This week we are engaging the third and final installment of the series of historical presentations of past Celtics championship eras, with the Larry Bird years, the teams of the 80's.
How could we possibly top the last two shows; the analysis of the 50's & 60's era Celtics by the walking Celtics encyclopedia,"Slippery Sam" and the look back to the 70's teams with the equally erudite historian, "Elrod Enchilada?
How about bringing on Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, the longest tenured, single team NBA beat reporter, who covered those 80's teams on a day to day basis?
Steve was there for all the glorious games that this core played. What stories can he tell us from those days when reporters flew on the same planes and often ate and drank together while on the road?
From 1981-86 they had the greatest five year run of any team ever, going 311-99 for a .759 winning % while winning three championships.
The rivalries with division foe Philadelphia and the "Showtime" Lakers are legendary and may never be surpassed for the intensity of play, fueled by pure hatred for each other, and tempered by the grudging respect for the collective talent on those opposing all-star and hall of fame laden teams.
Perhaps as impressive as the team's feats on the parquet, was the wheeling and dealing by the patriarch, Red Auerbach, who built this team from the ashes of the prior era, as he had done once before, after the Bill Russell years, in miraculous fashion.
While Don Cheney is the answer to the trivia question of who played for the Celtics teams with Russell, Cowens and Bird, it was truly Red who was the link to those eras, building and coaching some of the greatest teams in NBA history.
After the death of Walter Brown, Red had to deal with some very shaky owners.
There was Irv Levin and the pseudo franchise swap with Buffalo that left the Celtics charter in San Diego and Nate "Tiny" Archibald in green.
Remember John Y Brown and the trade for Bob MacAdoo, allegedly initiated by his wife, that almost had Red Auerbach boarding a plane to sign on as GM of the hated Knicks?
But of course, Red endured and engineered the trade of MacAdoo that brought back the draft picks that led to the year early drafting of Larry Bird and the trading of the #1 & 13th picks of the 1979 draft for the 3rd pick (Kevin McHale) and Robert Parish to insure flag # 14.
His later moves, trading Rick Robey for Dennis Johnson and Cedrick Maxwell for Bill Walton were instrumental in bringing flags 15 & 16 to Boston.
Here is a quote from Steve's Herald column of Oct. 29th. 2006 giving attribution to the author of one of the most famous of Red's tributes.
“(Legendary agent) Ron Grinker probably said it best. ‘Everybody’s playing checkers, except Red. He’s playing chess.’ Red was strategical and tactical and looked for an edge at every juncture, and he usually got it. He thought outside the box long before that term was ever used."
Aside from marveling at Red's team building, in spite of the handicaps the feeble ownerships caused him, we will surely try to convey the iron willed, selfless marvel that was Bird.
Every game I saw him play, up to his debilitating achilles injury, which led to his lingering and chronic back woes, he was the best player on the floor.
Before there was LeBron James there was Bird, a big strong forward who could see the floor and pass like a point guard, shoot as well as any shooting guard and rebound as well as any power forward.
If you want to participate in the show you can call our toll free number (1.866.751.9649), send us an e-mail to CSL@CelticsBlog.com, or join us in the “Pit” (the chat) during the broadcast.
We hope you will join us.
Topic: Celtics Stuff Live. W/Steve Bulpett. Sun., 8-10PM. (Read 1751 times)