Larry Bird vs Doctor J + the 1980s Celtics vs Sixers Rivalry INSANITY w Bob Ryan

In 1983, the Celtics-Sixers rivalry exploded before the season even started. Legendary sports scribe Bob Ryan joins Gary Tanguay to detail the intense preseason "war" where Larry Bird threw punches and Red Auerbach confronted Moses Malone at the old Boston Garden.

We dive deep into the peak of the greatest rivalry of the 1980s NBA, analyzed by someone who witnessed the "mayhem" firsthand. Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay break down the players who defined the era: the unstoppable dominance of Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Moses Malone, the clutch playmaking of Maurice Cheeks, and the essential presence of Andrew Toney, the "Celtic Killer."
Most Underrated Player of the Rivalry?

Bob Ryan explains why Bobby Jones, the "Basketball Pre-Surgeon," is the most overlooked player in NBA history and advocates for Maurice Cheeks' unique legacy (including an incredible national anthem story you must hear).

The conversation concludes by deciding once and for all: Who is the best Philadelphia 76er head coach in history?
If you want the inside scoop on the most emotional games ever played in Boston, from rallying from 3-1 down to Game 7 elimination, this analysis from Ryan and Tanguay is mandatory listening for any NBA historian.

0:00 Intro, PrizePicks, & Bob Ryan's Channel 5 Era
0:33 Preseason WAR: Larry Bird Brawls with Marc Iavaroni (1983)
4:21 Celtics-Sixers Rivalry History: Wilt vs Russell to Dawning of the 80s
5:59 The Trades that Changed the 80s: Parish, McHale, and the '81 Comeback
10:18 Rivalry Intensifies: "Celtic Killer" Andrew Toney & Winning in Boston
12:35 "Hit me, you big SOB!" Red Auerbach Storms the Court vs Moses Malone
14:15 Most Underrated Players: Bobby Jones vs Mo Cheeks
19:17 Who is the Greatest Coach in Sixers History? (Billy Cunningham or Gene Shue)

In this episode, Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay relive the heated rivalry between two NBA titans: the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. Larry Bird and Julius Erving were the main characters of this feud in the 1980s, but Bob and Gary remember and recognize some of the forgotten faces of the rivalry, including Bobby Jones and Maurice Cheeks. They also tell the iconic tale of Larry Bird’s preseason fight with Marc Iavaroni.

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NBA History Intro & Host Segments (Bob Ryan/Gary Tanguay) Preseason WAR: The Tense 1983 Brawl at Boston Garden "Hit Me! You SOB!" Red Auerbach Storms Court vs Moses Malone Analyzing Marc Iavaroni: The "Laimbeer before Laimbeer"? Larry Bird Throws a Punch: When Rivalry Intensity Peaked History of the Rivalry: Wilt Chamberlain vs Russell in '67 Rectifying Weakness: The Parish/McHale Trade (Greatest in NBA History?) Analying Wilt Chamberlain’s Impossible 36-Rebound Game Andrew Toney: The New "Celtic Killer" Most Underrated Player: Bobby Jones, the "Basketball Pre-Surgeon" Mo Cheeks: HOF Argument for the Perfect Point Guard The Amazing Maurice Cheeks National Anthem Story Who is the Greatest Sixers Coach Ever? (Ryan's Personal Pick) Closing/Sponsor Mentions