Larry Bird's Legendary Steal: The Play He Remembered Wasn't the One He Read

Larry Bird always said he knew that steal was coming. The film shows something even better.⁣
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One possession earlier, Sellers gives that same held up fist signal and the Bulls run a totally different action, Jordan slice cutting off Oakley to free him up for the pin down and the fade over two defenders. Bird isn't fooled. Watch him start creeping into that passing lane before the ball even swings. That's the moment he tells himself if they try this again, it's mine.⁣
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Go back one more possession and the Bulls aren't even running the same play Bird described. It's Sellers UCLA cutting off Corzine into a ball screen, a triangle staple, and instead of spacing the corner like a modern offense would, Sellers just sits in the midrange for a heavily contested 14 footer.⁣
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Bird misremembered the exact set. His anticipation on that read? Dead on. #shorts