DJ and Larry were on the same page mentally. They always knew where to be on the court to compliment each other. That play doesn’t happen without DJ. What a great Celtics team. And Larry. Well...LEGEND
@@susanbloodgood3572 I know that talking about basketball, the NBA is the top. And I love Bird, is my favourite player. But in terms of skills, IQ and phisycal power, I didn't see another like the young Arvydas Sabonis. When I was a boy, saw him at 20 years old, breaking the backboard with one hand. He could dunk from the freethrows line. Rebounds, blocks, assists, three points... 7'3". Faster, bigger and stronger than any other, except Wilt, may be. But much more gifted for the game, much more skills.
I guess that's why Bird says D.J. is the best basketball player he ever played with. You'd figure, or I would figure he'd say Kevin McHale but no, D.J. is THE MAN!
Actually, the greatest play!!! You will see many game winning shots. But when do you see a steal against a championship team when your team is down????!!!!!!!
@@anthonyzarate9807 Jordan's steal on Malone is in that same discussion. Everybody always talks about "The Shot".. But "the steal" was more important. Esp since Jordan could have stolen the ball from him a few times but saved it for when he really needed to.
@@thisguy8106 that steal wasn't the same. There was 19 seconds left. With Bird's steal, it was last play of game on an inbounds pass with Isaiah inbounding to Laimbeer (to of the smartest players in history). Malone was very overrated and not clutch at all. The clutch player on that team was Stockton. I watched both games live. I felt that the Bulls were still winning that game, honestly. Before Bird stole the ball, everyone Watching in arena and home (including me) thought the game was over and Detroit had won. Isaiah Thomas said that is the play that taught him you have to play for 48 mins 47:55. He said that is what taught him and Pistons what they needed to win titles and get over the hump. But no doubt was the Jordan steal big. It is bigger (and so is Birds steal) than LeBron's chase down block. In fact the top 3 plays of Lebron's career were not made by him. The Allen 3pt shot, the Kyrie 3pt shot, and Bosh rebound are 3 biggest plays of Lebron's career.
He was a very smart player. He was always where he needed to be, just like that wonderful day. Bird stole the ball, but DJ made the layup and was smart enough to watch Bird
Sorry, we were spoiled and had Chick Hearn in LA, only a Celtic fan could like that voice, like he had his voice box filled with razor blades. Bird is still the GOAT!
@@evermar1 We were too. Johnny was the best of the homers. Once he said Bill Laimbeer hit Robert Parrish’s elbow with his eye. lol. How can you not love how he called that clip? An even better one is when ML Carr stole Magic’s pass in the ‘84 Finals. Couldn’t find it though.
None of the Celtics gave up. That was their greatness. Sichting did not cry to the refs...he put pressure on Isaiah, which forced him to lob the ball. A sharp pass could not have been picked off. DJ did not act as if they blew the game...he filled the lane when he saw the steal, and made a tough right handed layup from the left side. Then, there is the maestro. Focus on where Larry was after his shot was blocked. He was on his behind sliding out of bounds. He got up and moved over to guard Dumars. Then he moves to foul Laimbeer which put him in position to make a historic play.
There was so much that happened...not only the bird steel, but Sichting staying to contest, DJ having the presence of mind to cut, bird somehow staying in bounds AND staying alert to the play that was coming....
So true. Makes you think if he "failed" on purpose the play before just to make it more fun and put the dagger on them. Won't be surprised if he did. He was always playing Chess while the rest were playing checkers!! Genius!
Now what did DJ do after he made the lay-up? he raised his hands to play defense...also, love Johnny screaming his lungs out after the winning play..classic!
@@bamp618 Uhhh...DJ literally was wolfing the inbounds. Stop trying to make your white dude the only guy capable of making the heady play. FOH. Bird was the truth, you white fans making him more than he was, is not.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 You are an idiot. Nobody, black, white, or polka dot, has had more good things to say about DJ than Larry Bird...those of us WHITE fans back in the day, knew and respected just how great DJ was...including his contribution to this steal/win.
That's one of the greatest basketball highlights I've ever seen, Bird's I Q was one of the highest of all time out of all the people who's played the game.
Bird was the equivalent of a world class grand master's chess champion playing against checkers players ! For a guy that "can't run fast or jump high" he sure tore up the defenders using his high basketball IQ !
Watching that play at 11 years old I think I jumped out of my socks. Larry didn’t seem like a real person to a kid like me. He was like a mythical hero. At 44 I know now he’s just another man, but back then, he was incredible
Good way to describe it. I was actually listening to it on the radio; I don't think it was on regular TV and my family didn't have cable. But even with one or two seconds left, you stayed tuned and still held out hope because the Celtic's (and especially Bird's) track record for pulling rabbits out of the hat.
@@mikegulliver4885 I saw him play live the next preseason I believe in Worcester. My uncle got company tickets two rows behind the scorers table by the tunnel where the guys came in. Got to give all the guys high fives. They were gigantic to me. I’m 6’3” now, but back then they were trees, especially Chief. Larry played hard in that game like it was regular season. He and Dominique chased a loose ball right into the table in front of me and I almost got the ball, but a bigger guy grabbed it. That few seconds was a microcosm of how the greats of the 80s played. Spud was something else!
@@mikegulliver4885 well my twin brother is 6’8” so I’m accustomed now to being around tall people, but 7’ is overwhelming. I’m an account manager for a security company. In my early days I worked the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament and I was assigned to the section where the players who weren’t in the current game were sitting. One team had a third string Freshman center who was 7’2”, nearly a full foot taller than I and it was amazing. Now I know how women 5’4” and under feel standing next to me 😆
You can see Bird reading Isiah's eyes during the in-bounds pass as he anticipated where the ball was going. I've often also wondered if he somewhat baited Isiah into throwing it over to Laimbeer by leaving Laimbeer initially unguarded. It's funny as well to see Laimbeer fade on the ball as it comes to him, instead of going towards it. What a series of events! I remember jumping out of my seat at home watching this on TV.
Such a great, instinctive play by Bird, and smart of DJ to run straight to the basket in the nick of time to lay it in. Two legendary players at their best. Johnson should've entered the Naismith Hall of Fame long before 2010.
Growing up, I was a Sixer fan, Dr.J and Maurice Cheeks, Toney, Malone. We had there number one year for sure. But Bird was without a doubt the best player I ever watched. Although I did not like him during his playing career, he certainly had my respect.
I REMEMBER THIS LIKE YEASTERDAY, me and dad watching this was 17 teen, we were jumping up and down, and Chuck at the end of the game,It was a great play,
He did it in a 9 year window. Had he not been "moppin up the floors" his whole career, he would have had a longer and more amazing career. Growing up he was by far my favorite player and Celtics were my favorite team, and I grew up in Milwaukee. My grandpa told me their was a special player (Bird) in college in 1978-79. So I watched the tournament (especially final 4) and was hooked on Bird! I was only like 8, but fell in love with basketball because of Larry!
He saw that Isaiah was only looking where he wanted to throw it, so Bird stayed out of Thomas' line of vision until the ball was in the air. Thomas had tunnel vision at the worst possible moment and Bird could see that.
Still gives me chills. Johnny Most and Larry Bird: two legends of their crafts. Wonderful to hear this again. Larry's description of it shows how he always had a total view of everything going on from every possible angle. Amazing court sense.
We used to listen to Most as we watched the game on TV. The contrast between his descriptions and the actual game were sometimes pretty funny. He had some great lines, "Fifteen years in the NBA and he still hasn't committed a foul" (about Kareem arguing a call) and "He's a refrigerator with a head" (Charles Barkley).
We live in Indiana and the local station would carry every Celtics game because Larry grew up just down the road. The memories of listening to Johnny Most call games are still so sweet.
I have seen a lot of basketball throughout the years and a lot of last second winning shots, but this, this mybfriends is the best PLAY EVER without a doubt. This tells you how Larry was head and shoulders above the rest. He never, ever quits. His mental toughness and IQ has no equal. How after losing the game he has the fortitude and focus to read the game, think ahead. In 4 seconds he won the game without scoring the points. He had a steal and an assist in 3 seconds!! He even had the awareness not to step out of bounds while on the edge. Nothing like it. My #1 Play ever.
This is one of those plays that encapsulates and defines a guy's career. Like Jordan's shot against the Jazz. Bird comes up with a tough, gritty, savvy, improbable play that saves the game for his team. If someone asked you about Larry Bird, you could flip on this play and say, "I'll tell you about Bird, he did stuff like this all the time."
At 37 seconds you can definitely see the concern on the faces of every piston on the bench....best clutch performer in the history of the NBA and they knew it
That smile on Bird's face @:32 as he realizes that he has another opportunity to make the winning shot and steal the game from the Pistons. But no, his shot gets blocked and it's Pistons ball! But he didn't give up. He didn't feel dejected and get lazy. He kept his composure and intensity 'cause the game wasn't over! He got the steal, saw DJ out of the corner of his eye and made one of the most time-sensitive passes ever, all while keeping his feet inside the boundary line. DJ makes the game winning shot, not Bird. But Bird gets the credit because the amazing steal! Great sequence of events!
Liberty Pastor We were always told “play to the whistle”. For the Pros we can add “not to the crowd”. Exactly what Detroit forgot, but Boston stuck to the fundamentals, and it was epic to watch.
It’s incredible to think that the Pistons had scored the go ahead basket, blocked Larry’s Bird’s shot and scrambled to knock the ball off of a Celtic. That was a perfect series of plays by Detroit. Too bad the game still had a few seconds left. 😊
I remember being on my 8th grade Washington DC trip and having my buddy throw the news paper at me the next day and being so happy!! The good ole days!!!
As a Piston fan this was brutal. This series was right there for the taking and we let it slip away. But it was part of the learning process that made the team a champion later.
You're not kidding. I was just a kid in Detroit, but STILL remember this play all these years later. Pistons and Red Wings had to overcome immense adversity to finally win their championships.
Playing the game as dirty as possible as how the Pistons won. They couldn’t defeat Jordan fairly so they used cheap shots and cowardly underhanded tactics instead.
Start at 2:19. Focus on Bird. He starts going towards Laimbeer before Isaiah even starts his motion to pass it over there. Larry was the most instinctive and smartest basketball player of all time. Case closed, there's no debate on that
Love that little exchange between DJ and Larry after they scored. I'm guessing DJ said come here baby, you're the greatest. And then Larry said yeah I know. Lol
On the eve of Celtics / Warriors this clip reminds me of the Celtics championship history. No matter how many times I watch this I still get goose bumps. This was made sweeter by being called by Johnny Most in the Garden. Thank you for posting it!
I will just say this - I am too young (36) to have seen the game live, but I knew all about the play growing up and loving/playing bball. One day I was watching a Pistons v Celtics game on ESPN 2, and as it got to the end of the game, I thought, "Well Pistons have this locked up." Little did I know it was THIS game. Such an incredible play that I will always come back to.
As a Pistons fan, I can't tell you how physically painful this was to watch. The Celtics were the platinum standard in the East back then, and we just couldn't seem to get over the hump. When we got the call for the ball OB (which I couldn't believe we got a call in Boston). My buddy and I jumped up, high-fived each other, hugged, and when we turned back to the TV, the Celtics bench was celebrating. We didn't realize what happened because we were too busy celebrating to watch. I'm telling you, having your brain shut down all those endorphins and adrenaline that fast was physically painful. I mean, man, that hurt. The sting did go away, though, as we beat the Celtics the next year on our way to 3 consecutive finals and two championships. Man, I really miss these days.
I was there! after the Bird steal and DJ scoring- the Garden was literally so loud you couldnt hear yourself - thunderous rocking wow!.... I recall earlier in the game away from the play the Chief decked Laimbeer to the parquet floor...
I've always said that Laimbeer is just as much at fault as Thomas for not meeting the pass. Something we were all taught in elementary school. He was backing up instead. I was watching that game and had given up all hope. Bird was amazing.
In part Laimbeer. It's really the fault of Mahorn and Rodman. They ran to the bench to celebrate and Thomas was forced to throw it right where Bird anticipated and then DJ had an open lane to the basket. I was at that game and could not believe they were celebrating before the game was over.
Bird baited Thomas into making the pass. Outsmarted him. Thomas should have known better. Bird was not about to just give up. 3D chess vs a checkers player.
Your right. And it's not taken anything away from thay 87 Lakers team. But had Mchales foot not been in 2 place, Birds back not killing him, no injuries Chief Ainge or Walton and Len Bias lives and thrives with the Celtics that 1987 Finals might've turned out different.
Yes indeed!! Len Bias was another Superman, on the court! It was a shock to know he was lost just after the draft! I recall Bird saying, he would attend rookie camp if they chose Bias. I’d say he would have definitely helped Boston get a few more titles at a minimum!
Great how Bird notes Sichting's critical role in the whole sequence. Sure Bird makes the steal, DJ makes the lay up. But by executing a fundamental of basketball...pressuring the inbounds passer, Sichting made the entire play possible and Bird explains that.
@@natalliaf6387 Sichting getting in Isiah's face blocked his view of Bird coming for the ball. Isiah only saw Laimbeer. Laimbeer seemed to be surprised that Isiah was going to inbound to him and therefore didn't notice Bird either. Bird just seemed to appear out of nowhere. 😁
@natalliaf6387 He did enough.. so that Thomas had to alter his in bounds pass.. just enough time for Bird to arrive and get in front of Lambier. I'm sure it is coached that way in practice. Celtics play fundamental basketball. When Havlecek " stole the ball " same thing.. they had someone on the in bounds pass. Never allow the in bounds passer the discretion to see the whole floor.
![[Live สด] การออกรางวัลสลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล งวดวันที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dNTiBBthKgQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I always remember that gesture from DJ to Larry to give him a hug after the play. I loved this team so much and still do to this day.
Me, too. Never another like it.
I’ve now seen this a thousand times. It never gets old
No high-five, no body slam air jumps, just DJ subtly waving Larry over and giving each other a hug. Speaks volumes.
DJ and Larry were on the same page mentally. They always knew where to be on the court to compliment each other. That play doesn’t happen without DJ. What a great Celtics team. And Larry. Well...LEGEND
Yeah, people don't give DJ enough credit for his part in this. He broke to the basket anticipating Larry's stealing the ball.
RIP Legend Dennis Johnson
Textbook perfect !
I promise you one thing Larry knows DJ made this play. Best twosome in NBA history
Larry made an awesome steal, but DJ had to put it in the bucket. 🎉
It's been over 30 years. I still don't know how Bird kept his feet inbounds, let alone had the vision to see DJ cutting.
I noticed that too. He actually stays up on his toes to avoid stepping on the baseline. Amazing heads up play 👍
That's why he's the 🐐
Check out the You Tube video of Isaiah talking about this play. It's a terrific insight.
While Bird couldn’t block shots like Wilt Chamberlain, the rest of His game was so complete like no one else ever !
@@susanbloodgood3572 I know that talking about basketball, the NBA is the top. And I love Bird, is my favourite player. But in terms of skills, IQ and phisycal power, I didn't see another like the young Arvydas Sabonis. When I was a boy, saw him at 20 years old, breaking the backboard with one hand. He could dunk from the freethrows line. Rebounds, blocks, assists, three points... 7'3". Faster, bigger and stronger than any other, except Wilt, may be. But much more gifted for the game, much more skills.
DJ and Bird shared a BRAIN!
as Brent Musburger would say a year later on that very floor---"you've witnessed what greatness is all about."
that layup by DJ was actually pretty difficult... high pressure moment, Thomas trying to swat it from behind...
Joe Dumars not Thomas.
Dumars
I guess that's why Bird says D.J. is the best basketball player he ever played with. You'd figure, or I would figure he'd say Kevin McHale but no, D.J. is THE MAN!
Actually I think it was Rodman
@@MyMy-zi7yv He's wrong though, it was McHale.
One of the greatest plays in NBA post season history
It's a part of NBA lore.
Actually, the greatest play!!! You will see many game winning shots. But when do you see a steal against a championship team when your team is down????!!!!!!!
@@anthonyzarate9807 with a couple seconds left
@@anthonyzarate9807 Jordan's steal on Malone is in that same discussion. Everybody always talks about "The Shot".. But "the steal" was more important. Esp since Jordan could have stolen the ball from him a few times but saved it for when he really needed to.
@@thisguy8106 that steal wasn't the same. There was 19 seconds left. With Bird's steal, it was last play of game on an inbounds pass with Isaiah inbounding to Laimbeer (to of the smartest players in history). Malone was very overrated and not clutch at all. The clutch player on that team was Stockton. I watched both games live. I felt that the Bulls were still winning that game, honestly. Before Bird stole the ball, everyone Watching in arena and home (including me) thought the game was over and Detroit had won.
Isaiah Thomas said that is the play that taught him you have to play for 48 mins 47:55. He said that is what taught him and Pistons what they needed to win titles and get over the hump.
But no doubt was the Jordan steal big. It is bigger (and so is Birds steal) than LeBron's chase down block. In fact the top 3 plays of Lebron's career were not made by him. The Allen 3pt shot, the Kyrie 3pt shot, and Bosh rebound are 3 biggest plays of Lebron's career.
Dennis Johnson may he RIP was a seriously underrated player.
Clutch as can be! The 2nd best Celtic behind The Legend.
I loved watching Dennis Johnson play...
larry weinberg And He was the least flashy player ever also , loved Him !
DJ was so clutch on Seattle, Phoenix and Boston.
He was a very smart player. He was always where he needed to be, just like that wonderful day. Bird stole the ball, but DJ made the layup and was smart enough to watch Bird
1:21 DJ to Larry - no high five brotha, bring it in here for a hug
This play is just another example of why Larry is the GOAT
All business
Agreed
As the legendary Dr J said: "Larry Bird is a basketball genius".
As Oscar Robertson said: Lebron James is the greatest basketball player he has ever seen, 2nd best not even close!
@@chetroberson5760 LeWho?
@@chetroberson5760 nice sarcasm
Dirk nowitzki; Nikola jokic; LeBron James would've scored 50s points against Larry bird
One of my favorite moments in sports is watching DJ signal Bird to bring it in for some love after this play was over.
Yeah that was a good one
They were still focused on the prize too.
“Oh my this place is going crazy!” Johnny Most had the best voice.
Almost as good as Hot Rod's.
Miss both of them.
It's not even right to watch this play without that voice in the background.
Sorry, we were spoiled and had Chick Hearn in LA, only a Celtic fan could like that voice, like he had his voice box filled with razor blades.
Bird is still the GOAT!
@@evermar1 We were too. Johnny was the best of the homers. Once he said Bill Laimbeer hit Robert Parrish’s elbow with his eye. lol. How can you not love how he called that clip? An even better one is when ML Carr stole Magic’s pass in the ‘84 Finals. Couldn’t find it though.
@@DJ-bj8ku Another great one is when Havlichek stole the ball to win the NBA championship.
None of the Celtics gave up. That was their greatness. Sichting did not cry to the refs...he put pressure on Isaiah, which forced him to lob the ball. A sharp pass could not have been picked off. DJ did not act as if they blew the game...he filled the lane when he saw the steal, and made a tough right handed layup from the left side.
Then, there is the maestro. Focus on where Larry was after his shot was blocked. He was on his behind sliding out of bounds. He got up and moved over to guard Dumars. Then he moves to foul Laimbeer which put him in position to make a historic play.
And with one second left on the clock DJ and Bird were on defense 🙂
Birds play was excellent, DJ's layup was phenomenal
dude, totally the other way around....geeesh
@@eggsmann594 if you look at DJ's layup he almost missed. And had a guy right on him. If anything it's equal
@@eggsmann594 I was sitting basically ten rows under the basket to the same side as Larry's steal. Not that it really matters but
There was so much that happened...not only the bird steel, but Sichting staying to contest, DJ having the presence of mind to cut, bird somehow staying in bounds AND staying alert to the play that was coming....
Look at bird smile before he passes the ball on the inbound play. He is enjoying the pressure it's what he loved about the game.
I noticed that too, at 00.34 - 00.36
So true. Makes you think if he "failed" on purpose the play before just to make it more fun and put the dagger on them.
Won't be surprised if he did.
He was always playing Chess while the rest were playing checkers!!
Genius!
Now what did DJ do after he made the lay-up? he raised his hands to play defense...also, love Johnny screaming his lungs out after the winning play..classic!
I'd love to hear Gorman's call instead.
As soon as DJ made the layup, Bird immediately started to get back on defense, the man was the best,still gives me chills!
Everyone else was celebrating, but not him.
DJ also went on defense.
That's another video which shows why Bird loved him.
@@bamp618 Uhhh...DJ literally was wolfing the inbounds. Stop trying to make your white dude the only guy capable of making the heady play. FOH. Bird was the truth, you white fans making him more than he was, is not.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 You are an idiot. Nobody, black, white, or polka dot, has had more good things to say about DJ than Larry Bird...those of us WHITE fans back in the day, knew and respected just how great DJ was...including his contribution to this steal/win.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 Really have to put "White" there huh?
The cut and the layup by DJ just as clutch as the steal
I love how Johnny Most called the play. He captured the emotion of that play perfectly! Johnny was a legend.
I love the reactions of Walton. He went from absolute despair to indescribable joy in the matter of seconds!
Walton did nothing warm the bench!
He was funny and vocal during his bench warmer years. He was pretty animated on the Celtics sidelines in key moments.
For any one who ever questioned Larry Birds greatness. That should end the discussion. He turned basketball into a masters chess game!
@@markwickering7000yup
That's one of the greatest basketball highlights I've ever seen, Bird's I Q was one of the highest of all time out of all the people who's played the game.
Larry Bird was the best basketball player in the nba history.
@SkyH23
Whatchoo talkin bout Willis? Larry Bird is my TRUE GOAT 🐐
Bird was the equivalent of a world class grand master's chess champion playing against checkers players ! For a guy that "can't run fast or jump high" he sure tore up the defenders using his high basketball IQ !
i remember watching this on tv. This is still one the most remarkable ends to a game I've ever seen. Total amazement
Exactly
Me too.
Same
Watching that play at 11 years old I think I jumped out of my socks. Larry didn’t seem like a real person to a kid like me. He was like a mythical hero. At 44 I know now he’s just another man, but back then, he was incredible
Good way to describe it. I was actually listening to it on the radio; I don't think it was on regular TV and my family didn't have cable. But even with one or two seconds left, you stayed tuned and still held out hope because the Celtic's (and especially Bird's) track record for pulling rabbits out of the hat.
@@mikegulliver4885 I saw him play live the next preseason I believe in Worcester. My uncle got company tickets two rows behind the scorers table by the tunnel where the guys came in. Got to give all the guys high fives. They were gigantic to me. I’m 6’3” now, but back then they were trees, especially Chief. Larry played hard in that game like it was regular season. He and Dominique chased a loose ball right into the table in front of me and I almost got the ball, but a bigger guy grabbed it. That few seconds was a microcosm of how the greats of the 80s played. Spud was something else!
@@fezzik7619 Great memories! You never appreciate how tall seven feet is until you see up close.
@@mikegulliver4885 well my twin brother is 6’8” so I’m accustomed now to being around tall people, but 7’ is overwhelming. I’m an account manager for a security company. In my early days I worked the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament and I was assigned to the section where the players who weren’t in the current game were sitting. One team had a third string Freshman center who was 7’2”, nearly a full foot taller than I and it was amazing. Now I know how women 5’4” and under feel standing next to me 😆
Bird was and still is the greatest ever in roundball .
Amen
Larry Bird was the best basketball player in the NBA history.
@Carnell Bell He was the absolute best of white, black, yellow, green, purple and blue.
@Samuel Hopkins Shhhhh.....the adults are talking now.
@Samuel Hopkins Ok...you're sorry. Larry Legend is the best ever.
Next!
GREATEST play in NBA history . . . .
John havlichek did the same thing
Ive watched it 100 times
And that is why he is Larry Legend
Arguably the greatest defensive play of all time.😎
Easily top ten in any book.
Well, top 8
Detroit would have went up 3-2.
I agree
No, because it required galactic class stupidity on the part of isiah Thomas to make it possible.
@@JStarStar00 Not confused by the brilliance of Larry Legend🥳
One of the best!!!
This is the pinnacle of chemistry and teamwork. Larry didn't even plan to steal that ball, yet as soon as he went for it dj was moving for a layup.
Bird and Johnson. Can't beat that combo !!!!
One of the greatest steals in NBA history.
Top 5 GREATEST play ever
reminds you of "Havlichek stole the ball..."
Witnessed this as it was broadcast and it was every bit as magical as depicted in this video.
Bird had unbelievable basketball instincts
You’re right about that!!!
You can see Bird reading Isiah's eyes during the in-bounds pass as he anticipated where the ball was going. I've often also wondered if he somewhat baited Isiah into throwing it over to Laimbeer by leaving Laimbeer initially unguarded. It's funny as well to see Laimbeer fade on the ball as it comes to him, instead of going towards it. What a series of events! I remember jumping out of my seat at home watching this on TV.
Such a great, instinctive play by Bird, and smart of DJ to run straight to the basket in the nick of time to lay it in. Two legendary players at their best. Johnson should've entered the Naismith Hall of Fame long before 2010.
#33 years ago today. OH MY THIS PLACE IS GOING CRAZY!!!!!! Never gets old
DJ said bring me some love. You know Thomas had a long long ride home on the bus. You know that will haunt him the rest of his life.
Growing up, I was a Sixer fan, Dr.J and Maurice Cheeks, Toney, Malone. We had there number one year for sure. But Bird was without a doubt the best player I ever watched. Although I did not like him during his playing career, he certainly had my respect.
Why didn't you like him ? Because he beat your teams ass ?
Their* number
@@bamp618 obviously, that and he was a cocky asshole on the court.
@@fezzik7619 Thank you. The spellchecker gave me that (there) and I didn't catch it.
DJ was a great ball player
Greatest player of all time
Great to see that lump of crap Laimbeer whiff at the ball from the bird's eye view. DJ's layup was amazing too. Just epic all around.
Lump of crap. Haha. That gave me a laugh
@@jr6200 I’ll get you banned from TH-cam for laughing at what he said when he was a lump of crap
That was BEAUTIFUL footwork staying in. F** amazing.
I REMEMBER THIS LIKE YEASTERDAY, me and dad watching this was 17 teen, we were jumping up and down, and Chuck at the end of the game,It was a great play,
Chris Roberts, what’s YEASTERDAY?😆
Larry made so many amazing plays in his career , it would take most players 2 careers to equal his accomplishments !
He did it in a 9 year window. Had he not been "moppin up the floors" his whole career, he would have had a longer and more amazing career. Growing up he was by far my favorite player and Celtics were my favorite team, and I grew up in Milwaukee. My grandpa told me their was a special player (Bird) in college in 1978-79. So I watched the tournament (especially final 4) and was hooked on Bird! I was only like 8, but fell in love with basketball because of Larry!
Bird knew how to position himself to be at the right place at the right time. He had basketball smarts.
He saw that Isaiah was only looking where he wanted to throw it, so Bird stayed out of Thomas' line of vision until the ball was in the air. Thomas had tunnel vision at the worst possible moment and Bird could see that.
Still gives me chills. Johnny Most and Larry Bird: two legends of their crafts. Wonderful to hear this again. Larry's description of it shows how he always had a total view of everything going on from every possible angle. Amazing court sense.
We used to listen to Most as we watched the game on TV. The contrast between his descriptions and the actual game were sometimes pretty funny. He had some great lines, "Fifteen years in the NBA and he still hasn't committed a foul" (about Kareem arguing a call) and "He's a refrigerator with a head" (Charles Barkley).
@@allanmatthews1881 Hilarious. Thanks for those!
We live in Indiana and the local station would carry every Celtics game because Larry grew up just down the road. The memories of listening to Johnny Most call games are still so sweet.
@@brettconnerley8670 Yes, I can relate to what you're saying since I live near Terre Haute. Fun!
Bird always hug DJ what a great team mate
Im kind of a Celtics hater but this play always give me chills. “Now there’s a steal by Bird” RIP DJ and BW
My mouth is still open today. I was not a Bird fan but that right there was some gangster shit!!!!😮
I have seen a lot of basketball throughout the years and a lot of last second winning shots, but this, this mybfriends is the best PLAY EVER without a doubt.
This tells you how Larry was head and shoulders above the rest.
He never, ever quits. His mental toughness and IQ has no equal.
How after losing the game he has the fortitude and focus to read the game, think ahead.
In 4 seconds he won the game without scoring the points.
He had a steal and an assist in 3 seconds!!
He even had the awareness not to step out of bounds while on the edge.
Nothing like it.
My #1 Play ever.
Hell Of A Moment.
This is one of those plays that encapsulates and defines a guy's career. Like Jordan's shot against the Jazz. Bird comes up with a tough, gritty, savvy, improbable play that saves the game for his team. If someone asked you about Larry Bird, you could flip on this play and say, "I'll tell you about Bird, he did stuff like this all the time."
Wow, never seen this footage from court side, thank you!!!!
Awesome upload. With the cliche/vintage narration and music and everything! 10/10
At 37 seconds you can definitely see the concern on the faces of every piston on the bench....best clutch performer in the history of the NBA and they knew it
DJ and Bird hugging...that's the best.
Bird had that smirk at 0:35
Thanks for posting and bringing me back to that moment in Celtics history. It was Bird at his best and he was the BEST!
I love listening to Johnny Most on this play
I went here after Derrick White last second shot in the 2023 ECF vs Miami
Similar vibes
The announcer emotion tho is everything lol... I love it
That smile on Bird's face @:32 as he realizes that he has another opportunity to make the winning shot and steal the game from the Pistons.
But no, his shot gets blocked and it's Pistons ball!
But he didn't give up. He didn't feel dejected and get lazy. He kept his composure and intensity 'cause the game wasn't over!
He got the steal, saw DJ out of the corner of his eye and made one of the most time-sensitive passes ever, all while keeping his feet inside the boundary line.
DJ makes the game winning shot, not Bird. But Bird gets the credit because the amazing steal!
Great sequence of events!
Liberty Pastor
We were always told “play to the whistle”. For the Pros we can add “not to the crowd”.
Exactly what Detroit forgot, but Boston stuck to the fundamentals, and it was epic to watch.
He was actually smiling because of all the trash talk that Mahorn was lobbing at him just before the inbound play.
It’s incredible to think that the Pistons had scored the go ahead basket, blocked Larry’s Bird’s shot and scrambled to knock the ball off of a Celtic. That was a perfect series of plays by Detroit. Too bad the game still had a few seconds left. 😊
I remember being on my 8th grade Washington DC trip and having my buddy throw the news paper at me the next day and being so happy!! The good ole days!!!
As a Piston fan this was brutal. This series was right there for the taking and we let it slip away. But it was part of the learning process that made the team a champion later.
True. As much as I detested Detroit, the Pistons were a great team.
You're not kidding. I was just a kid in Detroit, but STILL remember this play all these years later. Pistons and Red Wings had to overcome immense adversity to finally win their championships.
Playing the game as dirty as possible as how the Pistons won. They couldn’t defeat Jordan fairly so they used cheap shots and cowardly underhanded tactics instead.
@@theholymackerel072 😢
Those Detroit teams were nasty. It took the bulls forever to get past them
I was there, the place went crazy!!!!
Start at 2:19. Focus on Bird. He starts going towards Laimbeer before Isaiah even starts his motion to pass it over there. Larry was the most instinctive and smartest basketball player of all time. Case closed, there's no debate on that
If you saw this play, as with anything truly great, you will never forget it.
Bird steal, amazing, DJ being in position, expecting it, more amazing!
"I got my hand in there and stold it." 2:46
there is an E in Stoled it
Love that little exchange between DJ and Larry after they scored.
I'm guessing DJ said come here baby, you're the greatest. And then Larry said yeah I know. Lol
God I never get tired of this. Specially the announcer.
Specially? Did you mean especially? Two different words with very different meanings. Back to third grade
On the eve of Celtics / Warriors this clip reminds me of the Celtics championship history. No matter how many times I watch this I still get goose bumps. This was made sweeter by being called by Johnny Most in the Garden. Thank you for posting it!
*LARRY BIRD WAS THE BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER IN THE NBA HISTORY.*
Bird was the best basketball player in NBA on the 80's.
You gotta love Thomas losing the game. HILARIOUS
I was there and in that corner of the Garden. It was fucking insane.
I was watching that game in a club with a GF. When that happened I told her she just witnessed history being made.
After all these years, it's still an unbelievably great play!
@1:23. DJ: “I’m here to represent all..ALL, the whole of Celtic Nation.” ❤️
They forgot about Larry Bird. I LOVE THAT QUOTE.
Heavens no we see that play every day in practice
I will just say this - I am too young (36) to have seen the game live, but I knew all about the play growing up and loving/playing bball.
One day I was watching a Pistons v Celtics game on ESPN 2, and as it got to the end of the game, I thought, "Well Pistons have this locked up." Little did I know it was THIS game. Such an incredible play that I will always come back to.
As a Pistons fan, I can't tell you how physically painful this was to watch. The Celtics were the platinum standard in the East back then, and we just couldn't seem to get over the hump. When we got the call for the ball OB (which I couldn't believe we got a call in Boston). My buddy and I jumped up, high-fived each other, hugged, and when we turned back to the TV, the Celtics bench was celebrating. We didn't realize what happened because we were too busy celebrating to watch. I'm telling you, having your brain shut down all those endorphins and adrenaline that fast was physically painful. I mean, man, that hurt. The sting did go away, though, as we beat the Celtics the next year on our way to 3 consecutive finals and two championships. Man, I really miss these days.
I remember watching this game at home with my parents. We went nuts! Everyone up and down the block was screaming! It was amazing!
I was there! after the Bird steal and DJ scoring- the Garden was literally so loud you couldnt hear yourself - thunderous rocking wow!.... I recall earlier in the game away from the play the Chief decked Laimbeer to the parquet floor...
Loved that play by The Chief! And no foul called 😂
I've always said that Laimbeer is just as much at fault as Thomas for not meeting the pass. Something we were all taught in elementary school. He was backing up instead. I was watching that game and had given up all hope. Bird was amazing.
In part Laimbeer. It's really the fault of Mahorn and Rodman. They ran to the bench to celebrate and Thomas was forced to throw it right where Bird anticipated and then DJ had an open lane to the basket. I was at that game and could not believe they were celebrating before the game was over.
@@kaflookey it's all on Thomas. Pistons still had a time out in their bag, so Thomas was not "forced" to give that crappy pass.
Bird baited Thomas into making the pass. Outsmarted him. Thomas should have known better. Bird was not about to just give up. 3D chess vs a checkers player.
I watched it happen, the rush was like a drug...
Barring injuries and the death of Bias, this would have been a repeat.
Your right. And it's not taken anything away from thay 87 Lakers team. But had Mchales foot not been in 2 place, Birds back not killing him, no injuries Chief Ainge or Walton and Len Bias lives and thrives with the Celtics that 1987 Finals might've turned out different.
Yes indeed!! Len Bias was another Superman, on the court! It was a shock to know he was lost just after the draft! I recall Bird saying, he would attend rookie camp if they chose Bias. I’d say he would have definitely helped Boston get a few more titles at a minimum!
Dont forget the death of Reggie Lewis. That guy could play and was not a me first guy.
Forever my favorite sports memory. #LarryLegend
The greatest individual play in NBA history.
Very likely.
Great how Bird notes Sichting's critical role in the whole sequence. Sure Bird makes the steal, DJ makes the lay up. But by executing a fundamental of basketball...pressuring the inbounds passer, Sichting made the entire play possible and Bird explains that.
Thanks for pointing out what someone explained in the video.
funny thing is Sichting DID NOT pressure Thomas.
@@natalliaf6387 Sichting getting in Isiah's face blocked his view of Bird coming for the ball. Isiah only saw Laimbeer. Laimbeer seemed to be surprised that Isiah was going to inbound to him and therefore didn't notice Bird either. Bird just seemed to appear out of nowhere. 😁
@natalliaf6387 He did enough.. so that Thomas had to alter his in bounds pass.. just enough time for Bird to arrive and get in front of Lambier. I'm sure it is coached that way in practice. Celtics play fundamental basketball. When Havlecek " stole the ball " same thing.. they had someone on the in bounds pass. Never allow the in bounds passer the discretion to see the whole floor.
We used to watch the game and turn off the volume and listen to Johnny Most on the radio, good times for sure.
I had to listen on my transistor. I remember Applecheck!
I still get misty eyed every single time I see this. Bird was just the most sensational player to have ever played
Larry Bird is the Secretariat of basketball. He did things that had never been seen before or will never be seen again
Thanks to all the players of the fabulaous Celtics in that era to be ready and have hands of glue. Good eye hand coordination.
THE greatest play in NBA history…..period.
Actually one of the dumbest plays in NBA history as well
*LARRY THE LEGEND BIRD !!!*