Larry Bird Greatest Games: 43 Pts/13 Rbs/6 Asst. vs Pistons (1985 ECSF Game 5)

[Round Mound]

Larry Bird abusing Kelly Tripucka and the Pistons in pivotal Game 5 (series tied 2-2) as he scored 43 points on 17/33 FG with 17 in the fourth quarter alone... Bird also grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 6 assists... Basketball Jesus in the middle of his prime...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Wb0-evaPk

[MiseryCityTexas]

Bird shoulda dropped 60 on Tripucka. He has no D. I remember Adrian Dantley used to destroy Tripucka also.

[9erempiree]

He wouldn't be able to do that in today's league when every Forward is a skilled athletic player. Almost every team today would have a guy that would stop Larry.

Good game for him.

[Round Mound]

He wouldn't be able to do that in today's league when every Forward is a skilled athletic player. Almost every team today would have a guy that would stop Larry.

Good game for him.

[9erempiree]

I'm watching the videos as I type and the defense was bad.

Wide open looks and wide open lay ups.

There's more traffic in the paint in today's era and he wouldn't get these open looks because since the arrival of Kobe, there are players who are defensive specialists and they are usually Forwards.

You don't think a player today who's sole purpose to play defense can stop Bird?

A guy like Ainge was penetrating and dishing to wide open Bird....Ainge...lol

[KLovin]

He wouldn't be able to do that in today's league when every Forward is a skilled athletic player. Almost every team today would have a guy that would stop Larry.

Good game for him.

[9erempiree]

Ok...just finished the video and noticed that the commentators were calling the Pistons defense out.

"defensive lapses"

"you can't get off your feet"

"they need to play better defense"

These comments are from the commentators but I don't expect any of you guys to watch the video or know what defense is.

[STATUTORY]

couldn't get past the three minute mark due to absurd lack of defense displayed

at slow footed ainge getting dribble penetration

[Round Mound]

I'm watching the videos as I type and the defense was bad.

Wide open looks and wide open lay ups.

There's more traffic in the paint in today's era and he wouldn't get these open looks because since the arrival of Kobe, there are players who are defensive specialists and they are usually Forwards.

You don't think a player today who's sole purpose to play defense can stop Bird?

A guy like Ainge was penetrating and dishing to wide open Bird....Ainge...lol

Kid...The Reason Why People Did Not Wan`t to Get To Close to Larry Is That Larry Had The Best Vision and Passing Game Of The Best PGs Around, He Would Assist With Ease If You Got To Close.

Larry Schooled So Many Athletes That Its Not Even Funny. Remember Back Then: Hanchecking Was Allowed, Big Guys Could Camp in the Paint (harder to drive than today) and Contact Was Allowed In the Post. Larry Bird Schooled PFs in the Post With Spins, Fakes, Fadeways and 1 on 1 Movements. He Just Shot Over Long Athletic SFs With Ease and Savy.

Larry Bird at age 35 (1992) With No Potence, No Leap, Slower Than Ever and With Amazing Back Problems Averaged 20.2 PPG (46.6% FG and 40.6 3-Point FG), 9.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.7 SPG Against Many Athletes.

[9erempiree]

Kid...The Reason Why People Did Not Wan`t to Get To Close to Larry Is That Larry Had The Best Vision and Passing Game Of The Best PGs Around, He Would Assist With Ease If You Got To Close.

Larry Schooled So Many Athleates That Its Not Even Funny. Remember Back Hanchecking Was Allowed, Big Guys Could Camp in the Paint (harder to drive than today( and Contact Was Allowed In the Post. Larry Bird Schooled PFs in the Post With Spins, Fakes, Fadeways and 1 on 1 Movements. He Just Shot Over Long Athletic SFs With Ease and Savy.

Larry Bird at age 35 (1992) With No Potence, No Leap, Slower Than Ever and With Amazing Back Problems Averaged 20.2 PPG (46.6% FG and 40.6 3-Point FG), 9.6 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.7 SPG Against Many Athleats.

LOL @ camping in the lane.

No...they cannot do that because that would be illegal defense.

Hand checking? You play defense with your feet. Anyone that's played basketball or coached would tell you this. They just didn't play very good defense because they were accustom to using their hands.

This hand checking argument is getting really old....

[9erempiree]

Where's the defense on this play?

http://youtu.be/06Wb0-evaPk?t=4m56s

too much gambling on D and standing around.

[Round Mound]

LOL @ camping in the lane.

No...they cannot do that because that would be illegal defense.

Hand checking? You play defense with your feet. Anyone that's played basketball or coached would tell you this. They just didn't play very good defense because they were accustom to using their hands.

This hand checking argument is getting really old....

Today Ofcourse Its Not Allowed.... Back Then...The Rules Did Not Favor Perimeter Players or Penetrators. You Would Get Smashed If You Tried To Penetrate From the Perimeter.

Defense With Your Feet? OH Pleaseee...So You are Telling Me That With Just Moving Your Feet You Will Stop Bird`s Face Up Jumper or Post Game? Those Foot Movements Would Just Role Backwards!

Handchecking Makes The Other Player More Tired and It Forces Him To Change Direction Faster Than "Just Moving Your Feet"

[Micku]

LOL @ camping in the lane.

No...they cannot do that because that would be illegal defense.

Hand checking? You play defense with your feet. Anyone that's played basketball or coached would tell you this. They just didn't play very good defense because they were accustom to using their hands.

This hand checking argument is getting really old....

Following the 2003-2004 season, you see, the NBA banned hand-checking of perimeter players. The league hoped that cracking down on pushing and grabbing would give the game's offensive stars more space to roam, increase scoring, and create a more fan-friendly, aesthetically pleasing game. Scoring has, as intended, increased in the subsequent seasons.

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports...esnt_rest.html

[Round Mound]

Suggest You Watch What Bird Did To Athletic Players at Age 35 in 1991-92 vs The Blazers: 49/14/12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woAK1i-o2wI

Slow, Unathletic, Rigid, Injured and Old Was Still Effective as a Crippled Man.

[9erempiree]

Back in the 80's a majority of the Defensive Player of the Year were guards. There were no inside presence.

Today's league '96 and beyond it has always been Centers and Power Forwards. You get to the lane you are going to get tossed or stopped in your tracks.

You're going to tell me Bird will be getting in the lane against these guys? He won't be able to get as much rebounds as he did then.