1984 NBA Finals Game 4: Larry Goes to Hollywood, hits the most iconic shot of his career, a fadeaway game-winner in Magic's face with 16s left in OT to even the series at 2-2. Bird called his Celtic teammates "sissies" after the Lakers handed the C's the worst playoff loss in their history in Game 3, a game that saw Magic Johnson get 21 assists. Bird said the Celtics were supposed to be the physical team and the Lakers the finesse team, not the other way round. His comments set the stage for a game that has come to be considered among the greatest in NBA history. Bird put his money where his mouth was early: you'll see in the first clip how he consciously boxes out Michael Cooper - while inbounding the ball out of bounds - causing Cooper to flip backwards into the cameramen. That paled in comparison to what happened in the 2nd half. Kevin McHale still wasn't a starter on the Celtics. The 6th man wasn't going to let Kurt Rambis get yet another easy layup on a fast break. Cue the curtains coming down on Showtime. In an instant, the course of the series changed. Bird implied that total war would be necessary with his "sissy" comments. McHale heeded the call; his mid-air clothesline on Rambis was basically a nuclear first-strike. Celtic legend Tommy Heinsohn mentioned how it was "turning physical" only AFTER Bird shoved Cooper into the cameramen, the clothesline of Rambis, a hard foul on Bird, and the Bird-Kareem tangle-up. Bird got in their heads and the Lakers went mental. Celtics fans took to calling Magic Johnson "Tragic Johnson" after a costly turnover and 2 missed freethrows in OT. Watch, then, as Bird beat Magic on a jump ball and then hit that fadeaway in his face FTW. 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell crossed the lane choking himself after James Worthy joined Magic as Lakers who missed must-make free throws. LA blew a 5pt lead in that OT.
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Bird: 29pts 21reb 2ast 3stl in 49mins
DJ: 22pts 17ast in 50mins
Parrish: 25pts 12rebs 2ast 3stl 2blk
Magic: 20pts 17rebs 11ast 2stl 7to in 49mins
Worthy: 30pts (14-17) in 48mins
Kareem: 32pts 8reb 6ast 4stl 2blk
🎶: "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood was released on June 4th 1984, 2 days before Game 4 of the Finals!

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