player ever", Bird is at worst top 3.

I have Bird as GOAT.

If we discount longevity and just look at pure basketball skill, pure basketball intelligence and mastery, then Bird is the GOAT.

Bird is like Dirk and Jokic in one player with the competitiveness of Luka Doncic.

Look at those shots, all of them are hitting nothing but net, literally picture perfect shooting form, while EASILY bullying MJ in the post.

Remember that even Magic did not bully MJ in the post like this, despite being heavier.

Bird is GOAT in terms of skill and intelligence.

[3ba11]

The Pistons were like immature and ghetto

So they see some alien flying through the air like they've never seen before and they just went full ghetto on him - they tried to take him out of the air through violence whenever they could. They literally tried to hurt and mame Jordan

[Johnny32]

lol literally stopped watching after the first possession. mj drives into three defenders, uncontrollably jumps into them, falls to the ground and pretends to be hurt. embarrassing.

oh the best part...in the slo-mo replay...he wasn't touched lol.

[3ba11]

oh the best part...in the slo-mo replay...he wasn't touched lol.


Jordan knew the Pistons were trying to hurt him and his competitiveness made him want to show the Pistons that he could overcome it

By 1991, he'd learned to just pull-up... :confusedshrug:... Literally - he figured out that all he had to do was pull-up from mid-range..

The series in 91' was a textbook clinic of fundamentally-sound jumpshooting skill.. beautiful basketball

[Axe]

Bird went 7 despite having a super-team, while Jordan swept them without one..






The Pistons couldn't have tunnel-vision on Bird like they did on Jordan because the Celtics were a dynasty and the Bulls were a 1-man team






https://i.makeagif.com/media/6-26-2022/SHB07h.gif


^^^ that's a standard foul in the 90's - notice Cartwright just get up and keep it moving

Otoh, Lebron would cower and become a passive facilitator like Magic, so he would only average about 20-24 in the 90's - there's no way that he would consistently take beatings and keep coming back

Otoh, Jordan kept going to the hole and averaged 30+ against the Bad Boys
There are so many players in the league, current and former. Yet somehow, only lebron comes out of your mouth even if he's not the topic here. Kong must be an amazing athlete in this game. :oldlol:

[Round Mound]

Larry Bird schooled everyone when healthy and almost everyone when not healthy. Jordan did a pretty good job but Bird was a great in between mid range and post player.

[90sgoat]

Larry Bird schooled everyone when healthy and almost everyone when not healthy. Jordan did a pretty good job but Bird was a great in between mid range and post player.

The 80s had the most unique all time greats, Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan.

Only matched by the 00s, Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, (Lebron).

[kawhileonard2]

In 2010 Prime LeBron left his originally drafted team joined with the 2nd and 4th highest PER in the league only to be our scored by Jason Terry and lose in the Finals. That would be like if Michael Jordan left the Bulls to join Magic Johnson(2nd in per) on the Lakers along with Hakeem Olajuwon(4th in PER) only to lose in the Finals and be outscored by John Starks.

Jordan did not team hop and collude but instead cultivated a winning team organically with no shortcuts and ended up going 6/6. The goat resume.

This!

[SATAN]

lol literally stopped watching after the first possession. mj drives into three defenders, uncontrollably jumps into them, falls to the ground and pretends to be hurt. embarrassing.



"jOrDaN nEvEr FlOpPeD!"

:oldlol:

[Round Mound]

The 80s had the most unique all time greats, Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan.

Only matched by the 00s, Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, (Lebron).

Don't forget about Moses, Hakeem, Barkley, Drexler, Ewing, K. Malone and John Stockton...They where also great in the 80's!

[TheGoatest]

If jordon entered the league in 1974 instead of 1984, he would've had 0 championships.
He was only capable of winning in an era where his competition couldn't beat a team whose #2 scorer in the playoffs averaged 13.8 points on .376 shooting.

[Round Mound]

I forgot Dr. J aswell for the early 80's. Bird was evil in half court situations. The 86 Celtics is the best half cour team ever.

[jstern]

Welfarefan desperately trying to derail the thread by bringing up lbj. :kobe:

I consider all sides, every angle, and Warriorfan is making some interesting points that have to be considered.

[Axe]

I consider all sides, every angle, and Warriorfan is making some interesting points that have to be considered.
Never recalled asking for your opinion here. :confusedshrug:

[kawhileonard2]

If jordon entered the league in 1974 instead of 1984, he would've had 0 championships.
He was only capable of winning in an era where his competition couldn't beat a team whose #2 scorer in the playoffs averaged 13.8 points on .376 shooting.

If Jordan entered in 1974 he would have 10 titles. If you were born in Russia what would happen to you?

[2much_knowledge]

What a rare find. Unique in the history of the game. Best player in the league schooling a 2nd year player...

[Bawkish]

Never recalled asking for your opinion here. :confusedshrug:

Wow, that's rich coming from you

[light]

Larry Bird takes Michael Jordan into the post on three straight halfcourt possessions and gets six quick points in a 1987 Bulls-Celtics game. Bird finished with 33 first half points and 41/7/7.



https://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M


Bird used to kill MJ and the Bulls especially in 86/87. They met 12 times in the regular season and the Celtics won 11 of the 12. If you include the Celtics 1986/1987 sweeps of the Bulls they beat them 17 out of 18 times in two years.

Simple size mismatch. Jordan isn't LeBron.

[light]

What a rare find. Unique in the history of the game. Best player in the league schooling a 2nd year player...

It was his 3rd year. MJ was 1st team All-NBA and led the league in scoring. Just not against Bird.

[2much_knowledge]

It was his 3rd year. MJ was 1st team All-NBA and led the league in scoring. Just not against Bird.

Basically didnt play year 2 but ok

[TheGoatest]

It was his 3rd year. MJ was 1st team All-NBA and led the league in scoring. Just not against Bird.

Imagine bragging about this when this resulted in jordon finishing below an all-star-less team whose leading scorer and best player by far was a rookie Chuck Person. :oldlol:
Which, by the way, is the reason 8th seed jordon had to get buttplugged by Bird in one of his perennial 1st round exits yet again.
Emptiest stats ever. 1986-87 was by far jordon's most convincing scoring title of his career too, proving he had the emptiest stats ever.

:( Poor, poor "3rd year" jordon, playing in the same era where 1st year Magic and 2nd yeard Bird both won championships. :roll:

[Soundwave]

ISH GOAT debate dick riders discovering there are actually other great players in NBA history outside of just Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, and Durant-Curry.

Bird's an all time great player, in his prime his Celtics would beat many of LeBron's teams, probably most of them actually if not all of them head to head.

[8Ball]

Larry Bird takes Michael Jordan into the post on three straight halfcourt possessions and gets six quick points in a 1987 Bulls-Celtics game. Bird finished with 33 first half points and 41/7/7.



https://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M


Bird used to kill MJ and the Bulls especially in 86/87. They met 12 times in the regular season and the Celtics won 11 of the 12. If you include the Celtics 1986/1987 sweeps of the Bulls they beat them 17 out of 18 times in two years.

:roll:


When Jordan defended Bird, they targeted Jordan and Bird just sealed him and demanded the ball. BBQ chicken style.



Imagine Jordan having to guard Bron in the post.

[8Ball]

ISH GOAT debate dick riders discovering there are actually other great players in NBA history outside of just Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, and Durant-Curry.

Bird's an all time great player, in his prime his Celtics would beat many of LeBron's teams, probably most of them actually if not all of them head to head.

These posts are just showing the new NBA kids that Jordan had many flaws to his game and why many do not believe he is the GOAT.

[8Ball]

I remember serious debates in the late '80s on whether the best player in the NBA was Bird or Jordan. Of course, there was no decisive answer to that question then, but the Celtics were certainly a better team than the Bulls.

If you remember debates in the 80s, that means you were born in the 70s. Putting you near 50 years old.

I was trolling a grandpa. :lol

[Soundwave]

These posts are just showing the new NBA kids that Jordan had many flaws to his game and why many do not believe he is the GOAT.

The majority of the basketball public and players themselves and media rate Jordan as GOAT, just get over it and move on. The fact of the matter is that dude retired from the Bulls over 20 years ago, and still the overwhleming majority of people consider him the best ever. This board tries so hard to be obsessed with this topic, it's just lame as ****.

He is more than a worthy holder of that throne anyway, dominant offensive player, most scoring titles, highest scoring average in both the regular season and playoffs, perfect record in the Finals, dominant defensive player, dominant at the mental/clutch aspect of the game, dominated the game physically (above the rim), dominated the game mentally (2nd 3-peat) ruthless competitive fire which is what people want to see in competitive high level sports.

Best narrative too, last shot as a Chicago Bull is literally the shot that wins an NBA championship and seals a 2nd 3-peat in very dramatic fashion. His career just has a dramatic element to it that people love.

I don't think there are many flaws in his game at all either. The only thing he would need to adjust for a bit in the modern era is to shoot more 3s in the off-season, but his shooting form for anyone who's actually played basketball is picturesque, great elevation on the shot, great rotation, great follow through, great touch. Beautiful shooting form. And that fade-away jump shot *chef's kiss* is a work of art.

[8Ball]

The majority of the basketball public and players themselves and media rate Jordan as GOAT, just get over it and move on. The fact of the matter is that dude retired from the Bulls over 20 years ago, and still the overwhleming majority of people consider him the best ever. This board tries so hard to be obsessed with this topic, it's just lame as ****.

He is more than a worthy holder of that throne anyway, dominant offensive player, most scoring titles, highest scoring average in both the regular season and playoffs, perfect record in the Finals, dominant defensive player, dominant at the mental/clutch aspect of the game, dominated the game physically (above the rim), dominated the game mentally (2nd 3-peat) ruthless competitive fire which is what people want to see in competitive high level sports.

Best narrative too, last shot as a Chicago Bull is literally the shot that wins an NBA championship and seals a 2nd 3-peat in very dramatic fashion. His career just has a dramatic element to it that people love.

I don't think there are many flaws in his game at all either. The only thing he would need to adjust for a bit in the modern era is to shoot more 3s in the off-season, but his shooting form for anyone who's actually played basketball is picturesque, great elevation on the shot, great rotation, great follow through, great touch. Beautiful shooting form. And that fade-away jump shot *chef's kiss* is a work of art.


Billions of humans believe Mohammad was a prophet God and refuse to believe Mohammad was just a regular arab dude. That's what the media hype and marketing can do for 1 person. If Jordan simply looked like Sam Cassel face wise yet everything else stayed the same, do you really think he would be considered the GOAT? Hell no.



And here is why Bron is the GOAT:

Most all round basketball player to ever play. Rebounding, passing, scoring, Bron is tasked to do it all.
Most durable NBA athlete of all time playing 19 seasons so far, with 18 elite seasons in a row.
18 all-nba teams
6 all defence
All time scoring record (important)
10 finals runs
4 championships
4 FMVP
4 MVP
Only player to lead all players in points / rebounds / assists / steals / blocks in a playoff series.
Did it against a 73 win team, down 3-1
Has some of the greatest playoff statistical runs



Say whatever you want. Believe Jordan is the GOAT. But the reasons above are why millions simply do not believe, nor will they ever believe, that Jordan is the GOAT.