The Michael Jordan vs Larry Bird discussion over the years always ignores a few convenient facts. Bird avoided MJ in 88. Had Larry Bird not been injured in 1989, and had Larry Bird not failed to make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs from 1990-1992, Larry Bird would have gotten destroyed in the playoffs by MJ, when MJ finally had an adequate group of teammates. MJ was always the better player, and Larry Bird said that himself. Jordan's "cocaine circus" teammates proved to be too much of an anchor, for even Jordan. But this is where a lot of the negative narratives about Jordan really found their origin... from the media guys who were fans of Magic Johnson & Larry Bird. The belief was that Larry & Magic played the game "unselfishly" and played the game "the right way" and they misinterpreted the competitive force of nature that was Michael's will to win, conveniently, while spinning a negative narrative. Those ridiculous narratives still exist today, as you're reading this.

The game featured in this video is from Michael Jordan's rookie season. In the Bulls first game against Boston that season (November 15, 1984) the Boston Celtics went in to that ballgame with extra motivation because Orlando Woolridge had been talking trash, and all throughout the Chicago & Boston newspapers there were reports of how the Celtics showed up for shoot-around early, and made a point to dominate the Bulls 125-105. The Celtics also went on to win 3 out of the next 4 games against the Bulls and were up 4-1 in the season series. So, give credit where credit is due, the world champion Boston Celtics were the better team. You'll see great ball movement from the Celtics in this basketball game, with world champion talent from the top to bottom of that roster. Of note, Michael Jordan & the Bulls were playing a back to back, and this was their 4th game in 6 days with MJ scoring 37 points in each of the Bulls last 2 games prior to this contest. This was late in the season, and usually rookies struggle late in their first season but MJ was stringing together masterpiece performances despite the tougher more demanding schedule & worse transportation of the 1980's. There was no love lost between these 2 teams, and the rivalry between Michael Jordan & Larry Bird was very real. You'll see Michael Jordan & Larry Bird pick up the intensity in crunch time, and each man attempts to take over the game. This was a thrilling contest, hope you enjoy the edit!

(1984-85 Season)

TIMESTAMPS:
2:53 - Game Begins
3:01 - Robert Parish 1 dribble hop step pull up baseline fadeaway jumper
3:46 - Michael Jordan 1 handed floater in the paint over Larry Bird
3:59 - Danny Ainge wet jumper
4:18 - Larry Bird left handed 3/4 court pass (tipped by Michael Jordan)
4:37 - Danny Ainge baseline jumper
5:23 - Danny Ainge catch & shoot jumper
5:30 - Dennis Johnson baseline jumper
5:43 - Kevin McHale fadeaway jumper
6:23 - Danny Ainge nasty fadeaway pull-up jumper over Michael Jordan
6:55 - Larry Bird baseline jumper
7:06 - Larry Bird elbow jumper
7:13 - Larry Bird transition pull-up jumper
7:20 - Larry Bird alley-oop layup
7:29 - Dennis Johnson baseline jumper
7:35 - Robert Parish steal & transition dunk
7:49 - Larry Bird steal & 3/4 court pass
8:17 - Michael Jordan steal & transition layup
8:41 - Larry Bird full court chest pass to Kevin McHale
8:58 - Michael Jordan fadeaway jumper
9:42 - Michael Jordan steals the ball from Larry Bird
9:48 - Michael Jordan floating hang time jumper
10:11 - Michael Jordan jumper in the paint
10:51 - Robert Parish post-up turnaround jumper
12:02 - Larry Bird jumper rims in
12:19 - Larry Bird vs Dave Corzine, jump ball
12:57 - Quinn Buckner jumper
14:31 - Ray Williams pull-up jumper
14:37 - Larry Bird 4th quarter jumper from the right wing
14:51 - Larry Bird blocks Michael Jordan's reverse layup (MJ gets it back & hits a contested shot)
15:07 - Michael Jordan steals the ball from Larry Bird
15:29 - Michael Jordan steals the ball again from Larry Bird (Bird falls)
15:44 - Larry Bird jumper
16:14 - Larry Bird jumper
16:32 - Michael Jordan clutch jumper, and 1
17:00 - Robert Parish clutch jumper
17:40 - Michael Jordan clutch jumper
17:57 - Robert Parish clutch post-up bucket
18:10 - Michael Jordan clutch jumper
18:24 - Danny Ainge clutch jumper (wet)
18:30 - Dennis Johnson clutch jumper (wet)
18:46 - Robert Parish clutch jumper
19:14 - Michael Jordan clutch baseline jumper over Larry Bird
19:47 - Jordan vs Bird crunch time bump
20:50 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws
22:04 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws
22:29 - Dennis Johnson 3
22:43 - Danny Ainge almost drills a 3/4 court shot

Michael Jordan greatest games series playlist (games in chronological order here):    • Michael Jordan's Greatest 1980's Regu...  

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