In the final seconds of game five of
the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals of the National Basketball Association (NBA)
playoffs, Larry Bird gave one of his more remarkable clutch performances.
In a tight series, Bird's Boston
Celtics were tied at two games with the Detroit Pistons. With five seconds left
in the fourth quarter of game five, the Pistons had a one-point lead and the
ball. If the Pistons held on for the victory, they would return to their home
court for game 6, needing only one win to capture the series and move on to the
NBA Finals. Boston needed a miracle.
At 6 ft 9 in (206 cm), Bird was not the
most graceful or explosive athlete in the NBA. He rarely dunked, and he lacked
the flamboyance of Detroit's Isiah Thomas or Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles
Lakers. He had quick hands, a nose for the ball, an uncanny court sense, and
one of the most deadly outside shots of his era. Arguably the greatest passing
forward in the history of the game, he consistently finished in the top ten in
the NBA in scoring, rebounding, steals, three-point field-goal percentage, and
free-throw percentage. He was a supreme competitor and confident to the point of
arrogance.
In the 1986-1987 season, Bird became
the first player ever to shoot at least .500 (he shot .525) from the floor and
at least .900 (he shot .910) from the free-throw line. He finished fourth in
the league in scoring, averaging 28.1 points per game, while averaging 9.3
rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. The Celtics entered the playoffs that year
as one of the favorites for the title.
The Eastern Conference Finals between
Boston and Detroit was a physical, bitter struggle. In game three Bird and Detroit
center Bill Laimbeer exchanged blows. In the first half of game five Laimbeer
was felled by a barrage of punches from Boston's Robert Parish. As the fourth
quarter of game five wound down, it became clear that whoever made the last
shot would win the game and lead the series 3-2.
With Boston's Jerry Sichting blanketing
him, the Pistons' star Thomas sank a jump shot to give Detroit a 107-106 lead.
Boston brought the ball upcourt with 17 seconds remaining. Bird drove the
baseline, but Detroit's Dennis Rodman blocked his layup attempt. In the ensuing
scramble the ball went out of bounds to Detroit. With five seconds left the
Pistons had a one-point lead and the ball.
As the Boston bench agonized and
Detroit coach Chuck Daly signaled furiously for a time-out, Thomas set up to
inbound the ball. Bird picked himself up off the floor and rushed to cover
Detroit guard Joe Dumars at the foul line. Anticipating Thomas's soft toss to
Laimbeer at the baseline, Bird stepped in front of the Detroit center and intercepted
the pass. As he fell out of bounds he spun toward the basket and spotted
teammate Dennis Johnson cutting toward the basket. He zipped a pinpoint pass to
the Boston guard, who laid the ball off the backboard, past the outstretched
arms of Dumars. The Garden erupted as Detroit failed to get off a shot in the
remaining second. Boston won 108-107.
The Celtics captured the series in game
seven, though the battered Celtics lost to the Lakers in the finals, 4-2.
