5/30/1988
The truth is, folks, it's all happened before.
Larry Bird doesn't have to be injured or ill in order to have difficulty scoring in the postseason. When the playoffs come, and nobody takes nights or afternoons off and the focus becomes defense, defense and maybe a little more defense mixed in, Bird frequently has struggled for games on end.
Sample:
1980 PHILADELPHIA, Games 3, 4 and 5
FG-FGA FT-FTA Rebs. (O-D-T) Assists Points
9-21 3-4 2-19-21 4 22
6-15 7-8 4-9-13 3 19
5-19 2-2 4-10-14 4 12
20-55 12-14 10-38-48 11 53
1981 HOUSTON, Games 3, 4 and 5
3-11 2-4 0-12-12 7 8
3-11 2-2 1-11-12 8 8
5-16 2-2 2-11-13 5 12
11-38 6-8 3-34-37 20 28
1982 WASHINGTON, Games 3 and 4
3-8 8-9 3-10-13 1 14
4-16 2-2 0-8-8 1 10
7-24 10-11 3-18-21 2 24
1982 PHILADELPHIA, Games 6 and 7
8-19 4-4 4-16-20 8 20
6-19 2-2 4-13-17 4 14
14-38 6-6 8-29-37 12 34
1983 ATLANTA, Games 1 and 2
9-20 8-8 1-14-15 5 26
4-18 7-8 7-9-16 9 15
13-38 15-16 8-23-31 14 41
1985 PHILADELPHIA, Games 4 and 5
4-15 6-6 2-5-7 6 14
6-18 5-7 1-4-5 5 17
10-33 11-12 3-9-12 11 31
1987 LOS ANGELES, Games 4, 5 and 6
7-19 5-5 1-9-10 7 21
7-18 8-9 2-10-2 7 23
6-16 4-4 1-8-9 5 16
20-53 17-18 4-27-21 19 60
So when you look at what's going on now in the DETROIT series . . .
8-20 3-5 1-8-9 6 20
6-20 6-7 2-10-12 8 18
6-17 6-6 2-9-11 8 18
20-57 15-18 5-27-32 22 56
You don't have to automatically assume anything is "wrong" with him. Maybe there is, and maybe there isn't, but it's more likely the Pistons are just doing a great job on him. Take note, however, at some of those rebound and assist totals over the years during these times of shooting woe. That's why Larry Bird is Larry Bird. If you just want a scorer, you could always bring Lou Hudson out of retirement.
4 comments:
Lakers fans are chanting "we want boston."
If you go back on my blog, they were chanting that in 2008, too.
i want the lakers too! theres no better rivalry in basketball!
well, honestly, now that LeBored is gone fishing, what's better than Boston-LA for the league revenues?
I can't wait
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