NBA's 60 Greatest Playoff Moments: #4

The defending champion Boston Celtics were down and almost out. Playing the young, tough-as-nails Detroit Pistons in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the aging Celtics were in danger of losing Game 5, which would have given the Pistons a chance to clinch the series at home in Game 6.

With Boston down by a point and Detroit in possession of the ball in the closing seconds of the game, those famed Celtic leprechauns decided to make an appearance.

As Detroit's Isiah Thomas prepared to toss the ball inbounds from the sideline, Boston's Larry Bird looked away from his man and stole a glance at Thomas. He saw the Pistons' captain look toward center Bill Laimbeer in the low post an instant before releasing the ball. So Bird cut into the passing lane and stole the ball before it could reach Laimbeer's hands.

His momentum looked like it would carry him out of bounds, but Bird somehow managed to gather his balance at the baseline and turn toward the court, where he spotted teammate Dennis Johnson beginning his cut from the foul line toward the basket. Bird whipped a crisp pass to DJ who laid it in with one second remaining for a 108-107 victory.

The steal was remarkable. Bird's instinct and ability to turn it into the winning basket only compounded the greatness of the play.

"Larry's mind takes an instant picture of the whole court," noted Bill Fitch, Bird's first coach with the Celtics. "He sees creative possibilities."

The Celtics went on to win the series in seven games and advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row, where they would surrender their title to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Larry
• Bird
• Picks
• Pistons
• Pockets
• Steal
• NBA
• Boston
• Celtics
• Detroit
• 1987
• Eastern
• Conference
• Finals
• Dennis
• Johnson

[shadeWSPA]

Thus should have been No. 1

5 seconds left, down by 1, and THEY have the ball

[brokeboy55]

I'm a pistons fan and every time I look at that play I shake my head in disbelief.

[cambocan]

Would have been better if he just threw the ball up in the air as high as he could. Ugh.

[VrgniaMailman]

@VrgniaMailman And I am certain that there are dozens and dozens of stupendous plays, both offensively and on defense, by lesser players that will never be known. First Havlicek and then Kareem made back-to-back super shots at the end of Game 6 in the 1974 Finals. Kareem's won the game and sent Celtic fans home dejected. But Celts won Game 7 in Milwaukee easily, the 5th win by the visiting team in that series!! Did either of those shots make the list? I do not know .. just asking

[VrgniaMailman]

@Flipper79able A thumbs up for you. Thanks. And even though I am a huge Celtics fan, especially going way, way, way back to Bill Russell, Satch Sanders, KC and Sam Jones, etc. I agree with what you wrote in your follow-up sentences. I am biased in favor of great defensive plays, especially blocked shots leading to a fast-break lay-up for the blocker's team. No one ever was better at that than Bill Russell, but he is not near top because of another bias (his era). Also fewer films

[Flipper79able]

@VrgniaMailman Yes, Gerald Henderson's play made the list.....it's further back though. This list like a lot of lists is one big popularity contest. Bird, Magic and Jordan are all in the top 5 greatest plays because they are all one of the best players ever. This play is definitely a good one but there were some truly amazing plays made by lesser known players...and because of that they are further down the list. Lists are always bogus.

[fazman52]

as gd as Larry Bird was i still think he was underated, he was just that good.

[lucashowardable]

every time i watch this i feel like bill walton musta felt in the video

[TheEliteStrudel]

Bird stole the ball > Havlicek stole the ball

[Petawawa8]

I'm as big a Jordan fan as anybody, but I didn't think that his final shot was the NBA's greatest playoff moment. It was a fantastic play, but no one was really surprised when it went in. It's gained credit over time because it turned out to be Jordan's final shot, but as a single moment, it's not more extraordinary than this play, or West's 65 footer. Ignoring the setting of it, it was a 15 footer. An incredible play no doubt, but not the best ever.

[VrgniaMailman]

@nychampionship Didn't Gerald Henderson's steal make the list? That was vs. the Lakers in Game 2 of the 1984 NBA Finals, one of the very best Finals in NBA history. Incredible tension and desire by both teams, with both teams being loaded with talent and great coaching.

[VrgniaMailman]

@shadeWSPA I'm not sure it should be tops, but I'd choose it higher than ANY of the alleged top three. Boston almost certainly would have lost if Bird did not make steal AND pass to DJ. THAT should be essential to a top moment. Jordan's jumper to beat Utah (voted Number 1 in a colossal disgrace) would be a great moment, IF he had not committed an offensive foul that went uncalled. Others? Jerry West's shot from about 70 feet to send an NBA Final game to OT. Havlicek's steal. Etc, etc