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“Larry Bird completely lost it against Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman!”: Celtics legend went berserk following physical play from ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons in 1987 ECF

Samir Mehdi
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“Larry Bird completely lost it against Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman!”: Celtics legend went berserk following physical play from ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons in 1987 ECF

Larry Bird couldn’t seem to take the physical play from Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman any longer as he had a fight with them in ‘87. 

Larry Bird established himself as one of the NBA’s foremost superstars in merely his second season with the Boston Celtics. After winning the NBA Finals in 1981 in 6 games against the Houston Rockets, the Celtics and the Lakers were at each other’s neck for the remainder of the 1980s. 

Of course, in between their intense rivalry, several other teams sprouted up from both conferences to challenge. The Philadelphia 76ers led by Julius Erving were a threat to both the Lakers and the Celtics, the Rockets were consistently good, and Michael Jordan and his Bulls gave teams trouble towards the end of the decade. 

However, one team that stood out among them all was the late 80s to early 90s Detroit Pistons led by Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and of course, floor general, Isiah Thomas.

Also read: “Larry Bird was the first big-man to shoot 3s”: Chris Webber wants the Celtics legend to be up there with the likes of Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry

They earned themselves the moniker, ‘Bad Boys’ for their physical style of play and constant roughhousing. It’s safe to say that Larry Bird eventually had enough of it when the stakes were at their highest. 

Larry Bird goes off against Dennis Rodman and the Pistons. 

Larry Bird and his Celtics were coming off an incredible 1986 season which many believe to be the greatest iteration of Bird’s Celts. They headed into the ‘87 season as defending champs and posted a 59-23 record going into the Playoffs. 

The Pistons on the other hand had just been eliminated in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks in 1986. Going into the 1987 season, expectations were higher and they sure delivered. they reached the ECF and had a date set up against ‘The Hick from French Lick’. 

The series was a grueling one and went the full 7 games. There were several highlights in this series. Everything from Bird averaging 36 points from Games 5-7 to him getting the game-winning steal and assist to Dennis Johnson for the win in Game 6; this was an all-timer.

Also read: “Nikola Jokic is a 7-foot Larry Bird”: Steve Kerr sings the Nuggets MVP’s praise by comparing him to the Celtics legend

However, one particular moment set the tone for the rest of the series and subsequently acted as a way of letting the Pistons know that their bullying tactics weren’t going to work on the battle-tested Celtics. 

A fight broke out in Game 3 between Bird and two of the Pistons’ most physical players: Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer.

Aside from him choking out Julius Erving, this was perhaps his most iconic fight during his NBA career. Michael Jordan weighed in on the situation as well, claiming that foul by Laimbeer was much more than just a Flagrant. 

All in all, Larry Bird walked out victorious that series but would unfortunately fall at the hands of Magic Johnson and the Lakers in 6 games in the NBA Finals. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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