YouTube Gold: Larry Bird’s Legendary 1987 Steal Against Detroit C – Yahoo Sports

BOSTON – MAY 26: Boston Celtics players Dennis Johnson and Larry Bird raise their hands in victory after Bird stole the ball, passing to Johnson, who scored the winning basket against the Detroit Pistons at Boston Garden on May 26, 1987. (Photo by Joanne Rathe/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images In 1987, Detroit was building what would soon become a championship team. With a backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Rick Mahorn, second-year player Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, and John Salley, the core was set. And they had Boston in a nice spot in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. Advertisement The Pistons had crushed the Celtics in Game 4, 145-119, and were poised to win in Boston in Game 5. Even better for them, Robert Parish had injured his ankle and Kevin McHale was having a subpar game and was in foul trouble to boot. So when Larry Bird’s drive was blocked with time running out and Detroit ahead 107-106 with mere seconds left on the clock, it looked like it was over for the Celtics. Well, not quite. As it turned out, Bird stole the inbounds from Thomas to Laimbeer
Read More