Larry Bird 50-40-90 Club Season (1986-87)

Lore & Background

In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in the First Round in three games, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Semi-finals in seven games, and the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals in seven games to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth time in the 1980s. In the Finals, the Celtics faced off against their long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, in their third and final matchup in the NBA Finals in the 1980s. The Celtics would lose in six games to the Lakers, and it marked the last time the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals until 2008. Remarkably, the 1987 NBA Finals was the first playoff series for the Celtics in the Bird era in which they did not have the home court advantage, as they had played 24 consecutive series with the home court advantage starting in 1980.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Boston Garden carried the familiar scent of popcorn and anticipation. As the 1986-87 season wound down, the final stat sheets began to circulate through the press box, confirming what fans had felt all year: Larry Bird’s shooting touch was absolute. There was no single dramatic moment where one shot sealed the feat; rather, it was the accumulation of perfection over 79 games. The math held up—50% from the field, 40% from deep, and above 90% at the line. Bird didn't need a celebration to acknowledge the milestone. He simply turned back down the court, another permanent line etched into history books without breaking his stride.

Reader's Guide

The Celtics drafted small forward Len Bias with the second pick in the 1986 NBA draft. Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing. Unlike the prior year, the Celtics were forced to endure major injuries to several key players including Bill Walton, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. With a road record of 20–21, the Celtics were a sub-.500 road team for the first time in the Larry Bird era and the first time since the 1978–79 season. However, they continued with the previous season's historic dominance at home with a record of 39–2 at Boston Garden.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics lost the 1987 NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
• The 1987 Finals was the last time the Celtics made the NBA Finals until 2008.
• The Celtics had a home record of 39–2 at Boston Garden in the 1986–87 season.