While I’m sure, as a Piston fan, it tickled you to see Bill Laimbeer try to seriously hurt people, it was more than satisfying to see Bird flip over after being taken down with a clothesline to his throat, pop Laimbeer at least twice with well-placed punches, and then finish him off with a basketball square to the face. Funny thing is, despite punching Laimbeer, Bird wasn’t ejected until he threw that ball. The 80s were a much different time.

Being a rough, physical player is one thing, but being a thug who literally tries to take people out of a game by causing injury is inexcusable. Laimbeer deserved that ass whipping, especially from the one guy you’d least expect to snap like that.