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Safari locks up on the I am over 18 screen or I would become a Patreon. Stockton has the most assists by far. Apx. 3,700 more than Kidd. Byrd doesn’t make the leader board. Magic had his career cut short tho.
This highlights his passing much better. It isn't about how fancy it is, it's about all the ways to get guys open looks th-cam.com/video/FIwnXfeSdu0/w-d-xo.html
Larry probably had the best vision of anyone to play the game. He knew where everyone on the court was at all times. He also had an immense advantage that we will never see in basketball again. He didn't need to deal with free agency full team overhauls. He played with the core of Parish, McHale, Johnson, and Ainger for most of his career. THey all learned how the other would play over years which allowed them to get more aggressive with cuts and positioning on court. Each player was selfless and focused on the team.
Nikola Jokic is the best passer of all time, and the second best is Magic. Magic stated that he picked up all the passes from Pistol Pete Maravich, so Maravich should also be put at the top of the list. Bird is certainly the top five. Chauncy Billops has said that Jokic is a better passer than any point guard in history, so there are more and more people who take Jokic's passing skills seriously.
You should check out Larry Bird's rookie highlights. He got more creative as a passer as he developed, but he pretty much came into the league able to shoot, drop dimes, and he never stopped hustling. And you nailed it during the video; Larry had great vision and would find the open man instantly when he was doubled.
No one more clutch than Bird - from day 1. It took MJ several years (when Bird was broken) for him to start cooking even though he had great physical ability. You should watch 1988 duel between Dominique and Bird - beautiful basketball. Those guys played their hearts out. Playoffs game 7 second round.
Say Hey Polo--I saw Larry play many times and The thing about him was you could make a highlight reel of him every game. He played each game like it was the playoffs. His three consecutive MVPs speak to that. I saw all of the great players of that era and no one impacted games as much as Larry. He was relentless. His numbers tell the tale, and no players stock has risen with time the way Larry's has because his contemporaries, from Michael to Magic, speak with a certain awe and reverence for Larry's tenacious hooping.
Parrish once kidded he got 5,000 points from Larry. Every game was a master class by Bird. He wasn’t fancy: he just got the job done. And I’ll take substance over style every time. Sees the whole floor at all times, which made him dangerous with or without the ball. #GOAT
@clark8712 in my neighborhood the saying was " you don't think Bird is the best in the NBA? You know fuck all about basketball .". Doesn't flow as well as your example and mine might have just been me talking but you get my point.
Nikola Jokic is the best passer of all time, and the second best is Magic. Magic stated that he picked up all the passes from Pistol Pete Maravich, so Maravich should also be put at the top of the list. Bird is certainly the top five. Chauncy Billops has said that Jokic is a better passer than any point guard in history, so there are more and more people who take Jokic's passing skills seriously.
@mlrd2687 great you have seen highlights I haven't so tell me where I can see Jokic on the fast break go behind his back to a teammate and then get it back and finish with an up and under and yes I realize the finish isn't the pass but it's o e package deal. Actually show me any passes that happen on the fast break that Jokic does or off the dribble in the offensive end, or off his back, or as he is crashing out of bounds because I see Jokic make great passes but they are from his post or at most a couple of dribbles then a pass. The variety of passes Bird did is why his defenders say he is the best and Jokic isn't even close in that regard. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Is he the best passing center of all time? I don't know Kareem was awesome. Arvidas Sabonis was great but not enough years played and I guarantee you don't know that Wilt led the entire league in total assists one year. I would bet you are under 30 which would be fine except for the fact that you make a definitive statement about basketball and you had no idea about the Wilt Chamberlain fact I layed down previously which makes me think , you should think this as well, what else don't you know about basketball . Just because you have a favorite player doesn't mean he is the GOAT.
Larry Bird, greatest passer of all time NO CAP!!! Bird knows where everybody is on the floor at any time so he doesn't have to look when making a pass. He can pump fake you and make you look stupid.
I haven’t watched the NBA since Magic and Bird played. It became a “me” game after them, not a team game. And after retirement Bird and Magic became best friends.
It's why you were mistaken when you said one pass was lucky. Fortunate maybe but he meant to do it. Bird said when he got the ball he knew where all 4 teammates were positioned on the floor. Scary good.
He knew how to do this because he spent time as a young player developing all the basic skills then took that to college to become player of the year then to the NBA. As a teen I remember watching a video with him and Red Auerbach teaching those basic skills, not just jacking up 3s all day.
This man was the GOAT. It seemed like he had eyes on the sides and back of his head. So many time I've seen him look like he was going to take a shot and flick the ball off to someone behind him and to one side by 15 feet and never even look in his direction. He would be dribbling down the court and bounce it behind him straight to someone that was clear for a lay-up or easy 3 pointer. It was as if he knew exactly where every member of the team was, every second of play.
@@GregNewkirk-o8h "Mike" was 0-5 against Bird and his boys in the postseason! Two sweeps...not one win! Won his six rings after Bird, Magic and the Bad Boys were gone. Magic and Bird had won 5 rings combined by 1984! Bird is the greatest all-around player to ever step on the court.
He wasn't a one man show out for the glory. He got plenty of action of his own, but he was a team player that didn't sacrifice a basket so he could show off. He showed off doing it all and brought his team with him to share in the numbers. Many a time opponents doubted him and learned a lesson.
An overlooked talent was Bird's leadership skills. He had his team helping him perform all those passes which would be worthless if his mates weren't ready to capitalize on each play. He knew how to make them shine by bringing out the best in each one of them. I think the Celtics were the most fun to watch in the 80s because of the way Larry Bird worked his team.
When you think of how team basketball is supposed to be played. Duncan's spurs and Larry's celtics are the best examples. Unselfish smart baskteball is the purest form of basketball and incredibly tough to beat for any team
Thanks for the reaction. 👍 Bird is so much fun to watch. One of my favorites in this compilation is the one where he stops dead at the foul line, spins, and then makes the pass to McHale(?) right next to the basket. The whole paint is clogged full of players expecting him to drive to the basket himself. His dead stop and spin confuses the whole bunch and draws all the attention to him and boom, creates the opportunity to send it to his open man. And it's all over in a second. 😁 There are so many times when he could have taken the shot for himself but chooses to pass it to a teammate with an open shot or who is in a position to make the effective "assist" for the score.
I'm from Los Angeles and I was a huge fan of Magic Johnson. Triple doubles every game. But when the Celtics came to town, I got tense. Larry Bird was just too damned good.
Showtime fan with PTSD from Bird in the playoffs. We just outgunned the Celtics. Unfortunately the Bad Boys absolutely beat up the Celtics in 87 so that wasn’t a fair fight. In hindsight Bird was best player in 80’s.
1982 Lakers with Norm Nixon and Magic sharing the ball are in competition with the 2016 screen and ball movement Warriors for prettiest NBA ball ever. 1984 Celtics were in theory not as good as the 1984 Lakers but the Celtics won the championship because of the offensive rebounding of Bird, Parish, McHale and Maxwell.
@@kkst3552 The Lakers were dazzling, (Kurt Rambis bounding into the stands to retrieve a ball). With the Celtics? The men had arrived. They played injured.
@@philsdon89321984 Celtics were extremely good offensive rebounders and the Lakers beat the Celtics at everything except offensive rebounding but the Celtics beat the Lakers in the finals because of their rebounding advantage. Norm Nixon was traded for Byron Scott pick before 1984. Jamal Wilkes barely played in 1984 finals because of injuries. That was pre prime James Worthy. 1985 Celtics were playing with an injured version of Cedric Maxwell and Gerald Henderson was traded for the Len Bias draft pick before 1985. Kind of Old 1984 Kareem preferred shot blocking to boxing out on rebounds. When Kareem hurt the team, by not rebounding enough Kareem would bounce back the next game and box out. I heard a story that Kareem had a strong dislike for having another man’s sweat on his body, which meant he preferred to not box out.
Magic and Bird were good friends off court. Magic said that Larry Bird was the best player of all time. Coming from from the Lakers legend, that's high praise indeed.
First and foremost,: all the people who say, "How can he be the greatest? He only played for 12 years?" Isn't that the price you pay for launching your body, full out, over and over again, for your team to WIN? That is sacrifice. Also: what would his PPG have been if he wasn't so often passing up the easy bucket to feed his teammates...which motivated them into getting what championship play requires? It was never "The Larry Bird Show". That's part of why they're ALL in the HOF.
Bird is the most skilled passer of all time, by far, and I am a Lakers fan who grew up watching Magic. The most "exciting" passers ever are Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich and Jason Williams.
Pete Marivitch was a much better player than he got credit for! They never built a team around him and they didn't have a clue what to do with his talent! He had teammates that were so jealous they wouldn't catch his passes on purpose! He rolled a court length ball to Lou Hudson that wouldn't lean over to pick up the ball, then made the comment that isn't the way you pass the basketball? Just because Marivitch rolled the ball like a bowling ball? Marivitch was the most talented player in the league, but guys were so jealous they actually played against him and that's no teammate! They wasted 10 years on the greatest basketball player i had ever seen. When your teammates are trying to hurt your talents you are not a a teammate! I have found out you can only be as good as your teammates allow you to be and they didn't like the idea that Marivitch was the best player of his generation
@4:00 “McHale’s getting some points bcuz of Bird” very true. Same goes for Robert Parish. Now you know why us Bird fans say Larry MADE his team HOFERS!!
Btw…Larry passed like this in HIGH SCHOOL. If you can get ahold of his old High School or College footage, you’ll see. Larry used to play with/against his older Brother Mark and also practiced with the black waiters at the French Lick Hotel when they had free time after Larry got off school…
The grown adult men at the hotel, who were exclusively black, as was the tradition of the hotel. He was from the country, but learned street ball from h is s early days.
Glad you get to see what I got to see when it happened, Polo. Growing up in New England during Larry Legend's prime is a gift that keeps on giving. And I like how quickly you said he's a better passer than Jason Kidd. 😅 Just keep going down your list and check off the names. Larry enjoyed making people look foolish with his passing as much as he did his trash talking.
Try watching, "making the Case for Larry Bird." The guy makes the case for the GOAT for eight players, Larry among them. It would be an excellent reaction.
Rambis getting clotheslined is one of the greatest sports hi lights of all time. No foul on the play. The eighties were no better or worse than any other decade except for the sports. Watching sports in that decade was something else and basketball was so freaking good. Remember how great NCAA basketball was in the eighties?
@@Curtis-y9r Parish, however, did not get called for a foul for clobbering Laimbeer, who richly deserved a swat. 😏 (I think the league fined him after the fact tho.)
@cindyknudson2715 with apologies. I meant to say a technical or for you kids out there a " flagrant ". But I refuse to edit, I made the mistake so i will take the slings and arrows that come along with it. Good catch and thank you for the correction. I went to school with a girl with the same name as you.
@cindyknudson2715 Laimbeer deserved a lot more than a swat. Still dislike the man. The worst part is that you can't deny he was effective and you would think he would have been fouled out of every game but when got down to his last foul the fucking guy was able to finish most games with it. It was infuriating.
Bird never had the ball in his hands the way point guards do. But if you doubled or tripled him, he would find the open man. A 6'10" forward throwing dimes 40-45 years ago that point guards in today's league cant do.
Yea Larry legit, his bag of tricks was hidden, only used when the situation says ya ya. He say ah ha....as good as any ever...with so much class and❤ style...
Magic and Larry were damn good man. Isaiah wasnt better than bird passing. Jason Williams had some seriously sick ones BUT he also turned it over all the time. This is why u cant just watch highlights of someones career. Unless u watched alot of the full games u dont see how Larry not only was spectacular but his knowledge was so much greater and he could visualize, predict, and be creative in angles. Its magic and bird at the top
Yeah highlights add slight context for the eye test but it's not the whole picture. And just doing a lazy all time stats google is the worst way to judge a players game. Per game assists with the context of turnovers and player role/position added with actually watching games and how those stats translate is the only way players should be compared in relation to passing. All time stats will always favour the guys that played longer. A guy who consistently played half as good as Larry but played twice as long with have the same all time stats. He would still be only half as good, but to those that only look up all time stats those two players would seem equal in skill
@@biz09ification 1000% we live in a very uneducated very potent quick judgement from ANY source forget a good one. And ppl know, but they use it to forge their own already tainted opinions. Ppl want to say they know more about everything and its a selfish mental gymnastic that tears u up as a human. ..i love polo but ima use him as an example. He said like 3 times oh i can make that pass. ...sure u can u just gotta make the nba and play in a game first. Sheesh. Theres so much just delusional pride its wild.
I know - it's hard to believe Larry Bird is the greatest passer ever - but, you have to admit there are many passes in this video that no one, not Magic, not Lebron or anyone else has ever attempted, much less completed. When I realized that fact - I realized Larry Bird really is the greatest passer ever.
We know what cap means; even us old guys. lol If you think any of these guys was a more fluid and effective passer than Larry, except Magic, you might want to watch twice. IMO. But, great vid! All respect though. Love your channel. Larry was and Magic were actual Unicorns for their time. Completely unselfish. I'm of course baised toward LB, but I've never seen anyone simple want the ball more in a scrum. He'd dive out of bounds with a 30 point lead to save a ball. Not to show off, but because that's simply who he was. He wasn't going to let any ball just roll out of bounds, broken back or not.
Polo, the reason Bird’s career wasn’t nearly as long as guys like Kareem was precisely because he sacrificed his body for the game. All that amazing hustle on the floor took its toll. Eventually all that hustle caused all the back problems for Larry that ultimately shortened/ended his career. I can say it was truly a gift to have watched this man play in the 80s, incredible incredible plays after plays after plays…
There was a game where Bird was running down the court and someone blocked him hard (might have been Sidney Moncrief) and you see Larry fall and hit the padded bottom of the pole area with his low back. He appeared to be stunned and doesn't get up immediately. Don't know if that made things worse or what.
I think the best part of this highlight is all the people he is beating on these passes. Do you hear the defender names getting called out - Jordan Barkley Pippen Cooper Olajuwan Wilkins ...
Polo, I appreciate the fact that you've mentioned how important it is to you that a player has "heart". That's something they can be defined many ways but in every reaction you've mentioned how The Guy is just at work 100% in practically every game. Enjoy your videos and reaction and I appreciate your consistency.
I was from Terre Haute, Larry's home away from home. I grew up hating Bird. I was a Showtime fan. Now, I'm older and I appreciate Larry Bird more than any other.
A lot of entertaining passers are good at doing passes they've planned for the past 3 to 5 seconds. But Larry always knew who was in position to make a play, and if the ball went to Larry he'd redirect the ball at the speed of thought.
what I love about these is the reaction of the guy still turning in circles like wtf just happened and then look at Larry with a big question mark on their face.
"You're going up against..." And we're still waiting for Polo to name a quarterback. I'm pretty sure there's a LONG video of just Larry's outlet passes, but his passing videos include a few notable outlets where he hits his man in the hands instead of the numbers. Mchale said Larry could spin the bounce accurately enough, while always being two moves ahead of the rest of the court, to bounce to where his team mate would be when the pass arrived, and could consistently hit them in the hands. Through traffic. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't heard that's what he was doing and then saw him do it many times. They weren't flashy, just technical and overlooked. Larry Legend was better at the things he didn't get credit for than most of the players around him. She none of them had it all like Larry did. There were no holes whatsoever in his skillset.
I Looked At All These Comment's & Not One Brought Up The Best Ball Handler - Pistol Pete. Magic & All Will Tell You That He Was The One They Learned From. The Globetrotters Tried To Hire Pistol Peter In His Last Year In College, They Offered Him 1-Million Dollars Which Was BIG BIG Money Back Then. He Turned It Down Because He Wanted To Play In The Pro-NBA. Yes, Larry was using His Passing Skills all the way in High School. In fact I read a story from a Person that had a Brother that went to High School with Larry. And said One Day The Coach Made the Other Players Ware Football Helmets in Practice, Because They were complaining about getting Hit by Bird with His Passing, ha ha ha. So Yea They had to Learn To get better as a Team & Be Ready for Bird's Passing.
Bird is the best big man passer of all time along with being the BEST ALL AROUND SHOOTER of all time . Curry is DEF the best THREE POINT SHOOTER of all time.
Larry Birds as Rookie in 1979 I’m from Boston went to 6 to 8 games a year the Celtics were down and out in 77,78 seasons they’re record was 29-53 then Larry Bird came in as. Rookie only pick up 79,80 and around this team and had the highest win turn around in the league 61-21 record Bird was awesome he did so many things Larry Legend my #1
"Lebron is a better passer... look at the assist numbers" Moronic statements like that is one of my biggest pet peeves. Look at the sheer volume of spectacular passes Bird had here that are followed by another quick, short pass to an open shot. He doesn't get credit for those on paper (and even with all those that don't get credited as an assist lebron only averages 1 assist per game more) but man, Larry was amazing to watch
That flashiness sparked my love of basketball as a kid & I started hooping. 🐐❤ I heard them say Antoine Carr, I used to go to Spurs games when Carr, Robinson, Elliott, & Rodman played. Thank you, David Robinson doesnt get enough love too IMHO. 🩵
There’s several things that you need to take into consideration. Larry was a scorer first but he also retired averaging 10 boards per game. He played a great deal of his back end of his career with back problems where he couldn’t sit on the bench and would lay on a towel on the sideline (he only played 13 seasons) Larry’s passes not only looked great,they served a purpose. His intent was always about winning. I think it’s subjective to pick a greatest but I’d go him,Magic and Jason Williams as the top 3 players I’ve ever seen who consistently were able to get the ball to where they wanted to. IMO Bird,Magic and Jordan are the GOAT for what they meant to the game. There’s just as many great players and some with better numbers but those 3 in any order are icons.
My family and i live in the county where he lived in indiana. My uncle lives about 1 mile from his home (he no longer owns) but itd be nothing years ago for us to see him out on his basketball cort there shooting hoops with the local kids. I think my nephew was 6ish when he met bird and got a pic with him holding my nephew.
I hope to watch Larry in his heyday. He was amazing to watch. He wasn’t a ball hog and he could shoot from anywhere. He played one game with just his left hand. He told everyone he would before the game. Amazing time in basketball history.
Bird was a great passer since college! I recall watching a college all-star game where Bird and Magic was on the same team. They both were showing their passing skills in the game.
Oh yes indeed Bird had his passing skills when he arrived in the NBA. What he did not have in his bag of tricks yet was the 3. The 3 point line came into the game the same time Bird did and he mastered it over his years in the league. I watched this man take out my Houston Rockets and his game can not be denied.
Bill walton said Larry Just war is body Out Said he was one of the first ones in the arena and 1 of the last ones to leave doing lapse around the top of the Boston gardens 100 free throws before you left. After practice, he just used his body up all The Times on the floor. One tough So B. It was a pleasure to watch and play grown up as a teenager
The story about Bird during the pre Olympic games for the Dream Team that you attributed to Charles Barkley was told by Jamal Mashburn and the player that talked smack to Larry and then got torched was Rodney Rogers. Thanks for the great channel and content.
Lefraud "padding his stats" means "load managing", not playing defense, taking plays off while on the court, cherry-picking opportunities, etc. You rightly admire Larry for his willingness to hit the deck. Well, that took a toll, like it's supposed to. Lefraud is the opposite of that, which is why he can pamper himself through 20-odd soft, coddled, crybaby seasons in a soft league ... padding his stats.
What I like about his passing is how he seems to already know where he is passing the ball as the ball hits his hands. It is such a quick move the defense has no response to it.
Bird had the best court vision of any player i have ever seen. His first coach called him Kodiak because he knew where all the players where at all times and he didn't play point guard. Bird could play any position on a regular basis. His college coach said he wanted Bird to touch the ball at least 75% of the time
I think you're thinking of the Jamal Mashburn Rodney Rogers story. I think it was one of the Dream Team practices and Rogers said that Bird hadn't hit a jumpshot since some 1984. Bird torched him, told him what he was about to do, and then did it. and just said "Young fella, looks like'84 huh?" th-cam.com/video/io7sthOGGaU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=m6c9_bzRoTxTuxSC
Danny Ainge said Larry had more tricks, moves and ways to score than any player he'd ever seen. He was unconventional and would pull up in an instant. He said all of it and the size made it impossible to guard him one on one. Problem is, once you double him, he'll gut the defense.
I watched all of the best basketball teams in the 80’s. I loved the LA Lakers, the Boston Celtics and my fav team was the Detroit Pistons . It was a exciting time for watching and rooting for your favorite NBA team.
Bird was a SF who only played 13 seasons and was out 1 of those seasons due to injuries. How many seasons did other SF's play to be on the greatest passers OFT list?
Not the most passes but one of the best passers in ability and vision. Like you said, with his scoring ability, you didn't expect to see him look like a pass 1st guy but you can see how many times he was.
His over the head pass, once you think about it, is so simple. When you post up, you lean your back against your guard to feel his movements without having to see him. To prevent you reading their shoulders, they will use their hands to create space. As soon as you feel their hands pushing against your shoulderblades, you know for a fact the overhead passing lane is wide open. Easy dime every time
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Safari locks up on the I am over 18 screen or I would become a Patreon. Stockton has the most assists by far. Apx. 3,700 more than Kidd. Byrd doesn’t make the leader board. Magic had his career cut short tho.
Try doing a jokic best passes reaction lol
Absolutely !! “THE” G.O.A.T. … Jordan never beat him … ever
This highlights his passing much better. It isn't about how fancy it is, it's about all the ways to get guys open looks
th-cam.com/video/FIwnXfeSdu0/w-d-xo.html
Check out Steve Tasker greatest special team player of all time...its crazy how a special team player has as many highlights as he does.
He's the best ALL-AROUND player to ever play the game.
Until LeBron James came around
@@cliptomaniac2562 lmfao no
@@cliptomaniac2562lebron isnt anywhere near the shooter or clutch player larry was
@@sanperchannel9560 Stats would say otherwise
@@cliptomaniac2562
Don’t make me laff
He came into the league with that ability. He was doing it in high school and college.
LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
Bird and Magic made superstars hitting the floor and sharing the ball fashionable again after it disappeared in the 70s.
Larry probably had the best vision of anyone to play the game. He knew where everyone on the court was at all times. He also had an immense advantage that we will never see in basketball again. He didn't need to deal with free agency full team overhauls. He played with the core of Parish, McHale, Johnson, and Ainger for most of his career. THey all learned how the other would play over years which allowed them to get more aggressive with cuts and positioning on court. Each player was selfless and focused on the team.
It’s very telling that all five starters could average double figures, and four of the five were Hall of Famers. This was teamwork at its best.
When people talk about players that actually made their teamates better, bird always comes to mind
Nikola Jokic is the best passer of all time, and the second best is Magic. Magic stated that he picked up all the passes from Pistol Pete Maravich, so Maravich should also be put at the top of the list. Bird is certainly the top five. Chauncy Billops has said that Jokic is a better passer than any point guard in history, so there are more and more people who take Jokic's passing skills seriously.
@@mlrd2687nope.
@@mlrd2687 Joker? He's great but not sure he's as good as Larry and Magic. They did it on the fly. It was poetry in motion.
You should check out Larry Bird's rookie highlights. He got more creative as a passer as he developed, but he pretty much came into the league able to shoot, drop dimes, and he never stopped hustling.
And you nailed it during the video; Larry had great vision and would find the open man instantly when he was doubled.
It's Magic and Bird #1&2 in
Court awareness
Passing
Winning percentage
Bird's bag was too deep! Scoring, 3pointers, midrange monster, rebounds, passing, leadership, hustle, champion, trash talker extraordinaire.
No one more clutch than Bird - from day 1. It took MJ several years (when Bird was broken) for him to start cooking even though he had great physical ability. You should watch 1988 duel between Dominique and Bird - beautiful basketball. Those guys played their hearts out. Playoffs game 7 second round.
Say Hey Polo--I saw Larry play many times and The thing about him was you could make a highlight reel of him every game. He played each game like it was the playoffs. His three consecutive MVPs speak to that. I saw all of the great players of that era and no one impacted games as much as Larry. He was relentless. His numbers tell the tale, and no players stock has risen with time the way Larry's has because his contemporaries, from Michael to Magic, speak with a certain awe and reverence for Larry's tenacious hooping.
You know your stuff man and you're right. Can you imagine what Larry would do to the pussies in the NBA today?
Parrish once kidded he got 5,000 points from Larry. Every game was a master class by Bird. He wasn’t fancy: he just got the job done. And I’ll take substance over style every time. Sees the whole floor at all times, which made him dangerous with or without the ball. #GOAT
The saying was, Magic made easy passes look hard, and Bird made hard passes look easy
@clark8712 in my neighborhood the saying was
" you don't think Bird is the best in the NBA? You know fuck all about basketball .".
Doesn't flow as well as your example and mine might have just been me talking but you get my point.
Yes Magic notorious for fake no-look passes - "Showtime"
Nikola Jokic is the best passer of all time, and the second best is Magic. Magic stated that he picked up all the passes from Pistol Pete Maravich, so Maravich should also be put at the top of the list. Bird is certainly the top five. Chauncy Billops has said that Jokic is a better passer than any point guard in history, so there are more and more people who take Jokic's passing skills seriously.
@mlrd2687 great you have seen highlights I haven't so tell me where I can see Jokic on the fast break go behind his back to a teammate and then get it back and finish with an up and under and yes I realize the finish isn't the pass but it's o e package deal.
Actually show me any passes that happen on the fast break that Jokic does or off the dribble in the offensive end, or off his back, or as he is crashing out of bounds because I see Jokic make great passes but they are from his post or at most a couple of dribbles then a pass.
The variety of passes Bird did is why his defenders say he is the best and Jokic isn't even close in that regard.
NOT EVEN CLOSE!
Is he the best passing center of all time?
I don't know Kareem was awesome. Arvidas Sabonis was great but not enough years played and I guarantee you don't know that Wilt led the entire league in total assists one year.
I would bet you are under 30 which would be fine except for the fact that you make a definitive statement about basketball and you had no idea about the Wilt Chamberlain fact I layed down previously which makes me think , you should think this as well, what else don't you know about basketball .
Just because you have a favorite player doesn't mean he is the GOAT.
@mlrd2687 and you should definitely come with some stronger sauce than a Chauncey Billups opinion.
Larry Bird, greatest passer of all time NO CAP!!! Bird knows where everybody is on the floor at any time so he doesn't have to look when making a pass. He can pump fake you and make you look stupid.
I haven’t watched the NBA since Magic and Bird played. It became a “me” game after them, not a team game. And after retirement Bird and Magic became best friends.
I think you’re thinking of the Jamal Mashburn story when the college team played against the Dream Team.
Also Larry IS a pass first kind of player.
if Bird wasn't the best passer, he was right there with the best of them, so fluid.
It's why you were mistaken when you said one pass was lucky.
Fortunate maybe but he meant to do it.
Bird said when he got the ball he knew where all 4 teammates were positioned on the floor.
Scary good.
‼️💯🦅Bird is the Goat🐐💯‼️
He knew how to do this because he spent time as a young player developing all the basic skills then took that to college to become player of the year then to the NBA. As a teen I remember watching a video with him and Red Auerbach teaching those basic skills, not just jacking up 3s all day.
Yes, that is a great video.
This man was the GOAT. It seemed like he had eyes on the sides and back of his head. So many time I've seen him look like he was going to take a shot and flick the ball off to someone behind him and to one side by 15 feet and never even look in his direction. He would be dribbling down the court and bounce it behind him straight to someone that was clear for a lay-up or easy 3 pointer. It was as if he knew exactly where every member of the team was, every second of play.
Number 4 . Only one greatest of all time. Mike Wilt Kareem Bird
@@GregNewkirk-o8h I was just talking about passing. He might not have the most passes but he has the best passes.
@@GregNewkirk-o8h "Mike" was 0-5 against Bird and his boys in the postseason! Two sweeps...not one win! Won his six rings after Bird, Magic and the Bad Boys were gone. Magic and Bird had won 5 rings combined by 1984! Bird is the greatest all-around player to ever step on the court.
He wasn't a one man show out for the glory. He got plenty of action of his own, but he was a team player that didn't sacrifice a basket so he could show off. He showed off doing it all and brought his team with him to share in the numbers. Many a time opponents doubted him and learned a lesson.
An overlooked talent was Bird's leadership skills. He had his team helping him perform all those passes which would be worthless if his mates weren't ready to capitalize on each play. He knew how to make them shine by bringing out the best in each one of them. I think the Celtics were the most fun to watch in the 80s because of the way Larry Bird worked his team.
When you think of how team basketball is supposed to be played. Duncan's spurs and Larry's celtics are the best examples. Unselfish smart baskteball is the purest form of basketball and incredibly tough to beat for any team
Thanks for the reaction. 👍
Bird is so much fun to watch.
One of my favorites in this compilation is the one where he stops dead at the foul line, spins, and then makes the pass to McHale(?) right next to the basket. The whole paint is clogged full of players expecting him to drive to the basket himself. His dead stop and spin confuses the whole bunch and draws all the attention to him and boom, creates the opportunity to send it to his open man. And it's all over in a second. 😁
There are so many times when he could have taken the shot for himself but chooses to pass it to a teammate with an open shot or who is in a position to make the effective "assist" for the score.
Larry was a great passer in high school and college
I'm from Los Angeles and I was a huge fan of Magic Johnson. Triple doubles every game. But when the Celtics came to town, I got tense. Larry Bird was just too damned good.
Celtic Fan and what I respected about Magic and Larry was the ability to make those around them better! Something a lot of so called greats lack.
Showtime fan with PTSD from Bird in the playoffs. We just outgunned the Celtics. Unfortunately the Bad Boys absolutely beat up the Celtics in 87 so that wasn’t a fair fight. In hindsight Bird was best player in 80’s.
1982 Lakers with Norm Nixon and Magic sharing the ball are in competition with the 2016 screen and ball movement Warriors for prettiest NBA ball ever.
1984 Celtics were in theory not as good as the 1984 Lakers but the Celtics won the championship because of the offensive rebounding of Bird, Parish, McHale and Maxwell.
@@kkst3552 The Lakers were dazzling, (Kurt Rambis bounding into the stands to retrieve a ball). With the Celtics? The men had arrived. They played injured.
@@philsdon89321984 Celtics were extremely good offensive rebounders and the Lakers beat the Celtics at everything except offensive rebounding but the Celtics beat the Lakers in the finals because of their rebounding advantage.
Norm Nixon was traded for Byron Scott pick before 1984. Jamal Wilkes barely played in 1984 finals because of injuries. That was pre prime James Worthy.
1985 Celtics were playing with an injured version of Cedric Maxwell and Gerald Henderson was traded for the Len Bias draft pick before 1985.
Kind of Old 1984 Kareem preferred shot blocking to boxing out on rebounds. When Kareem hurt the team, by not rebounding enough Kareem would bounce back the next game and box out. I heard a story that Kareem had a strong dislike for having another man’s sweat on his body, which meant he preferred to not box out.
Magic and Bird were good friends off court. Magic said that Larry Bird was the best player of all time. Coming from from the Lakers legend, that's high praise indeed.
First and foremost,: all the people who say, "How can he be the greatest? He only played for 12 years?" Isn't that the price you pay for launching your body, full out, over and over again, for your team to WIN? That is sacrifice. Also: what would his PPG have been if he wasn't so often passing up the easy bucket to feed his teammates...which motivated them into getting what championship play requires? It was never "The Larry Bird Show". That's part of why they're ALL in the HOF.
Mike Wilt Kareem Bird Russell. Top 5
I agree with you on this, the one name I didn’t hear you mention was Pete Maravich. He was another great scorer as well as a fantastic passer!
Great commentary, Polo...There is no the greatest, only great ones and Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are among them!
Bird is the most skilled passer of all time, by far, and I am a Lakers fan who grew up watching Magic.
The most "exciting" passers ever are Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich and Jason Williams.
Pete Marivitch was a much better player than he got credit for! They never built a team around him and they didn't have a clue what to do with his talent! He had teammates that were so jealous they wouldn't catch his passes on purpose! He rolled a court length ball to Lou Hudson that wouldn't lean over to pick up the ball, then made the comment that isn't the way you pass the basketball? Just because Marivitch rolled the ball like a bowling ball? Marivitch was the most talented player in the league, but guys were so jealous they actually played against him and that's no teammate! They wasted 10 years on the greatest basketball player i had ever seen. When your teammates are trying to hurt your talents you are not a a teammate! I have found out you can only be as good as your teammates allow you to be and they didn't like the idea that Marivitch was the best player of his generation
That steal and pass to DJ is my favorite because my father let me stay home from school to watch that game with him.
Phenomenal player. All around. The answer, the truth, that guy.. all around.... Clutch.. Reliable.. Phenomenal.. A step ahead.
They didn’t call him
Basketball Jesus
For nothin’!!
As an overall player,
He’s untouchable…
@4:00 “McHale’s getting some points bcuz of Bird” very true. Same goes for Robert Parish. Now you know why us Bird fans say Larry MADE his team HOFERS!!
Btw…Larry passed like this in HIGH SCHOOL. If you can get ahold of his old High School or College footage, you’ll see. Larry used to play with/against his older Brother Mark and also practiced with the black waiters at the French Lick Hotel when they had free time after Larry got off school…
The grown adult men at the hotel, who were exclusively black, as was the tradition of the hotel. He was from the country, but learned street ball from h is s early days.
Glad you get to see what I got to see when it happened, Polo. Growing up in New England during Larry Legend's prime is a gift that keeps on giving.
And I like how quickly you said he's a better passer than Jason Kidd. 😅 Just keep going down your list and check off the names. Larry enjoyed making people look foolish with his passing as much as he did his trash talking.
Try watching, "making the Case for Larry Bird." The guy makes the case for the GOAT for eight players, Larry among them. It would be an excellent reaction.
Tell me those Laker/Celtic battles weren’t the best. My Lord what beautiful basketball. Power and beauty. It was magic.
Rambis getting clotheslined is one of the greatest sports hi lights of all time.
No foul on the play.
The eighties were no better or worse than any other decade except for the sports.
Watching sports in that decade was something else and basketball was so freaking good.
Remember how great NCAA basketball was in the eighties?
@@Curtis-y9r McHale did get called for the foul.
@@Curtis-y9r Parish, however, did not get called for a foul for clobbering Laimbeer, who richly deserved a swat. 😏
(I think the league fined him after the fact tho.)
@cindyknudson2715 with apologies.
I meant to say a technical or for you kids out there a " flagrant ".
But I refuse to edit, I made the mistake so i will take the slings and arrows that come along with it.
Good catch and thank you for the correction.
I went to school with a girl with the same name as you.
@cindyknudson2715 Laimbeer deserved a lot more than a swat.
Still dislike the man.
The worst part is that you can't deny he was effective and you would think he would have been fouled out of every game but when got down to his last foul the fucking guy was able to finish most games with it.
It was infuriating.
He was quite the passer at ISU as well. And if you look closely, many of those long passes were with his left hand.
Larry was a natural lefty.
Bird never had the ball in his hands the way point guards do. But if you doubled or tripled him, he would find the open man. A 6'10" forward throwing dimes 40-45 years ago that point guards in today's league cant do.
Yea Larry legit, his bag of tricks was hidden, only used when the situation says ya ya. He say ah ha....as good as any ever...with so much class and❤ style...
Magic and Larry were damn good man. Isaiah wasnt better than bird passing. Jason Williams had some seriously sick ones BUT he also turned it over all the time. This is why u cant just watch highlights of someones career. Unless u watched alot of the full games u dont see how Larry not only was spectacular but his knowledge was so much greater and he could visualize, predict, and be creative in angles. Its magic and bird at the top
Yeah highlights add slight context for the eye test but it's not the whole picture. And just doing a lazy all time stats google is the worst way to judge a players game. Per game assists with the context of turnovers and player role/position added with actually watching games and how those stats translate is the only way players should be compared in relation to passing. All time stats will always favour the guys that played longer. A guy who consistently played half as good as Larry but played twice as long with have the same all time stats. He would still be only half as good, but to those that only look up all time stats those two players would seem equal in skill
@@biz09ification 1000% we live in a very uneducated very potent quick judgement from ANY source forget a good one. And ppl know, but they use it to forge their own already tainted opinions. Ppl want to say they know more about everything and its a selfish mental gymnastic that tears u up as a human. ..i love polo but ima use him as an example. He said like 3 times oh i can make that pass. ...sure u can u just gotta make the nba and play in a game first. Sheesh. Theres so much just delusional pride its wild.
I know - it's hard to believe Larry Bird is the greatest passer ever - but, you have to admit there are many passes in this video that no one, not Magic, not Lebron or anyone else has ever attempted, much less completed. When I realized that fact - I realized Larry Bird really is the greatest passer ever.
We know what cap means; even us old guys. lol If you think any of these guys was a more fluid and effective passer than Larry, except Magic, you might want to watch twice. IMO. But, great vid! All respect though. Love your channel. Larry was and Magic were actual Unicorns for their time. Completely unselfish. I'm of course baised toward LB, but I've never seen anyone simple want the ball more in a scrum. He'd dive out of bounds with a 30 point lead to save a ball. Not to show off, but because that's simply who he was. He wasn't going to let any ball just roll out of bounds, broken back or not.
Polo, the reason Bird’s career wasn’t nearly as long as guys like Kareem was precisely because he sacrificed his body for the game. All that amazing hustle on the floor took its toll. Eventually all that hustle caused all the back problems for Larry that ultimately shortened/ended his career. I can say it was truly a gift to have watched this man play in the 80s, incredible incredible plays after plays after plays…
Should not compare him to Kareem. Not considering longevity still above him. 5 MVP awards in 8 years
Bird ruined his back while doing building work at his mums home, unfortunate way to get hurt.
@@andythoms8130 Yeah, a lot of those floor burns were AFTER he wrecked his back in the summer of '85.
There was a game where Bird was running down the court and someone blocked him hard (might have been Sidney Moncrief) and you see Larry fall and hit the padded bottom of the pole area with his low back. He appeared to be stunned and doesn't get up immediately. Don't know if that made things worse or what.
I think the best part of this highlight is all the people he is beating on these passes. Do you hear the defender names getting called out - Jordan Barkley Pippen Cooper Olajuwan Wilkins ...
Polo, I appreciate the fact that you've mentioned how important it is to you that a player has "heart". That's something they can be defined many ways but in every reaction you've mentioned how The Guy is just at work 100% in practically every game. Enjoy your videos and reaction and I appreciate your consistency.
R.i. P. Dennis Johnson☘️☘️☘️
I was from Terre Haute, Larry's home away from home. I grew up hating Bird. I was a Showtime fan. Now, I'm older and I appreciate Larry Bird more than any other.
A lot of entertaining passers are good at doing passes they've planned for the past 3 to 5 seconds. But Larry always knew who was in position to make a play, and if the ball went to Larry he'd redirect the ball at the speed of thought.
I've seen some of his high school highlights and even as young as that he was passing the same way. Legend.
If I had to start a team, it would start with Larry (and I grew up in Magic's neighborhood).
Seriously? I live about 15 miles from Lansing. Small world.
Bird passed like this in college. He was a center then but he was amazing. Bird's shooting was so good that people forget about his passing.
what I love about these is the reaction of the guy still turning in circles like wtf just happened and then look at Larry with a big question mark on their face.
"You're going up against..." And we're still waiting for Polo to name a quarterback. I'm pretty sure there's a LONG video of just Larry's outlet passes, but his passing videos include a few notable outlets where he hits his man in the hands instead of the numbers.
Mchale said Larry could spin the bounce accurately enough, while always being two moves ahead of the rest of the court, to bounce to where his team mate would be when the pass arrived, and could consistently hit them in the hands. Through traffic. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't heard that's what he was doing and then saw him do it many times. They weren't flashy, just technical and overlooked.
Larry Legend was better at the things he didn't get credit for than most of the players around him. She none of them had it all like Larry did. There were no holes whatsoever in his skillset.
I Looked At All These Comment's & Not One Brought Up The Best Ball Handler - Pistol Pete. Magic & All Will Tell You That He Was The One They Learned From. The Globetrotters Tried To Hire Pistol Peter In His Last Year In College, They Offered Him 1-Million Dollars Which Was BIG BIG Money Back Then. He Turned It Down Because He Wanted To Play In The Pro-NBA. Yes, Larry was using His Passing Skills all the way in High School. In fact I read a story from a Person that had a Brother that went to High School with Larry. And said One Day The Coach Made the Other Players Ware Football Helmets in Practice, Because They were complaining about getting Hit by Bird with His Passing, ha ha ha. So Yea They had to Learn To get better as a Team & Be Ready for Bird's Passing.
Bird is the best big man passer of all time along with being the BEST ALL AROUND SHOOTER of all time . Curry is DEF the best THREE POINT SHOOTER of all time.
Larry Birds as Rookie in 1979 I’m from Boston went to 6 to 8 games a year the Celtics were down and out in 77,78 seasons they’re record was 29-53 then Larry Bird came in as. Rookie only pick up 79,80 and around this team and had the highest win turn around in the league 61-21 record Bird was awesome he did so many things Larry Legend my #1
Look up Pistol Pete Maravich- Magic before Magic. He was also a scoring machine. Flashier than Bird, but Bird saw everything.
white chocolate
Thanks for putting some respect on John Stockton's name! The Court Marshall!
The Dream Team story you mentioned was told by Jamal Mashburn. There's a good copy on the _Irishgrl_ channel.
Thx Cindy 🥰
The passing GOAT was Pistol Pete! Bird was very good, so was Bob Cousey!
Pete Maravich would be illuminating 😅
"Lebron is a better passer... look at the assist numbers"
Moronic statements like that is one of my biggest pet peeves. Look at the sheer volume of spectacular passes Bird had here that are followed by another quick, short pass to an open shot. He doesn't get credit for those on paper (and even with all those that don't get credited as an assist lebron only averages 1 assist per game more) but man, Larry was amazing to watch
Bro, Mr. Bird takes a backseat to no one.
That flashiness sparked my love of basketball as a kid & I started hooping. 🐐❤ I heard them say Antoine Carr, I used to go to Spurs games when Carr, Robinson, Elliott, & Rodman played.
Thank you, David Robinson doesnt get enough love too IMHO. 🩵
Bird was top 3 in every category of the game, and number 1 overall. The GOAT.
Damn, just imagine if Bird had played football instead of basketball. With his drive for perfection, he'd be a helluva QB.
There’s several things that you need to take into consideration. Larry was a scorer first but he also retired averaging 10 boards per game. He played a great deal of his back end of his career with back problems where he couldn’t sit on the bench and would lay on a towel on the sideline (he only played 13 seasons)
Larry’s passes not only looked great,they served a purpose. His intent was always about winning. I think it’s subjective to pick a greatest but I’d go him,Magic and Jason Williams as the top 3 players I’ve ever seen who consistently were able to get the ball to where they wanted to. IMO Bird,Magic and Jordan are the GOAT for what they meant to the game. There’s just as many great players and some with better numbers but those 3 in any order are icons.
23:01 Bird wasn't a pass first OR a shoot first player, he was a win first player
My family and i live in the county where he lived in indiana. My uncle lives about 1 mile from his home (he no longer owns) but itd be nothing years ago for us to see him out on his basketball cort there shooting hoops with the local kids. I think my nephew was 6ish when he met bird and got a pic with him holding my nephew.
Really enjoyed this video. Thanks
He could see 360 degrees, seems like. You had to be able to expect his passes from anywhere. Saw him in two live games.
I hope to watch Larry in his heyday. He was amazing to watch. He wasn’t a ball hog and he could shoot from anywhere. He played one game with just his left hand. He told everyone he would before the game. Amazing time in basketball history.
The original music from this video makes these highlights even better.
Bird was a great passer since college! I recall watching a college all-star game where Bird and Magic was on the same team. They both were showing their passing skills in the game.
Oh yes indeed Bird had his passing skills when he arrived in the NBA. What he did not have in his bag of tricks yet was the 3. The 3 point line came into the game the same time Bird did and he mastered it over his years in the league. I watched this man take out my Houston Rockets and his game can not be denied.
Love seeing Larry Bird play...awesome video.
I'm 58 years old and you're the first person I've ever heard to react to Larry Bird that
Bill walton said Larry Just war is body Out
Said he was one of the first ones in the arena and 1 of the last ones to leave doing lapse around the top of the Boston gardens 100 free throws before you left. After practice, he just used his body up all The Times on the floor.
One tough So B. It was a pleasure to watch and play grown up as a teenager
The story about Bird during the pre Olympic games for the Dream Team that you attributed to Charles Barkley was told by Jamal Mashburn and the player that talked smack to Larry and then got torched was Rodney Rogers. Thanks for the great channel and content.
Everyone one of those players would defer to Larry Bird if were truthful. He should be everyone's top 5. Thanks for the content 😛
Lefraud "padding his stats" means "load managing", not playing defense, taking plays off while on the court, cherry-picking opportunities, etc. You rightly admire Larry for his willingness to hit the deck. Well, that took a toll, like it's supposed to. Lefraud is the opposite of that, which is why he can pamper himself through 20-odd soft, coddled, crybaby seasons in a soft league ... padding his stats.
For my money the hick from French Lick is the best player of all time.
Your comparing passing ability and assists, however, bird was already leading the game in scores and rebounds. Incredable talent.
What I like about his passing is how he seems to already know where he is passing the ball as the ball hits his hands. It is such a quick move the defense has no response to it.
Bird had the best court vision of any player i have ever seen. His first coach called him Kodiak because he knew where all the players where at all times and he didn't play point guard. Bird could play any position on a regular basis. His college coach said he wanted Bird to touch the ball at least 75% of the time
I think you're thinking of the Jamal Mashburn Rodney Rogers story. I think it was one of the Dream Team practices and Rogers said that Bird hadn't hit a jumpshot since some 1984. Bird torched him, told him what he was about to do, and then did it. and just said "Young fella, looks like'84 huh?"
th-cam.com/video/io7sthOGGaU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=m6c9_bzRoTxTuxSC
Danny Ainge said Larry had more tricks, moves and ways to score than any player he'd ever seen. He was unconventional and would pull up in an instant. He said all of it and the size made it impossible to guard him one on one. Problem is, once you double him, he'll gut the defense.
Just watch and see.
I watched all of the best basketball teams in the 80’s. I loved the LA Lakers, the Boston Celtics and my fav team was the Detroit Pistons . It was a exciting time for watching and rooting for your favorite NBA team.
As for all time numbers, Larry's career was cut short by injury and his cumulative stats reflect that.
Robert says that at least 5000 of his points came from Larry
Bird was a SF who only played 13 seasons and was out 1 of those seasons due to injuries. How many seasons did other SF's play to be on the greatest passers OFT list?
Not the most passes but one of the best passers in ability and vision. Like you said, with his scoring ability, you didn't expect to see him look like a pass 1st guy but you can see how many times he was.
Greatest.
The last steal in the video won the season championship. Actually shocked Bird didn't make the top ten.
McHale and Parish were the greatest catchers of all time.😂
Also Danny Ainge. He was All American in Baseball, Football and Basketball 😮
His over the head pass, once you think about it, is so simple. When you post up, you lean your back against your guard to feel his movements without having to see him. To prevent you reading their shoulders, they will use their hands to create space. As soon as you feel their hands pushing against your shoulderblades, you know for a fact the overhead passing lane is wide open. Easy dime every time