{"id":1448846,"date":"2021-11-30T14:45:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T19:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1448846"},"modified":"2021-11-30T14:45:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T19:45:12","slug":"larry-bird-boston-celtics-missed-chance-4th-nba-title-after-demoralizing-series-altering-loss-to-the-los-angeles-lakers-in-1987-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/larry-bird-boston-celtics-missed-chance-4th-nba-title-after-demoralizing-series-altering-loss-to-the-los-angeles-lakers-in-1987-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics Missed Chance at 4th NBA Title After Demoralizing, Series-Altering Loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Larry Bird<\/a> called out the Boston Celtics for their lack of mental toughness during the 1987 NBA Finals against the rival Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>. Boston just squandered a golden opportunity in Game 4 that would have evened the series at two games apiece. Instead, the Celtics were left to wonder what could have been as the Lakers prevented them from a repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In just his second year in the NBA, Bird guided the Celtics to a championship<\/a>, defeating the Houston Rockets in the 1981 Finals. Boston then returned to the championship round four consecutive seasons from 1984-87, winning titles in '84 and '86. In the 1987 Finals, the Celtics matched up with the Lakers, the team they beat in '84 and lost to in '85.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite dropping the first two games on the road, the Celtics felt confident coming home, especially under the 2-3-2 format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Boston suffered double-digit losses in each of the two games in LA but bounced back in Game 3. Bird and Magic Johnson <\/a>battled it out before the Celtics escaped with a 109-103 victory to cut Boston's series deficit to 2-1. Bird finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson led all scorers with 32 points. He also added 11 rebounds and nine assists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Game 4, however, that demoralized Bird and the Celtics.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLarry Bird and the Boston Celtics sought their fourth NBA title in the 1980s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Larry Bird: ‘Our mental toughness is just not what it used to be'<\/h2>\n\n\n\n