The Hick from French Lick

[deuce]

Just watched this again and really enjoyed the comments from the former players...

 

[Alagator]

Larry Bird was the man... use to love to watch him play.

 

[Jbossgator8]

That white boy could ball no doubt. Loved watching him play.

 

[MidwestChomp]

Love this story. Bird was the ultimate trash talker.

Dominique Wilkins shares awesome Larry Bird trash-talk story

 

[T REX]

There's only one place I'd rather be...French Lick.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

In recent years I have been curious why James does not get the credit Johnson and Bird got for not being a selfish player for being willing to pass the ball.

 

[Gatorbreath]

76er fan here (well, back when I cared at all about the NBA).

I hated Larry Bird with a passion. But, I respected the crap out of him. Not only could the man shoot - and it'd be down to him or MJ as to who I'd want to launch the buzzer beater if my life depended on it - but man, could he pass. He could see things on the court - angles - and predict movement like some kind of psychic, then zip the ball to the open teammate.

As much as I hated Bird, I hated McHale even more. And Ainge? I might still fight him today if our paths crossed.

This could be the most glorious moment in all of sports - Sedale Threatt taking no guff from that little puss:

 

[g8r.tom]

In recent years I have been curious why James does not get the credit Johnson and Bird got for not being a selfish player for being willing to pass the ball.

Maybe because he has passed when he should have shot in big games in the past.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Maybe because he has passed when he should have shot in big games in the past.

That is my point, I never heard anyone say that about Johnson nor Bird though they did at times pass the ball in big moments. Then a ball hog came along during a down time in NBA talent and everyone after him seems to be held to a ball hog standard.

 

[gardnerwebbgator]

Bird was a poor mans Pistol Pete.

What is really scary about those 80's Celtics teams is what if Len Bias had lived. Magic wouldn't have any rings.

 

[78]

Hard to leave this guy off any all-time team. He had height, the shot, moves around the basket and he was the original point forward, a great, great passer.

What Larry Bird was most was a fierce competitor and tough as nails.

Edit: Bird had unusual quickness for his size before injuries hampered him. He was a solid defender as well.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Couldn't hold Magic's jock...played almost no defense and barely rebounded....Magic killed it at every aspect and a lot of people don't realize he could have averaged 30-35 ppg….he could have started for almost any NBA team at ANY position in the 80's....GOAT.

 

[deuce]

Couldn't hold Magic's jock...played almost no defense and barely rebounded....Magic killed it at every aspect and a lot of people don't realize he could have averaged 30-35 ppg….he could have started for almost any NBA team at ANY position in the 80's....GOAT.

STFU!

 

[Concrete Helmet]

STFU!

Truth hurts I know but in reality if Magic had been drafted by a crappy team he would have averaged 45 points a game....He could score from anywhere on the floor and could beat any player one on one.….not even close, GOAT and he made it look pretty.

 

[78]

Bird was a small forward. He was a threat from perimeter. And yet he averaged more than 10 rebounds for his career.

Crete, did you actually watch Magic play defense? Apparently not. You blinked.

Larry Bird was every ounce as valuable to the Celtics as Magic Johnson was to the Lakers.

 

[gator1946]

Bird and Magic are my favorite players of all time. Bird's effortless release on his jumper was a thing to behold.

 

[YLGator]

That is my point, I never heard anyone say that about Johnson nor Bird though they did at times pass the ball in big moments. Then a ball hog came along during a down time in NBA talent and everyone after him seems to be held to a ball hog standard.

When the game was on the line, Bird and Magic always demanded the ball. Sure there might have been times when they made a play and found a wide open teammate to take the shot, but they never passed off and played timid at the end. That's the knock on James. And your MJ reference is flat out laughable. He'd have had James crying in the locker room refusing to come out for the second half.

 

[Minister of Information]

When the game was on the line, Bird and Magic always demanded the ball. Sure there might have been times when they made a play and found a wide open teammate to take the shot, but they never passed off and played timid at the end. That's the knock on James. And your MJ reference is flat out laughable. He'd have had James crying in the locker room refusing to come out for the second half.

You sure he didn't mean Kobe? Jordan was always a natural 2 and usually played like one.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

Crete, did you actually watch Magic play defense? Apparently not. You blinked.

Yes he could shut down everyone from Moses Malone to Isiah Thomas....his unique ability to guard ANY player on the floor led to most of the Lakers famed "fast break" offense.
He had a beautiful perimeter shot, could drive like nobodies business AND post almost any player on the defense....there wasn't a place he couldn't score from consistently and yet is considered the greatest team player in NBA history.

 

[g8r.tom]

Couldn't hold Magic's jock...played almost no defense and barely rebounded....Magic killed it at every aspect and a lot of people don't realize he could have averaged 30-35 ppg….he could have started for almost any NBA team at ANY position in the 80's....GOAT.

Bird averaged 10 rebounds a game, for his career.