NBA Update

I have been watching sports since 1971, and my two favorite athletes over the last 40 years are Tiger Woods and Larry Bird. So I can pay Kevin Durant no higher compliment than saying that his performance last night reminded me of Larry Bird -- the last player I can remember with Durant's size and shooting ability. In 1981, when Bird was 24, he took the Celtics to the NBA title after leading them to a thrilling 4-3 win in the conference final against a veteran 76er team. This year, at the age of 23, Durant is trying to lead his team in a conference final against a veteran Spur team. Here is how Durant's performance against San Antonio compares to Bird's performance in 1981 against the Sixers (home teams listed first):

GAME ONE

04/21/81: Boston 104 - 105 Philadelphia

Bird: 14 FG's, 5-5 from the line, 33 points

05/27/12: San Antonio 101 - 98 Oklahoma City

Durant: 8 FG's 11-12 from the line, 27 points, 10 rebounds

GAME TWO

04/22/81: Boston 118 - 99 Philadelphia

Bird: 14 FG's, 6-7 from the line, 34 points

05/29/12: San Antonio 120 - 111 Oklahoma City

Durant: 10 FG's, 8-8 from the line, 31 points, 5 rebounds

GAME THREE

04/24/81: Philadelphia 110 - 100 Boston

Bird: 8 FG's, 6-7 from the line, 22 points

05/31/12: Oklahoma City 102 - 82 San Antonio

Durant: 8 FG's, 6-6 from the line, 22 points, 6 rebounds

GAME FOUR

04/26/81: Philadelphia 107 - 105 Boston

Bird: 7 FG's, 4-5 from the line, 18 points

06/02/12: Oklahoma City 109 - 103 San Antonio

Durant: 13 FG's, 9-9 from the line, 36 points, 6 rebounds

TOTALS THROUGH FOUR GAMES:

Bird: 43 FG's, 21-24 from the line, 107 points

Durant: 39 FG's, 34-35 from the line, 116 points

As these figures show, comparing Durant to Bird at this stage of their careers is not unrealistic. Of course, Durant has the option of shooting threes, which gives him some extra points. And the box scores I looked at from the 1981 series did not show rebounds or assists, and Bird's numbers may have been better than Durant in those categories. But the data show that Durant's overall game is very comparable to Bird's -- and that is a remarkable compliment.

Of course, the comparison is not yet complete. After all, in 1981 Bird scored 32 points in Game 5 (Boston won 111-109), 25 points in Game 6, (Boston won 100-98), and 23 points in Game 7 (Boston won 91-90), as the Celtics came roaring back with three pulsating victories to win the Eastern Conference title. Those were the games where Larry Bird started to become Larry Legend. Can Durant do the same for Oklahoma City? We will start to find out tomorrow night in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, Boston won Game 3 at home 101-91 in one of those games where you didn't feel like the Heat were going all out. But they are going all out tonight. For the second time in four games, the Celts and the Heat have gone to overtime. With 1:28 left in the first overtime, the Celts lead 92-91. Paul Pierce has fouled out -- and so has LeBron James -- the first time LeBron has ever fouled out of a playoff game.