# Bob Ryan: Larry Bird Was a CRIMINALLY Underrated Defender

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bob-ryan-jeff-goodman-nba-podcast-207844/bob-ryan-larry-bird-was-a-criminally-underrated-defender
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bob-ryan-jeff-goodman-nba-podcast-207844/bob-ryan-larry-bird-was-a-criminally-underrated-defender.md
Podcast: [Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman NBA Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bob-ryan-jeff-goodman-nba-podcast-207844)
Published: 2026-06-14T16:26:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM2180414739.mp3
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM2180414739.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bob-ryan-jeff-goodman-nba-podcast-207844/episodes/bob-ryan-larry-bird-was-a-criminally-underrated-defender
Duration seconds: 1112

## Resource

Bob Ryan goes deep on one of basketball's most underrated topics — Larry Bird's defense. Was he actually good? Bob makes the case that Bird was far better than his reputation suggests, breaking down his three straight All-Defensive Second Team selections, his ability to clamp down situationally late in games, and his most iconic defensive moments including the steal on Isaiah Thomas and a legendary 36-point, 21-rebound clinic against the Lakers. Plus — how Bird accomplished more statistically with the ball in his hands less than almost anyone in NBA history, and why there's still never been another player quite like him. 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Did Analytics Actually Measure Bird's Defense? 1:30 - Bird Was All-Defensive Second Team 3 Years in a Row 2:18 - How Bird Would Lurk & Clamp Down Late in Games 3:08 - The 1984 Finals: Bird's Most Complete Defensive Performance 4:39 - The Famous Steal on Isaiah Thomas 5:32 - "Sit Back and Enjoy the Show" — Bird's 36/21 Game vs. Magic 6:43 - PrizePicks 8:34 - How Would Bird's Defense Hold Up in Today's Game? 9:18 - Bird's Photographic Memory & Basketball IQ 11:33 - The Most Underrated Thing About Bird: Producing Without the Ball 12:34 - Jokic & Dirk Have Larry in Them — But There's Only One Bird 13:01 - Bird's Work Ethic & Making Himself a Defender 14:22 - Outro CLNS Media’s preferred Daily Fantasy partner is PrizePicks. Sign up at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Get $50 instantly when you play $5! Use Code CLNS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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