Referee Hugh Evans became dehydrated and fainted at one point in the first half. Not only did he possess the skillset to thrive, but he had more than enough confidence to put any opponent in their place. 9 John Vanak (alternate, replaced Evans), This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:16. On May 16, 1985 the off-day between Games 2 and 3 of . He made the Finals five times in his thirteen-year career, winning the championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986. . His team mate Cedric Maxwell won MVP. He tied it up with two free throws with 3 minutes to go. Magic led the team in scoring this time but was still joined by the same stars: Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. Bird averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the series. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The NBA unveiled two new postseason awards on Thursday morning: the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP. The Celtics played in two other Finals series with Bird, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in '85 and '87. Bostons setbacks didnt end on the basketball court. . The three finals victories are outlined above, but Bird also had two finals losses. The couple has two adopted children named Conner Mariah.. Family. In the 198384 season, the Celtics won 62 games to lead the league. Click the links to read up on the Finals records of the best players in league history. The Celtics won the Finals in six games to cap off a season that . The games were not much closer than the series itself. Chicago Bulls 4-1, 1981 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. He averaged a career-high 29.9 points that year, falling just five points . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. After going 33-0, Bird led his team to the final of the tournament where he faced off against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. I wrote about his record in the NBA Finals here. Despite getting swept in the 1983 NBA Finals by the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers entered the season among the favorites to win the title. The Houston Rockets were mostly a completely different team from the Moses Malone-led Rockets of the 1981 Finals. In 1981, 1984 and 1986, it was Bird who led the Boston Celtics to championships, with him taking home two Finals MVP awards. No matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on, though, Larry Bird has you covered. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. It's an era thing. The Lakers were coached by Pat Riley and also featured defensive ace Michael Cooper, a young. Head to Head: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson. It featured the first time that Larry Bird met Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals, their first head-to-head championship meeting since the 1979 NCAA title game. The 1986 team is among the greatest teams to ever take the hardwood. Despite the similarities, the Lakers won the series in six games. As it turned out, Chauncey Billups was right about KG getting in trouble for being too vocal. There were three Larry Bird championships with the Boston Celtics: in 1981, 1984 and 1986. After . They beat the Rockets twice and the Lakers once to win NBA titles. Arrives by Wed, Mar 15 Buy Larry Bird Boston Celtics Autographed Wilson Replica Basketball with "HOF 1998" Inscription - Limited Edition of 133 at Walmart.com Johnson and Bird met at the NBA Finals three times in 1984, 1985 and 1987. Many were expecting another Lakers-Celtics matchup, but it just wasnt in the cards this Finals. Larry averaged 23-13-7 on his way to a four-game sweep. Head-to-Head Regular Season Stats. The Celtics blew out Houston in game 5 behind a big effort from Cedric Maxwell and then took a big lead and held on to win in game 6. These Knicks really were Bernard Kings team. Larry Bird won his first NBA Finals MVP. Bird averaged 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cs. In MVP voting, Bird dominated the competition as he took home his third straight MVP award. Your email address will not be published. The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. The Celtics swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. 1st seed in the West, 2nd best league record. Have the Phoenix Suns ever won the NBA title? His back suffered major issues, as he injured it building on his farm. Bird averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for the series. Marques Johnson and Sidney Moncrief led the Bucks. And they werent. Bird created a very good team. The last four games all came down to the last shot, with all the games being decided by two points or less. Your email address will not be published. The #1 and #2 seeds were set to face off in the Conference Finals. How Does Larry Birds Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players? Regular season: PTS, FG, FT, 3P complete all-time. 1956 Larry Bird won three NBA championships in his basketball career. In the Finals, Bird dropped a triple-double on the Rockets in a series-clinching Game 6, giving the Celtics another ring. These performances earned Bird his second MVP award. The Pacers got their revenge on the Knicks, winning the eastern conference finals in six games to go up against the Lakers. Larry Bird was named MVP of the series. Larry Bird was a star. Amazing! So lets look at the 1984 NBA season. Aside from stats, Larry Bird was a winner, bringing home multiple championship rings during his time with the Celtics. This was the Celtics' first appearance in The Finals since their 1976 championship winning team against the Phoenix Suns.The Celtics were not quite the same team as five years before, as they added the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, a trio that would come to be known as "The Big Three." M. L. Carr, Cedric Maxwell, and Nate Archibald were also capable players off the . Larry, to his credit, was phenomenal. The Cs closed it out winning game four by 3 points. His accolades are countless, with the former Indiana State man being an NBA legend. Larry Bird stats . Finally, lets discuss the NBA Finals. Born in Indiana in 1956, Larry Bird began playing basketball at a young age. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Answer (1 of 43): To start by answering the question, I'd say - yes. Since then Bird won a championship in 1981, then Magic led the Lakers to the finals in 1982 and 1983, winning in the former. That's the first time the (80's) Lakers ever encountered that, someone stronger minded. Ruland, a center, averaged 22 points and 12 boards for the season. Houston Rockets 4-2, who would briefly play with Bird later in his career, the greatest non-final series in NBA history, Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games (4 wins, 3 losses) * 1985: Los Angeles Lak. During a mid-1980's game vs. Utah when Bird was torching the Jazz, Larry looked over at . Is it tied to championships? In 1974, Bird received a scholarship to play basketball at Indiana University but struggled to adapt to the large student population. Bird won Finals MVP in 1984 when his Celttics defeated the Lakers in seven games. The Cs won in a blowout in game 3 in Houston before Houston tied it up with a tight win in game 4. He held this role for five seasons before being offered the Indiana Pacers head coach role. Born: December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana us College: Indiana State University High School: Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana Larry Bird (Larry Legend; The Hick from French Lick) Position: Forward 6-9, 220lb (206cm, 99kg) School: Indiana State (Men) Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1978 NBA draft. They lost twice to the same team: the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 7, the heat that was an issue in Game 5 was not as bad (indoor temperatures hovered around 91F (33C) during the game, due to additional fans being brought in to try to cool the air). The Cs won a couple home games to start the series then lost a close one on the road. Key Names off the Bench: Kevin McHale, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey and M.L. In his first trip to the NBA Finals, Tatum averaged 21.5 points, seven assists and 6.8 rebounds, but the Celtics came up short. 1981 was against the Houston Rockets where Cedric Maxwell was the NBA Finals MVP. Larry Bird averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 31 games in the NBA Finals in his career. Background. Larry is a three time NBA MVP consecutively from 1984-86, which is still a record. Bernard Cardinal Law, Larry Bird and Mayor Raymond L. Flynn. NAME. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, starting with their first . Bird outscored Dr. J 26.7 to 19.9 ppg in the series, led all players in rebounds and was second on Boston in assists. Jayson Tatum passed Celtics legend Larry Bird (1987-88) last night with his 34th 30-point game of the 2022-23 season. NY Knicks 4-3, 1984 Eastern Conference Final: Celtics def. The Cs were heavily favored and had won 10 straight vs the Rockets, but Houston put up more of a fight than expected. Noise Group Limited is a UK registered company. Larry Bird won the NBA Finals MVP two times. Larry Bird picked up the 1984 MVP award and led his Celtics to the first seed in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 overall record. Reflecting back on the series, Magic Johnson said ". Indiana State University, High School: This was the last of Larrys three straight MVP seasons. As the reigning rookie of the year, Bird led the Celtics to the finals, beginning with a sweep of the Bulls. Larry Bird is one of the few basketball players in history that are widely recognized even by people who dont even know the sport. His first run to the NBA Finals came in his second season, averaging 21-11-5 with 2 steals a game. Data Provided By Birds college career as a whole was exceptional. Larry Bird is 6-9. FGA, TRB, AST, PF, GS over 99% complete back to 1975-76. Things werent as cheerful from this point forward for Boston though. Jordan averaged an insane 43.7 points, 5.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds for this. he was voted the NBA Finals MVP. 1984: Larry Bird: Boston Celtics: No stats available. The Lakers took an early lead in overtime, but a controversial foul call foul on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, had been his 6th foul, and he was out of the game. That went to Birds teammate. The game after setting an NBA finals record for made threes with eight in game 2 against the Lakers in 2010, Ray Allen . Bird only averaged 15 points per game throughout the series but he did drop a series high 27 points in Game 6 to officially send the Rockets packing, as Bird won his first chip. As one of the greatest players to ever step foot in the . Larry Bird won three championships as a player, but did not win any as a coach. Larry Bird beat iconic NBA players on his way to three NBA championships including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bird picked up his first Finals MVP honurs. Adding one more hall of famer, Bill Walton, put this team over the top. Indiana took Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Bird would go after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. 1979-80 Bird 1980-81 Bird 1981-82 Bird 1982-83 Bird 1983-84 Bird 1984-85 Bird 1985-86 Bird 1986-87 Bird 1987-88 Bird 1988-89 Bird 1989-90 Bird 1990-91 Bird 1991-92 Bird 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 82 82 77 79 79 80 82 74 76 6 75 60 45. Larry Birds First NBA Championship 1981. It was a tough six game slugfest with the Houston Rockets but Bird and company were just too good. Springs Valley in French Lick, Indiana, Draft: The Celtics again saw their Eastern Conference rivals matching up against the Milwaukee Bucks. Bird does not have any titles outside of the NBA, despite making the NCAA tournament final in 1979. Both times it was to his rival dating back to college: Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird won their first meeting in seven games, winning the NBA Finals MVP. The Boston Celtics were matched up against the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Moses Malone. The Celtics got the better of their Showtime Lakers rivales in a heated seven game series to claim the 1984 NBA Title. The Celtics ended up shedding the ghosts of the last season and convincingly won 4-1. In the Western Conference Finals the Rockets handled the defending champion Lakers in five games. 6-9 , 220lb (206cm, 99kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info. However, despite sweeping the Bulls in the first round again, they had serious issues the next few. Boston had lost the previous two matchups to the Cavs and they were hungry for revenge last night. Bill suffered through injuries for much of his career but appeared in 80 games for the Celtics. December 7, The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. Larry was no slouch, averaging 15-15-7 in a 4-2 series win. The Bucks swept the Nets in the first round then took seven games to get by a tough Sixers squad starring a young. Required fields are marked *. After the tournament, both entered the NBA in the 197980 season with high expectations. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 1983: Moses Malone: C: Magic beat Larry in their college showdown, but Bird made sure he got his revenge in 1984. All three broke into laughter, led by Russell's infamous cackle. Bird's Boston Celtics won the NBA championship three times during his career (1981 and '86 vs. the Houston Rockets, '84 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers), and Bird won Finals MVP in '84 and '86. * 1981: Boston Celtics def. Bird poured in 39 in game 7 to lead the Cs to 30.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the series. Of the subsequent finals, Basketbawful writes, "the Lakers played great and the Boston bench sucked. In the playoffs, the team went 15-3 en route to winning the championship. Michael Cooper Backs Larry Bird and Blasts JJ Redick, Calling Him a Poor Mans Danny Ainge. The East's award is named after Larry Bird and the West's after Magic Johnson. However, its the only individual award Cedric Maxwell won in his career. It was Boston's worst playoff defeat in franchise history to that date. Bird scored almost 26 points per game in winning his third-straight MVP award. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Unfortunately for the Pacers and Larry Bird, the Lakers were just too much for the Pacers. Bird was very honest when taking up the role saying he would only coach the team for three years. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Detroit Pistons took two games off them in the second round but it didnt matter, Bird averaged 28 points per game as they won in six. Boston won two close ones to start the series before Washington stole game three by 3 points. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Cedric Maxwell averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists to win Finals MVP. Amazing! In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup. Bill Walton needed a change of scenery when he was in San Diego and Red Auerbach provided that for him in Boston. The 1984 championship series scored high TV ratings. His teams overall record in finals games was 16-15. Magic Johnson had an 11-8 record in the NBA Finals versus Larry Bird in his career. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. The 1984 NBA Finals is considered one of the most epic series in league history. Larry Birds Celtics lost two NBA Finals. Or maybe youre a younger fan wondering if Bird really deserves his place in the Pantheon of basketball greats. The Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. Chicago Bulls 3-0, 1986 Conference Semis: Celtics def. The Conference Semifinals was a seven-game series against the Knicks, which ended with Boston winning 4-3. The Bulls had swept the Knicks 2-0 in a best-of-three first round. Larry Legend also sank 42 of 47 foul shots in the pressure-packed series (89.4 . . This series was a rematch of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after their rivalry was revived in 1979 with the Magic JohnsonLarry Bird pair entering the league. Home; Tickets; Schedule. Featuring prime Larry Legend, apex Kevin Mchale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson. Some notable games between the two of them: At least when it comes to how they fared in theirhead-to-head matchups. Here are some of Larry Bird's notable career achievements and statistics: Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986) . . Why did the Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns? Despite a back injury in the 1985 offseason, Bird averaged 25.8 points, 9.8 rebound and 6.8 assists per game and for the third straight season, the Celtics finished top of the Eastern Conference. The following year, the NBA Finals format was changed to 232 after Red Auerbach complained about the constant travelling during the Finals. And, as if that wasnt enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. Jordan scored an all-time playoff record in game 2: 63 points. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. Larry Bird reached 5 NBA Finals, wining 3 and losing 2, he played his entire career with the Boston Celtics. Even from his first season with Indiana State, Birds performances were exceptional. . . Magic led the Lakers to victory at home in game 6, setting the stage for a Boston Garden Game 7. The Celtics next opponent was the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that swept them the year earlier. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Larry Bird Reacts to Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him. inWest Baden,Indiana The Bullets featured Jeff Ruland a really good, likely underrated, player who was at his peak. The games were reasonably close if the series was not. But it was in 1986 when the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets for the championship when Bird . They did make the playoffs the year after and many thought that they would easily repeat at first. The Eastern Conference Finals were much more difficult. He averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across his three seasons, winning Naismith College Player of the Year in 1979. The first two meetings of the season between Cleveland and Boston took OT, but the Celtics were able to sneak a 117-113 win at home. Larry Bird Playoffs Game Log. He was the only NBA Rookie of the Year, MVP, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the . If you remember, there was Kevin McHales hit on Kurt Rambis, and there was Larry Bird bumping Michael Cooper out of bounds. We have seen some teams lose in the NBA Finals off of some injuries and other situations leading up to it that the box score doesnt show, so lets dive into Birds record. Larry Bird averaged 24.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game for the series. Peak, Bird was better imo The Celtics had hope they could avenge the loss of two years prior. Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? Larry Bird's career NBA stats. Unlike some of the other players that have gone down in NBA History, Larry didnt leave his team whatsoever. There are so many different titles that Bird has. He averaged 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.0 . The Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121, thanks to Scott Wedman's game-winning shot from the baseline with 14 ticks left. Birds great performances in games one and six helped lead the Celtics to the title and Bird claimed his first NBA Championship in 1981. Bird retired from the NBA in 1992 and immediately took up an advisory role with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics struggled to slow down finals MVP Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bird struggled compared to his incredibly high standards. And, to be clear, he came by it honestly. He won his second NBA Finals MVP. Houston had gone 40-42 in the 1980-81 regular season compared to Boston's 62-20 season under second-year Celtics sensation Larry Bird you may have heard of him. Nevertheless, it is rare to see a player dominate in so many areas of the game, theres no wonder why the Celtics made multiple deep playoff runs. The type of player who didnt even care about stats but always seemed to put up the most absurd statlines ever seen. Certain completely unbiased fans, like myself, rank him very highly in that top ten. The Celtics won a very close game 3 in Houston to take control of the series with a 3-1 lead. Despite good performances from Bird, Magic Johnson outplayed him as the jumbo sized Lakers guard won finals MVP. Whether he makes an All-Defense team this season remains to be seen, but few wings in the association deserve more recognition than McDaniels this campaign. Bird won three titles with the Celtics in 1981, 1984 and 1986, earning Finals MVP honors in the latter two. It did not slow Bird down as he won a title the next season with the now legendary 86 Celtics. That might seem unbelievable this is coming from a man who famously asked his Three-Point Contest peers who was coming in second but it largely fits within Birds character. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-3, winning by nine points in the deciding Game 7. In total, Larry Bird went to five NBA finals in his career. Despite the changes, it did not stop the Lakers from finishing with the best record (5428) in the Western Conference, powered by their one-two punch of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Bird averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game for the series. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97F (36C) heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. Bird had a good series in other categories, but did not score at his normal rate. In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists, an NBA Finals record. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Sadly, after that Finals loss, Bird never made it into another Finals series. 1984 was against the Los Ange. That NCAA tournament final is one of the most iconic games in college basketball history. Those same Lakers defeated Bird in both his finals losses. Regular Season Record: 62-20 (The Celtics tied with 76ers for 1st in the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and the NBA but the Cs got the #1 seed in a tiebreaker by winning the last game of the season vs the Sixers). Why did David Stern Veto the Chris Paul to the Lakers Trade? The Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987 with Bird and Cooper going at it. It was clear that the Celtics were mentally exhausted after playing that many games in such a short span, which resulted in the Lakers beating Bird and the Celtics in six quick games. Fox believes the Westbrook is the most scrutinized player in the NBA, while also stating that everyone inside the league loves Westbrook, regardless of what the outside perception may be, Arenas believes that the Grizzlies should ignore Morant's actions because every other team would and he's a productive player for them, Tim Hardaway told his favorite Run TMC story involving Don Nelson which resulted to an unforgettable moment for the group. Answer (1 of 2): Larry Bird has been in the NBA Finals 5 times as a player, all while playing with the Boston Celtics. Even when he found fame and fortune, the NBA star never forgot his humble roots. In Game 7, the Celtics got 24 points from Cedric Maxwell and 22 from DJ with Bird scoring 20 as they won the game 111-102 and the series for Bostons 15th NBA title. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Larry Bird Championship #1: 1981 Boston Celtics, 1981 Conference Semis: Celtics def. All the playoff action was documented on the 1984 NBA Season documentary Pride and Passion, narrated by Dick Stockton. Boston also had to deal with the impending free agency of Kevin McHale and Larry Bird. In the Celtics 1981 Championship, Bird did not win Finals MVP. And, as if that wasn't enough, Bird found success after hanging up his sneakers. His performances included scoring 60 points against the Hawks which is still a Boston record to this day. As for their averages, Johnson posted 20.7 points, 13.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game in their head-to-head matchups in the Finals compared to Bird's 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Allen Iverson Jersey Mitchell and Ness: A Complete Guide. How to say Basketball in different languages? Learn more and register, International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Big Names Off the Bench: Jerry Sichting, Bill Walton and Scott Wedman. Sadly for Bird, Michigan State were just too much for him as the Spartans ran out 75-64 winners. The Bucks, coached by Celtics legend Don Nelson, won the Central Division title in 1984. Bird averaged 27.2 points, 9.6 boards and 7.0 assists for the series. Unfortunately, the team was defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games and they were sent home. Their rivalry was second to none and saw them meet up in the NBA Finals three times. Even with Jordan exploding, only game two was close at 135-131. Only the strong survive. What is Larry Birds Record in the NBA Finals? The big reason of course for this is Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Philadelphia 76ers 4-3, 1981 NBA Finals: Celtics def. Trailing in game 4, Kevin McHale clothes lined Kurt Rambis to spark the Cs to victory. "[3] The teams met again in the 1985 finals, which the Lakers won 42. The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Lakers in 1983 and the Detroit Pistons snuck by the Lakers in 1989. . And after watching the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers twice during the 1982 and 1983 Finals, they were determined to win in 84. All-NBA First-Teamers NOT in the Hall of Fame, Basketball Positions 101: Understanding the Different Roles on the Court, The Best NBA Players to NOT Make the Hall of Fame, The Best All-Defensive Team in NBA History, The All-Time Worst NBA Finals Performances by a Superstar by Position.

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