Editing Larry Bird (section)

====Early success (1979–1983)====
[[File:Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics 1979-10-12 (Official Scorer's Report) (Larry Bird crop).jpg|alt=A box score with Bird's numbers highlighted|thumb|upright=1.3|Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in his NBA debut against the Houston Rockets on October 12, 1979.]]
In his rookie season (1979–80), Bird immediately transformed the Celtics into a title contender. The team improved its win total by 32 games from the [[1978–79 Boston Celtics season|year before he was drafted]] and finished first in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]].<ref>{{cite web |title = 1978–79 NBA Season Summary |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1979.html |publisher = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = October 14, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014055415/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1979.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=BR80>{{cite web |title = 1979–80 NBA Season Summary |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1980.html |publisher = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = August 4, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110804024957/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1980.html |url-status = live }}</ref> In his career debut, Bird recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a 114–106 victory over the Houston Rockets.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197910120BOS.html |title = Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 12, 1979 |publisher = Basketball-Reference |access-date = November 22, 2019 |archive-date = January 2, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200102080327/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197910120BOS.html |url-status = live }}</ref> On November 14, 1979, he recorded his first career triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115–111 victory over the Detroit Pistons.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197911140BOS.html |title = Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 14, 1979 |publisher = Basketball-Reference |access-date = November 12, 2019 |archive-date = November 12, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191112112037/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197911140BOS.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Nine days later, Bird recorded his first 30-point scoring game (along with 11 rebounds and 3 assists) in a 118–103 victory over the Indiana Pacers.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197911230BOS.html |title = Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Box Score, November 23, 1979 |publisher = Basketball-Reference |access-date = November 22, 2019 |archive-date = March 3, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200303093739/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197911230BOS.html |url-status = live }}</ref> With averages of 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the [[1979–80 Boston Celtics season|season]], he was selected to the [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Team]] and named [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]].<ref name="Larry Bird" /> In the [[1980 NBA Playoffs|Eastern Conference Finals]], Boston was eliminated by the [[1979–80 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]].<ref name="BR80" />

Before the [[1980–81 NBA season|1980–81 season]], the Celtics selected forward [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] in the [[1980 NBA draft|draft]] and acquired center [[Robert Parish]] from the [[Golden State Warriors]],<ref>{{cite web |title = Kevin McHale NBA & ABA Stats |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mchalke01.html |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = August 5, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110805065633/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mchalke01.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Robert Parish NBA & ABA Stats |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parisro01.html |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = February 24, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110224181056/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parisro01.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> forming a Hall of Fame trio for years to come; the front-court of Bird, McHale, and Parish is regarded as one of the greatest front-courts in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/5-best-players-in-boston-celtics-history-101316 |title = 5 best players in Boston Celtics history |date = October 13, 2016 |website = FOX Sports |access-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190329211345/https://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/5-best-players-in-boston-celtics-history-101316 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nba.com/history/legends/profiles/kevin-mchale |title = Legends profile: Kevin McHale |website = NBA.com |access-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190329211337/https://www.nba.com/history/legends/profiles/kevin-mchale |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/expert-panel-warriors-not-greatest-team-of-all-time/ |title = NBA expert panel: Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. 2 |date = June 13, 2017 |website = Mercury News |access-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-date = March 29, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190329225234/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/expert-panel-warriors-not-greatest-team-of-all-time/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Behind Bird's leadership and Boston's upgraded roster, the Celtics again advanced to the [[1981 NBA playoffs|Conference Finals]] for a rematch with the 76ers.<ref name="BR81">{{cite web |title = 1980–81 NBA Season Summary |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1981.html |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = August 7, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807021052/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1981.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Boston fell behind 3–1 to start the series but won the next three games to advance to the Finals against the [[1980–81 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]],<ref>{{cite web |title = 1981 NBA Eastern Conference finals |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981_ECF.html#BOS-PHI |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140302233036/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981_ECF.html#BOS-PHI |url-status = live }}</ref> winning in six games and earning Bird his first [[List of NBA champions|championship]].<ref name="BR81" /> Bird averaged 21.9 points, 14 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game for the postseason and 15.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 7 assists per game for the Finals.<ref name="Larry Bird" /><ref>{{cite web |title = 1981 NBA Finals |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981_finals.html#BOS-HOU |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-date = March 2, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140302232351/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1981_finals.html#BOS-HOU |url-status = live }}</ref>

At the [[1982 NBA All-Star Game|1982 All-Star Game]], Bird scored 19 points en route to winning the [[NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star Game MVP Award]].<ref name="NBA Bird">{{cite web |title = NBA.com: Larry Bird Bio |url = http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html |website = NBA |access-date = March 8, 2014 |archive-date = January 13, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101905/http://www.nba.com/history/players/bird_bio.html |url-status = live }}</ref> At the end of the [[1981–82 NBA season|season]], he earned his first [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive Team]] selection.<ref name="Larry Bird" /> Bird eventually finished runner-up in [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] voting to [[Moses Malone]].<ref name="NBA Bird" /> In the [[1982 NBA Playoffs|Conference Finals]], the Celtics faced the [[1981–82 Philadelphia 76ers season|76ers]] for the third consecutive year, losing in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |title = 1982 NBA Playoffs Summary |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 8, 2014 |archive-date = July 11, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220711135344/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1982.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Boston's misfortunes continued into [[1982–83 NBA season|the next season]], with Bird again finishing second in MVP voting to Malone and the team losing in the conference semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks.<ref name="NBA Bird" /><ref>{{cite web |title = 1983 NBA Playoffs Summary |url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html |website = Basketball Reference |access-date = March 8, 2014 |archive-date = June 4, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200604201835/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1983.html |url-status = live }}</ref>