Larry Bird was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics in the 1980s, particularly on offense. His sheer presence increased the team’s chances of winning, but Larry knew it would be all for nothing without his great teammates.
Bird wasn’t always perfect, whether it was some kind of injury or just having an off night. With talented teammates like Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, Larry Legend encouraged them to step up, knowing victories would be more convincing when everyone contributed.
“We’re a better club when I don’t have to score a lot of points,” Bird said in 1984 via UPI. “If I have to do it all, we win by two. If everyone else is doing it, we win by 30.”
Bird made those remarks after the Celtics took the first game of their Eastern Conference finals series against the Detroit Pistons.
He finished with 21 points, decent but below his playoff averages of 27.5 points per game that year.
Despite his low output, the Celtics crushed the Pistons, 133-99. Parish and McHale stepped up, finishing with 27 and 26 points, respectively.
For Bird, it was a testament that the Celtics had a dominant inside game.
Bird demanded accountability
Bird’s remarks were timely, considering it was the same year he was dealing with an elbow injury. He never used it as an excuse, but teammates knew he was hurting and playing through it.
“His elbow was killing him. He took a couple shots where you said put the range-finder back on that elbow. He won’t say anything, but it was really bothering him,” McHale said at the time.
But because he placed a high premium on winning, Bird’s resilience was hardly surprising. Winning meant everything for Larry and he pushed his body for as long as it could. It was also his way of telling his teammates to carry the same mindset for the Celtics to maintain its dominance.
That mentality helped the Celtics make it all the way to the Finals, giving them a chance to win back-to-back titles after capturing the 1984 crown. Unfortunately, they fell short, as Boston lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
Bird felt the Celtics lost their edge
Most attributed the Celtics’ 1985 Finals loss to the Lakers to injuries and matchup problems. But being the competitor that he was, Bird dismissed those excuses. For him, the team played poorly and he believed the Cs lost their competitive edge after winning the 1984 title.
“We’re more laid-back and not as tough as we were. Maybe it’s because we’ve already won one championship, or maybe we’re getting old,” Bird rued via NYT.
Bird was tough on himself and his teammates and for good reason. He set high standards when it came to winning, aware that only hard work and resiliency could attain success.
Considering his immense talent, Bird could have chosen to be content earning millions and being the top star for the Celtics, without caring about winning. However, “The Hick from French Lick” had a different mindset, one built on relentless competition.
That mindset set him apart, which is why he is hailed as one of the greatest players ever to play the game.