Greatest moment in each NBA franchise’s history

Boston Celtics: Larry Bird steal, pass to Dennis Johnson

When you’re talking about the Boston Celtics, you’re talking about a team that has won 17 NBA Championships in the history of the franchise and a team that has seen two of the best 10 players to ever play the game of basketball put on the green and white. That obviously makes singling out a moment as the greatest in the franchise’s history.

However, there was one that ultimately stood out more than the rest and, unsurprisingly, it involved Larry Bird in the center of it.

Setting the stage, it was Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Pistons in the Boston Garden. Down by a point with less than 10 seconds on the clock, Bird’s shot was blocked and Danny Ainge’s attempted to save the loose ball gave Detroit possession and the chance to ice the game with free throws or by running out the clock.

Instead, Bird read Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas’ mind apparently and picked off the inbounds pass, drove quickly to the short corner and hit a cutting Dennis Johnson with a beautiful dime for the game-winning bucket. That win merely gave the Celtics the 3-2 series lead, but they went on to advance to the NBA Finals with a win in Game 7 before falling to the Lakers in the Finals.

While some may argue that the “Havlicek stole the ball” play deserves this honor, this moment is just a small step above. The cerebral play of Bird to make the play on the inbounds pass and then to see Johnson cutting is always incredible to watch, especially in such a massive postseason moment. Even if it ultimately didn’t result in a Boston title, it’s the Celtics moment that stands above the rest.

Next: Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets