NBA Throwback Thursday: Larry Bird's 60, 30 years ago today

On March 12, 1985 Larry Legend put on one of his greatest performances on the hardcourt. It was a home away from home game for the Atlanta Hawks as the game was played in New Orleans, a great place for hardcore Celtics fans to congregate to watch their amazing team. And boy were they in for a treat that night. Bird scored 32 points in just over 14 minutes during the second half beat-down on route to the 126-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The 60 points broke the Celtics single game scoring record that Kevin McHale dropped on the Detroit Pistons only nine days prior. Larry Bird's 1984-85 season was one of his best as he averaged 28.7 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 52.2 from the field and 42.7 from beyond the arc. Larry also led the league in minutes per game and earned his second of three straight MVP awards in one of the greatest seasons of his hall of fame career. 

NBA Throwback Thursday: Bill Russell teaches defensive rebounding

One of the greatest players to ever hit the hardwood shows you how to properly box somebody out so you can gobble up all of the defensive rebounds. Russell finished his 13 year career with 11 championship rings playing the center position so if anybody knows how to box a man out, it's him. 

NBA Throwback Thursday: Ron Artest tries EVERYTHING to stop Paul Pierce

The basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest (soon to be formerly known as Metta World Peace) was known for a lot of things. Being a hassle on the defensive end, getting into fights, and sometimes just downright hilarity. In a game between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers Ron Artest got fed up with his defence not being as good as Paul Pierce's offence so he decided he needed to do what was necessary to get Pierce out his game. Pierce has to get pantsed. Pierce shook it off easily and drained a three pointer moments later right in Artest's face. Ron later apologized in the only way Ron knows how. Song. 

NBA Throwback Thursday: 1969 Finals the Don Nelson bounce

Everyone's seen a basketball shot go in on a lucky bounce but nobody has gotten said lucky bounce at a more opportune time then Don Nelson in game 7 of the 1969 NBA finals. With less than a 1:30 left to go in the game the Celtics only had a 1 point lead but a near steal by Keith Erickson got the ball into Don Nelson's hands who puts up the shot that sealed the deal for Boston. This magical shot hit the back of the rim launching the ball 6 feet in the air only so it could drop back down straight through the net giving the Celtics a 105-102 lead. The Celtics would ice the game with free throws and go on to win it 108-106 despite Jerry West (the finals MVP) averaging 38 ppg in the series and having 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the game 7. This win gave the Celtics their 11th championship in 13 seasons further cementing their dynasty. 

For a more in-depth breakdown of the final game of the 1969 season watch this video below. 

NBA Throwback Thursday: Havlicek stole the ball!

This week in NBA Throwback Thursday we go back to game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics had possession with a one point lead with mere seconds to go in the game but Bill Russell slipped up and lost the ball off the stantion for the backboard during the inbounds. This gave Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers one last shot at the game and the series. Luckily for the Celtics however John Havlicek came to the rescue stealing the ball off the inbounds pass allowing for time to expire so Boston could win the series. Celtics commentator Johnny Most only raises excitement with his call on the play.

Havlicek played all 16 seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics scoring 26,395 points and he averaged 20.8ppg 6.3 rpg and 4.8 apg across that career. Those 26,395 points gives him the title of all time leading scorer for the Celtics, good for the 13th highest scorer ever in the NBA. 

Havlicek's game saving steal is at the 2:00 minute mark but I'd implore you to watch the whole thing, Hondo deserves it.