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Boston Celtics# 33 Larry Bird courtside during the Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 6 , 1988. (Photo by Tom Berg/WireImage/getty)
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Boston Celtics# 33 Larry Bird courtside during the Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on May 6 , 1988. (Photo by Tom Berg/WireImage/getty)
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics was the highlight of the 1980s. The Celtics led by Larry Bird and the Lakers led by Magic Johnson gave the fans some of the most memorable moments in the history of the NBA.
However, it seems Bird was unfazed by all the hype before the Celtics and Lakers game. According to a report, a Boston Herald reporter once revealed Bird’s weird locker room tradition before the crucial matchup.
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According to the report, “Steve Bulpett, the Celtics reporter for The Boston Herald, recalled a moment a few years earlier when Bird, dressing alone in The Forum locker room, suddenly sang, almost to himself, “We’re playin’ the Lakers, we’re playin’ the Lakers.”
Being one of the best players in the league during the time, Bird had a lot of expectations on his shoulders. Needless to say, he lived up to all the hype and the expectations and he had his own unique pre-game rituals.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson lit up the league with their rivalry
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are two of the most successful franchises in NBA history. They both have 17 NBA titles to their name and no other team in the NBA comes close.
It is only natural two of the best players in each team shared a fierce rivalry. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson first matched up during the 1979 NCAA tournament. Already destined to be great, the two again met the same year on 28th December 1979. This started one of the most heated rivalries in NBA history.
They faced each other 37 times with 19 of their games coming in the playoffs. Magic Johnson holds the upper hand with 22 wins out of 37. Despite having the better record, Johnson loses out to Bird when it comes to individual stats.
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Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers
In the games against Bird, Johnson averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 12.5 assists. On the other hand, Larry Bird averaged 23.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. (Source: landofbasketball.com)
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What is your favorite memory of the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry? Let us know in the comments down below.
