IT inspired a search for great Celtics passes, and it’s a Larry Bird highlight reel

Last night, Isaiah Thomas made Twitter tingle with a gorgeous pass in traffic to Jae Crowder in the corner. Here it is again so you can bask in its glory

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmygHCjuB8]

By the way, thank you, Jae, for hitting that 3 and making this an awesome play and not just some great pass that led to nothing.

So that got us to thinking where it might rank among the best passes in Celtics history. But ranking them in any sort of order is impossible. Let’s just say it’s up there among some of the best and show you a bunch of awesome plays.

First off… last night’s pass reminds me of this pass, which I saw live from behind Ray Allen. All I remember is Rondo disappearing, and the ball somehow flying into Ray’s hands. My first thought was “must have been deflected.” Nope, it was intended. And right on point.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DiQsCI25AI]

Then there’s this pass from Rondo, which might be my favorite of his.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlVPA8fZr4Y]

Man I love that play so much. It’s so smooth and effortless, but the degree of difficulty is so high.

Then we started looking at Larry Bird plays. And… well… let’s just put it this way….

You might want to watch these in private, because you’ll be making sounds that will draw a lot of attention. Maybe pour a drink… turn down the lights… because Larry Bird’s passing was beyond amazing.

First.. here’s nearly 3 minutes of Larry Bird just making full court passes. Count how many times Bird inbounded after a make by pivoting and chucking a touchdown pass to a streaking teammate.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTI-Cmkp87A]

Then there’s this collection of his top 10… which includes a few no-look, behind-the-head passes of his own

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IPMMO7xiLQ]

And then we’ll finish with perhaps the greatest play in Celtics history… “the steal” which, in some ways, had the same element as last night because it needed someone else to finish the play to make it what it was.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp_gpLSUMRI]

The steal was obviously the steal, but then he keeps his balance long enough to hit a streaking DJ with a bullet… which DJ laid in. The cherry on top was the DJ/Bird hug… which is one of the most enduring… and endearing… images in Celtics lore.

Rank them however you want. IT’s pass belongs in this mix… but let’s also just enjoy the fact that Boston has seen some of the most creative plays in NBA history.

EDIT:

Mike Dynon hits us with this late addition… Check out the stuff Bob Cousy was doing back in the day!!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-xa6546ixc]