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Bob Ryan goes deep on one of basketball's most underrated topics — Larry Bird's defense. Was he actually good? Bob makes the case that Bird was far better than his reputation suggests, breaking down his three straight All-Defensive Second Team selections, his ability to clamp down situationally late in games, and his most iconic defensive moments including the steal on Isaiah Thomas and a legendary 36-point, 21-rebound clinic against the Lakers.
Plus — how Bird accomplished more statistically with the ball in his hands less than almost anyone in NBA history, and why there's still never been another player quite like him.
0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Did Analytics Actually Measure Bird's Defense? 1:30 - Bird Was All-Defensive Second Team 3 Years in a Row 2:18 - How Bird Would Lurk & Clamp Down Late in Games 3:08 - The 1984 Finals: Bird's Most Complete Defensive Performance 4:39 - The Famous Steal on Isaiah Thomas 5:32 - "Sit Back and Enjoy the Show" — Bird's 36/21 Game vs. Magic 6:43 - PrizePicks 8:34 - How Would Bird's Defense Hold Up in Today's Game? 9:18 - Bird's Photographic Memory & Basketball IQ 11:33 - The Most Underrated Thing About Bird: Producing Without the Ball 12:34 - Jokic & Dirk Have Larry in Them — But There's Only One Bird 13:01 - Bird's Work Ethic & Making Himself a Defender 14:22 - Outro
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