Present at a pre-game press conference with Klay Thompson, Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke about the place that the Celtics have always had in his relationship with basketball. A beautiful tribute to the Celtic franchise that takes us back to the 80s, with a nice anecdote about Larry Bird.
Asked by a journalist about the link he has with the franchise for 17 championship titles, Steve Kerr returned to some of his memories with the Celtics as a fan, then as a player. Confidences that take us back to the 80s, to the finest hours of the rivalry between Celtics and Lakers. We are still talking about two teams that shared 8 titles in 9 season between 1980 and 1988. With legendary series and particularly hot moments, as Steve Kerr tells it.
I grew up watching Magic and Bird play, back in the 1980s. It must have been 1984, I was sitting in the very back row of the Forum when Kevin McHale ratted out Kurt Rambis. This action changed the series. »
—Steve Kerr, and press conference before Game 1 of the Finals against the Celtics
Kerr refers here to an action from the 1984 Playoffs, entered into legend as the ultimate symbol of the rivalry between the two franchises : while the Angelino Rambis goes to the drive to conclude a counter-attack, Kevin McHale appears from nowhere to chopper with the jugular like a very enraged pitbull. A completely unsportsmanlike foul which at the time triggered the start of a fight and a real turning point in the series: trailing 2-1 at this time, Boston fought hard to win the match in overtime and equalize, before winning the series after 7 games. Lone of the many events in all those epic Finals between Larry Bird’s franchise and Magic Johnson’s. Here, let’s talk about friend Larry. After admiring him as a fan, Steve Kerr then got to play against him. One more opportunity to give us a tasty anecdote about the legend of the Celtics:
“Some of my best memories as a player happened at the Boston Garden. I remember starting a game there at the start of my career. We had several wounded. I arrived on the field and greeting him, Larry Bird said to me “Good luck, Steve”. I said, “You too, Larry,” and I thought, “What’s going on here? It was both surreal and exciting to be on the Garden floor. There is something mystical with the Celtics. An incredible franchise, an incredible story. For me, who grew up being a fan and seeing those games, it’s great to be able to coach in the final against them. »
After having already played 5 finals against Cleveland and Toronto, Steve Kerr will this time find the Celtics against him. A franchise that holds a special place for him, as for many fans of this sport. So we’re going to have to leave feelings aside because the C’s haven’t planned to let themselves be lulled by Steve’s beautiful words.
Text source: press conference (via House of Highlights)