1987 ECF Pistons vs Celtics

[Da_Realist]

Thanks for the games. Do you know if there was a reason behind Bird's horrible series in 1988? It seems unbelievable. The game logs aren't up on any website, but I have him at the following shooting numbers:

game 1 - 8/20
game 2 - 6/20
game 3 - 6/17
game 4 - 7/15
game 5 - 9/25
game 6 - 4/17

I've watched all six games, and it is just unbelievable to see Larry f*cking Bird shoot that poorly over a 6 game playoff stretch. The defense was good, but he still got the shots he wanted (kinda like MJ vs. Sonics). Everything just fell apart for Boston in that series. Ainge and DJ were injured (Ainge shot 1-11 in the final game). Parish got injured in the elimination game (maybe game 5). Team was old and tired. And that's really the only thing I can think of. Bird just being exhausted as he came off a 7 game series, and then game 1 and 2 were on back to back nights. Here's a quote from Isiah: ''I haven't seen Larry shoot this badly since he had that bad elbow in the 1985 championship series against the Lakers,'' Thomas said. ''True, we're putting a little extra defensive pressure but that never has stopped Larry before. I would be curious to know if his elbow was bothering him again. But you never know with Larry, he never lets on about injuries.''

Those stats seem about right. As to why he struggled...probably all of the above. Detroit was younger and hungrier while Boston was on it's last legs. They were in the Finals the previous 4 years. That was going to catch up with them at some point.

This is an interesting point.

After the Lakers went to the Finals 4 straight years (82-85), they were upset by Houston in the conference finals the next year (86) by losing 4 straight games.

Boston went to the Finals 4 straight years (84-87), then lost to Detroit with Bird only shooting 35%.

After going to the NBA Finals for 3 straight years (87-89), LA was upset by Phoenix in 90. They lost the last 4 games.

Detroit dealt with injuries and were eventually swept by Chicago (91) after going to the Finals 3 straight years (88-90).

After Chicago went 3 straight years (91-93), Jordan retired citing fatigue -- emotional and physical.

Chicago disbanded after the 2nd 3peat (96-98).

LA lost to San Antonio in the conference finals (03) in 6 games after going to the Finals 3 straight years (00-02).

Clearly, recent history suggests that pay a price by going deep into the playoffs for 3+ years consecutively.

But mostly, Detroit was ready and they were a better team at this point.

[Da_Realist]

Game 4

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705240DET.html

[D.J.]

Game 4

Boston Celtics 119
Detroit Pistons 145

Boston Celtics
Larry Bird 16 pts (8-16), 7 rebs, 4 asts

Detroit Pistons
Adrian Dantley 32 pts (11-15 fgs), 4 rebs

This was the game where Bird and Laimbeer got into that fight. Also, Robert Parish got back at Laimbeer the following game. This was a great series.

[Da_Realist]

Game 5

Bird steals the ball!

http://www.celtic-nation.com/history...s_the_ball.htm

http://www.nba.com/history/birdsteal_moments.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705260BOS.html

[TheAnchorman]

Game 5

Bird steals the ball!

http://www.celtic-nation.com/history...s_the_ball.htm

http://www.nba.com/history/birdsteal_moments.html

Detroit Pistons 107
Boston Celtics 108

Detroit Pistons
Isiah Thomas 17 pts, 10 asts
Adrian Dantley 25 pts

Boston Celtics
Larry Bird 36 pts (12-25), 12 rebs, 9 asts, 1 stl, 3 blks

Woah, all I know about that game was the steal... I didn't know he almost had a triple double. Damn he is fantastic lol. And I like how that 1 stl is in his statline, it speaks volumes more about his genius than the rest of his stats did that game it seems.

[Da_Realist]

Woah, all I know about that game was the steal... I didn't know he almost had a triple double. Damn he is fantastic lol. And I like how that 1 stl is in his statline, it speaks volumes more about his genius than the rest of his stats did that game it seems.

Good point. Maybe I should have put the "1 stl" in bold

[CB4GOATPF]

Larry Bird
Kevin McHale
Robert Parish
DJ
Ainge
Walton
etc

Dantley
Isiah
Dumars
Laimbeer
Aguirre
Rodman
Mahorn
Salley
etc

How Better can the NBA Get? [COLOR="Blue"]GOLDEN 80s[/COLOR]

[Da_Realist]

Game 6

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705280DET.html

[Fatal9]

Thanks for game 6. Favoriting it now but will watch it when I have time. Rare to see Bird have a 1 assist game though. Do you have the games from the '85 Pistons-Celtics series too? There was a game where Bird dropped 40+ points and something like 20 in the fourth quarter after he got elbowed by Laimbeer (game 1 or 2).

[Da_Realist]

Game 7

The forgotten classic game in this series. Most people think the series ended in Game 5, but Game 6 was close and Game 7 was a classic that went down to the wire. Both teams gave it all they had but Detroit suffered a huge injury to Adrian Dantley (their best player this series by far) when he collided with Vinnie Johnson at the end of the 3rd quarter. McHale played on one leg and I'm still not sure how Parish was able to walk on those ankles, let alone play. Dumars came up big time, but Larry wouldn't let the Celtics lose this game.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...705300BOS.html

[Fatal9]

You're on fire

[Da_Realist]

Larry Bird's stats

Game 1 -- 17 pts (7-22), 15 rebs, 10 asts
Game 2 -- 33 pts (10-21), 11 rebs, 14 asts
Game 3 -- 17 pts (6-15), 10 rebs, 6 asts
Game 4 -- 16 pts (8-16), 7 rebs, 4 asts
Game 5 -- 36 pts (12-25), 12 rebs, 9 asts
Game 6 -- 35 pts (14-19), 7 rebs, 1 ast
Game 7 -- 37 pts (13-24), 9 rebs, 9 asts

Total -- 27 pts, 10 rebs, 8 asts on 49%

The last 4 games (after the Laimbeer fight) --
31 pts, 9 rebs, 6 asts on 56%

This...against a team that used Dennis Rodman, Adrian Dantley, Rick Mahorn and sometimes John Salley to defend him. Very impressive performance by the Legend that should be highlighted up there with the 84 and 86 Finals.

[Da_Realist]

Larry Bird's stats

Game 1 -- 17 pts (7-22), 15 rebs, 10 asts
Game 2 -- 33 pts (10-21), 11 rebs, 14 asts
Game 3 -- 17 pts (6-15), 10 rebs, 6 asts
Game 4 -- 16 pts (8-16), 7 rebs, 4 asts
Game 5 -- 36 pts (12-25), 12 rebs, 9 asts
Game 6 -- 35 pts (14-19), 7 rebs, 1 ast
Game 7 -- 37 pts (13-24), 9 rebs, 9 asts

Total -- 27 pts, 10 rebs, 8 asts on 49%

The last 4 games (after the Laimbeer fight) --
31 pts, 9 rebs, 6 asts on 56%

This...against a team that used Dennis Rodman, Adrian Dantley, Rick Mahorn and sometimes John Salley to defend him. Very impressive performance by the Legend that should be highlighted up there with the 84 and 86 Finals.

bump just in case there are some that didn't realize I posted the whole series.

[chitownsfinest]

What do you plan on posting next since it seems you have covered most of the memorable games/series of the 87 playoffs?

[Da_Realist]

What do you plan on posting next since it seems you have covered most of the memorable games/series of the 87 playoffs?

I need to re-do a Bulls Pistons game from 91 (the sound cuts off for some reason) and probably add a couple of games here and there (83 Lakers Spurs, 84 Lakers Suns, 85 Pistons Celtics, etc). After that, I'll jump back where I left off (1994 and on...)